Do dogs eat their puppies?

These behaviors mimic the actions of prey animals, such as mice. Some dogs, especially terriers and terrier mixes, have a rodent-killing heritage. Although any dam can cannibalize her pups, these dogs may instinctively be compelled to eat their puppies if they fail to recognize them as their own. read more

T he birth of a litter of puppies is often eagerly anticipated. Unfortunately, this happy event is sometimes marred by tragedy. Puppy deaths occur, and sometimes the dam is the apparent cause of these deaths. On rare occasions, mother dogs will even eat her puppies. read more

Some dogs may kill their puppies if they feel stressed from not having a quiet secluded place for the litter to live. There may be too many people coming to see the litter or the litter may be too big for the dog to handle. The dam's stress levels may cause her to do the unthinkable. read more

Dogs eat their newborn puppies when they do not recognize the puppies as their own, because the pain from mastitis and suckling provokes aggression, or because a puppy is stillborn or unhealthy. However, cannibalism rarely occurs among canines. Some breeders theorize that cannibalism is an inherited trait that may pass from one litter to the next. read more