Why Does My Mother Dog Carry a Newborn Puppy Around with the Puppy's Head in Her Mouth?

It could be quite surprising or frightening to see a mother dog holding her baby's head in its mouth. You might wonder if it's normal behavior, or if intervention is necessary. Puppy handling of this nature is actually common in dogs, although you should not mimic doing it yourself.

  1. Safety

    • It's absolutely normal for a mother dog to carry a newborn puppy around by its head; this behavior is not an aggressive or cannibalistic act. A mother might move her newborn puppies if she doesn't like the nursery area you have designated for her. She might also use this tactic to teach her puppies subordination. It's common for a puppy to whimper during these procedures, but puppies are seldom injured by this type of handling.

    Problem

    • If you suspect that the mother dog is actually harming her puppies, contact a vet. According to New Leash On Life, hormonal imbalances could occur in mother dogs that could cause aggressive behavior. Medication is often required.

    Scruffing

    • The extra skin on the back of a dog's or cat's neck is called scruff. When a mother carries her pup by its scruff, it could look like she's holding it by the skull. This is also normal and definitely safe. Very young puppies actually become limp when they are lifted up by their necks, which is useful when a mother is transporting or training her pups. An adult dog might use scruffing to display dominance to another dog.

    Owner Behavior

    • As an owner, you should avoid picking up the puppy in the same way that the mother does. A mother will pick up the puppies by scruff or head, but usually only until the puppy can move around by itself. Letting a puppy dangle by its neck or head could cause injury or put stress on its muscles. Frequent handling of a puppy in general is a good idea, as it helps facilitate socialization with people, but pick up a puppy in the same way you'd pick up an older dog by supporting its torso. In case of emergency, such as during a dog fight, feel free to gently take hold of your dog's neck.