3 days ago
Hearts Melt Over How One Pup Brought Into Litter Is 'Not Like the Others'
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The internet has fallen head over paws for a puppy who looks a bit different from the rest of the litter.
Jen Francis of Eagleridge Goldens in Florida told Newsweek via email that one of her dogs had a singleton pup. This means a litter of only one puppy. While a one-pup litter is not inherently bad, it does present its fair share of challenges.
The mothers of a singleton pup may either overproduce milk or under-lactate, an article from Revival Animal Health said. Plus, the single puppy will not have the support of littermates during nursing, which causes them to use extra energy to latch and stay warm. These pups might also experience behavioral issues, including the risk of being spoiled and poor socialization.
Knowing these possibilities, Francis always incorporates the single puppy into another litter. She recently did this with a singleton named Winston. And while Winston joined another litter of golden retrievers, Francis noticed he was "not like the others" despite being the same dog breed.
Screenshots from a June 11 Instagram video of a breeder asking people to spot the odd puppy out in a litter of golden retrievers.
Screenshots from a June 11 Instagram video of a breeder asking people to spot the odd puppy out in a litter of golden retrievers.
@eagleridgegoldens/Instagram
In a June 11 Instagram video, posted to the account @eagleridgegoldens, Francis zoomed in on the puppies, hoping viewers could spot the odd pup out. Winston's much larger and chunkier head was impossible to miss, earning himself the nickname of "Chooch."
Thankfully, Winston didn't seem to mind his bigger size. He threw himself right into the mix. He loved being surrounded by all the other puppies.
Francis said Winston joined the other litter when they were about 4 weeks old, right around the time they started eating mush and began weaning off their mother.
"We never leave the pups alone so whenever we took mama out, we would put him in with them," she said.
She added that it is easy to introduce a singleton pup to another litter. Because of their young age, they adapt quickly. They all play, eat and nap together. Winston wasted no time in getting to know his step-siblings, joining the "puppy puddle" snuggle session.
As of Friday, the Instagram video reached over 1.5 million views, as people obsessed over Winston.
"Ohhh I am dyyying !! He's the most adorable fluffy potato chonk," commented one viewer.
Another added: "They're so darn cute!"
But despite the size difference now, Francis shared in the caption that all these golden retrievers will be about the same size as adults: Males reach about 65 to 75 pounds, while females are a bit smaller at 55 to 65 pounds.
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