In this article on our site we are going to deal with a sensitive topic, such as canine aggression after the birth of a litter. We say delicate because it is common for caregivers to be very excited about the arrival of the puppies, which can lead to an excess of attention that, sometimes, results in the bitch being aggressive after giving birth.
It is very important to understand that, no matter how adorable they are, unless problems arise, you should just observe and provide the family with a calm environment. Read on and discover with us why your dog is aggressive after giving birth.
How to help a recently given birth dog?
Dogs go through a gestation period of about two months, after which the moment of birth arrives. Normally, this runs without complications and the bitch is capable of giving birth on her own, without any help. In the same way, in general, she will be prepared to be in charge of cutting the umbilical cords, ingesting the placentas and other remains and cleaning her little ones, who are born with the innate behavior of approaching a breast and initiating lactation. This will last for the first few weeks of life.
All these actions will be carried out without human intervention other than providing them with a clean, warm and sheltered place to stay, as well as water and adequate food so that the mother can produce milk and recover. Only if we observe that the bitch leaves her litter, does not eat, has a fever, etc., or the puppies appear to be sick, should we intervene and go to the vet. Therefore, our role is to cover their basic needs and monitor
Peace of mind is fundamental because hormones such as oxytocin must circulate between mother and puppies, which cannot be secreted in stressful situations such as that caused by excessive handling. Furthermore, even though she is our dog, her instinct dictates, above all else, that she must protect the puppies from herHence excessive visits, presence of strangers or habitual handling are a stress factor. Improper handling can explain why a dog is aggressive after giving birth. And it must be avoided, not only because she can growl and bite, but also because milk production would be compromised.
Signs of stress in the recently given birth bitch
Understanding the importance of tranquility for a happy upbringing, stress can not only manifest itself as the dog being aggressive after giving birth. Some keepers don't understand and even find it funny if the dog hides her puppies, but it's another sign that she's not comfortable in her current circumstances. If she moves her family it is because she feels that she is not safe and therefore she looks for another place. This, on occasion, puts the little ones in danger, so we must avoid it by providing them with the peace of mind that everyone needs. She-wolves exhibit this same behavior.
Other signs of stress in a recently given birth bitch can be the aggressive attitude, as we have mentioned, in the face of unexpected visits or excessive handling of your puppies, nervousness and restlessness.
You always have to start from a passive behavior, that is, as we explained, we have to limit ourselves to observing and, depending on the dog's reaction, we can take more or less confidence. It is normal that we feel the impulse to caress and hold newborns, but if the dog does not let us approach her puppies, we must respect it and not force contact due to the consequences that we have explained. In a few weeks the little ones will have grown enough to start interacting with the environment, which includes us, and we will have the opportunity to caress them, play, etc., in the presence of their mother. So don't worry if your dog won't let you touch her puppies at first.
My recently given birth bitch bites
In this section we mention the most worrying case if a bitch is aggressive after giving birth. We refer to the situation in which she comes to bite. Leaving the family alone, it is possible to prevent this reaction, which includes not allowing access to the farrowing pen of other animals with which she lives in the home, if applicable. No matter how good a relationship they have had so far, the protective instinct is stronger and can push her to react violently if, for example, another dog approaches her litter. In any case, both growling and showing teeth or, finally, biting, indicate significant stress that we must correct immediately and, to do so, we remember, we must stick to observing.
What do I do if my dog is aggressive after giving birth?
Recapitulating, to avoid problems after the arrival of a litter, the family must be installed in a quiet place, away from household traffic and from contact with other animals, if any. The nest we provide them should be easy to clean, for example by having a top layer of underpads that can be easily changed. At first, it is normal that the dog does not want to be separated from her little ones for a long time. That is why the walks must be brief and she will be the one who prolongs them. Above all, Let's avoid handling the puppies and let's not allow visits from strangers who disturb the tranquility of the family. Let's respect the distances that the dog marks.
With these measures we avoid reaching stressful or violent situations and, if we have already experienced one, it will not be repeated. By the way, the dog can be aggressive towards her puppies as they grow older. Thus, it is not uncommon for them to show their teeth, growl at them or even bite them, for example, to prevent them from suckling during the weaning period or from eating their food. It is part of the education of the puppies and we must not interfere.
