Introduction
It’s a bittersweet moment when a puppy leaves its mother for a new home. On one hand, the puppy is embarking on an exciting new adventure. But on the other, the mother dog is losing one of her babies. As the tiny, wide-eyed puppies get scooped up one by one, the mama dog watches attentively. Sometimes she even whimpers and cries out. Her reaction makes you wonder—is she sad to see them go?
While dogs may not experience the full range of human emotions, it’s clear that mother dogs feel a strong maternal bond with their puppies. Separating a mama dog from her litter impact her in a variety of ways. She may miss nursing her puppies and the daily bustle of a full litter. Most dogs will adjust given time, but some signs of sadness are normal. With proper preparation and care, mama dogs can cope with this transition and move on to the next stage of life.
Maternal Bond
The bond between a mother dog and her puppies begins even before the puppies are born. When a female dog is pregnant, her body releases oxytocin and prolactin, hormones that prime her for motherhood and strengthen the maternal bond.
This bond intensifies after birth through behaviors like nursing. When a mother dog nurses her puppies, her body releases oxytocin, the same hormone released in human mothers. Oxytocin promotes bonding, trust, and feelings of love between mother and offspring 1.
Nursing and grooming her puppies further strengthens the mother dog’s bond with her litter. This maternal bond serves an important evolutionary purpose, ensuring the mother diligently cares for her offspring until they are old enough to fend for themselves.
Weaning Process
The weaning process for puppies typically begins around 3-4 weeks of age and occurs gradually over the next few weeks https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/breeding-for-dog-owners-caring-from-birth-to-weaning. As the puppies start to develop teeth, nursing can become uncomfortable or painful for the mother dog. To prepare both the puppies and mother for separation, breeders start limiting nursing sessions and feeding the puppies solid food.
The puppies are separated from their mother for short periods at first, then for longer periods over the course of several weeks https://www.webmd.com/pets/dogs/weaning-puppies-what-do. This gradual weaning process helps the puppies transition to eating solid food and reduces stress for the mother as she adjusts to no longer nursing her litter. Going through this process slowly and methodically is important for the wellbeing of both mama dog and the puppies.
Signs of Sadness
When puppies leave their mother, the mama dog may exhibit signs of sadness due to the loss. Some common symptoms include whimpering, pacing, and loss of appetite. According to EatingWell, whimpering or whining can indicate that a dog is feeling sad or stressed after her puppies are gone. The mama dog may pace around the house looking for her babies. A depressed mama dog may also lose interest in food and not want to eat as much. These behavioral changes are similar to the symptoms humans exhibit when grieving a major loss.
Other potential indicators of sadness in mama dogs include lethargy, loss of interest in toys or walks, and seeking more affection or attention from owners. If a mama dog’s symptoms persist more than a few days or seem severe, it’s a good idea to consult a veterinarian. While post-weaning depression is normal, the vet can check for any underlying health issues and provide tips for helping the mourning mama dog cope.
Coping Mechanisms
The weaning and separation process can be emotionally difficult for mother dogs. Providing extra attention, toys, and treats can help them cope with this transition. According to one source, “Make sure she has plenty of stimulation – walks, training sessions, puzzle toys etc. – to distract her from missing the puppies” (https://www.agriapet.co.uk/guides-and-advice/prepare-dogs-for-puppies-leaving-home/). Keeping the mother dog’s routine consistent and providing quality time with human companions helps fill the void left behind when her puppies go to new homes.
It’s important not to isolate the mother dog after her puppies leave. As pack animals, dogs thrive on social interaction. Spending dedicated one-on-one time doing favorite activities can lift a mother dog’s spirits. New toys are also recommended to keep her mentally and physically engaged in this transition period. With patience and care from owners, mother dogs can adapt to life after their litter leaves home.
Litter Reunions
Mama dogs often remember their puppies when they are reunited after time apart. According to a 2013 study on dog memory from Current Biology, dogs have excellent long-term memory and can remember other dogs or humans for years at a time (https://www.cell.com/current-biology/fulltext/S0960-9822(13)01208-7). This memory allows mother dogs to recognize their puppies even after months or years of separation.
There are many anecdotal stories of mother dogs showing clear signs of recognition when meeting grown puppies from previous litters. The mother may sniff the puppy intently, lick its face, and show maternal body language like allowing the puppy to nurse. Puppies also frequently recognize and show affinity for their mother dog during a reunion.
While the bond between a mama dog and her pups can persist despite long separations, the strength of the reunion may depend on how long they were together originally. Puppies taken away at 6-8 weeks have spent more crucial developmental time bonding with their mother compared to puppies adopted earlier at 4-6 weeks. Overall though, the ability for both mother and offspring to remember each other long-term highlights the powerful maternal connection dogs share.
Adopting Mama Too
Adopting both the mama dog and her puppy together can have many benefits. The mother dog can help teach the puppy important skills like bite inhibition, potty training, and more. Having the mother dog around provides a sense of comfort and security for the puppy as it transitions to its new home. This can help reduce stress and anxiety in the puppy. Additionally, the strong bond between mother and puppy remains intact, rather than being severed by separation. According to one article, keeping mother and puppy together leads to a well-trained and socialized puppy. Overall, adopting the mother dog in addition to her puppy keeps their loving relationship alive while also facilitating an easier transition for the puppy into its new life.
When To Breed Again
There is debate amongst breeders on the appropriate timing for breeding a female dog again after she has had a litter. While some breeders advocate for back-to-back breeding, others recommend waiting until the next heat cycle or even longer. There are pros and cons to consider when deciding on back-to-back breeding.
The main benefits of back-to-back breeding are that the female can produce more litters in her lifetime and the breeder can produce more puppies. It also eliminates the downtime between litters. However, there are health and welfare risks to the dam. Breeding too soon after a litter does not give the female enough time to fully recover and replenish her nutrient stores (Source). This can lead to weakened bones, anemia, and issues with future litters if the body is depleted. Back-to-back breeding also does not allow the female proper time to bond with a new litter if she is still emotionally attached to the previous one.
The general recommendation from reputable breeders is to wait until the dam’s next natural heat cycle to breed again, which typically occurs 6 to 12 months after the previous litter (Source). This allows time for the female to fully wean, recover physically, regain optimal body condition, and go through a heat cycle indicating readiness. While the breeder produces fewer litters, the welfare of the dam is prioritized.
Providing Proper Care
After the excitement of puppies being born, it’s important for pet parents to provide proper care for momma dog during the nursing period. One of the most critical elements is taking momma dog and puppies to the vet within 24 hours after birth for a wellness check, according to this source: https://www.urbanpethospital.com/blog/post/care-mother-dog-pups-after-delivery. The vet will check for any retained placentas or other postpartum health issues. Regular vet checkups are crucial in those early weeks to monitor mom’s recovery and the health of puppies.
Nutritional support is also very important for nursing mother dogs. According to this source, mother dogs need plenty of fresh water after giving birth as they can become easily dehydrated: https://www.pedigree.in/health-and-grooming/well-being/how-to-take-care-mother-dogs-puppies. Providing a high-quality puppy food or special lactation formula food will give momma the extra calories and nutrients she needs for milk production. Keeping food and water close to the whelping area makes it easy for mom to eat and drink while nursing. With proper vet care and nutrition, momma dog will be set up for success during the demanding nursing period.
Conclusion
In summary, mother dogs form an extremely strong bond with their puppies that starts before birth and continues after the puppies leave her care. While the separation can be difficult for the mother at first, she is resilient and dedicated to the wellbeing of her puppies. With proper weaning, socialization, and independence training, puppies can transition smoothly to new homes while the mother dog adjusts to life without them. Though she may temporarily show signs of sadness like searching, crying, and lack of appetite, the mother dog’s devotion ensures she wants what is best for her puppies. Mama dogs have an astounding capacity to love puppies, let them go, and welcome or create new litters when the time is right. As long as her needs for exercise, nutrition and social interaction are met, the mother dog can thrive before, during and after raising a litter of puppies.