Momma Dog is Overprotective

We only had Sera for about a month before we had reason to think she was pregnant. We adopted her from a private shelter who sets up adoptions at the front of the local PetSmart. They said she was 6 months old... not sure about that- her teeth, said our crazy friend Lianne, looked more like 3 years. The shelter peeps said she was found in Baja Mexico. So she's a Baja Surf Mutt.

Point of all this is that she has some history- probably hit by a car (broken leg healed without vet care, dislocated hip joint), and probably attacked by some dogs (doesn't like other dogs). That plus having 8 puppies to take care of produces an overprotective mommy dog.

It wasn't really planned - everything was crazy for the first 3-4 days after the puppies were born - but our cleaning lady showed up on day 3 and Sera was definitely not comfortable with that. After a while, it was ok if Patricia was near the back of the house cleaning without making much noise, but if she came in the kitchen where the pups are, it was mad barking.

That was the day from hell.

And since then, it really is hard to tell when Sera is going off to take the time she needs, having giving the puppies enough, or if she's neglecting them. It's my first time, so I don't know. One website said puppies at this stage sleep 90% of the time and feed 10%- but it seemed like the other way around the first few days.

She does get obsessed with the dogs next door- they're beyond a fence, but she doesn't seem to realize that's a protection for her and the puppies. She also freaks out when anyone comes to the door... so I'm not sure yet when to bring in other people like my friend Don who will be adopting one- probably at least day 10... if not 14. It's 12 hours now til they're a week old.