My bitch had a litter six days ago.  She is usually even tempered and lives happily with my other two bitches, who are both entire.  She and one of the other bitches came into season together and there were a couple of incidents where they were aggressive to one another and had to be separated.  I kind of anticipated this might happen and it's not the end of the world as I can keep them in separate ends of the house at times like this.  My concern is that today I had my family visit and my bitch was very aggressive and I was seriously worried she would attack them.  They didn't go near the pups or whelping box - not even in the same room, but she clearly didn't want them in the house.  I appreciate it is very early days and she is very protective of her pups but can someone please reassure me that she hasn't had a complete personality change?   Also, what is the best way to handle the situation?  Is there anything I can do to make it calm and happy for all concerned?

This is perfectly normal protective behaviour, and as her hormones settle down again and her babies grow and become stronger she'll regain her old nature. In the meantime keep visitors out of the house for the next week or two. When the pups' eyes are open, they're more mobile and are starting to be weaned she'll be more confident.

Thanks, that's what I thought but it's a bit difficult when you have kids and grandkids who want to come and see the new puppies.  I held off from having visitors for the first six days but now wish I'd said stay away until after two weeks. 
Can anyone advise the best way to deal with all three dogs in this situation?  At the moment I'm trying to encourage all three of them to have a bit of play time in the garden together, but am not letting the other two go anywhere near the room where the whelping box is.  How and when will be best to introduce the other two dogs to the pups? 
I must sound a bit incompetent!  I've had litters before but never with two other grown up dogs in the house.

Yes i agree with Jean no visitors, our girl although not aggressive at all but very alert and watching the puppies all the time, they are now running round and she is more settled.

I agree , she will return to her oldself in a few weeks , she is just being very protective of her puppies.
I would also limit people coming to the house at least until the pups are 4 weeks.

>it's a bit difficult when you have kids and grandkids who want to come and see the new puppies.

That's tough, I'm afraid. Her needs come first, hard though it'll be on the rest of the family.

>How and when will be best to introduce the other two dogs to the pups? 

Be guided by your bitch. Keep the others away at least till the puppies' eyes are open, then allow one of the others to pass the door of the whelping room. If she accepts that without stress, then allow the other to pass - but don't allow them into the room until the bitch is fine with them nearby.

I wouldn't be encouraging or expecting the Mum to resume normal interaction with the rest of the pack until pups are on their feet and running around, and even then she will probably be off/different with them until the pups go to their new homes, when you can work on hopefully returning the status quo. 

Bear in mind that having puppies elevates a bitches status, as in the wild only the alpha would breed, and she may not wish to resume a lower place in your canine hierarchy.

That sounds good - I've got a stairgate at both doors into the room, so in a couple of weeks I'll start letting them pass by and if that goes ok I'll let them look over the stairgate.  I so want it to be right and realise my girl and her pups' needs come first - shame I always get pushed around by trying to please others!

Any visitors  we allow at around 4- 5 weeks, mums are usually fine by then and happy to let people play with their babies.

but it's a bit difficult when you have kids and grandkids who want to come and see the new puppies

Your priority is to your bitch, a dog isn't like a human where it will welcome visitors coming close to or worse touching it's pups. Some bitches can be fine but even the most placid of bitches can become upset. A dogs natural instinct is to protect it's young just like every other animal on the planet and if the maternal instinct is riled then a dog will do what it feels it needs.

A young child to a dog is way down the pecking order in life they do not even view them as level with themselves and will treat them as such, if anything a child is very dangerous as they can hurt their pups with their clumsiness and lack of understanding, a dog knows this, so a dog feeling threatened will lash out, and also at any adult it does not trust 100%. And worse a group of people will make her defensive.

You need to wait until the pups are approx 4 weeks old, if the grandchildren are young maybe even 6 weeks with full supervision, your bitches feelings and the pups safety always come before family and friends and if your bitch does not feel you are protecting her young she will do it herself. :-)

aggre with carrington, way too soon for visitors

I'm with Jeangenie on this one.  If anyone wants to visit I just say that I'm sorry but pups are way too young for mum to be comfortable about having strangers about.

I won't allow potential puppy owners to visit until around 5 weeks, and my other dogs are only allowed to walk past the whelping room once pups are mobile.  I watch mums actions and see how she feels about it.

At 6 days old, and eyes not open, I'm not surprised your girl has concerns.  She's being a good mum, and trying to protect her babes.  I do everything I possibly can to ensure a stress free environment for my girls to rear their pups.

I wouldn't dream of having strangers round but the visitor was my daughter and grandson.  They are usually here every day and my girl usually loves them.  She is being a fantastic mum, so I'm glad it was just one little slip up on my part and everything is going along splendidly.  She is fine with the other dogs in the garden so it's nice they can still have a bit of a play together and then she can dash back to her babies and it's easy for me to take the others in through the back door, thus avoiding the pups. 

I don't let anybody in to see the pups until they are 3-4 weeks old, this includes my parents, sisters and their children.  The risk of infection is far too great for them, even with family members. 

> I don't let anybody in to see the pups until they are 3-4 weeks old, this includes my parents, sisters and their children.  The risk of infection is far too great for them, even with family members

We dont neither,

When you feel 'bullied' just remember that just before your Grandson came in he could have said hello to his/neighbours/friends/person on the streets dog.  The risk of infection is just too great.  Leave it until they are 4/5 weeks and they can interact with him.
And your bitch is just showing signs of being an excellent Mum!  I wouldn't even put her outside to go to the toilet with the others unless she is actively looking for them.  They will happily go back together once her milk is gone.