A MAREMMA Sheepdog named Stella recently gave birth to a litter of 17 puppies.

    Stella is a farm dog for Napa Grass Farmer in California.

    The mom smashed the world record for the largest Maremma litter, as well as the state’s record for the largest puppy litter, the farm’s John Costanzo revealed to NBC San Diego.

    There are six female and eleven male puppies in the Maremma Sheepdog litter, according to the TV station.

    Costanzo told NBC San Diego, “We had an excellent vet deliver them because it was way more than we thought. They all made it and are healthy. The doctor said it was five more than he has ever seen in his years of practice as the biggest litter he had ever delivered was 12.”

    Costanzo said, “I mean, we really were just expecting, you know, 10 tops at the most.

    “But once the 17th, you know, finally coming out, you know, we realized that this is going to take a lot of work.”

    (SD-Agencies)