  Parent-offspring conflict theory predicts the emergence of weaning conflict
between a mother and her offspring arising from skewed relatedness benefits.
Empirical observations of weaning conflict has not been carried out in canids.
In a field-based study on free-ranging dogs we observed that suckling bout
durations reduce, proportion of mother-initiated suckling bouts reduce and
mother-initiated suckling terminations increase, with pup age. We identified
the 7th - 13th week period of pup age as the zone of conflict between the
mother and her pups, beyond which suckling solicitations cease, and before
which suckling refusals are few. We also report for the first time milk theft
by pups who take advantage of the presence of multiple lactating females, due
to the promiscuous mating system of the dogs. This behaviour, though apparently
disadvantageous for the mothers, is perhaps adaptive for the dogs in the face
of high mortality and competition for resources.
