Rottweiler Births 18 Puppies, Smashing UK Record

Aug 10th 2009

Nadya Suleman, eat your heart out!

Terrie, a four-year-old Rottweiler, recently gave birth to a litter of 18 puppies, besting the previous UK record by five. Sadly, two of the 18 didn't survive past the first day (one being a stillborn), but Terrie is getting by just fine with the help of her owner, Nicolette Morris of Luton, Beds, and Terrie's other 112-pound son, Jim (from a previous litter of nine).

Although the babies still haven't opened their eyes, 10 females and six males and are cooperatively nursing 1.5oz of milk every four hours and they have already doubled in size.

"I know Rottweilers have got a bad name," says Morris, "but I love the breed. I'd recommend them to anyone."

Morris took on the role of emergency midwife when Terrie went into labor at 12:50 p.m. on Sunday, July 26. "Terrie was absolutely huge before she gave birth but I never dreamt she would have so many," Morris told the Telegraph. "It was staggering. They just kept on coming. I began to wonder if she'd ever stop."

And while 18 is impressive, the Guinness World Records gives the title of largest litter of pups to a Neapolitan Mastiff in Manea, Cambs, who birthed 24 pups in January 2005.