Poodle gives birth to 16 puppies, possibly tying record for her breed

(Inside Edition) The puppies kept on coming for Crystal the poodle, who gave birth to an incredible litter in Minnesota that may have broken a record.

"She looked like she was expecting an average-sized litter," owner Kelli Hewitt told InsideEdition.com. "We were astounded to witness puppies coming one right after another over a 24-hour period."

When all was said and done, the 3-year-old dog had delivered a whopping 16 English Creme Golden doodles on August 28, possibly tying the record litter for her breed, according to Hewitt.

She gave birth to five males -- Antonio, Kendal, Oliver, Symington, and Kenai -- and 11 females: Gracie, Lily, Molly, Sophie, Coco, Daisy, Zoe, Sadie, Maggie, Bella, and Phoebe.

The record for the largest litter ever born to a dog is held by Tia, a Neapolitan mastiff who welcomed 24 puppies in 2004 by Cesarean section, according to Guinness World Records. Four of the puppies, however, passed away.

But the record book doesn't recognize the size of litters by breed, so there is no official record for the largest litter of poodles, Hewitt said. She has since learned of another poodle named Charlie, who gave birth to 16 puppies in British Columbia in 2008.

Hewitt, who breeds therapy dogs for children and adults with special needs or a history of trauma at Rockadoodles in Lancaster, said Crystal's puppies will be great therapy dog prospects.

The dogs have important healing powers, she added.

"We have witnessed first-hand how a puppy can teach a child to reciprocate love along with the benefit and value of learning to care for an animal," she said. "We have children with Attachment Disorder, PTSD, ADHD and some who have suffered past physical abuse."

Crystal's dogs will be perfect for the job.

"Poodles are one of the most popular dogs in the world," she said. "They are intelligent and responsive."