I cannot tell you how proud of Lucky & Peaches for how well they are interacting with their puppies and teaching them skills. Though you may have the perfect dogs on paper to breed, you never know how they will be with little ones until they are hear. Poor parenting or too little/much correction can turn a litter sour in a hurry. Good-natured tolerance between puppies and their parents (or adult dogs in general) is crucial for several reasons — both in natural dog behavior and in managed breeding, training, or multi-dog households. Here’s why it matters:
1. Teaches Puppies Social Skills
- Puppies learn bite inhibition, boundaries, and body language by interacting with tolerant adult dogs.
- A tolerant parent dog will correct without overreacting, allowing the pup to learn without becoming fearful.
2. Builds Confidence in Puppies
- When adult dogs show patience and kindness, puppies grow up feeling secure and more balanced.
- Overly harsh corrections or intolerance can lead to anxious or reactive adult dogs.
3. Maintains Harmony in the Pack
- In a multi-dog home or breeding setup, tolerance from older dogs prevents unnecessary conflict.
- Puppies are naturally curious and invasive; without tolerant adults, tension and aggression can arise.
4. Reflects Good Temperament
- A dog that shows patience with puppies is usually well-socialized, emotionally stable, and has good impulse control — all hallmarks of a well-rounded temperament.
- This is especially important in breeding programs where temperament is just as critical as health and conformation.
5. Encourages Proper Canine Etiquette
- Through tolerant but corrective interaction, puppies learn how to behave in canine society — how to approach, when to back off, and how to read social cues.
Good-natured tolerance in adult dogs is essential for puppy development, emotional balance, and social integration. It’s a sign of maturity and mental stability in adults, and it’s one of the key ways puppies grow into socially adept and well-mannered adult dogs.
Though these videos are “old news” having occurred earlier in development, they are still excellent examples of the topic: