Page 22 - Dog

Cubs and puppies

The puppies and cubs of all members of the dog
family (Canidae) look similar when they are
newborn. They are small, defenseless, and blind,
and have short hair, short legs, and a little tail. At first,
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
This mother fox is like all mammals, the cubs or puppies, which may vary Four-week-old Great Dane puppies…
bringing home a in number from one to twelve or more, can only
rabbit for her three
cubs, who are suck milk from their mother’s nipples. After a few
hungrily awaiting days (about nine for a domestic dog) their eyes
food in their den.
open, they begin to hear, and they soon
need more solid food. This is provided by the mother, and in
social species by other members of the group, who
regurgitate (vomit up) meat that they have previously
eaten. A mother dog who looks as though she is
being sick in front of her puppies is not ill but …playfully attacking each other…
rather is providing them with their first
solid meal. In the wild the young are IT‘S PLAYTIME
nearly always born in a den or hole in It is essential that all puppies be
allowed space in which to play.
the ground, and in the same way, a They must have exercise in order to
grow properly, but of equal
domestic dog needs a dark, warm importance is their need to learn
place where she can give social interaction with other dogs
and with humans. In this playing
birth, which will happen sequence, two Great Dane puppies
about 63 days after she (four weeks old) are learning to
has been mated. relate to each other.

…with one trying to dominate the other

LOOKING ENDEARING
The puppies of a Great Dane
(above and right) are no
different in their needs from
a Pekingese or a wolf.
But, as they are the
giants among dogs,
they require a great
deal of wholesome
meat, extra calcium
and vitamins, and
large bones to chew
(pp. 62–63). They also
need plenty of space in
which to play and exercise
All is well – they’re friends again their growing limbs.

Six-week-old Great
Dane puppies
NURSING MOTHER
This mother wolf
is contentedly
suckling her cubs,
but in a few weeks
their sharp little
milk teeth will have
grown and will hurt
her nipples. Then she
will begin to wean the cubs
with regurgitated meat.

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