Is aggression normal for new Mommy?

Question
My Jack Russel just had 5 puppies.  How aggressive should she be?  We can't even peek in the cage without snarling and growling.  She's already bit two of my kids and that's just for geting close to her.  It makes me not like her....I mean come on.  I moved her to the back bedroom.  Should I just ignore her or make her let me at least look at the puppies?  How long should she act like this?

Answer
Hi Dana:

It's perfectly normal for your new mom to act the way she is. She'll likely become less aggressive & over-protective after several days but all dogs differ in how they respond to interaction. You did the best thing in moving her to an area where she can remain undisturbed. For now simply look in on her & the litter from time to time to be sure all is well & be sure she has an adequate supply of food & water. Often a good time to check over the pups is when she goes outside for potty, which she may be hesitant to do for a few days. New mothers feel especially protective when approached by children so please keep your kids away from her until she's settled down. She'll probably become more sociable once the puppies are at least several days old but don't force attention on her -- let her establish the "ground rules" as you don't want her upset by unwanted interaction. Some new mothers will welcome nearly anyone & anything immediately after whelping while others may require alone time for as long as a few weeks. One of my girls routinely allows the cat into the whelping box shortly after delivering & even allows him to nurse along with the puppies! The cat's a total ham & adores the dog & all puppies & I guess somehow she knows the cat means no harm to her litter. Given enough time & patience, no doubt your girl will soon relax too so just hang in there & provide for her as best you can. If she doesn't seem to get too overly distraught, try sitting quietly in the room away from her & the litter over the next few days, talking to her softly but not approaching her. If she comes to you that may indicate she's feeling more secure but still proceed cautiously until she's totally at ease with the family's presence. Wish you & the new brood all the best!