How to Play Fair in a Multi-Dog Household: reprinted from 2014

 How to Play Fair in a Multi-Dog Household.

You don't.

ok, allow me to expand on that. Having multiple dogs in one house is usually a great idea. So long as you are prepared for it, and are providing structure and good leadership. Dogs are pack animals. And in a pack, there are leaders, and there are followers. And those furry guys sleeping under your chair? They are not wolves.

Contrary to the traditional mindset, wolf packs are nothing like our dogs. The only true similarities are that they are of the canine variety, and they live in packs when left alone. Your dogs, need you to tell them when they are doing right, and when they are doing wrong. They need you for food. They need you for affection, they need you for everything.

A dog needs a provider. And he needs a boss. The degree of control, and the severity of your delivery, depends greatly on your individual dogs' personality. His personality dictates how well he will respond to your style of leadership. You, being the reasoning species who is the Leader of this pack, must determine who needs what, and when.

Your "alpha" dog may be pushing your other dogs around a bit during playtime, but what you may actually be witnessing is a slightly more subordinate animal attempting to dominate your other dogs due to insecurity about her position in the pack. Meaning, she may not actually BE an alpha at all. A true alpha does not need to enforce it all the time. The other dogs just 'know.'

If you aren't filling that position, one of the dogs will attempt to do it for you. I mean, someone's gotta be steering the ship, right?

"ok, so I'm the Leader. And I've just added another dog to my household, and I think the new dog wants to be alpha over the older dog; how do I make them get along?"

They might never like each other. Wrap your head around that, and then begin managing the situation. You, being the actual Leader, holds all the cards. Start by managing the dogs. Call a professional, and have them observe the interactions between you; all of you.

Make sure you are providing the proper levels of exercise for all the dogs in your household.

A dog who has an excess of energy, will put it somewhere; usually where you don't want it. As you begin to build better, more predictable structure for your dogs, they begin to fall into an order that may even branch into liking each other.

Be as consistent as possible with the rules and regulations of your home. Teaching the dogs good manners, first individually, and then with each other, is paramount to your success as a leader. Good management helps as well. If your dogs can't seem to get along when left alone in the back yard, do not leave them alone in the back yard. Rather, go out with them, and put your troublemaker to work!

A dog who is too busy working with you, and focusing on a task, is going to be too busy to pester the other dog. If you must, leash that guy and ask him to do things on the other side of the yard.

When you are indoors, if need be, use crates, pens, gates, or a leash to separate the troublemaker from the other animals. If there is fighting, whether over resources, or just picking on each other, please work with a qualified professional to help your pack learn to function together.

If you are not dealing with aggressive reactions, and just want to be more "fair," don't. If you are doling out attention to one dog, and the others just rush over to shove her out of the way, and you respond by petting the pushers, you are giving them the false impression that They run the show. You are setting yourself up for tension. The dog who got shoved, now feels "lower" and less important than the ones who got to DEMAND your attentions.

You are the Leader. You get to decide who gets attention, and when. If you are petting one, and another rushes over to shove her, use a Body Block (placing yourself like a goalie between the petted dog and the other dogs) to enforce that they must not shove her away. Give her the attention, and then, when you decide to call the other dog(s) over, that is when the "shover" can get some love.

You wouldn't allow children to punch, shove and kick each other to get to you for attention, don't put up with rudeness like that from your dogs. There is a reason we teach young children "Wait your turn," the same goes for your furry kids.

"When I give out treats, I have one dog who just runs in there and tries to take the treat. No matter which dog I am handing it to."

That is potentially a nightmare waiting to happen. Again, proper training/handling can help alleviate some of this stress. Asking the over-enthusiastic animal to sit and wait his turn, is a good move. That way, the dog you are handing a treat to won't feel the need to either snap and defend his treat, or bite it so fast that he grabs your fingers.

If you have one dog who seems to pester and pick on the other dog, more training is called for! If your dogs know things like "Away" or "Leave it" or even a simple "Come," you can diffuse a situation before it happens.

I have seen situations where the owners got a new dog, and tried to enforce that the new dog needed to be subordinate to the older dog. But the older dog was more than happy to BE sub to the new guy, so the Humans were only creating a bigger issue. The fights were getting worse. As soon as the Humans began to just let the old guy do what he was comfortable doing, i.e. allowing the young dog to do almost everything first, the fights subsided.

To some degree, dogs do have a good idea of how they'd like the structure to run. But they aren't really all that good at just "workin' it out." In the case of the older/younger dog, the Humans had to learn when to call the younger dog off, or away, so that the older dog could more effectively (and safely) show young dog that he wasn't being a challenge.

This won't always work in every situation. You may have a severe case where one dog is being so intimidating to the other, that you have one dog who just leaves the room every time the "bossy" one shows up. In this instance, call that professional.

Some dogs are just not cut out for living with other dogs. Period.

Just as some people can't stand other humans, some dogs just prefer to be left alone. Now, this does not mean you should just tolerate aggression. What it means, is that you may be faced with a dog who will either require a lifetime of management, to keep everyone safe, or you may consider placing that animal in a new home where he/she will be the only dog. Most issues of this nature can be worked with, but if your professional suggests a re-home, it may be because the dog would have a better, less stressful quality of life, should she be Queen of everything.

I have met many a happy, well-mannered, good canine companion who just wasn't all that comfortable with other dogs. This meant that dog could handle going for great, long excursions, and can pass a dog on the street without "blowing up" or getting tense, but wasn't all that great close up to other dogs. The Human had worked with the dog to get all those manners, and was rewarded with a wonderful, sweet companion.

The Human had also accepted that the road to having a dog she could trust to play with others, was a long one, and had chosen to allow this one thing to stay as is. This doesn't mean that particular dog couldn't be "fixed," it just means that the Human has decided not to deal with that stress, nor put it off on her dog, because the dog was Safe Enough.

Exercise, consistency, boundaries. These are the things that set up a multiple dog household for success. Dogs do have a sense of 'fairness,' but how you enforce it, is up to You. The Leader and controller of all resources. Use them.

Finally, ensure that each of your dogs gets the one-on-one time they crave. Just like Human kids, our dogs love it when we make special time for them. Each dog has a different "favorite" thing, and making time to do that without his annoying brothers or sisters, can help him stay balanced.

If you take breed tendencies into thought, you may take your scent-hound (Beagles, Bassetts, Bloodhounds, etc) on a new walking path, or to a Nose Work class. Your Pointer may loooove a long romp in a field, while your Cocker may just want to sit and watch people go by at a ball game or something. Doing special activities is not only good for their bond with you, it also teaches your dogs how to be without each other, which is healthy too.

I enjoy group activities with my household, but sometimes, I just want a walk in the woods. Alone. With my dog. One of them.

**Author's Note:  We used to have 5 dogs...now we have one.  Such is life and the passing of time.  These articles are being re-published for educational purposes.

Pack Status Confusion

What the heck is Pack Status Confusion??   Well, I am so glad you asked!  A dog who is suffering from Pack Status Confusion can be a real pain in the neck.  This dog is constantly feeling anxious, because he is always in limbo.  He doesn't understand his role in the family unit (i.e. your household and the Humans who live in it).  This is usually because he keeps getting mixed signals from you, or someone else in the house.

They have a routine, but it's too loose for their personality.  They get to choose where they sleep.  They get to choose whether or not to eat what's provided.  They choose when to get or give any affection.  They "ask" or "beg" for the things they want, but will not allow you to touch them when you want to.  They seem to be elevating their responses to different situations, even preempting them with barking or growly behaviors when they don't know what's going to happen.  They get to choose when to initiate play.  Etc, etc.  

When you start thinking about your dogs' normal day, how many of those 'normal' things is the dog allowed to choose?  Some dogs cannot handle these mundane things, because they have such a keen sense of pack status.  When they see you allowing them to choose the best sleeping spaces (the couch) or providing them food when They beg/demand for it, they see you as potentially lower than themselves in the pack status.  They may try to assert this new position by offering a growl, or a snap when you try to physically push them off that sofa, or give you "the look" when you try to pet them. ***please note:  A lot of these "rude" behaviors can also show up if your dog is in pain or discomfort.  If your dog is presenting new, sudden bouts of aggressive responses, rule out discomfort First.*** 

These social cues can be where these dogs get confused.  They start thinking that you do not have it all under control.  They start seeing you as Less Than a Leader.  Worse, some of them start feeling like They have to take control, because in their doggie souls, a pack needs a leader.  

If you're leaning on the Positive Reinforcement fence, your dog needs The Ultimate Resource Provider to have it under control, or they will feel as though they have to take control.

No matter what training philosophy you are using, the bottom line is that in order for your dog to feel secure, he has to know that what you are telling him to do, is trustworthy.  That you will follow up and follow through with the things you ask/tell him.  Canines thrive on predictable routine.  Some breeds are so genetically designed to take orders, that allowing them to make their own decisions can create behavioral issues, such as aggressive responses, extreme stubbornness, or unpredictable behaviors with people and animals outside the home.

Dogs that fall in to this sort of confusion are usually of the fearful variety.  They may do things to make themselves appear big when they get nervous.  Barking and growling in efforts to police a situation, but when confronted, are more likely to snap and run away, because they truly don't want anything to do with the "scary" situation.  They are a shy kid being forced to become a bully....

These dogs do not know how to Be.  So it is up to you, oh Leader, to start setting them up for success by taking the burden of decision making off their shoulders, and putting it back where it belongs, in your hands.

This does not mean you will need to get big and scary.  It means that for a little while, you may have to abandon the idea that the grown up dog you have, is capable of making any choices.  If you've got a dog that is "out of control" there are some steps you can take to bring them back to center.  Most of this can be applied to almost any dog, but please keep in mind that if you are dealing with an actual dominance issue, these suggestions are only a starting point.  Work with a qualified Teacher (a good dog trainer) to find the best ways to help your individual dog.

Start by creating routine.  We know you already feed them breakfast at a certain time, and there's a predictable exercise excursion, but what about the basics?  

1. Where does dog sleep?  A dog suffering from Pack Status confusion should really be kenneled at night.  Even though your dog has outgrown the chew everything stage, treating their kennel much like a child's bedroom, becomes a familiar and safe feeling place.  

2. Is your dog on a feeding schedule?  Dogs who free-feed (meaning the bowl is always available and always full) are not reliant upon you...They see the bowl as the Resource that provides.  Change this up and provide meals as often as is appropriate for the dog's age.  A puppy will need to be fed 3-5 times a day.  A grown, mature dog might do better on a twice a day, or sometimes even just once a day.

No Free-Feeding.  A Dog with a full bowl does not need you.

If you've got a dog who "refuses" food when it is provided:  Set a timer for 15-20 minutes.  Leave the food available for only that amount of time.  Pick it up when the timer sounds, and do not provide it again until the next scheduled mealtime.

As long as you aren't sneaking the dog some alternative food sources, they will usually begin to eat when you provide it, after 2 or 3 days.  Choosing to skip a meal or three will not harm your dog.  Some dogs do have medical conditions that do not allow for the missing meals, but otherwise, please do not free-feed.

Use part of the food portion as snack rewards.  When working in your home, using the dog's food portion as rewards can be a great alternative to commercial treats.  If you are transitioning from free-feeding, to feeding on a schedule, this can also be a good way to make sure the dog is taking in some calories throughout the day, without creating a situation where they are skipping the dog food to get to the chicken bits.

Those higher-value rewards are for tougher situations; off property, or when guests arrive.  

Should your household be feeding a raw diet, it is even more important that you do not allow the food to sit; this can lead to bacteria growth and health issues for your dog.

4. Does your dog know how to Say Please?  Asking your Status Confused pup to Sit before receiving Anything they want, is an easy way to get them to realize that You are the Leader.  They are adorable, and we know this...But leaders get to choose the affection, not them.  

When they come up looking cute and want affection, tell them to Sit or Down or Shake...Anything! Make them work for the affection.  You may find that they refuse to Sit at first...guess what, you have exposed that he thinks he's better than you.  Assuming he knows how to Sit, if they are used to getting affection for free, and suddenly you are making him work for it, he may not like that initially.  Be patient.  Try not to repeat yourself, and wait him out.  Do not touch or force him to Sit.  

If he stands there staring at you, he is working out in his head just Why Exactly you are telling him to Work.  He is the boss, right?  Why should He do anything for some affection?  This is usually a passing moment of cognition, and they should Sit.

Should he stare for a moment and then walk away, you now must put a leash on him and ask for that Sit again.  Follow through.  He doesn't get to choose to ignore you.  

If he complies and Sits when you ask, feel free to pet him.  Or let him outside.  Or throw his toy.  Or place his food dish down for him, you get the idea.  Asking for that Sit, is teaching him to Say Please.

5.  Do Not Allow a Status Confused dog to greet your guests first.  Putting an insecure dog out in front is just asking for trouble.  The dog may make bad choices, but your guests might make it worse by trying to make friends with him.  Better to kennel him, or leash him, and tell the guests to Please Ignore Him.  A polite dog doesn't bother the guests.  If yours is confused about his role in your pack, it is unfair to allow him to make choices about the visitors.  

When the dog has calmed a bit, if you want to allow him to sniff their feet/legs a bit that's ok.  It is Your choice, not his.  Putting him to work in these situations, such as asking for Sit or Down, or even tossing treats on the floor to encourage his nose to work, can be great ways to help him relax.

This will not diminish any protective instincts your dog may have either.  In fact, by choosing how and when he is allowed to interact with visitors, you are showing him what is appropriate.  This gives him an understanding of "normal" vs. someone breaking in at night, or threatening you.  A dog who learns to ignore welcome guests, be it laying politely on a dog bed, or hanging in their kennel, is more likely to bite someone breaking in because That now feels abnormal to him.  

6. Take away your dogs sleep spot choice.  In addition to kenneling a confused pup at night, it is a good idea to stop allowing him to choose the couch.  Some dogs cannot handle the social disruption that being allowed to sleep in an elevated position can cause.  They are not dumb.  They know how comfortable the couch is.  You, as the Leader, have access to the best, most comfortable places to rest...This is one of them.  

Feel free to provide the dog with comfortable beds, a blanket, even a pillow on that bed if you so desire, but stop letting them up on the furniture.  And no, you cannot skirt this by giving the dog their own recliner.  The idea is to gently remind them that they are a Dog.  

This rule does not have to apply to your run-of-the-mill dog personality, so please know that we do not believe that all dogs must live on the floor.  Dogs who cannot handle the social implications that being allowed "Up" are the dogs we are discussing here.

If you choose to use the crate as his new place to chill, keep the door closed until You choose to put him in there.  Remember, this is about gently controlling all the things that are good in your dogs' life.  Gaining access to a comfy place to lay down can be another way to show him that You are the Leader.  

Don't just leave the kennel door open for him either.  If you have chosen to put him in the crate, you can also choose when to let him out.  Ask for a Sit or Down first, make him work for it.

7. Teach basic obedience.  If your dog doesn't already know a few things, teaching basic things like Sit, or how not to jump on you, goes hand in hand with showing them what their role is.  Jumping all over you is a social no-no.  Respecting the Leader's body space means they don't get to pummel you with paws, or give you the standing "hug." 

To help a Status Confused dog figure out their role in your pack, is about gentle control.  It's about setting up boundaries that cannot be moved, by creating predictable situations for your dog.  If you aren't sure whether or not your dog is struggling with Pack Status Confusion, a Dominance Issue or is just a Wild Puppy who needs some rules, get with a qualified Canine Professional who can help you sort out just what you're dealing with.

Aggressive responses do not always mean you have an Aggressive Dog.  Jealous behaviors may indeed be an indication that your dog does not know his place, or he feels as though he owns that person and is actually struggling with Resource Guarding.  Still further, if your dog is not sure of his role, and is also terrified....He may have a combination of social conditions he is struggling with.  

These suggestions are only a baseline.  They are good for most dogs, and most situations.  Most dogs will start to relax after the first 2-3 weeks of this new routine, as long as the routine is actually being followed.