Lucy the golden Labrador gives birth to 13 black puppies

Lucy the golden Labrador and her 13 puppies.
Lucy and her puppies (Picture: Murray Saunders/Daily Mail)
When Lucy the Labrador went into labour, her owner Catherine Smith was on hand to help. But the part-time waitress, from Taunton, Somerset, wasn’t expecting to welcome 13 new puppies to the family. And despite Lucy being a golden colour, all the puppies took after their dad – Catherine’s friend’s eight-year-old black lab called Bastion.

Catherine said: ‘She had the first four in just 20 minutes, then they just kept appearing.

‘This is the first time we have bred a dog and thought she might have five or six. She started at 11.50am and it was all over by 4.30pm.

Lucy the golden Labrador and her 13 puppies in a line
They were one short of the English record (Picture: Murray Saunders/Daily Mail)

‘I think she wondered where they’d all come from!’

Usually Labradors have around six to eight puppies.
Lucy and owner Catherine
Lucy and Catherine (Picture: Murray Saunders/Daily Mail)
The brood was actually one short of the English record for the breed set by Bella, who gave birth to 14 black and yellow puppies in May this year. The biggest litter ever recorded in the UK is believed to be in Scotland back in 2014. Dog Annie, from Drumlemble, Argyll and Bute, gave birth to 15 puppies – a mix of black and chocolate Labradors.

Help Them Adapt to New Environments. “The only thing that likes change is a four-week-old baby in a wet diaper.” Though puppies and kittens are easygoing, mature pets often need guidance transitioning into new spaces. Dr. Becker advises introducing them slowly. “Don’t just dump them in a new house and hope for the best.” Pheromone sprays are handy for making strange houses more inviting. “Cats,” notes Dr. Becker, exist as both predator and prey, and in predator mode, they need vertical surfaces like climbing towers to feel safe.”

Oblivious to her almost-record, Lucy is enjoying being a mum to the eight boys and five girls.

‘We’re now getting through 15kg of dog food a week,’ Catherine added.

The puppies were all sold to new homes within three weeks and will be heading off once they are old enough.

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