Bitch killing 9 wk old puppy? - Page 1

I just had a really bad night and I'm wondering if anyone has ever heard of this before.  I have a litter of 5 9 wk old puppies.  They play free outside during the day and I let their dam out with them during the day.  Tonight I went to kennel them and found 1 puppy nearly dead (later died).  The bitch (their mother) had crushed her chest.  The other puppies were fine and seemed perfectly happy (they're now all permanently separated from her). 

A week ago I had noticed another littermate picking on this pup and this pup would run from the littermate - it seemed like more than normal puppy play so I'd started separating this pup at night just to be safe but during the day they seemed okay so i let them all together to socialize.  This was the smallest pup in the litter but seemed perfectly healthy.  I've heard of females killing very young pups but never something like this.  Has anyone ever had this happen?  Any thoughts? 

the other pups probably jumped the small one and made it squeal.  momma probably jumped in and finished it off.
does she have a high prey or pack drive?
I recently whelped a litter for a fellow breeder, as soon as the pups started crawling around, mom wanted to pounce them and play rough so she was never allowed with them unsupervised.  I was too afraid she would accidently hurt or even kill one.  I have had females of my own though that would dote on a pup and clean it till it was way over 1 year old.  just depends on the females.

I absolutely agree with Steve.  When the pups are 3 wks of age, the bitches milk has very little nutrients, basically is just fluid.  I start feeding my pups at two and a half weeks old with chicken livers and goats milk.  The bitch starts being with the pups less and less until only at night at 5 wks. By five weeks the pups are walking on a leash, very acquainted with their assigned crate(which goes to their new home with them.) By six weeks, my bitches are no longer with the pups. 

I would not chance my bitches, who are high drive yet sensible dogs, running over a puppy.  My brother had a bitch run over a 10 wk old puppy, breaking the head of the femur off. 

In addition, I want people to be more important to those puppies, than other dogs.  If I had five 9 wk old pups, they wouldn't be together.  They would have crate time, play time with me, and training time, all individually.  I would want them eating separately also, otherwise, how do you know who is eating what?  There should not be the opportunity for the little pup to be picked on.

Hope they find homes soon.  That has to be tough with all of them.

This is just what has worked for me, but to each their own.

Debbie

 I agree it is best to separate the pups from the mother by six weeks of age, completely, and during the last week I am normally taking the bitch out most of the time, letting her in with the pups for one feeding, so she does not get mastitis. 
There are some bitches which kill pups, and once they have learned to do it, I think it tends to happen, again and again. Better not to leave this bitch with her pups at all once they are weaned.