The earliest days of a puppy’s life depend almost entirely on their mother. Long before puppies can navigate the world around them, they rely on maternal care for warmth, nourishment, and even help with basic bodily functions. A recently shared video by @nicholberrygoldens gives viewers a close look at unseen moments, showing a mama Golden Retriever named Dolly attentively caring for her five-day-old babies.
While the puppies spend much of the video curled together in their whelping area, the focus quickly shifts to Dolly as she returns after stepping outside for a potty break.
Mama Golden Retriever comforts her little babies with so much love before nursing them
As Dolly approaches the litter, she begins carefully sniffing each puppy one at a time. According to caretaker Kerry Nichols, the behavior serves an important purpose. At only five days old, the puppies’ ears are still sealed, meaning they cannot hear their mother’s return. Their sense of smell, however, is already working, helping them recognize and respond to her presence.
The mother dog gently moves through the litter, assessing each puppy and making sure everything is as it should be. During the process, she identifies one puppy that needs help eliminating and gently stimulates the pup using her snout. It’s one of the many responsibilities mother dogs take on during the earliest stages of puppyhood.
That said, Nichols notes that some mothers are more attentive than others. “Dolly is exceptionally diligent,” the onscreen text in the video states. That dedication is evident throughout the clip. Once she finishes inspecting her litter and attending to the puppy that needs assistance, Dolly finally settles in among her babies. The puppies quickly gather around their mother and begin nursing, creating a wholesome scene.
For Nichols, the moment highlights qualities she has observed in Dolly since the litter was born. “Another favorite from Dolly’s litter. It was remarkable to watch Dolly take to mothering with such natural love and diligence,” she wrote in the caption.
Nichols also revealed that several puppies from the litter are expected to be evaluated for potential therapy dog roles as they grow. Because of that, Dolly’s role as a mother carries particular significance.
“We obviously had high hopes for several of these puppies to become therapy dogs and those hopes started with Dolly,” Nichols wrote. She went on to explain that a mother’s temperament can have a major influence on her puppies, as well as on her emotional well-being during pregnancy. “It all comes together to give puppies the best start imaginable,” the caption concludes.
