My Dog is Aggressive After Giving Birth

Just as with humans, pregnancy in dogs causes a lot of physical and emotional changes. This is in part due to the alterations in their body, especially hormonal ones. We will likely see differences in their demeanor, although this will differ according to the individual.

Some people ask if pregnant dogs are aggressive, but it's almost the same as asking if dogs are aggressive. A dog's temperament may differ when they are pregnant, but it will depend on the dog's personality. Some of them may become more easily annoyed or react more quickly to annoyances. However, many dogs become extra loving and look for more comfort during their pregnancy.

Although pregnant dogs may become easily annoyed, this doesn't mean they should become aggressive. If they do, we can't accept it as normal behavior and will need to find ways to curtail it. We also should take the dog to the veterinarian to ensure there isn't a physical reason why a pregnant dog has become suddenly aggressive.

While there may not be any maternal aggression before the puppies are born, it is possible they will develop it after giving birth. We should state that aggressiveness in the mother is not common. Even for first-time mothers, they should know to instinctively care for their puppies and not have any concerns.

It is also important to note that what seems like aggression, may actually be normal new canine mother behavior. If you see a mother dog growling at her puppies, it may simply be part of her healthy communication. Dogs will growl or bark at their puppies to keep them in line. This is especially important when you have a large litter of puppies running all over each other.

Puppies will have a gestation period of about 2 months, after which they will be born. Before their gestation is over, you will notice some particular changes in the mother's behavior. They may:

• Become more needy than usual
• Stop eating
• Become nervous
• Perform nesting behavior
• Excessively lick their vagina
• Lower her body temperature

These signs of labor in dogs mean the birth of the puppies is imminent.

You will need to be prepared for the birth. This means providing a warm and comfortable environment, away from noise and distraction. You will need to have plenty of water nearby and food when they need it. The mother will take care of biting open the umbilical sacs, cutting the cord and generally welcoming the puppies into the world. We should observe for the safety of mother and puppies, but only intervene when completely necessary, i.e. when something goes wrong.

One of the reasons for providing a safe and quiet space is to allow the hormone oxytocin to pass between mother and puppies. If we manipulate them too much, it can affect oxytocin secretion and lead to stress. It also might pique the mother's instincts to protect her puppies if she thinks you are going to cause them harm.

A mother dog will not become aggressive for no reason. As we stated above, it is possible an illness, extreme hormonal imbalance or other medical condition is causing aggression. If this is the case, you will need to take the dog to the veterinarian and may even need to rear the puppies on your own if the mother poses a threat (either physically or pathologically).

There are some signs your dog may be exhibiting maternal aggression. One of the most important ones is if they move their puppies from the nesting area. Some caregivers do not understand and may even find this behavior amusing. However, it is a clear sign the mother feels the security of the puppies is under threat. They are looking for another place because they feel there is some threat to their welfare.

Aggression towards us or other people in the home may manifest itself in barking or even intimidation. An aggressive attitude is also seen in their body language. If the dog feels threatened enough, they may become constantly nervous or restless, maybe even threatening harm. The aggression may even be taken out on her puppies, despite stemming from a need to protect them.

If you see some of the signs a dog is becoming aggressive after giving birth, you need to understand what might be causing this behavior. The following are the most common reasons for postpartum aggression:

• Overmanipulation: as we say above, the mother and puppies cannot be touched too much. Even if you otherwise have a great relationship with the dog, the mother's instincts to protect can lead to aggression.
• Presence of other dogs: other dogs, or even other animals, can threaten the mother's security. When deciding on a nesting place for the dog, we need to ensure it is somewhere other animals are not present, even if they get along well normally.
• Loud noises: if there are loud noises in the vicinity, it can lead to fear and aggression.
• Removal of resources: if the dog's resources have been taken away, they may become aggressive. Even though they show less interest before pregnancy, it is possible keeping food, toys, accessories and other resources might cause the dog to become aggressive.
• Any danger: anything which is threatening the mother's security can lead to aggressive behavior.

These causes of aggression in a dog after giving birth shows the importance of leaving the dog alone as much as is needed. It is also important to note that you may choose somewhere comfortable for the dog to nest, but it is up to them where they feel comfortable. Don't try to force them to go somewhere they don't want to. Instead, spend time making their chosen spot more comfortable.

If your mother dog is biting her puppies after giving birth, we may need to intervene. However, this is only if the biting is inappropriate. A dog will pick their puppies up by biting the scruff of their neck. This is normal and not a sign of aggression. The mother may also snap at the puppies or seem to be biting them. This may be part of the process of educating them about the world. This happens in puppies after they start walking and their socialization process starts.

Another thing to point out is if we see the dog eating her puppies. While this may be quite a shocking sight, it is important to know that there is a reason behind this. The puppy is likely either stillborn or too sick to survive.

We should only intervene if the mother dog is aggressive to her puppies and the biting is going to cause them harm. The reason for this aggression is stress and fear. If we cannot reduce their fear, then the puppies are in danger and will need to be moved. This is dangerous since the puppies rely on their mother for everything, so it should only happen when completely necessary.

To recap, there are ways you can best avoid aggression in your dog. While you should be looking after their general needs all of their life, this is especially important when they give birth as they will feel more vulnerable. Here is what you can do to prevent aggression in a dog after giving birth:

• Provide comfort: leave all they need in the form of comfortable space, warmth, food, etc.
• Avoid stress: if there are other people in the home, make sure they know to be quiet when near the mother and puppies.
• Don't overmanipulate: although the puppies are adorable, resist the urge to pick them up and play with them. There will be some interaction needed to ensure they are healthy, but don't overmanipulate them.
• Avoid guests: while you may want to show off the newborn puppies, it's best if they are left alone.
• Remove other animals: any other pets, even the father, ideally shouldn't be around the puppies until they are ready.

If in any doubt or if the aggressive dog is putting the puppies' health in danger, you will need to take them to a veterinarian. The same goes if their health is threatened. Otherwise, intervene as little as possible. If you do need to remove the puppies from the mother, the following video may help:

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