Hi all

my normally non-aggressive male is turning out to be untrustworthy with my litter of pups.

for the first 10 days the pups and mum were kept in a seperate room, mum getting upset if any other dog came near (understandable)

at 3-wks the pups moved into a crate in the sitiing room.  Now we are letting them out of the crate to explore the house, and learn about things outside the crate.  we thought we'd have to keep a careful eye on the collie-rescue as we don't know her as well as our other dogs, but she's turned into a complete dote.  They hang off her ears, they hang off her tail and she loves it.  She's become surrogate aunt.
Our male Jack however, who has never shown any aggression to anything in his life, has decided he doesn't want these little guys around.  he grumbles and snaps at them.  He hasn't drawn blood yet, but he's caused a few screaming fits (from the pups).  The pups have learned quickly to stay away from grumpy uncle Monty, and immediatly adopt the submissive pose whenever they stray too near to him.
However, he now launches himself out of his bed and across the room to attack them, even when they're nowhere near him.
We're caught with what to do with him.  We're keeping one pup, and another will stay with us until he is 4 months old before going to his new home.
We've tried shutting Monty out of the room during play time, but i feel this will build even more resentment in him.
I am currently trying him with a muzzle fitted so that he cannot actually inflict damage, but he's not too chuffed with this either!
Any suggestions, he's got to learn to live with them, but how?

Caroline

Hello Caroline, some adult males and even females act as if they are frightened of small puppies, though actively pursuing them sounds as if it may be a bit more than that. So if it were my litter I'd let him be in the room while they are in the cage but keep him completely away from them when they are out until all the pups but the one you are keeping and the one who is staying to 4mths have gone. By that time he may have accepted them anyway, but if he hasn't I'd introduce the two pups to him exactly as if they were puppies I'd bought not bred.

There could be an element of jealousy too, so I'd also make a point of fussing him while the pups are there. Personally I wouldn't use a muzzle at all. He may see it as a form of punishment, and anyway an adult can do a lot of damage to a baby pup without using his jaws.

Caroline,   IMO  It is not normal for an adult male to like young pups, which will after all wish to pull him around, most boys realy can not be bothered with youngsters and should not be expected to be. If you don't seperate them your pups will develop a fear for other dogs, which will continue throughout their lives and cause huge problems for prospective new owners. I think Jack should maybe go upstairs whilst the pups are running around, give him some 'time out' :)

IMO, some adult males are lovely around pups, many are not. Some appear not to know what these small furry things are and are apprehensive as a result, others just don't want to be bothered & certainly don't want them trying to feed off them! You may well find that once these furry little monsters grow into recognisable young dogs, his attitude will be more acceptable. Meanwhile, I think for his sake & the pups, he has to be kept away.

Thanks all for your replies, and the advice given has been taken on board.

It's odd, I just never expected this behaviour from him.  He truly wouldn't normally hurt a fly.  My mother's male Jack Russell loves pups, and I just thought Monty would be the same.

I did wonder whether to keep him away until they were more able to defend themselves, as at the moment all they want to do is play and explore with their littleteeth...this is probably what he resents the most.  So, I guess, until they are bigger and less demanding, they'll have to play without grumpy Uncle Monty! ;o)

Thanks again

Caroline x

My stupid big white gsd boy loves pups and is realy trustworthy but all are different, they do tend to be the other way but as you say you may find that he is more tolerant when they are bigger. It is nice when they all get on, hope Uncle Monty thinks so :)