The 19 Irish Setter Pups -- Is it a Record for Belgium? And other counties?

[Frances McKimm]

Hello everyone
I've been so touched by all your comments that I've come back to join you
Thanks ever so much for the kind remarks!
And thanks for the names - they're great;

Be interesting to know how many other big litters have been born and how many you're all managed to keep!

As Dorothée said we had to let one little boy go as apparently he hadn't had enough room to develop properly;
Otherwise so far so good!
Dream is now recovering and starting to feed and clean the little ones; Of course the 'other mum' must give the bottle too!
Tiring business!!
And No Crufts for me I'm afraid but Cassdiy & Cian are going with Dorothée, so you'll see them - they're the important ones anyway!

[Kristina Brannlund Westin]

Welcome back Frances!

And good luck with this big bunch of puppies!

[" Lordly " Jean en Rita Struyf-De Groof]

Hello Frances,
Yes, I think that 19 pups is a record for Belgium (Irish setters).
On 09/07/1979 there was a litter born, all alive, from 18 pups in the kennel “of the Irish Harp” , owners Copers-Maebe.
The proud father and mother where, Echo of the Hunters Home & Alphi of the Irish Harp.
The 18 pups survived, I have seen them all at 9 weeks.
Congratulations
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[Frances McKimm]

Thanks Jean! Pity we lost one but well with so many I think to be expected; the others ok for the moment;
Think I'll have fun when they are 8 weeks old - all that cleaning!!

[Kirsty williamson]

hi, Congratulations i think, We had a litter of 15 last year and reared them all, big strong pups, we split the litter in two 8+7 and rotated them on the bitch 2hours on 2 hours off , humans had a shift system also and there was someone with them 24/7 for the first 4 weeks. This worked very well all pups got plenty to drink, nobody got squashed and the bitch was happy, she was fed every 6 hours and fed then all herself for the first 25 days after which we started to wean them to help her. Nail cutting, worming takes forever good luck

[Dee Rance]

I seem to remember reading once that there was a litter of 23 whelped many many years ago the owner was a reverend, not sure what kind, don't remember where or exactly when either, I am sure that there is someone out there that will have some kind of memory of it, but 19 Wow, so hears hoping for there future, good kuck

[Vilja Vehkaoja]

There has been at least one litter of over 20 here in Finland. Not so long ago we had one litter with 19 pups.

[Anna Kazimierowicz]

According to Guiness Book of Records (edition from many years ago) - in UK irish setter got 22 puppies. but general record in ammount of puppies is/was 23 (foxhound and bernardine).
I have herd, read(?) about 24 puppies of irish setter, but this information isn't sure at 100%.

[Kristina Brannlund Westin]

It seems like we have a very fertil breed. Camilla at Copper´s had 20 some years ago, she kept only fifteen, but probably for the wellfare of the bitch. One bitch related to Camillas bitch in Finland got 21 puppies same year. I had 12 and thirteen and I think that is big litter...

[Frances McKimm]

Yes the Irish are quite fertile; the most I had before was 14 - 7boys & 7girls but this lot is a bit too much! Some take the bottle well and some not so well, just hope and try my best;
ah yes there were 10girls & 9boys so also even sexes but now 10girls & 8boys;
The dad my 'Robin' comes from a litter of 13 and Dream's grandmum and great grandmum had big litters;
This is her 2nd and last litter!

[Kristina Brannlund Westin]

Yepp, two big litters is enough for the bitch!
Hope you can find nice loving homes for all of them,

Good Luck once again!