08/30/2025
On June 9, 1944, a bitch named Lena made history: The American Foxhound from Ambler, Pennsylvania, gave birth to an incredible 23 healthy puppies – a record that was considered sensational at the time. While the American Kennel Club reports an average of 5 to 6 puppies per litter, Lena exceeded all expectations.
Although other bi***es with litters of equal or even larger sizes became known in later years – such as the Great Dane (1987) or the Newfoundland Tia (2004) with 24 puppies – not all of their offspring survived. Lena, on the other hand, brought all of her 23 puppies to term.
To this day, her litter is considered the largest fully surviving litter in canine history – a small miracle in a kennel in Pennsylvania. Lena thus became not only a loving dog mother, but also a lifetime record holder.
