Dogs can have variable litter sizes, mostly depending on their size and breed type. Typically, larger breeds have more puppies compared to smaller breeds. Such dogs like Shih Tzus and Pomeranians typically have one to four pups, while Great Danes or Labrador Retrievers usually give birth to an average of eight to ten pups.
One particular Great Dane and American Bulldog named Mary Jane mix recently gave birth to a fantastic brood and threw her owner Joanne Hine for a loop at the same time. As it turned out, MJ had a total of 21 puppies, a feat that her owner believed had probably set a new world record. The current record was at 24 puppies, but it was delivered by caesarian section back in 2004.
MJ’s delivery was a natural one, which was incredibly extraordinary in itself.
When Joan saw a live video feed sent by the veterinarian who helped deliver MJ’s babies, she was dumbstruck. She initially thought that her beloved dog would have around eight to ten pups, which seemed an acceptable and manageable litter size. However, when the vet informed her it might be more than twenty pups, she had a hard time wrapping her mind around it.
The loving owner was incredibly proud of her brave MJ, knowing natural birth was no picnic for the large dog. It was a lengthy and arduous process, with the mama dog struggling for hours. The entire birthing experience started with MJ’s labor one early afternoon, ending with the 21st puppy arriving around 9 am the following day.
Sadly though, seven pups didn’t survive.
The remaining 14 puppies soon became the British household’s darlings, with their chocolate-bar-names influenced by their unique personalities. Names such as Bounty, Kitkat, Time Out, and Galaxy were just some of the witty ones given to these adorable pups.
Joanne planned on getting MJ neutered soon, as she was told that a dog’s second litter might be more significant than the first one. This decision probably gave MJ a small measure of relief.
Photos courtesy of IOM Today
