My dog attacked our new puppy. Is the "taste of blood" myth true?

Many dogs experience resource guarding behavior, which leads them to become highly possessive over their food and/or prized toys or treats. The safest approach is to be sure that Freya and your puppy are separated in different rooms or crates while they have access to any food or treats. You can also contact a specialist in veterinary behavior (https://www.dacvb.org/) if this issue persists.

Cannibalism rarely occurs in dogs, but Missy could have attacked her puppies because of pain from mastitis (suckling provokes aggression) or because the puppies are unhealthy and she sensed that. I would not reintroduce that puppy back to Missy, and I would have her seen by a vet immediately for a health check to make sure she doesn't have a medical illness causing this aggression. You may have to bottle feed this puppy. At seven years old, Missy is actually too old to be having puppies (it's never recommended to breed a dog over the age of five or six), so I would have her spayed asap if she won't be nursing her remaining puppy.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! She is likely being protective of her food. From now on, I recommend that you feed her separately. Also, if the pup seems to have a wound or be in pain, he should be evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Best of luck!

It could be because Lily was pregnant and now has puppies. Some dogs can be very protective when pregnant. After her puppies are weaned, I would have her spayed and put into training with a professional behavioral expert.

Oh no! This depends greatly on whether she is biting out of fear or if she is play-biting and getting too rough. This is a complicated subject and the best I can do without a detailed consult with you is to have you consult this great veterinary behavior website: dogstardaily.com. Look for info on puppy biting and fear aggression, and try to figure out which issue is going on with Honey. This website is a fantastic resource and you can solve a lot of behavior issues by following Dr. Dunbar's instructions. Hope that helps!

Yes. You will need to remove the mother from the puppy. I also recommend to have the mother spayed or to not breed her in the future. Not all dogs make good parents. Attacking the puppies is not a good quality for a mother dog to have. I hope this is helpful and please feel free to post any additional questions.

There is a risk that the bites could cause an infection. Make sure to clean the wounds thoroughly and monitor for signs of infection. That is very concerning that the puppy is biting hard enough to make you bleed and you should consult with an animal behaviorist to help resolve this behavior before he is fully grown.