A Dalmatian mother has made headlines for giving birth to a staggering 18 puppies, which is double the average size of a first-time litter. Last April, Nellie, a three-year-old dog, underwent a 14-hour long labor with assistance from breeder Louise Clement in Lancashire, England. The litter consisted of 10 male and eight female puppies, leaving everyone in awe of this adorable sight.
As per The Independent, Clement shared that her pet dog, Nellie, had a smooth and successful natural delivery. However, the puppies kept coming even after she thought the 15th one was the last. Clement, who is a former nurse, was present during each delivery and helped Nellie weigh and identify each little pup with a different colored collar. She felt incredibly proud of Nellie, her favorite dog, and described her as “lovely.”
Clement is a seasoned dog breeder who specializes in raising dalmatians. For more than thirty years, she has been nurturing these beautiful creatures and currently has 27 of them residing in her home. But don’t fret – she assures that there’s ample room and toys for her beloved pets to frolic around. In fact, she even mentioned how some of her furry friends cuddle up with her in bed from time to time.
While Clement plans on keeping one of the new puppies from Nellie to add to her pack, she intends to sell the rest to new owners once they are old enough to leave their mother. It’s interesting to note that dalmatians were historically known as “coach dogs” and were bred to accompany noblemen, traveling communities, and firefighters. According to the American Kennel Club, these dogs exhibit traits such as being affectionate, protective, and possessing a unique coat that makes them easily recognizable.
According to recent reports from Metro, a British dalmatian named Nellie is popular for giving birth to many puppies. However, in 2019, a dog called Melody from Albury, Australia, broke the breed’s world record by delivering 19 puppies in one litter. Melissa O’Brien, Melody’s breeder, told The Canberra Times that the mother gained about 33 pounds during pregnancy and required a Cesarean section with the assistance of eight medical experts. Although O’Brien claimed that large litters are common in her profession, Melody’s was the most extensive she had witnessed. To keep track of them, O’Brien and her family named all the puppies after Disney movie characters and praised their unflappable personalities. Similar to Clement, O’Brien decided to retain one puppy and sell the remainder of the litter. Despite their remarkable performance, some of the pups required extra care and bottle-feeding to assist their mother.
