Why Is My Pregnant Dog Aggressive? 3 Reasons for Whelping Aggressiveness

Should I Expect Different Behaviour From My Pregnant Dog?

When your dog is about to give birth (the whelping period), you may see some changes in her behaviour or personality. Specifically, she may show some signs of whelping aggressiveness, which you might not have experienced in her before.

If your usually calm, placid dog suddenly becomes aggressive when pregnant, know that this is completely normal! And, while you should not be alarmed, it is important to understand what and why this happens so that you can help your whelping dog through this experience of becoming a mum who’s ready to bond with and protect her newborn puppies.

3 Reasons For Whelping Aggressiveness

There are several reasons that may cause a pregnant dog to behave aggressively:

1. Pregnancy is a time of change - and stress!

Just like a pregnant human mum, during pregnancy a dog will experience natural hormonal and body changes. You must recognise that this is a time of change for a dog, so she may be more easily stressed and aggressive during this period. Patience is important, and you should make every effort to make her feel calm, safe and comfortable at all times.

2. The mother dog is feeling hormonal

When your expectant dog is coming to the end of her pregnancy and she is due to give birth, you will notice behavioural changes; she will become restless and be looking for a place where her puppies can be born, and if she has been introduced to her whelping area/box already, she will naturally go there. She will also be experiencing hormonal and physiological changes when her body is preparing to give birth so remember to keep her surrounding environment quiet and calm to keep stress to a minimum.

3. The mother dog is trying to protect her pups

A mother dog will be instinctively protective of her puppies. When she is about to give birth, her body goes through natural physical and maternal changes that may cause her to become more irritable and aggressive than normal, due to her protective instinct. Remember when puppies are born, they are helpless and rely on their mum completely - only when they are around 2 weeks old will their eyesight, hearing and other senses begin to develop. Puppies should start walking at around 3-4 weeks old.

During this time, some mother dogs may show signs of maternal aggression - but this is usually a reaction to their instinct to look after her vulnerable pups. Alterations in brain chemistry, plus the sight, sounds and smell of the new pups, may make the mother more protective and aggressive, particularly during feeding times.

How Can I Help My Pregnant Dog Feel Calm and Safe?

The gestation period for a dog is approximately 63 days. It’s important to know when the puppies are due to be prepared not only for the birth, but for any whelping aggressiveness in the meantime. Once the mother is close to her due date, be sure to encourage a quiet environment where the mother dog will feel safe and unstressed. Keep visitors to a minimum during this period, and avoid any turmoil in the house which could unnerve her.

An important part of creating a calm whelping environment is providing your dog with her own whelping area/ box that she recognises as her own space. This is where she will give birth to her puppies and nurture them during early life. This area/ box should be able to keep the puppies contained safely, and also be big enough for the mother to be able to feed them and protect them without accidentally rolling on to them.

Remember; a mother dog’s natural protective instincts are at their highest levels leading up to, and after the birth. So, during this period, give her space to give birth and undertake her duties in peace. Keep an eye on her body language warning signs, such as any unusual eye movement, growling or snarling. If you need to check the puppies and pick them up for any reason, its always best to do this when mum is outside or away from the pups.

When Will the Mother Dog Be Less Aggressive?

You should start to see a mother dog begin to return to her normal self around 3 weeks after giving birth. By then her puppies will be stronger, increasingly independent and will be more used to humans - so signs of motherly worry or maternal aggression should be disappearing.

To help this process, be sure to make a fuss of the new mum every time you see her. Give her lots of treats and reassurance, all the time giving her confidence that you are not a danger to her puppies. Take things slowly at this stage, and only handle the puppies when absolutely necessary.

However, if the mother dog continues to show signs of aggression around her pups, be sure to consult a vet to rule out any medical conditions. If you’re concerned about your dog’s behaviour then you might like some additional help from an animal behaviourist.

Regardless of the level of your expectant mother dog’s aggression, using ADAPTIL® is a clinically proven way to help reduce stress during maternity, increase puppy health and encourage the mother-puppy relationship. ADAPTIL® Calm releases comforting natural pheromones to create a calming and reassuring environment for the mother and her puppies during their early weeks.