A family in Kent has been left astonished after their Irish setter gave birth to a record-breaking litter of 17 puppies. Miranda Pellecchia, 42, and her family from Blean near Canterbury were surprised when their two-year-old dog Marigold whelped the large brood.
The puppies are a crossbreed known as Irish Doodles, the result of Marigold mating with a poodle. The litter is believed to be the largest of this crossbreed ever recorded in the UK.
The pups are now around eight weeks old and proving quite a handful for the family. Miranda described the birthing process as 'exhausting for us, so I dread to think how poor Marigold felt'. Marigold was in labour for 13 hours but has recovered well.
All 17 puppies have been named and will be vaccinated and microchipped. Miranda, who also has three children, expects things to return to 'the level of chaos we normally have around here' once the pups have gone.
The previous documented record for an Irish setter was 16 puppies, set by a dog from Hampshire in 2019. The world record for a single litter remains 24 puppies, set by a Neapolitan mastiff from Cambridgeshire in 2004.
