Table 1.
Ethogram. The catalogue of maternal behaviors observed.
| Ethogram | ||
|---|---|---|
| Behavior | Definition | References |
| Out of box | The mother had her legs out of the whelping box not providing maternal care | [34] |
| Contact | The mother was lying in the whelping box with elbows on the ground and in physical contact (tail and limbs excluded) with at least one pup | [36] |
| Licking | The mother was licking at least one pup | Modified from [36] |
| Sniffing/poking | The mother was sniffing, poking, or moving at least one pup around with the nose |
Modified from [36] |
| Retrieving | The mother was carefully carrying in her jaws at least one pup | Modified from [37] |
| Nursing Lateral | The mother was nursing (at least one pup suckling) while lying on her side or back, so that part, or all, of her nipples were exposed | Modified from [38] |
| Nursing Ventral | The mother was nursing (at least one pup suckling) while lying on her stomach, so that her nipples were not easily exposed to the puppies |
Modified from [38] |
| Nursing Vertical | The mother was nursing (at least one pup suckling) while standing or sitting in the whelping box | Modified from [38] |
| Total Nursing | Nursing lateral + nursing ventral + nursing vertical. Nursing positions are mutually exclusive | Modified from [36] |
| Other | Any activity not assessable or not included in the behavioral catalogue |
|