Depressed Dachshund

Hi! Im so glad I found this website. I'm new and have a question I need to get advice for.
I have two minature dachshunds. One of our mini doxies had puppies three weeks ago. Our other doxie has always been sensitive, thats just her personality. Well, recently, the past week she has started thinking that Suzies puppies are hers. She whines and cries constantly, and I mean constantly. We've babygated her away but she cries even while we're holding her- all through the night- Im afraid she's going to worry herself to death. I caught her this morning with the puppies while I had run Suzie outside. Came back in, Kayla had the puppies licking them to go to the bathroom, snuggling, trying to nurse them- Suzie walked in there and starred at me to move her. I of course moved Kayla out and then had to hear her cry at the top of her lungs for an hour before we could calm her down. We take her outside, she puts the brakes on, she stands at the babygate shaking and crying to get in. We've got new toys, treats, try taking her out to the park etc... nothing is working, special treatment is not working and I don't know what else to do. Does anyone have any suggestions???? Im really scared she's going to hurt herself. She truly thinks these babies are hers.

Hope to hear from anyone soon!
Jess

I don't have a lot of dog experience, but wanted to let you know someone should be along who can answer your questions.

Like I said, I don't know much about dogs (I have 2, but my hubby is the dog person) but I wonder if there is any problem letting her have "visitation" with the puppies? You hear stories all the time of other pets raising abandoned or orphaned babies... maybe she could give the mommy dog a break sometimes.

Crystal

She probably does think the puppies are hers. I'm really not sure what you can do, but maybe if you ask a dog specialist about this, maybe they can help you.

Good luck!

Is the 2nd dog spayed yet?

and very needy. She is also the Nana, (and the alpha) so she gets what she needs. She gets special attention. She gets the first treat. She gets "Nana" time. She goes in to a room where the others are not allowed to interrupt us, and we have our quiet quality time.
I have a house full of deafblinds as well as a blind and another handicapped.
So the words NANATIME mean so much to her. She comes over, lays her head in my lap, and she listens to soothing whisper singsong. To go ALONE with mama in the wescue wagon means more to her than anything. Her emotional needs are much higher than most of my pups, except for Gabriel. She is not happy with all these DOGS in the house, as she feels she is a two-legger right with me. And she is. She is my sister, my best friend, and she saved my life. She gets quality time AWAY from the others, and it raises her up to a degree which is actually visible.
Give your baby some quality MAMA time, away from the others, and show her she means something to you, and she is special.
On Ambrr's birthday I would take her to McDonald's, get two children's meals, take them to thepark and we would celebrate January First.
And then Andy died, and no one gets even a Happy Birthday any more. But when he was here! Oh, Ambrr had birthdays! She and I both love our quiet quality time.

I am certainly no expert, but here is what I would do. As long as Suzie doesn't mind Kayla helping out with the babies, then I would say let her! When I just had one kitty (long ago ...lol) the first rescue I took in was a pregnant mom. When she delivered her babies, my cat (female - spayed) also wanted to help. She would lie with them, and clean them and the mom would still nurse them. We started calling my cat Auntie Grace from that time on. I don't think it's a problem at all as long as their true mommy doesn't quit nursing them! It's just Kayla's mothering instinct which she will have whether she is spayed or not.

Kim

Thanks everyone for your replies. Kayla is doing a tiny bit better. We let her with the puppies- Suzie tolerates it, but I can tell she doesn't like it. They're three weeks old now, starting to walk around and all- so hopefully Suzie will do better with Aunt Kayla being around. We're still giving her a lot of extra attention ... she does have strong mommy instincts. Thanks again!!!