The Maternal Instinct in Border Collies: Amazing Animal Stories

Well in the first installment of the Chihuahua Puppy Chronicles I described how the little dickens got here- Kawawaski and Kamakaze (BTW: we renamed Markie Kamakaze - I'll tell you why later) Two adorable twin chihuahua puppies that have now become part of our growing family (along with 2 border collies and 4 cats..geeezz)

So now in the second week things are getting even stranger..... After introducing the Chihuahua puppies to our almost 2 year old Border Collie Karma - an unusual thing has happened. Not only has Karma decided to be their nanny but she is also nursing them!! I kid you not!!

I knew that Karma really liked the puppies because as soon as we got them home - she wouldn't leave them alone! She followed them everywhere, started breaking up their puppy fights and kept an eye on them 24/7 (that's why we've renamed here the "nanny") But she took her new nanny and step-parent hood one step further- which was unbelievable to me.. One day while they were all playing on the bed the chihuahua puppies starting trying to nurse from Karma, and instead of pushing them away she just laid there and let them!!

(At this time I thought there was no way they were getting any milk because Karma has never been a mother - so I figured the pups would soon give up)

WRONG. A couple days later the pups were after her again, but this time I heard strange slurping sounds. Weird. So I checked Karma and sure enough she was lactating - which I assume to be some type of milk.

I just about fell out! I had heard of animals doing this but never thought I'd see it in real life!

So the closest understanding I have of this with Karma is that she is having some sort of "pseudo pregnancy". Karma apparently has such a strong maternal instinct that she has adopted the puppies, and in response to the puppies trying to nurse - it has caused her hormones to produce a lactation response..........

I haven't been to her vet yet and asked her about this - so it will be quite interesting to see what she has to say about this odd event.

So my question is now, does this mean the chihuahuas are going to be half border collies now? Chollies? or Borderhuahuas?

Maybe we should ask Karma, she seems to have everything under control.....

(Dorsi Diaz is a freelance writer and soon might be called Mrs "Doolittle" at the rate she is going!)