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Dogs don't exactly approach parenthood the same way that humans do, but that doesn't mean that there aren't going to be plenty of sweet moments to witness between the adult dogs and their new litter when the puppies finally arrive.
And even though many male dogs simply aren't interested in their babies, Rip the Cane Corso appears to be different. For him, it seems like it was love at first sight the second he laid eyes on one of his tiny pups.
As one of Rip's humans cradles the newborn puppy in their hands (because even though this dog will be huge in the future, for now, they really do just fit right in the palm of someone's hand) he peeks over, appearing to be in total awe.
The puppy's so small that their eyes aren't even open yet, but Rip is fascinated. He should be a very proud dad — he helped create one cute baby!
Rip must be a truly gentle soul. He's staying so still. How does he know this puppy needs him to be so calm right now?
Related: Giant Cane Corso Meets a Tiny Kitten for the First Time and Completely Melts
Do Male Dogs Recognize Their Own Puppies?
While it certainly seems like this new dad is all about his babies, that's not typically the way it goes after a mama dog gives birth.
According to the American Kennel Club (AKC), male dogs aren't born with the same instincts to care for their young that female dogs are. Though living in the wild, they would have cared for their pups as members of their pack, male adult dogs aren't essential to the puppies' survival in a domestic setting, so that caring instinct has gone away.
If the dad dog is living in the same space as the puppies, he may end up forming a relationship with them, but that's more about proximity — he probably won't realize that they're actually his blood.
The AKC recommends keeping male dogs in the house away from the new mom and her litter until the puppies are about five to six weeks. Once they're weaned, Dad can be part of the fun — with a supervised, gradual introduction, of course.
But who knows? Maybe Rip will be a totally different dad. He's off to a very sweet start.
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