Dog gives birth to 17 puppies in just 13 hours
A two-year-old female Irish Doodle called Marigold has set a new breed record by giving birth to 17 puppies in a single labour. The birth took place on 2 January in the cosy living room of a house in a residential area in England.
Setting a new record
The previous record for the biggest Irish Doodle litter belonged to a dog named Amelia, who had 16 puppies. Marigold beat that by one pup. The size of the litter and the 13-hour labour (a long delivery for any dog) show the difficulty involved.
Marigold’s family were at her side throughout. They had towels, hot-water bottles, and disinfectant, and they made sure each pup was rubbed dry, checked for health, and placed at Marigold’s side to encourage nursing. The family also kept careful count and checked that every pup was breathing as the litter grew.
What came next: the challenges and care
After the birth, Marigold needed plenty of nutrition and attention to recover from nursing such a large brood. Her food intake rose to as much as 12 tins of wet food a day, plus high-protein snacks and dry food made for pregnant and nursing females. She was given lots of water and regular checks by a vet, including body weight monitoring, to help her regain strength. Within days she appeared noticeably brighter and calmer at mealtimes.
The puppies are reportedly healthy and lively. With 17 mouths to feed, space was tight; early photos show them all snugged up together around their mum. So far there hasn’t been a need for supplemental feeding, which suggests Marigold is managing to feed the whole litter on her own.
Interest and responsibility after the rare litter
The rarity of such a big litter brought plenty of attention from potential buyers, and the family received enquiries soon after the news got out. Each puppy is priced at about £1,305, and the family stress that they’re taking responsible steps with rehoming. That includes thorough veterinary health checks, vaccinations, worming treatments, and early socialisation experiences to prepare the pups for their new homes. They say they are following responsible breeding practices, particularly given the litter size.
Irish Doodles are a fairly new designer crossbreed, known for being friendly, people-orientated, and energetic. They pick up traits from both parent breeds: the elegant but temperamental Irish Setter and the intelligent, often low-shedding Poodle. Prospective owners should weigh not just the purchase price but the long-term commitments too — food, grooming, training, and healthcare all add up.
A wider look at breeding responsibilities
Marigold’s case shows how complex and demanding dog breeding can be. Very large litters like hers come with risks and require a lot of hands-on effort to keep both the mum and her pups well. Such cases require solid veterinary care, good nutrition plans, and a calm, supportive environment to manage the demands during pregnancy and after the birth.
Breeders, owners and people thinking of buying a dog should consider carefully what comes with a larger-than-usual litter. Marigold gave birth to 17 puppies, and her owners provided continuous care and vigilance to give the litter a safe, nurturing start in life.