Do dogs mind when you take their puppies?
Do dogs miss their puppies when they are taken away? If dogs have their puppies taken away too early or all at once, then they will miss them. As long as puppies are removed from eight weeks onwards and are given to owners gradually and not all in one go, she will soon be feeling herself.
Providing Your Dog With a Safe Space
Even if you have a whelping box, your dog may want to move her puppies to a different location. If that’s the case, try to give her a safe space where she can do so. This could be a room that you block off with baby gates or even just an area outside that is covered and fenced.
The key is to make sure the space is safe for both your dog and her puppies. It should be free of hazards and have everything they need like food, water, and bedding.
THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF MOTHERING BEHAVIORS
Once the puppies are born, there will be several behavioral changes the mother dog exhibits. However, these are not permanent. As soon as the puppies are a bit grown and not entirely dependent on the mother, she will go back to her usual self.
Here are the most common mothering behaviors.
Nesting
Before giving birth, a mother dog will start looking for a safe place to give birth. At this point, it literally looks like the dog is searching for something around the house. Some soon-to-be moms may even dig in the carpet or rearrange the furniture.
To help your dog find a safe and comfortable place to give birth and raise her puppies, you can buy a specifically designed litter crate or pen, or alternatively, you can make one on your own.
If you see your dog frequently lying inside the crate, it means she approves of it and feels safe and comfortable.
Aggressiveness
Even the calmest, laid-back, and even-tempered dog can show signs of aggression once her puppies are delivered. This is entirely normal as it is the mother’s job to protect her babies.
The aggression can be directed towards you as well. However, in most cases, it is directed toward people that come near her litter.
The aggression in new dog moms is a hormonally driven behavioral change and, as such, is limited. So, do not worry; your beloved dog will not snap and growl all the time – it is just a phase.
Tons of licking
Once the mother has her puppies, it will seem like all she does is lick her puppies. The licking is an entirely normal behavior that increases the bond between the mother and her puppies. The licking has another purpose – to simulate the digestion process and encourage elimination.
It should be noted that the licking if exaggerated, can be dangerous. Exaggerated licking occurs in certain breeds, such as the Bull terrier, as a part of the so-called excessive maternal care. Namely, the mother dog may lick her puppies so much that they can damage their skin, especially around the umbilicus and on the head.
Urinating in the house
A perfectly well-housebroken dog may start urinating around the house once she has puppies. This is because mothers are so protective they are reluctant to leave their puppies alone, even for a moment.
The house soiling is a short-lived behavior. In most mothers, it is present only during the first 24 hours after the puppies are born.
After the first day, you can take her outside for a brief period and take her back inside as soon as she relieves herself. That way, she will realize that she will be reunited with her pups shortly, feel more relaxed and stop doing her business inside the house.
How an experienced dog mother teaches her 8 weeks old puppies to be calm. www.sentfromheaven.at
It is natural for pets to carry things in their mouths. Holding something in their teeth boosts your dog’s confidence and calms them during stressful times. It also allows your pet to release their excitement and some of their hunting instinct safely. Depending on the breed and their original purpose, some dogs had this part of the hunting chain in particular reinforced so that they would bring prey to the human without tearing it apart. Although our pets are no longer destined for hunting, the instinct remains. So why does your dog keep bringing things? We will answer it in this article.