Inside the Puppy Pen: Day 6

Right now, the puppies spend much of their time sleeping. Blackberry was flat on his back, while a few others were piled across each other, all snuggled up close to mom.

We caught mom licking the puppies to help them go potty—something that might seem odd if you’ve never raised newborn pups, but it’s completely necessary. Puppies at this age can’t urinate or defecate on their own. They rely on their mother to stimulate them by licking their genital area. This is how they eliminate waste for the first couple of weeks of life.

It’s a crucial part of neonatal care, and it’s something mother dogs do instinctively. Without this stimulation, waste would build up and cause serious health issues. So while it might look like just grooming, it’s actually one of the most important jobs mom has during these early days.

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