Moment Dogs Bump Into Their Mom on the Beach for First Time Since Separated

A video of a dog’s touching reunion with her pups after they moved to a new home has gone viral on TikTok.

The video was shared by Connlith MagAgoidh (@connlith28) and has had over 179,000 views since it was first posted on March 26.

A message across the clip reads: “Randomly bumping into their mom on the beach for the first time since they left.” The footage shows a dog off-leash on a beach approaching a smaller pup on a leash. The pair are seen sniffing each other and rubbing their heads together before another smaller pup on a leash is shown moving towards the loose dog before the clip ends.

In a later comment, the poster said: “All the pups are in same hometown as the mom and see each other often” and that it “seems she did” recognize her puppies.

While it’s impossible to know whether the dogs did recognize each other, research has shown that canines are capable of forming strong bonds with both humans and other dogs.

The findings of a March 2019 study published in Scientific Reports showed that “dogs can form relationships of comparable qualities with both humans and other dogs” and “these relationships vary along multiple components across different partners.”

The timing of when puppies are separated from their mother is crucial as it can impact how well they are able to socialize in their new forever homes.

Puppies have an “early critical socialization period” from when they’re around five to 14 weeks old, during which they’re open to learning and new experiences. “The things they learn will affect how they go through the rest of their lives,” says the Richard P. Riney Canine Health Center at the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine.

Research has shown that puppies that are separated from the litter too early are “more likely to show fear, aggression, anxiety, resource guarding, reactivity and inappropriate play biting” than ones that stayed with the litter for at least eight weeks, the health center notes.

Early socialization with their mother as well as the rest of the litter are also important for building confidence, as puppies will observe how their mother responds to new people and things and mimic her behavior. “If mom is relaxed and friendly around new people, the puppies will likely be comfortable with strangers,” the health center explains.

‘They Knew Each Other’

Users on TikTok were delighted and moved by the reunion in the viral video.

Leonie Thomas noted: “I love how they both knew,” and dexsterson said it was a “beautiful moment.”

Paidi and Flynn wrote: “They knew each other!” and ahomp6 said: “Mum checking her over, making sure she’s all good. Awww.”

Amy wrote: “She knew that was her baby,” and the original poster replied: “She really did.”

User est73 noted: “How beautiful they knew straight away. xx,” and the original poster replied: “Yeah she spotted them from quite a distance and straight over!”

Sophie VW Scirocco said: “Omg I’m not crying,” and Helzbells wrote: “Oh my god this app gets me bawling.”

Newsweek has contacted the original poster for comment via TikTok. This video has not been independently verified.

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