Most Painted Dog packs have a single dominant male and female. The dominant female is generally the mother of the pups although it has been known for other females within the pack to have puppies.

The dominant female selects a denning site, which can be an abandoned hole made by an aardvark or she digs it herself with assistance from other members of the pack. On average 10 to 11 pups are in the litter.

The pups are born black with irregular white spots.

For about the first 12 weeks the puppies are nursed in and around the den site. At first the mother and then a "baby sitter" remains with the litter and is fed by other pack members by regurgitated food. Later food for the puppies is regurgitated by all pack members after a successful hunt.

Depending on the size of the pack, mortality in the pups is high and there is some evidence to show that with more helpers the survival rate is better. But not always.

All pack members are involved in the caring for the puppies when they leave the den.