section_path: Behavior/Nursing
section_name: Nursing
paragraph_text: Nursing
  
  The female dog may produce colostrum 1–7 days before giving birth, lasting for around three months. Colostrum peak production was around 3 weeks postpartum and increased with litter size. The dog can sometimes vomit and refuse food during child contractions. In the later stages of the dog's pregnancy, nesting behaviour may occur. Puppies are born with a protective fetal membrane that the mother usually removes shortly after birth. Dogs can have the maternal instincts to start grooming their puppies, consume their puppies' feces, and protect their puppies, likely due to their hormonal state. While male-parent dogs can show more disinterested behaviour toward their own puppies, most can play with the young pups as they would with other dogs or humans. A female dog may abandon or attack her puppies or her male partner dog if she is stressed or in pain.