‘They just kept coming’: mini dachshund’s litter surprises owner

By 8.50am, convinced it was over, Ms Ioranni finally ducked into the shower.

Seconds later, her daughter burst in.

“Mum, Mum, Mum, it’s not over,” Letti said.

Another puppy had arrived.

“We’ve got nine. I said no, scrap that, 10,” Ms Ioranni said, recounting what she wrote in a message to her family group chat.

“Then 45 minutes later I said we’re going to make that 11.

“They just kept coming.”

And by the end of the six-hour labour, Peppa had welcomed 11 healthy pups into the world.

Both the pregnancy and size of two-and-a-half-year-old Peppa’s litter was a surprise to the Shepparton mother and local veterinarians after only seeing a definite three puppies on the ultrasound.

“Really, it’s two litters in one when you think about it,” Ms Ioranni said.

“It’s really exciting,” her two kids, Letti and Lakyn, said.

Suspecting that the birth was near, Ms Ioranni decided to sleep in the living room with her son on the night on June 29.

And just after 3am the little arrivals began.

“The first one came at 3.18am. The second by 4am,” Ms Ioranni said.

Just after the second birth, Letti was awoken by an unfamiliar sound and came out of her room to find two new puppies in the living room.

Letti stayed awake, constantly popping her head out of her bedroom to see if there were any more.

“I just went back to bed because I didn’t want to see Peppa actually giving birth,” Letti said.

Amid the magic, son Lakyn slept through the entire labour right beside Peppa on the couch.

He woke to the shock of 11 new housemates.

“It’s a bit weird,” he said.

Many of the puppies were named by Letti and Lakyn, while others were named by the children and families they’ll soon be going to.

After just nine days, Peppa is thriving, but caring for 11 newborn puppies has left her owner exhausted.

“After day two I feel like I have 11 newborns. I’m wrecked,” Ms Ioranni said.

“I’m up every two to three hours to help them feed.”

Although it’s been an exciting experience, Ms Ioranni said she didn’t plan on letting Pepper and the family’s other dog, Ziggy, have any more puppies.

And even though the family won’t be keeping any of the puppies, many will remain close to home.

“We’ve got our two and that’s enough for us,” Ms Ioranni said.

“So far, six are going to family and friends … we’ll sell the rest.”