The size of the usual litter for a Georgian Shepherd is between three and ten puppies. But when Beli started to give birth in August, the delivery just went on and on. It lasted for 18 hours and resulted in 17 healthy puppies, nine females and eight males.

The Odishvili family, who owns the brood, is delighted, surprised and somewhat overwhelmed. Feeding is a busy affair, so the human family steps in to lend mum a helping hand. Newly born puppies sleep on a rug in the living room.

Georgian Shepherds were bred as working dogs and have been used in the Caucasus Mountains to guard sheep for centuries. The puppies will eventually be separated and given to new owners, but for now they are snug and happy as one super-sized family.