Parent Separation?
- Thread starter JLSOhio51
- Start date
danisgoat
Moderator
My experience is mostly with Irish Setters, but the mom seems relieved with the pups are finally gone. This can also be because setter litters are so large, and therefore so exhausting for the mom. We start keeping the puppies from mom around 6 weeks. We let her initiate the visit if she wants to visit. In regards to having separation anxiety, mom always seems perfectly fine when the puppy leaves. We let the mom say goodbye, meet the new parents, and check the puppy out in the car before they leave.
When the pups come back to visit. The siblings are always thrilled to see each other. They run and play like crazy. Mom says a hello, wags her tail, sometimes plays for a bit, but generally seems content when they go back to their new home
When the pups come back to visit. The siblings are always thrilled to see each other. They run and play like crazy. Mom says a hello, wags her tail, sometimes plays for a bit, but generally seems content when they go back to their new home
labgirl
Forums Sage
With Cadbury, his mum went to a new home before he did as she was being retired from breeding. She apparently had no issues leaving the pups.
It is a very interesting question, as when we take a pup on they are not technically independent or self-sufficient, so you could imagine this causing distress to the dams. For instance in sheep, when a ewe's lamb is removed they cry and the ewes will cry and try to follow the lambs. My brother has found this quite upsetting at times.
Yet it does not seem to be the case in dogs. Is his because the bond between humans and dogs is stronger and they trust us with their pups? Or could it be after so many generations of pups being removed at 8 weeks dogs have lost their long-term maternal instincts? After all a breeding bitch will likely have left home at 8 weeks, thus she would not know what it was to have a long-term bond with her mother. Rather she has moved that bond onto her human parent.
I wonder if it is also depends on the breed? I know labs can show an amazing memory and affection for offspring they have not seen in years.
It is a very interesting question, as when we take a pup on they are not technically independent or self-sufficient, so you could imagine this causing distress to the dams. For instance in sheep, when a ewe's lamb is removed they cry and the ewes will cry and try to follow the lambs. My brother has found this quite upsetting at times.
Yet it does not seem to be the case in dogs. Is his because the bond between humans and dogs is stronger and they trust us with their pups? Or could it be after so many generations of pups being removed at 8 weeks dogs have lost their long-term maternal instincts? After all a breeding bitch will likely have left home at 8 weeks, thus she would not know what it was to have a long-term bond with her mother. Rather she has moved that bond onto her human parent.
I wonder if it is also depends on the breed? I know labs can show an amazing memory and affection for offspring they have not seen in years.
Justicemom
Forums Celebrity
I think it depends on the bitch in question. Puppies actually are started to be naturally weaned by the moms somewhere about 4 weeks if another food source is available for the pups. Teeh are coming in, it hurts! Some bitches will allow the pups to continue to nurse for longer some will be ready for it to be done. They are still around the pups and they still interact with them and there is so many other things the bitch is to the pups then a milk bar.
What we do is start introduing ground kibble or ground meat around 3.5 weeks and by the time the pups are 6 weeks they are usually weaned. At 6 weeks, we remove the puppies from the bitch at night and they are housed together in a pen. Mom visits the whole day. At 7 weeks they are individually crated and housetraining is started. We place puppies between 8-10 weeks and everyone is use to the crate and started on housetraining. Mom is around and some "aunts' to teach them manners. Ember is excellent at this.
Diva always liked her puppies. She would never wean them on her own and whenever they were around she would let them nurse. I had to physically remove her at 8 weeks and keep her away. But when they left she was like Thank you and never missed them. She played with them all the time. Whne they came back to visit, she was happy to play with them but no more so then any other dogsshe had known.
Vogue, who is Divas' niece would be done with them at 5 weeks. Snarly , stay away from me , no nursing at all she would play with them but she would have no part is silliness. She was always happy to see them go.
Even if we kept a pup longer to 12 weeks or more the moms would spend less and less time with them on their own after 10 weeks. Puppies start looking to each other and the older puppies after 10 weeks and IMO can overbond to littermates after 10 weeks. So if breeders keep them, they should be being seperated at regular times.
That is something I see all the time with litters that come into rescues. No socialization, no seperation- makes over co-dependent puppies. SO if a breeder is keeping a puppy to 10-12 weeks, they better darn well be starting socailization and handling with them and not just be letting them hang out together.
What we do is start introduing ground kibble or ground meat around 3.5 weeks and by the time the pups are 6 weeks they are usually weaned. At 6 weeks, we remove the puppies from the bitch at night and they are housed together in a pen. Mom visits the whole day. At 7 weeks they are individually crated and housetraining is started. We place puppies between 8-10 weeks and everyone is use to the crate and started on housetraining. Mom is around and some "aunts' to teach them manners. Ember is excellent at this.
Diva always liked her puppies. She would never wean them on her own and whenever they were around she would let them nurse. I had to physically remove her at 8 weeks and keep her away. But when they left she was like Thank you and never missed them. She played with them all the time. Whne they came back to visit, she was happy to play with them but no more so then any other dogsshe had known.
Vogue, who is Divas' niece would be done with them at 5 weeks. Snarly , stay away from me , no nursing at all she would play with them but she would have no part is silliness. She was always happy to see them go.
Even if we kept a pup longer to 12 weeks or more the moms would spend less and less time with them on their own after 10 weeks. Puppies start looking to each other and the older puppies after 10 weeks and IMO can overbond to littermates after 10 weeks. So if breeders keep them, they should be being seperated at regular times.
That is something I see all the time with litters that come into rescues. No socialization, no seperation- makes over co-dependent puppies. SO if a breeder is keeping a puppy to 10-12 weeks, they better darn well be starting socailization and handling with them and not just be letting them hang out together.