Puppy suckling on older dog(not mother)

Rain_is_Insane

I have a 10 week old puppy and a 6 year old boxer (both female) The pup (understandably being away from her mother) is suckling on the older dog. I'm sure she's not getting anything as the boxer has never had pups herself. Question is....is this hurting the older dog in any way? She doesn't seem to be pushing her away or anything, but the boxer is as soft as puppy poo and would let her get away with anything. I give the baby puppy milk and she eats well on complete dried pup food. I'm thinking she's doing it out of instinct but do i stop her???

nealallen

My Dog, Goldie once produced milk when our Collie had her pups. It was a good job as Meg, the collie, abandoned her pups at a couple of weeks old.

Don't rule out your dog doing the same. Even our vet at the time didn't belive us that Goldie had milk. It can happen. Goldie was too as soft as they come.

The pup won't be doing any harm to your dog, as you said, it's just instinct. The only thing is, it's no for the pup at 10 weeks to either be feeding by teat or even looking too. She should be well outof all that, but she will grow out of it.

Hope that helps a bit

Rain_is_Insane

The boxer apparently had a phantom pregnancy before and produced milk according to our vet, but that was years ago. Could she still be going through these symptoms and producing milk after all this time? The pup came from a breeder so it's not like the older dog was around when the pup was born.

The only thing is, it's no for the pup at 10 weeks to either be feeding by teat or even looking too.....The mother died in childbirth so it's never really had anything to suckle on....i think the breeder was more interested in getting the money rather than raising the pups...maybe thats why?

And thank you for the reply

Raksha

If this were my pup, I'd be discouraging it (and checking the Boxer out for another phantom) - whilst it's cute, you really want to emphasis the bond between the humans in the family and the pup, not between the two dogs. It will make life easier for training and (doG forbid) should anything happen to either dog which cuts their life together short.

Rain_is_Insane

Thank you for your advice Raksha.

The general concensus(sp) between family and friends is that i should discourage it, but the majority of them are not dog owners. I think i just needed the advice of other owners/trainers/breeders

She is very clingy to me but i think thats because i am home all day and i feed her, play with her, clean up her "accidents" so the bond between humans isn't a problem (not with me anyway)

They are separated at night time, one with me and one with my son, and we alternate this....mainly to give the big one a little "alone time" and they both seem happy about this. Should i keep this up? or bite the bullet, stick em both together, and endure the kicking/twitching/noisy dreaming, and licking my feet !!?

Raksha

Yes, I'd keep things the way they are - if you put them both together you can't stop the suckling sessions, and if the Boxer is having a phantom and is being suckled, she'll go on producing milk as long as she's being suckled, and this will drag her down.

Was this pup hand reared?

thevanman_3

Think yourself lucky! Our lovely Collie was producing milk for our Kitten last year!!

Rain_is_Insane

Raksha wrote: »

Was this pup hand reared?

It was hand "ignored"....does that count??

pollyanna24

Heehee, this reminded me when we got our kitten. She suckled off our Alsatian when we first got her! We never stopped her, too busy laughing. She eventually stopped.

beachbeth

Ive had two puppies do this to my eldest dog and she was perfectly happy to let them suck away at her rolls of fat!:D You don't have to do anything, its normal for them to do this and they do eventually realise that they get no milk and will grow out of it. I think its quite sweet but it won't go on forever believe me!

west_is_best

beachbeth wrote: »

Ive had two puppies do this to my eldest dog and she was perfectly happy to let them suck away at her rolls of fat!:D You don't have to do anything, its normal for them to do this and they do eventually realise that they get no milk and will grow out of it. I think its quite sweet but it won't go on forever believe me!

Exactly, dont panic.

I have 3 gorgeous labs and 11 6 week old puppies, when l let them all out to play together, all 11 suckle on all 3 labs...... :rotfl: :rotfl:
It doesnt harm them, the day will come when the puppy will start chewing the eldest one and she will growl her off, that will be a warning for her to stop.

Let nature take its course..... it will sort.