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Dog Pregnancy: Why A New Mother May Ignore Or Growl At Their Owners
New dog mothers who are focused on their puppies' care are usually incapable of responses to an owner's affection during their first days of motherhood. During the time the matron "ignores" her owner, it must be understood that her focus is by nature strictly with her offspring. It is critical at this time that you display overt approval of her new role.
Like some women, there are dogs that are uncomfortable during pregnancy and lactation, displaying a certain amount of irritability. Remove all external stress from her area to help her relax. Reassure her verbally and physically, lavish her with your affections and special treats periodically throughout your hours together.
Realize that her "den" is her whelping box. Instincts demand that she protect her puppies from the world in general, not her owner specifically. A severe rift in your relationship could be caused should you treat her roughly through a lack of compassion and understanding for minor behavioral infractions during this period. Suspicious of you, she will become so with others as well.
Let her know very gently that you will hurt neither her nor her offspring. Keep, her confidence high in you by telling her how proud you are of her and the job she has performed.
Mother dogs are almost always highly possessive of their newborns. The owner may be met with resistance when touching or picking up a puppy. In certain cases they may raise a lip or even growl at their owner's approach. A new mother often will curl her body around her newborns, laying her head and neck across as many as possible. Be patient with your matron, but do not back down to her attitude. Sit quietly by the edge of her box and speak to her in soothing dulcet tones.
Should she be resistant to having the puppies handled, leave them alone, keeping your focus on her. Do not attempt initially to force the issue. Rub her ears and stroke her in an easy, hypnotic, soothing manner. Casually, then, stroke the puppies one by one before returning your attentions to her.
Your attitude toward her newborns is critically important to the matron. If you want to handle the puppies, sit at the side of the whelping box and stroke each puppy in turn. Picking one up carefully, hold it directly in front of her muzzle so she will have the opportunity to realize that you are not going to take it away. Replace the puppy at her side in such a manner that she is able to watch you and the puppy at all moments.
Any sudden movements you might make could set her on the defensive. Remember to act, talk, walk and behave always in a smooth and soothing manner around your matron and her new offspring. Your bitch demonstrates her trust level when she allows you to handle her puppies. Never harangue or subject a dam to corporal punishment.
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