When it comes to motherhood, dogs can't read about it in books or learn about it during a Lamaze class. But they almost always get it right, even if they're giving birth to a first litter. So where does the mothering skill come from? Why nature, of course. By 'nature' I refer to the mental hard-wiring and priming that automatically leads to the correct behaviors in bitches during and after birthing. But what about nurture – the acquired aspect of mothering? That plays an important role, too, but nurture cannot operate in the absence of the correct infrastructure to support motherhood. Natural Aspects One of the most powerful pieces of evidence for the inherited nature of maternal behavior comes from studies in mice. In 1999, scientists discovered a gene that controlled maternal behavior in mice. Without the gene, mice showed a striking impairment in maternal behavior that led to the death of the majority of their offspring.
Without a sound, two properly socialized dogs meeting for the first time can size each other up in just a few moments. An exchange of glances can tell each canine if they’re going to be friends or enemies....
Scriptwriters would have us believe that dogs and cats fan the flames of passion like humans. Boy meets girl; boy woos girl; and boy and girl live happily ever after. The formula has worked like a charm...
A puppy's relationships with his mother and littermates during the first eight weeks of his life determine his personality and what kind of companion he'll be. His mother will provide for his basic needs,...
The proposition that animals share some of the same feelings as man - actually experiencing pain, grief and joy – is winning more adherents. And animal rights activists point to that theory as a concrete...
Dogs began having puppies long before humans came into their lives, so there’s no need for day-to-day management of your pregnant dog. It’s more important to understand what’s normal during pregnancy and...
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