Giving birth to a litter is always an overwhelming but special experience for female dog owners. If you’ve witnessed it, you know that few things in the canine world compare to the beauty of a mother dog and her puppies. In March of this year, Tanya Dubbs from Pocahontas, Virginia, was about to experience this joy firsthand. Little did she know that her Great Dane, Namine, would soon make headlines across the country!
Namine, just two years old, gave birth to an astonishing 21 puppies over 27 hours. Tanya and her family were shocked as the litter surpassed their expectations. Given that Great Danes are one of the tallest dog breeds, they had anticipated around 13 to 14 pups. However, when they reached 16, they still couldn’t believe it would exceed that number. WATCH VIDEO BELOW
Sadly, two of the puppies passed away shortly after birth, leaving Namine with 19 healthy pups. Most weighed over a pound at birth, with two slightly underweight at 94 and 98 ounces. Due to the large number of puppies, Tanya faced challenges with nursing, ensuring all were fed properly, even using a bottle when necessary.
While this is an impressive number, the world record is held by a Neapolitan Mastiff named Tia, who had 24 puppies in one litter. WATCH VIDEO BELOW
Namine has a unique backstory as well. Last year, she ran away with her sibling, Malificent, and was hit by a truck, injuring her back and eye. Thankfully, after being treated, Namine made a full recovery without any life-threatening injuries.
Tanya plans to sell all the puppies now that they are weaned and intends to donate a portion of the proceeds to the Tazewell County Animal Shelter in Bluefield, Virginia. WATCH VIDEO BELOW
Fortunately, Namine will still have a large family of humans and dog siblings, so she won’t feel alone. This affectionate Great Dane loves spending time with her loved ones, and even though her puppies will be leaving, she will always be surrounded by love. Namine isn’t just a recipient of affection; she’s also a giver! She enjoys showing love to her humans and is a wonderful caretaker for children, embodying the nurturing spirit characteristic of Great Danes. WATCH VIDEO BELOW
