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Is it normal for a dog to bite it's puppies?
We're fostering a Husky mom and her four puppies. The mom nipped at one of the puppy's faces when they get close to her face. And once when they got close to a bone she had. The dogs then whimpered and squealed.
Is this something we should worry about?
Is this something we should worry about?
answers (6)
I think this really depends on the breed. I've raised a few different breeds of dog, and nipping is normal amongst all of them. My huskies have been a bit territorial with toys/bones/people at times, and can be a bit jealous with new pups.
The important thing to do is to make sure the mother isn't injuring the pups. If she is, you may want to consider training her a bit and let her know that the puppies are a part of the family, and she can't be aggressive with them, or it will result in punishment.
The important thing to do is to make sure the mother isn't injuring the pups. If she is, you may want to consider training her a bit and let her know that the puppies are a part of the family, and she can't be aggressive with them, or it will result in punishment.
From the way you are explaining it, it looks like a disciplinary situation, because nipping doesn't hurt the dogs more than startles them, the mom probably didn't want to play with the pup and the pup didn't get it, so it got nipped. Huskies are great dogs, and one dog can train the other if it feels like it can. that's how a pack turns into a pack in the wild. Just make sure neither are getting injured and it shouldn't be a problem.
Voted as best: bbrookin
Not really. Remember, a dogs mouth are like your hands, it is a primary form of communications. She is warning the pups away from something, her face (they need to be at the other end) or her food(suckling mothers need lots of calcium. She's being a good mom.
source(s):
15 years experience raising Rottwielers
15 years experience raising Rottwielers
Most puppy have high energy level. It can be overwhelming to the mother dog, so it's not surprising that eventually she had enough, and bite the puppy. Basically as a disciplinary action just like a mother might do to her child. You must supervise your dogs, and not allow the puppy to aggravate the older dog to such a degree that she's inclined to bite! also the mother dog may be stressed, just like human mothers get stressed. I have a cat who did the same thing well kinda, she would smack them when she was eating because she did not want to feed them. I asked the vet and they said this was her way of saying this is my eating time, leave me alone, I dont want to play or feed you right now. Lol. Well I hope this helps.
source(s):
Personal experience, and vet advice. :)
Personal experience, and vet advice. :)
Voted as best: beast1oh1
She is probably showing alpha tendencies, trying to get her puppies to know she's the "boss". Unless the puppies' skin is being broken (IE bleeding) I'd just accept it as normal canine behavior. If she actually mauls one of them, or makes one of them bleed, I'd be more concerned.
Voted as best: masontx
I agree with most of the posts above. She's teaching them basic puppy manners.
By the way, fosters rule.
By the way, fosters rule.
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