female suddenly aggressive to pups at 4.5m - Page 1

Hi, I have run into an unusual situation. Fremale had her first litter 4.5w ago. 6 vibrant, fat puppies. They are kept in a whelping room in our house. Very large area with 'private spot', so mums can take a break away from the pups.

Pups have been eating three x daily, RAW diet, doing super. With their mom 18 hours a day, we exceersize and train her a bit daily with outside breaks away from pups.

She has been a stellar momma dog, puppies always tended, cleaned, and well fed.  These are super social confident pups with tons of drive for food and play.

Today I heard some real distressed puppies squealing; it sounded like the puppy was really hurt. When I wnt in the room, I see puppies are real frightened of mom, they run to me enmasse, none hurt, but they do not want anything to do with her. I force held her and she would not tolerate them sucking. Her mammary glands/teats are in perfect shape, no tenderness or swelling.

I hate to wean so early.. but??? Right now everyone is settled in room and snuggled up, but no suckling.

Any one had this before? I am worried this aggression from mom is going to be bad for the puppies.

thanks,

cindy

Think about this.....would you like it if you had so many little sharp teeth trying to suck from you? Do NOT hold her and force her. You should be weaning these pups right away....starting at 3 weeks or so. Momma is tired and yes, sharp teeth hurt. Mom decides when enough is enough and she has already started to let the pups know they must eat elsewhere.............help her, not force her. Feed pups and enough so they do not bother her so much.

I would continue feeding the pups, but offer your own nipples to make the transition easy. Let me know if your reaction is any different than the dam.

I agree with Don!

anyway, used to own a female who would not want pups nursing after 3 weeks.  she always weaned early.  once the pups were eating, she would go back to tending them.  this was a mother who would clean and nurture a year old pup of hers, but she always weaned early.

Puppy teeth are needle sharp, your poor bitch has had enough! And of course, the pups will be distressed, growing up is hard for every species! The advise given is sound, umm, perhaps except for the use your own nipple thing... !! They will find someone else to chomp on, probably you! Enjoy! (I'd be more worried about hands & ankles! LOL!) jackie harris

Going through the same thing....mom is getting sick of sharp, puppy teeth and is starting to avoid the lil piranhas.
They are 3 1/2 weeks old. She is still nursing them, but you can tell that she is feeling their teeth!
We've decided to start feeding them "meat & milk" to assist mom out,,,and help wean them.
Robin

 4.5 weeks is not early. Pull her out of there; give her a break. 

Mine wean around 3.5-4 weeks. I start feeding once a day until 4.5 weeks, then I take over completely. 

Plus, the behavior you're describing even aside from weaning them is totally normal. They start getting harder on them around 5 weeks and it will escalate. Completely normal in every way; there is nothing wrong with your bitch.

 Don that's funny!!  

Don, ouch that hurts........
 

my female always is off the pups at 3.5 weeks and they will get fed food full time. as i say the mom gets the pups to where they can feed them selves. take her away, she is telling them to stay away, and i always take her out at that time. she has had enough.
 

some mothers can go longer some wont , too much pain.
 

i have a mother right now thats still with her pups at 4.5 weeks, and she does not mind them. they are all different.

My female weans at 3 weeks, and as you have seen above teeth  Hum, she stops I let her, and as soon as she has no milk, she is ok with them trying and starts with the discipline, but I will tell you she has several pups that were here till l4 mnths or so and she still cleans them as new borns. Trust mom and start with feeding but 3 weeks is normal and teeth are not fun and she knows best