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You are here: Experts > Animals/Pets > Veterinary Medicine > Dogs > My dog is attacking my other dog who just had pups
Dogs - My dog is attacking my other dog who just had pups
Expert: Nancy Perry - 11/3/2009
Question
QUESTION: My young dog just had 8 puppies and my other dog( a bitch too) tries to attack the young mum when ever they get close or around food time. I seperate them one at the front of the house - one at the back. Its obvious the older dog is jealous and we have gone though this with her and another dog who had a litter of puppies. She almost killed this dog with a severe bite to the neck so I am very worried about my young dog. Today she attacked her qite badly and bit her ..I couldnt get her off as she was so frenzied. She is an aggressive dog to strangers but has never bitten anyone. I dont think she would hurt the puppies but I wouldnt trust her near them. Is this normal behaviour and what can I do..I cannot watch them duing the day when I am at work...the dogs are left outside.
ANSWER: Maria,
Your older dog will hurt or cause the puppies to get hurt by her aggressive behavior...You must separate them...Are these puppies outside as well? You must get the mom and pups in a shed or garage or inside a house and away from the aggressive dog. Also, it is hard on a mom and pups to survive outside in the colder weather (if you are in cold weather) and in warm areas there is the danger of flea anemia in small pups.
Anyway,,if you cant separate them, then tie your older dog so she cannot attack the mother. Or get a large ex-pen.
Nancy
PS sorry for the news, but you are beyond training at this point with a litter of pups, hon. Too much tension there for training right now, Just a need for safety for now
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Thanks for your advice - we live in Thailand so cold is not a worry...the puppies are in an outside supposed to be maids room behind our house which I can shut the dogs in. The problem is my older dog attcks the mum when she is out in the garden...if I tie her up I know she will be very stressed and much more likely to attack the mum. I just wonder is this normal behaviour as my older dog lives quite hapily with the mum normally...she was also the same with our last dog..she lived with her for two years quite happily as soon as she had puppies she wanted to kill her! Is it jealousy or the smell of the mum aftershe has had puppies?
Answer
In the wild, when there is a pack of wolves or wild dogs, only the alpha female is allowed to have puppies...If another female has puppies she is attacked and driven away from the pack and/or the puppies are killed...Your dog seems to have these instincts. So, yes, it is naturally in dogs that still carry this alpha trait.
nancy
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