A BRADFORD dog came close to breaking a world record when she unexpectedly gave birth to a mammoth litter of puppies.

Luna the Great Dane gave birth to a total of 17 puppies - 11 boys and 6 girls - which is only seven short of the record set by Tia, a Neopolitan Mastiff, in 2004.

Three of the litter were sadly stillborn after a labour that lasted over 24 hours. Luna’s first three pups arrived last Monday at around 3pm and the last baby didn’t arrive until the early hours of Wednesday.

The last live dog came at 9:30pm last Tuesday evening, with the heaviest out of the bunch weighing 1.5 pounds and the smallest a mere 12 ounces, which is around three quarters of a pound.

Owner, Jon Adsetts, 49, of Apperley Bridge, described his shock at seeing so many puppies being born after only expecting a more usual litter of around seven or eight dogs.

He said: “It’s just amazing, seeing them popping out. We thought she’d done as she’d get up and walk off, but then another would pop out. I was thinking, when is she going to stop?”

Luna getting pregnant itself wasn’t a purposeful thing, he said.

Mr Adsetts and wife, Susan, 54, also have a male Great Dane called Louie and they tried to keep him and Luna apart but, in the end, nature took its course with the couple only realising their female pet was pregnant nine to ten weeks before she gave birth.

Looking after the newborns, and the parents, has become a whole family affair with lots of relatives and friends coming round to feed, nurse and help hand-rear the puppies. Mrs Adsetts even gave up work to look after the litter full-time. All of the puppies that made it through their first week are doing well, but the couple are keeping an eye on mother Luna.

Mr Adsetts said: “She’s putting weight on now, she’s a bit ill and isn’t eating. She’s been at the vets every day and they thought she had another pup inside but it turns out it wasn’t one.

“We’re hoping she pulls through, she’s bright again and came upstairs to greet me this morning.”

One of the litter, wearing a black collar, was born not breathing but the couple managed to get her going and she quickly became a favourite of Mrs Adsett. The second is a little grey Dane with a pink nose.

Mr and Mrs Adsetts are looking to find loving homes for the other 12 dogs.

Mr Adsetts said: “We’re selling them for £1,000 each, but it’s not about the money.

“I pay around £200-300 a month for food and paid £300 for a scan and x-ray for Luna. If you can’t afford the £1,000 then you can’t afford to look after a Great Dane well.”