I have a mum and two pups young pups, and a mum and a single pup .  I have moved the 2 mums and pups into 2 seperate crates in my very large kitchen diner among the pack.

Both Mums are still over protective and it's caused quite a few spats initially.  Any help how others manage this would be most welcome as this is my first experience of this.

Mod Edited

I have never had two litters at once so have only dealt with integrating a litter with adult dogs.  I don't think I would be pushing the situation but would wait until the mothers themselves seem comfortable.  There is a point when they will wish themselves to see the pups introduced in my experience.  If you must have them in the same room together I would screen their areas off from sight and just let them adapt to the sounds and smells first.  I would not leave them alone at any point either with each other or any other dogs.

I'd say the pups are still far too young for this. The mothers will stop being so protective the older the pups get. I have mixed mine once from 3 weeks but will not do it again, it was too stressful for everyone. Now I don't do it until the pups I am not keeping have been sold. Especially as I have found some of my adults dogs are absolutely fine to  cope with one or two pups, but an entire litter -they hate it and just want to get away.

I bring my litters into the kitchen once their eyes are open.  Mum is watchful and will not let other dogs into the puppy pen which they respect.  Gradually as pups get older she allows them to first sniff and then by 3 to 4 weeks come in to them and say hi, though to be hones if the others have had pups of their own they are not that interested.

By 6 weeks no-one wants anything to do with the pups and they, will be in a pen or dog run where the adults can come or go as they please, mostly choosing to not have anything to do with them s a litter.

Once they a=re over 8 weeks old and I have fewer pups (as some will have gone to their new homes), then pups will be allowed to come and go into the kitchen where the adults spend much of their time, but will let them away from the pups when they wish(living room).  I don't allow the pups free access to the living room, they will either be in my arms or in a playpen to play and socialise with us. 

Once I have just the pup I am keeping then it will be allowed into the living room with the others when I can give it undivided attention, otherwise it will stay in the kitchen behind the baby gate until properly house trained.

The adults seem Happy to be in the pups company full time once they are about 12 weeks and know their manners.

I have had no more than five adults including Mum, all the same breed.

Thank you for the advice one and all.

Things are quite calm in the household.  The only exception to this is a rescue dog we have that was badly treated, she has been segregated off from the kitchen diner and spends most of her time in the sitting room.  Luckily I am over three floors with an army of safety gates to there's not much chance of her mingling in by accident.

We're not leaving any situation unattended of course.