A family in Kent, England, is adjusting to life with a remarkably large litter of puppies – 17 Irish Doodles born to their dog, Marigold. The unusually large litter has drawn attention for its size and the challenges it presents for the mother dog and her owner.
Miranda Pellecchia, of Blean near Canterbury, described being surprised by the sheer number of puppies. “We knew Marigold was going to have a big litter, but we were very surprised by just how many kept coming,” she said.
The puppies arrived after a 13-hour labor, and are now almost eight weeks old. Marigold, a two-year-old Irish Setter, and Pellecchia are navigating the demands of caring for such a large group of newborns.
This litter is believed to be the largest ever recorded for Irish Doodles in the UK. Previously, the record for an Irish Setter in the UK was 16 puppies, born via cesarean section in Hampshire in 2019, according to the Daily Mail.
The world record for the largest litter of any dog breed is held by a Neapolitan Mastiff from Cambridgeshire, England, who gave birth to 24 puppies in 2004, as reported by the BBC.
@kent_online Miranda Pellecchia has certainly got her hands full after her pet, Marigold, gave birth to 17 puppies! They are believed to be the UK’s largest ever little of Irish Doodles – a cross between an Irish Setter and a poodle. The pups are now almost eight weeks old and have been nursed through their vulnerable early days by their weary mother, two-year-old Marigold, and her equally exhausted owner. Unsurprisingly, life at the family home has been franticever since! Read the exclusive interview on #KentOnline 🐶🥺 #kentnews #dogsoftiktok #puppies
Veterinarians were reportedly surprised by the size of the litter. “They said they hadn’t heard of a litter this big before,” Pellecchia stated.
The family waited ten weeks to share the news, ensuring all the puppies were healthy and thriving. The litter was born between 11 p.m. And midnight on January 2nd, following 13 hours of labor.
Caring for so many puppies is demanding on Marigold, who now consumes twelve cans of food daily to maintain milk production.
Despite this, supplemental feeding is necessary, with assistance from Pellecchia’s three children – 13-year-old Freddie, 11-year-old Orlando, and 9-year-old Coco. “We still have to weigh the puppies and look after them. And of course, they need a lot of attention,” Pellecchia explained.
Over £36,000 for the Litter
Pellecchia has begun offering the puppies for sale at a price of £1300 (approximately $1650 USD) each, and reports significant interest.
“Of course, we’ll miss them since they’re adorable. But I’m also looking forward to getting back to a quieter life,” she added.
Irish Doodles, a cross between Irish Setters and Poodles, are bred for their athleticism and friendly temperament, combined with the intelligence of the Poodle breed. This makes them popular family companions, though they require specialized coat care.
