Inter and intra litter variation in maternal behaviour in German shepherd dogs and its effects on the behaviour of puppies

Abstract

Fifteen litters of German shepherds were periodically observed from birth to seven weeks post partum. Times mothers spent nursing and licking puppies were noted. In nine litters puppies were individually marked to facilitate registration of individual behaviour. In those litters, frequencies of behaviour performed by each puppy as well as which puppy received maternal attention. was registered. All puppies were tested according to a specially designed puppy test at the age of eight weeks. Most dogs were also tested at adult age. There were large variations in how much time the mothers spent nursing and licking puppies were observed. Puppies in litters where the mother spent much time nursing during the first month was found to leave the whelping box later. The regression from the time mothers spent nursing on puppies performance at the test was Sound to be weak. The amount of time mothers spent licking puppies during the first four weeks was found to correspond to different scores at test. Puppies being subject to a lot of licking were less emotional at lest. Amount of licking between week 4-6 was found to correspond to puppies contact scores to humans at test. Puppies in litters where the mothers spent much time licking showed lower contact scores at test and it is suggested that this is achieved by a stronger social bonding to the mother, and hence less bonding to humans. No correspondence between how the items of maternal activities were distributed within the litters and performance of puppies at test was found. However female puppies were punished 75% more often than male puppies during weaning. Female puppies were more active than male puppies. No correspondence was found between any registered parameters in the maternal environment and the behaviour at adult age. The results imply that the inter litter variation in maternal behaviour has a greater impact on behaviour than the intra litter variation. This makes maternal effects on the behaviour in progeny more likely to be found. No correspondence between the maternal environment and adult behaviour were found which correspond to the results in other studies indicating that maternal effects may be found on puppy behaviour. but not on the behaviour of adult dogs.