An Abbotsford boxer dog recently produced one of the biggest litters in Canadian history, giving birth to 14 puppies (five female and nine male) on May 23.
Since then, itB次元官网网址檚 been a whirlwind of activity for the Jacobse family who have bred dogs for a number of years in Abbotsford. However, this was the first time they ever had a litter this size.
Victoria Jacobse said she and her family were stunned at Athena the dogB次元官网网址檚 first litter.
B次元官网网址淚 was in complete shock,B次元官网网址� she said, after learning of the size of the litter. B次元官网网址淲e had a litter of 10 before, which is really big for boxers. My mom called me at like 3 a.m. after the birth was done and I asked her like seven times - B次元官网网址�14 are you sure? That is crazy.B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�
An boxer recently gave birth to a litter of 14 (!). ItB次元官网网址檚 believed to be one of the biggest litters in Canadian history. Her is mom Athena feeding the kids
B次元官网网址� Ben Lypka (@BenLypka)
Jacobse explained that Athena was taken to an emergency vet to assist with the birth and delivered two puppies naturally. A c-section was then performed for the remaining 12 as they were having difficult exiting the womb. She said it was a huge amount of work looking after 14 puppies at once.
B次元官网网址淔or the first week we had to feed them about once every two hours,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淭hen once they got to a size where we knew they would be good and healthy we just rotated off to mom. But all the daily things, like you have to wake up at 5 a.m. and there is just so much cleaning up after 14 puppies.B次元官网网址�
She said Athena was exhausted for several days after giving birth, resting and snacking on her favourite foods in the days that followed. It was the three-year-old dogB次元官网网址檚 first-ever litter and she lives with her mother - six-year-old Farrah.
The puppies were numbered and given collars to more easily identify them. They will be sold off to interested buyers online.
The Jacobse family has been breeding boxers for nearly 20 years and prior to that bred chihuahuas. They decided to switch to boxers because they were a very athletic family - Victoria is a former basketball player with the UFV Cascades womenB次元官网网址檚 team.
She said boxers have several great characteristics that make them great companions.
B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檙e super energetic and they think theyB次元官网网址檙e puppies until theyB次元官网网址檙e 13,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淭hey also love cuddling and just being around people. They are just good family dogs and that was the main aspect we wanted.B次元官网网址�
The Guinness World Record for a dog litter is 24,
The first of the 14 took to its new home on Monday (July 11), and those interested can find the puppies on Kijiji.
