whelping dogs

Question
My dog just gave birth to 2 puppies.  We already have a 1 year old dog from her previous litter.  When the 1 year old dog goes towards her mother and new born puppies they start growling and snapping at each other.  Will the 1 year old female dog attack the puppies.  What should we do.

Answer
Hi Angela;
It could happen. Depends on the dogs.
We had a cat that would get pregnant while she was nursing, and we would take her to the Vet when the kittens were 4 weeks old, and I could feed them while she was away overnight. For three years, every time he told us, he couldn't spay her because she was already too far along with another litter.
Drove us nuts!!!
She would go outside and leave her kittens in the house with our German Shepherd and the other two cats, so she knew they were not going to hurt her puippies, but when one of them came near her kittens, she would attack. She had them all keeping away from her kittens. With her it was a case of, "These are my toys, and you can't touch them".
That could be what is going on with your mommy dog, and the other one is growling because it is ftalking back.
Most likely it is a jealousy thing.
the other female is curious about the puppies, and would probably not hurt them, but would lick them and play with them. could be mommy is jealous and could be she knows the other dog will hurt them.
I would take one of the puippies, in my hands, and protected so the other dog can sniff, and even lick, but can't grab the puppy. Have someone else with you that can control the other dog. You don't want to risk getting a puppy hurt.
Do this in another room, when they mother can't see or interfere, so the other dog will feel free to react the way she feels toward the puppy.
If she has a sweet look, and sniffs and snuggles, then you know it is jealousy on the mother's part, and you can correct her and stop this behavior.
If the dog's hackles go up and/or she seems to not like the puppy, and maybe will hurt it, or grawls at it, SHE is the one you need to chew out and correct the bahavior in, and make sure there is not a chance she can get to the puppies when you are not there.
Charlotte