Introduction
The bond between a mother dog and her puppies is incredibly strong. From the moment they are born, puppies rely on their mother for food, warmth, comfort, and protection. As the puppies grow, the mother dog cares for their every need, providing them round the clock nurturing and support until they are old enough to be weaned and separated around 6-8 weeks of age.
When the time comes for the puppies to leave their mother and go to new homes, it can be an extremely difficult transition for the mother dog. Separating puppies from their mother goes against her natural instincts to nurture and protect her babies. As a result, mother dogs often experience severe distress, anxiety, depression, and grief when the puppies leave.
This article examines the various behaviors and emotional responses exhibited by mother dogs after their puppies go to new homes. The goal is to provide pet owners with an understanding of this difficult transition so they can better support the mother dog during this time.
Maternal Bond
During pregnancy and after giving birth, mother dogs experience significant hormonal changes that promote bonding with their puppies. Dogs release elevated levels of oxytocin, the “love hormone,” during nursing and close interactions with their puppies. One study found higher oxytocin levels in mothers after 15 minutes of nursing compared to controls (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8071241/). This oxytocin release helps strengthen the maternal bond and encourages nurturing, protective behaviors.
Mother dogs become extremely attached to their litters, providing constant care and attention in the first weeks after birth. They nuzzle, clean, nurse, and watch over the puppies night and day. The mother is very affectionate with her puppies, often sleeping curled up around them for warmth and contact. This close physical bond ensures the puppies receive the care they need to thrive. Mother dogs are extremely protective of their puppies during this phase, reluctant to leave them alone even for short periods.
Weaning Process
The weaning process starts when puppies are around 3-4 weeks old. At this age, puppies begin weaning off their mother’s milk and transitioning to solid food [1]. The mother dog starts discouraging nursing and limiting access to milk. She will refuse to let the puppies nurse, growl or snap if they try to nurse when she does not want them to [2].
As the puppies are weaned off the mother’s milk, they become more independent and begin exploring their surroundings without their mother. The puppies will start interacting and playing more with their littermates. They gain confidence and curiosity as they become less reliant on their mother [3].
Behavior Before Separation
In the weeks leading up to separation, the mother dog closely monitors her puppies and becomes increasingly protective and aggressive towards outsiders who approach her puppies. She keeps the puppies close by and in her sight at all times. The mother dog will exhibit anxious behaviors such as whimpering, whining, and frantic searching if the puppies wander too far away or are out of her sight.
This behavior is natural as the mother dog strives to keep the puppies safe and protected before they leave the litter. Her maternal instincts and bond with the puppies leads her to be very cautious and alert to any potential dangers. The mother dog seeks to minimize risks and make sure none of the puppies wander away or get lost in the weeks right before separation occurs.
Separation Anxiety
When puppies first leave their mother, it’s common for the mother dog to experience symptoms of separation anxiety as she grieves the loss of her puppies. According to the Dog Behavior Experts on Quora, mother dogs can absolutely feel depressed, sad and worried when separated from their puppies after adoption.
Some common behaviors a mother dog may display include pacing, whining, loss of appetite, and searching for her missing puppies (1). This depression stems from the extremely strong maternal bond formed between a mother dog and her puppies. Having nursed, cared for, and bonded with her puppies for weeks, their sudden absence can be very distressing.
It’s not uncommon for mother dogs to experience a sense of loss similar to human grief when separated from their young. She may wander the house looking for her puppies, wait by the door for them to return, or even refuse to eat. Providing extra love and attention can help ease her anxiety. But in most cases, given time to adjust, the mother dog will return to her normal routines.
Coping Methods
Providing extra attention and affection can help the mother dog cope with the separation from her puppies. Even if the puppies are still in the home but separated in another area, giving the mother frequent love and contact with her owner helps to fill the void of no longer constantly caring for her young.[1]
Maintaining normal routines, sleeping areas, feeding schedules, and exercise can provide comfort through the familiar in the midst of such a major transition.[2] Avoiding disruption to the mother dog’s lifestyle reduces overall stress and anxiety during the separation period.
Allowing the mother dog to periodically see, smell, and interact with her puppies under supervision enables her to gradually adjust to the separation. This continued contact reassures her that the puppies are safe and cared for.[3]
[1] https://www.petinsurance.com/healthzone/ownership-adoption/pet-ownership/raising-new-pets/dog-litter-separation/
[2] https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/training/how-to-help-your-new-puppy-deal-with-separation-anxiety/
[3] https://www.quora.com/How-does-a-mother-dog-feel-when-she-is-separated-from-her-puppies
Behavior Changes
Once the puppies have left, the mother dog will experience notable changes in behavior as she adjusts to her new reality without the demands of motherhood. According to this source on dog maternal behavior, the mother dog may become significantly less alert and protective than she was while caring for her young. Without those motherly duties requiring her constant vigilance, she is likely to seem much more calm and relaxed overall.
The mother dog may also miss certain aspects of motherhood that gave her purpose and fulfillment. Caring for a litter of puppies can be a very meaningful experience for a female dog. According to this article on Quora, while some mother dogs feel relieved when their puppies leave, others seem to miss the motherhood duties and may even search for the missing puppies. With the right support from her human family, however, the mother dog can transition to the next phase of her life.
Long-Term Effects
After her puppies have been taken away, the mother dog usually returns to her pre-motherhood personality within a few weeks. The powerful maternal instincts and behaviors she displayed while caring for her little ones will fade as her hormones return to normal levels. This transition can be difficult, and some sadness or depression may linger as the mother dog misses her puppies. But most dogs are resilient and bounce back to their old selves once their bodies have recovered from pregnancy and nursing.
With the puppies gone, the mother dog’s next heat cycle will resume. So within months she may be able to get pregnant again and experience motherhood with a new litter. This helps some dogs move on, as they can focus their maternal drive on the next batch of puppies. But other dogs may not wish to experience pregnancy and nursing again after having puppies taken away.
It’s important for owners to provide extra love, attention and support in the weeks after puppies leave. This helps the mother dog feel less lonely and distressed. Long walks, cuddle sessions, durable chew toys, and food puzzles with treats can help provide physical and mental stimulation. And positive reinforcement training is a great way to rebuild the bond. With time and patience, the mother dog will be back to her usual self.
Preparing for Separation
One of the keys to easing the transition is preparing the mother dog ahead of time by getting her used to being alone. As the American Kennel Club notes, mother dogs can benefit from having some time away from the litter starting a few weeks before separation.
Try taking the mother dog for short walks or time in another room, starting with just a few minutes at a time and working up to longer periods. This allows her to start getting accustomed to the new routine.
It’s also advisable to establish scheduled feeding times for the puppies early on, as recommended by PetMD. Feed the puppies set meals without allowing the mother to eat from their bowls. This helps facilitate the weaning process and prevents the mother from competing for food.
As the separation date nears, be alert for anxious behaviors in the mother dog like whining, pacing, or repeatedly returning to the puppies. Redirect her gently with praise, treats or chew toys when this happens. Getting her focused on positive activities makes the transition smoother.
With some preparation and patience, both the mother dog and puppies will be ready when it’s time for the puppies to start their new lives. The key is making separation a gradual process and providing the mother dog with adequate support.
Providing Support
Losing her puppies can be very difficult and emotional for a mother dog. Be sure to give her extra love, attention, and quality time during this transition. Spend time petting, brushing, playing, exercising, and training with her. This will help reassure her and ease the feelings of loss.
In some cases, the mother dog may become depressed after the puppies leave. Signs of depression include loss of appetite, lack of interest in normal activities, and lethargy. If these symptoms persist for more than a few days, talk to your veterinarian about prescribing antidepressants to help her through this time.
Provide new forms of enrichment to serve as a positive distraction. Rotating new toys, food puzzles, and chews can give her mind something else to focus on. Take her on new walks and outings to provide mental stimulation. Teaching her new tricks and commands can help redirect her maternal instincts in a positive way.
With ample care and attention from her owner, the mother dog can adapt to life after her puppies in a healthy way. Don’t hesitate to consult your veterinarian if you have any concerns about her transition.