Why does my dog separate one puppy and keep bringing it to my bed?

It can be hard to read their minds sometimes! Mom may feel like that individual pup is defective or not hers, hence the reason she keeps pushing it away. However, if the pup seems to be growing adequately, this isn't a concern. You may want to start weighing the puppy daily on a small kitchen scale to monitor its growth to make sure it is getting enough milk. Talk to your vet about how much it should gain per week. Smaller puppies (or "runts") can still grow into heathy adult dogs.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Sometimes the behavior of the mother is hard to understand and honestly, I can’t explain what Soska is doing. But what’s important is that she will still feed and care for this pup. I would advise you continue to keep putting her back in the box with Soska as much as you can. Hang in there and in about a week, it will be time to start offering canned puppy food anyways and they will be better able to regulate their own temperature. Best of luck to you, Soska, and the pups!

Yes, the underlying reason may be to move them to a safe den but if it is always the same pup that she moves away from the others she may be sensing a problem with this particular pup which she may feel instinctively is a threat to the remaining pups

It could just be that Mimi trusts you and wants you to be there with her and her puppies. Moving the puppies and whelping box closer to you may help make Mimi feel a bit more comfortable and let you sleep. If you suspect Mimi or any of the puppies may be ill and she is trying to alert you to this, seeking veterinary care in person is best.

I think that the puppy would likely be best left with mom - unless she is actively rejecting him away from her, or showing any agression when he tries to nurse. Give him the best chance by helping him get attached to the nipple to nurse. You can supplement with a bottle, but he will grow best from his moms milk. Also make sure she has a calm quiet place to nurse and care for her pups - if she feels threatened or you are interferring too much she is more likely to reject the puppies. Using pheromones like ADAPTIL can help calm her and the pups and make nursing more successful. Very rarely and for reasons we dont always understand, some bitches will attack their pups. This can be hard to predict or prevent. Be guided by her interactions with the puppy and intervene if she seems cold or aggressive when the pup tries to nurse from her. Best of luck with your litter.

Sometimes it could mean there is something wrong with that kitten, but if Nylah is staying with it, she may be just protective of it. You should make sure she stays with all of them, as they all need her attention.

Gemma's behavior is a bit unusual. If this is her first litter, she may be lonely and adapting to the exhaustion of caring for newborn puppies. You can try leaving her with one of your dirty shirts to leave your smell with her, as well as trying a calming pheromone diffuser (here is one example: https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/dog/dog-health-and-wellness/dog-calming-aids/comfort-zone-diffuser-with-dap-for-dogs). When you are home, try to provide Gemma with some extra attention and see if these strategies help her to cope. Also keep a close eye on all of the puppies to assure that they are nursing regularly, gaining weight and thriving. I hope that all goes well!