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| I have a super sweet female red heeler. She has NEVER shown any kind of aggression toward people or other dogs until she had one puppy about 4 weeks ago that she keeps under the carport of our home. Since having her pup, she has shown aggression toward strangers (the UPS man, friends of ours she isnt familliar with). She still has not been that way with anyone who lives on the place. I am worried. my husband says she will have to go if she keeps this up. I am hoping she will get over this once her pup is older. Anyone experience this? |
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Posts: 1898
 
| She is a new mother. She is a heeler and there for protective by nature. I think it is perfectly normal for her to become aggressive and protective of her pups. She still has a lot of hormones. Most likely when the pups are gone and the hormones reside she will return back to normal. It might take a few months for this happen. We have had several *****es that become protective and aggressive toward strangers when they have puppies. I can't guarantee it though.
My heeler turns opposite. Regularly she is a horrid dog I have to keep locked up from people she doesn't know. She is very sweet and social with "her people" but not with strangers. About two weeks before she whelps and until about 4 months after whelping she loves everyone. Then she turns back into the devil.
Edited by cyount2009 2016-12-19 11:35 AM
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Expert
Posts: 2128
| cyount2009 - 2016-12-19 11:31 AM She is a new mother. She is a heeler and there for protective by nature. I think it is perfectly normal for her to become aggressive and protective of her pups. She still has a lot of hormones. Most likely when the pups are gone and the hormones reside she will return back to normal. It might take a few months for this happen. We have had several *****es that become protective and aggressive toward strangers when they have puppies. I can't guarantee it though. My heeler turns opposite. Regularly she is a horrid dog I have to keep locked up from people she doesn't know. She is very sweet and social with "her people" but not with strangers. About two weeks before she whelps and until about 4 months after whelping she loves everyone. Then she turns back into the devil.
Oh No!! Its crazy how hormones affect some in different ways. I grew up with heelers and most loved "their people" and were protective and territorial with anyone else. This dog was super friendly and timid almost. Since this pup, if you are anywhere on the place and she doesnt know you, she will bark, growl, and possibly snap at you. :(. Shes going to get fixed as soon as this pup is weaned. I sure dont need a lawsuit :( :( |
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Expert
Posts: 1561
Location: North of where I want to be | My heeler/aussie mix has never had her own pups. And she is exactly like the dog cyount2009 described without a pup around. But when I brought my lab pup home she went full blown sweetest momma in the world. It was nuts to see a female who has never been bred do that.
I have however seen the sweetest dogs(great danes...used to raise them) in the world become very protective & agressive with pups on them. A heeler is likely to be that much worse as they are protectors by nature.
Don't bail on her yet she is still trying to figure this thing out.
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 I Don't Brag
Posts: 6960
| If you don't like this kind of behavior why did you get a Heeler? Just saying....it's pretty normal Heeler behavior and now your husband wants to give her the boot for being what she is? Shaking my head....I have raised 5 litters over the years and PRIZE their protective nature. You absolutely need to be Alpha so that they defer to your judgment, but I WANT mine to be protective. The two I have right now are rather people friendly but I do NOT tell strangers that, I WANT folks to be unwilling to get out of their vehicle if I am not present. Now when I say it's OK, they HAVE to defer to my judgment. This breed is NOT for everyone.
Now add momma hormones and you get a supersized protective attitude. |
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 Tried and True
Posts: 21185
Location: Where I am happiest | She is doing what nature intended her to do. By instinct she is being the protective mother she is supposed to be. |
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 Warmblood with Wings
Posts: 27846
Location: Florida.. | yep never owned a heeler but shes protecting her babies.. and if she is outside she has to be extra vigilant.. |
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Expert
Posts: 2128
| rodeoveteran - 2016-12-19 9:05 PM If you don't like this kind of behavior why did you get a Heeler? Just saying....it's pretty normal Heeler behavior and now your husband wants to give her the boot for being what she is? Shaking my head....I have raised 5 litters over the years and PRIZE their protective nature. You absolutely need to be Alpha so that they defer to your judgment, but I WANT mine to be protective. The two I have right now are rather people friendly but I do NOT tell strangers that, I WANT folks to be unwilling to get out of their vehicle if I am not present. Now when I say it's OK, they HAVE to defer to my judgment. This breed is NOT for everyone. Now add momma hormones and you get a supersized protective attitude. I have had heelers my entire life and know that they are very protective by nature in most cases. This dog was given to my 2 year old by her grandparents. I didnt go out and get her. She has been very friendly and not a threat to people until she had a puppy. We have a horse training business running out of our homeplace. I cannot have a dog that will bite a customer when they show up to see or pick up a horse. I dont mind protective dogs but like I said, I dont want a lawsuit or someone to get hurt. We also have family with kids that walk over to our house. I dont want her to bite one of them. I do not want to get rid of her, I like her very much. That is why I am hoping she will grow out of this aggressive stage. I will also have her spayed once the puppy is weaned.
Edited by scwebster 2016-12-20 10:14 AM
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Warmblood with Wings
Posts: 27846
Location: Florida.. | I bet that would help to... good luck.. |
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 Keeper of the King Snake
Posts: 7616
Location: Dubach, LA | Yep. I was aggressive 4 weeks postpartum too. Tried to bite everyone. She'll get over it. |
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 Namesless in BHW
Posts: 10368
Location: At the race track with Ah Dee Ohs | She is just protecting her pup. She'll get back to her old self once pup is weaned and gone. We also have a heeler and though a sweet dog, she isn't a mean dog, but is cautious of strangers. When told NO, she abides by the rules. |
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Expert
Posts: 2128
| total performance - 2016-12-21 8:45 AM She is just protecting her pup. She'll get back to her old self once pup is weaned and gone. We also have a heeler and though a sweet dog, she isn't a mean dog, but is cautious of strangers. When told NO, she abides by the rules.
Good to know! I hope she does too. |
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Expert
Posts: 2128
| CanCan - 2016-12-21 7:55 AM Yep. I was aggressive 4 weeks postpartum too. Tried to bite everyone. She'll get over it.
HAHAHAHAH |
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 Some Kind of Trouble
Posts: 4430
| My Aussiedoodle female became protective with her first litter and stayed that way when it comes to her yard. I will use a shock collar (I only vibrate it) when she doesn't have puppies if strangers are coming around and she carries on. You have to be careful with aggressive dogs and shock collars, but she just slinks off and behaves. |
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 To the Left
Posts: 1865
Location: Florida | When she is sick of the pup and weans it, get her fixed. Then this won't happen again. |
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Go Get Em!
Posts: 13503
Location: OH. IO | I want to see a photo of both |
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