Dog Rivalry Problems - What to Do When Your Dogs Don't Get Along

Rivalry is Normal

If you live in a multi-dog household then you probably already know that dogs don't always get along. Even the best of friends sometimes have squabbles. Very often dogs may fight about who is boss, who gets to eat first, who gets to sit next to you and so on. In other words, status and rivalry can be big issues when you have more than one canine companion.

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Here are some ways to deal with rivalry among pack members:

Always Be the Pack Leader

1. There will always be a dog in charge. When dogs live in a pack situation they take on a hierarchical command structure, with one always in charge. Unfortunately, it may or may not be the dog you choose. Your favorite may not be the one that is naturally disposed to leadership. If your favorite is 12 years old and a little frail, it's likely that a younger pack member has already assumed the leadership position in the household. If you are still treating the older dog like the pack leader - giving her special treats and preferential treatment - this is likely causing confusion and problems with your other dogs. They are looking to the younger dog for leadership and you are indicating that the older dog is the leader. There may be fights between the older and younger dog which the older dog really can't win.

You can help smooth the situation if you start showing the younger dog some of the same special treatment that you show the older dog. You don't have to stop giving your older dog special treatment but it will help ease the transition if you indicate that you are starting to accept the younger dog's new position.

Love is a Battlefield

2. Sexual issues. If you have dogs that are not spayed and neutered then, when your girls are in season, it's very likely that your boys will hate each other. They will probably fight. At other times everyone may get along just fine. So, unless you can completely separate your girls and boys when your girls come in season, you will need to resign yourself to this competition. Or, you can have your girls and/or boys altered. Unless you plan to breed your dogs it's often a good idea to talk to your veterinarian about having your dogs altered. Spaying and neutering are not slam dunk decisions. They are veterinary medical decisions with health consequences, so do get advice before making a choice.

What's Yours is Mine

3. Status. At any given time your dogs may be jockeying for position. There is probably a dog at the top who tries to keep the other dogs in line. There may also be a second-in-command who assists the top dog. If you have other dogs, these others may occasionally have squabbles over toys or food. They are actually fighting about who is more important and who has the right to take things.

You can prevent many of these problems by providing your dogs with plenty of toys, things to chew on, and places to sleep. As long as there is no shortage of things, your dogs will have less to argue about.

However, if there is one particular toy or thing that frequently causes a problem, you're often better off simply getting rid of it. For instance, if every dog wants the stuffed green froggy toy and it often causes fights, better to remove it than to let it keep causing trouble.

Food Matters

4. Many dogs will fight over food even if there is plenty and they aren't hungry. You can solve this problem by feeding your dogs separately - in different rooms or in separate crates. If you feed everyone together, at the same time, you are more likely to have fights.

These are some of the ways you can solve rivalry issues in a home with a pack of dogs. Remember that you set the tone for the entire group of dogs. You are the one who indicates who is in charge and how the dogs should behave. When all else fails, try separating the dogs until they are calmer.

Dog Rivalry Problems - What to Do When Your Dogs Don't Get Along

Mia Montagliani is the owner of two Manchester Terriers, Frodo and Ziggy. Mia is passionate about the welfare of animals and dogs. Mia is also committed to improving the relationship between owners and their dogs and helping dog owners train their dogs humanely, effectively and stress free. For more information, please visit http://www.YourDogNeedsYou.com. For regular updates, hints and tips become a fan of the "Your Dog Needs You" page in Facebook.

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