the father is acting like he is the mother to the pups

by deborah
(limerick)

my jack russell bitch just gave birth, she is a very placid dog and leaves us change her bedding no problem, she has no problem with any of the family going near her pups and helping them back into place if they roll to the wrong place. my question is, the father of the pups is acting like he is the mother, he is licking them, cleaning them, nudging them back to the mother if they roll away and generally just watching over them. i have never seen anything like this before, for the mother to allow it and for the dog to take such interist.
can anyone help me with this as i am not sure if i should let him continue