Does Raising a Litter with Both Parents Instead of Mother Only Change Anything? - Page 1

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by GSCat on 10 September 2020 - 22:09

Does raising a litter with both parents, as opposed to with the mother only, change the temperaments, activity levels, sibling relationships/interactions, mother/puppy relationships/interactions, or anything else of the puppies? Is it better or not as good? Or ???

Advantages? Disadvantages?

by hexe on 11 September 2020 - 04:09

There's no hard and fast answer--it depends on the individual temperament of both parents. Some bitches don't want any other dogs around their pups until they're trying to wean the little heathens, while others don't want another dog around the litter ever. Then there are females who welcome all dogs they're familiar with to hang out with the youngsters, even when they're just newborns.

Supervised  interaction with other members of the dogs that share the home can be very beneficial for the pups, once their eyes have opened and they've started walking, but only if those other dogs have proven themselves to be good with puppies, and have shown that they are good at reading the body language of other dogs and responding appropriately.  Direct supervision is a must, though--an adult dog that isn't the pup's mother may get fed up of a pup that's pawing at it's face and snap at them in warning, but a very young pup's reflexes aren't always the best and the little one may not move fast enough to avoid getting bitten. If that happens, it won't be the fault of the adult dog or the pup--it will be the fault of the human who wasn't policing and reading the dog/pup interaction correctly.


Q Man

by Q Man on 11 September 2020 - 09:09

I think "Hexe" hit it just right...
I think that in general the more that puppies are introduced to the better...But it really all depends on the Mother and what she will allow...
I've had "mothers" where they're just fine with anyone and other dogs being around...but I've also had females who would only allow my wife and myself to be around...and no other dogs... ... Then I've also had a female that bit my wife but not me...Then probably the best female I've ever had would growl at even me for the first few days when I'd go to pick up the puppies...After that she was fine but to begin with she was not having anyone around...
So you have to see and know what your female would allow...

~Bob~

Sunsilver

by Sunsilver on 11 September 2020 - 13:09

I know a woman whose husband had a very aggressive rottie female. The bitch wouldn't let her anywhere near the pups. So, she called her husband and told him to get his a** home to help with the whelping.

The female bit HIM!

Another breeder I know lost a couple of pups. She was unsure of the cause, but finally realized a teenaged male she thought was okay with the pups was actually NOT okay, and either stepped on them, or played with them too roughly.

So, supervise, supervise!

Rik

by Rik on 11 September 2020 - 17:09

Personally, I would not raise a pup past 8-10 weeks with the mother (unrestricted access) as I would prefer to be the focus in the pups life.

Some people separate the litter early for the express purpose of preventing dominance of weaker pups.

I do think it is beneficial in dogs that hunt as a pack or learn skills such as herding from skilled older dogs.

Other than maybe that, I don't see many positives and like said above, lots of opportunity for injury.

jmo,
Rik

by ValK on 11 September 2020 - 19:09

GSCat
what you're saying i think is just an imprinting of some elements of behavior, which not going to change pups significantly.
irregardless of age, pups was separated from one or both parents, they will grow into dogs, to what have already innate predisposition.
fearful pup won't become bold just because was prolonged stay with parents, siblings or other adult dogs.
aggressive pup won't change to soft and friendly and so on.
there also negative impact of prolongation, when pup become more tend to a company of own kind instead of human.

by GSCat on 11 September 2020 - 21:09

Thank you, hexe, Q Man, Sunsilver, and Rik

Is the likelihood of the female being less accommodating to human handling at least somewhat predictable based on temperament/civilness or bond with the handler? Or anything else?


Hired Dog

by Hired Dog on 12 September 2020 - 06:09

Valk, genetics will always rule in my opinion as well, however, exposure to the environment is what brings those genetics out for you to see. Its the environment that will shape those genetics.
So, a puppy that is very bold genetically may not be so bold the first time it encounters a car for example, making noise, going by, etc, but, if its a genetically sound puppy, it may look at the car strangely and take a step back, but, once it sees that its nothing to worry about, it will no longer have a problem with cars.

I have noticed that a lot of people think/believe that a bold puppy lacks fear or prudence, nothing is further from the truth. Fear/caution is normal and natural in all species and allows for the continuation of that species.
Running across a 6 lane road with cars traveling at 80 KPH is not being genetically brave, its being genetically stupid.
Will it make a fearful puppy a brave one? NO, but, it will make a brave puppy adopt and understand the world and how to function in it.

GK1

by GK1 on 12 September 2020 - 11:09

I like what hexe wrote. My litter before sold between 7.5-9 weeks was raised with 4 adult dogs, including the parents. Went well overall, but required vigilance and close observation throughout the process. Both parents fortunately were excellent. My concern initially was the non-parents. One wanted nothing to do with the pups and I mainly kept him separate. The other, a cat and rodent killer, was nonchalant and well mannered when the pups were small and squeaky. She eventually was allowed by mom and I to interact with the litter. I also introduced hand feeding and solids at 3 weeks, swimming at 5, and then periodic separation - but how those environmental techniques influenced the pups I'm not sure and is another gray area topic. I get glowing reviews from the pups’ new homes, so possibly the 2 parent experience was a positive factor.


by ValK on 12 September 2020 - 11:09

hired, i just expressed my through to a question "does pups change the temperaments, activity levels, sibling relationships/interactions, mother/puppy relationships/interactions, or anything else of the puppies" by staying with single vs. both parents.
all other talk about caution, monitoring, road crossing, etc. are irrelevant to question.





 


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