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By Lucy Notarantonio
Senior Reporter
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Your heart is sure to melt watching a tender moment of a golden retriever walking to her bed with a puppy in her mouth, and, surprisingly, she is not the mother.
It is actually Alexis Tornquist's dog stealing puppies from her other dog, Laukslee, as noted in the caption: "She loves to kidnap puppies from Laukslee." The May 19 video shared to @atornquist has gained over 756,000 views and more than 54,000 likes at the time of writing.
The American Kennel Club (AKC) says that a mother dog plays a crucial role in the early life of her puppies, offering complete care and protection during the first few weeks. Newborn puppies are entirely dependent on her, especially during the neonatal period when they can't see, hear, or walk. She provides nourishment, warmth, and stimulates waste elimination.
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As the puppies grow, the mother gradually encourages independence, particularly by the fourth week when they begin walking. During weaning, puppies learn key social behaviors from their mother and littermates, which are vital for healthy development. The process should be gradual for both the puppies' and the mother's well-being. By eight weeks, most puppies are ready for adoption, though the mother may experience brief sadness after separation.
It is even possible for dogs to take their caregiving duties to the next level, as seen in another one of Tornquist's clips. Her dogs—who both had litters—nurse each other's pups.
Dr. Anna Foreman, who is based in the U.K., previously told Newsweek: "Production of milk is instigated by hormonal changes, usually the release of prolactin during and after pregnancy, and oxytocin produced during and after giving birth, so that a mother can feed her offspring. However, a dog can produce these hormones if entire (not neutered) and not pregnant in certain circumstances."
Foreman, who works for Everypaw Pet Insurance, added: "The most common of these is during a false pregnancy—after a dog's season, hormonal changes can occur that trick a dog's body into thinking they are pregnant. Behavioral changes will occur and a dog will often produce milk.
"Dogs can also produce milk if another creature (such as a puppy or kitten) suckles and kneads on the mammary glands—this action stimulates prolactin and oxytocin release, which leads to milk production."
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TikTok Reacts
So far, the video has almost 200 comments at the time of writing.
"She's not just a STEP MOM she is the MOM THAT STEPPED UP," said one user, and another wrote: "The way she just holds it and its just dangling."
"They have joint custody," posted a third user, and a fourth was a little envious. She commented: "Hell. I'm not gonna lie. I would've loved that [kind of] help after I had my newborns. Take them and feed them when they wake up so I can get some sleep."
Newsweek reached out to @atornquist for comment via TikTok. We could not verify the details of the case.
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend, and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
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