British dog breaks world record with 21 newborn puppies

A British dog may have established a new world record by naturally giving birth to an incredible litter of 21 puppies.

Joanne Hine was in awe as her Great Dane and American bulldog mix, Mary Jane (MJ), delivered this astounding brood. Initially, she had been informed that her pet would give birth to somewhere between six and eight little canines. However, a closer examination as MJ's due date approached revealed that the actual number was going to be significantly higher, potentially setting a new record.

Mary Jane gave birth to all 21 puppies naturally (Image: IOM Newspapers / SWNS)

While the Guinness World Record for the largest litter is currently held by Tia, a Neapolitan mastiff in Cambridgeshire who gave birth to 24 puppies in 2004, it's worth noting that her puppies were delivered via Caesarian section. In contrast, MJ's remarkable brood was all born naturally, leading Joanne to believe that a new record may have been set.

Hailing from the Isle of Man, Joanne shared her disbelief, stating, "When the vets told me it would likely be more after initially saying she would have just six to eight, I couldn't believe it."

She continued, "I'm incredibly proud of MJ. She managed the entire process on her own, with Annie and Ruth from Jane Callow Veterinary Practice providing unwavering support throughout."

Given that MJ has only nine nipples to tend to her 14 puppies, bottle-feeding them every two hours has become a collaborative effort among the caretakers.

The previous record for the largest litter was held by Tia in Cambridgeshire, with 24 puppies, and an impressive 20 of them survived.

Unfortunately, six of Joanne's puppies were stillborn, and one passed away shortly after their birth on November 20.

The remaining 14 pups have been affectionately named after chocolate bars that best match their individual personalities.

Joanne believes that Mary Jane is a record breaker (Image: IOM Newspapers / SWNS)

To ensure the well-being of her extended canine family, Joanne has gone to great lengths, including sleeping in the kitchen right next to a specially crafted crib. This crib accommodates all 14 pups and their mother, allowing her to keep a watchful eye on them throughout the night.

The majority of the puppies are yet to find their forever homes, although two of them are scheduled to join a new family in Rotherham shortly.

Remarkably, these pups seem to have inherited their mother's black and white coat, as well as the distinctive features of their father, a bull mastiff and rottweiler mix.

The demanding feeding schedule, with intervals as short as every two hours, has Joanne receiving support from her father, Steve, brother Matt, and friend Liam. These dedicated helpers have effectively taken on the roles of puppy "dads."

Furthermore, Joanne shared that MJ will soon undergo the neutering process. Her decision is based on her understanding that a second litter could potentially be even larger than the first.

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