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My husband and I are fostering a dog that our local animal rescue took in from the pound 12 days before she had her puppies. She'd been picked up as a stray by the pound and no one claimed her, but she's very sweet, affectionate, and obviously used to living with people in a home. (And yes, she will be spayed before she's put up for adoption after her puppies are weaned.)
During the 12 days before she had her puppies, I spent a lot of time with her to help her trust me after the puppies arrived. My husband also spent time with her, and she was fine with us and with everyone who came to our house.
I'm her primary caretaker, and she trusts me with her and her puppies. She's fine with me handling them, and she looks to me for help when one of them wanders off while she's feeding the rest or is very vocal for whatever reason. Problem is, she's growled at 2 other people, including my husband. The strange thing is that she was fine with him visiting (he's never touched the puppies) every day until today, which is their 5th day. Today was just like any other day, but after my husband had been standing by the nursery and talking with me for a few minutes, she growled at him. He knows dogs, and he didn't do anything different at that time. Later, when I was taking her outside for a bathroom break and she was away from her puppies, she was fine with my husband again. But now we don't know who, if anyone, we should let into the nursery area (a closet off my home office) other than me.
What experiences have you had with momma dogs being overprotective with newborn puppies ? How did/would you handle the situation? It would be useful to get different perspectives on this.
I would just consider her stressed and give her lots of quiet time and maybe only having you to respond to. God bless you for your kindness. She is a lucky gal.
She's not being over protective. She's merely protecting her litter. I bred Goldens for years and each female was different in the way they handled their litters. Our one female (and my current dog, Dylan's grandmother) would let my daughter and I do what and how we wanted with her pups. But let my husband and/or son come in the room and her head went down to cover up the pups. She never growled....but for whatever reason, she felt less secure with the 2 guys.
She's a new mom and her life has probably been hell up until now. Trusting you was a big step for her...also...you really shouldn't have visitors coming over and/or handling puppies. She needs her quiet and it is much healthier for the pups. She's obviously not comfortable with others in the same room, so why push it? Visitors could carry anything in, infecting the pups. There will be plenty of time in the following weeks for socialization and visitors. Visitors were not allowed at our house to see and handle pups until they were 5 weeks old.
hehehehe I had a Sheltie that Loved my friend All 6 Feet of him...until the day he walked into the bedroom where her week old pups were!! She like to EAT him!!! Once your doggies pups are weaned she go back to her sweet self.
I described her as "overprotective" because she was fine with my husband for the first 4 days and then started growling after about 5 minutes of his visit on the 5th day. The only thing I can think of is that he might have been there a little longer than usual.
I understand mommas being protective, but it was the change for no reason I could see that confused me. And she doesn't have a problem with my husband because as I said, she was happy to greet him later on her way out for a bathroom break, away from the puppies.
I don't know if we'll wait 5 weeks, but we'll keep things as quiet for her as we can until she lets us know that she's feeling less protective.
gotta second what shelby said...... who knows what her life was like before she was picked up ..... but can only imagine pretty bad and pretty stressful..... i think it is HUGE that she trusts you enough to handle the pups after such a short period of time back in safety and comfort.......
oh and what a GOOD thing you are doing..... helping this momma and her babies...... kudos to you and your family......
I described her as "overprotective" because she was fine with my husband for the first 4 days and then started growling after about 5 minutes of his visit on the 5th day. The only thing I can think of is that he might have been there a little longer than usual.
I understand mommas being protective, but it was the change for no reason I could see that confused me. And she doesn't have a problem with my husband because as I said, she was happy to greet him later on her way out for a bathroom break, away from the puppies.
I don't know if we'll wait 5 weeks, but we'll keep things as quiet for her as we can until she lets us know that she's feeling less protective.
There's your ans. She is fine with him, when the puppies aren't around. That is very typical. Take her lead....He may try and spend short stints in with her in puppies. Never reaching for them. Has hard as it may be....she is the one who is the star of this program!
Agitating her and having strangers and visitors will only worsen the situation.
Again...visitors and strangers handling the pups at early age is a health risk to them.
Does this mean we can paint a big bullseye on your forehead?
OP - there you have it: sound advice from a voice of experience.
LOL....sure! Ready, aim, fire!
Don't regret it one single bit. I had some of the finest quality Goldens in all of Northern Ca. And was part of a major Kennel out there in there breeding program. My females had more Certifications and Pedigree than my kids...with excellent ratings. My pups were all sold before we even thought of concieving...and to this day, I still have people contacting me for puppies. Alas, Dylan was part of my last litter...9 yrs ago. I had 5 generations of Goldens....and he is be the last of my line.
I'm glad to see you took my comment in the spirit in which it was meant (ie, everyone should start the day with a chuckle.)
Ref the OP's mention of timing... would female dogs be experiencing hormonal changes about that time? Might go some way to explaining a behavioural change?
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