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.
‘I think she wondered where they’d all come from!’
Usually Labradors have around six to eight puppies.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.Oblivious to her almost-record, Lucy is enjoying being a mum to the eight boys and five girls.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.”
‘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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