Meet Tia, the Mastiff Who Holds the World Record for Having the Most Puppies

Rocky Kanaka |

Aug 16, 2023

If you think having a litter of puppies is a lot of work, imagine how Tia felt when she gave birth to 24 of them. Tia, a Neapolitan mastiff, owned by Damian Ward and Anne Kellegher of Manea, Cambridgeshire, UK, holds the Guinness World Record for the largest litter of puppies ever born. She delivered them by Caesarian section on November 29th, 2004, and made history with her huge brood.

the World Record for Having the Most Puppies

Unfortunately, one of the puppies was stillborn, and three more died in the first week. But the remaining 20 pups were healthy and happy, and soon found new homes. There were nine females and 15 males in total. Tia’s full name is Abellatino Arabella, and the father of the litter is called Caesar.

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Tia’s record has not been broken yet, but there have been some close contenders over the years. Here are some of the runners-up who have also amazed the world with their large litters.

Sheepdog

In 2014, a sheepdog named Stella gave birth to 17 puppies in California. The veterinarian who helped her deliver them had never seen so many at once.

Chihuahua

In 2018, a tiny Chihuahua named Laugh Out Loud gave birth to 11 puppies at home in Louisiana. The labor lasted for 12 hours and surprised her owners who expected only four or five pups.

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Labrador Retriever

In 2020, a Labrador named Stella gave birth to 14 puppies in Michigan. She was six years old and had given birth several times before, but never to more than six puppies.

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Dalmatian

In 2019, a Dalmatian named Melody gave birth to 19 puppies in Australia. She gained more than 30 pounds during her pregnancy and shocked her owners who had no idea how many puppies were inside her.

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Great Dane / Bulldog Mix

In 2020, a Great Dane and bulldog mix named Mary Jane gave birth to 21 puppies in Arizona. She delivered them all naturally, though her owners were told by the vet that she would have only six to eight puppies.

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Pit Bull

In 2015, the world’s largest pit bull named Hulk gave birth to eight puppies in New Hampshire. While the number of puppies may not seem impressive, their value certainly was. These puppies were worth a combined total of $500,000.

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As you can see, Tia has some fierce competition for her record. But for now, she remains the undisputed champion of motherhood in the canine world. We salute her and all the other dogs who have given us so many adorable puppies to love.