<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Submit your email below to read the full article.<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nWhy do dogs from the same household fight? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Just like human siblings, dogs sharing a household will frequently fight over resources like toys<\/a>, food<\/a>, treats<\/a>, or cuddles from their favorite people. Hormonal changes might also be the culprits to fighting – this is especially true if they are of the same sex and one of them is sexually maturing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Our full guide to resource guarding<\/a> has more useful information to know about dogs in the same household fighting over resources – you probably want to know all the details on how to prevent this.<\/p>\n\n\n\nHow to stop dogs from fighting in the same household<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Here\u2019s some things you can do stop dogs in the same household from fighting: Supervise interactions, provide them plenty of resources, and remove ones causing competition. Give each dog individual attention away from one another, and develop a training plan that aims for them to be comfortable around each other.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"puppies](\"https:\/\/zigzag.dog\/wp-content\/uploads\/aggression-1.png\")
Photo by Jametlene Reskp<\/a> on Unsplash<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nGet a vet check <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
If the fighting behavior has come out of the blue or one dog is attacking the other for no reason, it\u2019s wise to book an appointment at the Vet<\/a>. Pain, illness, hormone irregularity, and other medical problems can also cause aggression or grumpiness which can cause one dog to tell another dog off and escalate into a fight.<\/p>\n\n\n\nDevelop a training plan <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
If you have dogs fighting in the same household, it\u2019s good to sit down and work out a training plan. Ain\u2019t nobody got time for violence. This will include some of the management options<\/a> we discuss in the following points, and also counterconditioning and desensitization so that they feel more comfortable being around one another.<\/p>\n\n\n\nIt\u2019s worth considering consulting a qualified trainer or behaviorist who\u2019s dedicated to using positive reinforcement<\/a> based methods to help with this.<\/p>\n\n\n\nSupervise and manage interactions <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Depending on how often your dogs fight, consider using baby gates or play pens<\/a> to keep them apart so that they have their own areas with their own bed<\/a>, water, and food bowls.<\/a> It is <\/em>to keep them apart – not to encourage them into MMA cage fighting. Do this until things have calmed down, or while you\u2019re doing training. <\/p>\n\n\n\nThis is especially important if you have a puppy who\u2019s being introduced to a new dog in order to keep everyone safe, and give each other time apart. If you already have a dog at home and introduce them to a new one, read our full guide to introducing your puppy to a dog <\/a>to know the ropes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nManage your training with Zigzag!<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Prevent resource guarding <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
While dogs will naturally want to protect resources like holding onto chews they like or wanting to keep their favorite toy for themselves, fighting over them can cause issues. Issues you probably wish were never there. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here\u2019s how to stay ahead of the game: Pick up their food bowls after mealtimes and provide them plenty of water bowls (one for each of them plus one extra as a minimum). If you give them chews or bones, then put your dogs in separate areas to avoid squabbles. Pick up any leftovers, so it doesn\u2019t cause issues later!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Give your dog individual attention <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Make sure your dogs get plenty of individual attention from you. This includes walks<\/a>, playtime with toys<\/a> or even just sitting and grooming<\/a> them. You\u2019ll quickly see that spending all this quality time together will be of great help with your bonding.<\/p>\n\n\n\nTeach stationing behavior <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Teaching your dogs to lie down in separate beds<\/a> or mats in the same room can be very <\/p>\n\n\n\nuseful to show them that nice things happen when they are in the presence of one another\u2026and that there\u2019s absolutely no need to fight. Teach them separately to go to their mat or a particular place, and when they are ready you can practice in the same room, building up duration as you go on. Make sure they have their \u2018own\u2019 bed that the other one doesn\u2019t get into and that they\u2019re both the same distance from you to prevent any concerns about sharing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Train basic obedience cues <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Training your dogs with positive reinforcement<\/a> will help to strengthen your bond and make them listen to you more. This is, essentially, the key to success. Teaching them basic obedience cues<\/a> like sit<\/a>, down<\/a>, or leave it<\/a> will help to tire them out mentally so that they\u2019re less keen to fight out of boredom<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"puppies](\"https:\/\/zigzag.dog\/wp-content\/uploads\/aggression-2.png\")
Photo by Vincent van Zalinge<\/a> on Unsplash<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nTop tips for making sure dog siblings get along <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
If you have dog siblings, then you\u2019ll want to follow these tips to make sure they get along well:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- If you\u2019re bringing a new dog into the home, then have both dogs meet for the first time on a leash<\/a> on neutral territory away from home. This will stop the \u2018old\u2019 or \u2018resident\u2019 dog from being territorial and feeling like they\u2019re being invaded, and the new dog or puppy get used to the resident dog in a safe place.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
\n- Don\u2019t favor one dog over another! This can be tempting when you have a new puppy<\/a>, but it can leave the older dog feeling pushed out. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
\n- Feed your dogs in separate areas. Households with multiple dogs are often more harmonious when dogs don\u2019t eat near one another because it leaves them no chance of competition or one dog stealing the other dog’s meal.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
\n- Give both dogs their own beds<\/a> or crates<\/a>. Plenty of dogs don’t have problems swapping beds, but some might think the world is ending. If you have a new dog or rescue pup<\/a> join the household, make sure to keep your resident dog’s bed in the same place, and don\u2019t make them share if they don\u2019t want to.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
\n- Littermates often fight because they\u2019re allowed to play fight for extended periods, but this can escalate into aggression<\/a> if left to go all day. Giving the puppies separate crates<\/a> when they are small can help them have a safe place to go to, as well as give you time to relax while they\u2019re away from one another.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
\n- Littermates of the same sex can also fight as they go through developmental periods and sexually mature at around the same time. Time spent apart can help them not to build up negative feelings, so train<\/a> them and walk<\/a> them separately if you can.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Learn to read dog body language<\/a> so you can easily spot any subtle signs of discomfort around one another or initial stages of aggression.<\/p>\n\n\n\nIf the fighting has come all of a sudden, we recommend a Vet check<\/a> for both of your dogs to rule out any medical reasons why they might have started fighting.<\/p>\n\n\n\nYou might also ask a behaviorist or trainer to come and assess your dogs. Fresh (and professional eyes) can always help get a better look at a situation. They\u2019ll be able to tell you what they think the cause of the fights might be, and help you develop a behavior modification plan to help your dogs finally get along. In some sad circumstances, dogs who continually fight can create such a bad atmosphere that rehoming should be considered as an option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Staying optimistic, having two dogs can also be a lot of fun, and many dogs enjoy having company from other hairy friends. <\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"puppies](\"https:\/\/zigzag.dog\/wp-content\/uploads\/aggression-3.png\")
Photo by Judi Neumeyer<\/a> on Unsplash<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nWell, that\u2019s about it. We\u2019re hoping you feel more confident about your dogs interacting with each other without turning you into a boxing referee. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here\u2019s some things you can do stop dogs in the same household from fighting: Supervise interactions, provide them plenty of resources, and remove ones causing competition. Give each dog individual attention away from one another, and develop a training plan that aims for them to be comfortable around each other.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If the fighting behavior has come out of the blue or one dog is attacking the other for no reason, it\u2019s wise to book an appointment at the Vet<\/a>. Pain, illness, hormone irregularity, and other medical problems can also cause aggression or grumpiness which can cause one dog to tell another dog off and escalate into a fight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you have dogs fighting in the same household, it\u2019s good to sit down and work out a training plan. Ain\u2019t nobody got time for violence. This will include some of the management options<\/a> we discuss in the following points, and also counterconditioning and desensitization so that they feel more comfortable being around one another.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s worth considering consulting a qualified trainer or behaviorist who\u2019s dedicated to using positive reinforcement<\/a> based methods to help with this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Depending on how often your dogs fight, consider using baby gates or play pens<\/a> to keep them apart so that they have their own areas with their own bed<\/a>, water, and food bowls.<\/a> It is <\/em>to keep them apart – not to encourage them into MMA cage fighting. Do this until things have calmed down, or while you\u2019re doing training. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This is especially important if you have a puppy who\u2019s being introduced to a new dog in order to keep everyone safe, and give each other time apart. If you already have a dog at home and introduce them to a new one, read our full guide to introducing your puppy to a dog <\/a>to know the ropes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n While dogs will naturally want to protect resources like holding onto chews they like or wanting to keep their favorite toy for themselves, fighting over them can cause issues. Issues you probably wish were never there. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Here\u2019s how to stay ahead of the game: Pick up their food bowls after mealtimes and provide them plenty of water bowls (one for each of them plus one extra as a minimum). If you give them chews or bones, then put your dogs in separate areas to avoid squabbles. Pick up any leftovers, so it doesn\u2019t cause issues later!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Make sure your dogs get plenty of individual attention from you. This includes walks<\/a>, playtime with toys<\/a> or even just sitting and grooming<\/a> them. You\u2019ll quickly see that spending all this quality time together will be of great help with your bonding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Teaching your dogs to lie down in separate beds<\/a> or mats in the same room can be very <\/p>\n\n\n\n useful to show them that nice things happen when they are in the presence of one another\u2026and that there\u2019s absolutely no need to fight. Teach them separately to go to their mat or a particular place, and when they are ready you can practice in the same room, building up duration as you go on. Make sure they have their \u2018own\u2019 bed that the other one doesn\u2019t get into and that they\u2019re both the same distance from you to prevent any concerns about sharing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Training your dogs with positive reinforcement<\/a> will help to strengthen your bond and make them listen to you more. This is, essentially, the key to success. Teaching them basic obedience cues<\/a> like sit<\/a>, down<\/a>, or leave it<\/a> will help to tire them out mentally so that they\u2019re less keen to fight out of boredom<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you have dog siblings, then you\u2019ll want to follow these tips to make sure they get along well:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Learn to read dog body language<\/a> so you can easily spot any subtle signs of discomfort around one another or initial stages of aggression.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If the fighting has come all of a sudden, we recommend a Vet check<\/a> for both of your dogs to rule out any medical reasons why they might have started fighting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You might also ask a behaviorist or trainer to come and assess your dogs. Fresh (and professional eyes) can always help get a better look at a situation. They\u2019ll be able to tell you what they think the cause of the fights might be, and help you develop a behavior modification plan to help your dogs finally get along. In some sad circumstances, dogs who continually fight can create such a bad atmosphere that rehoming should be considered as an option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Staying optimistic, having two dogs can also be a lot of fun, and many dogs enjoy having company from other hairy friends. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Well, that\u2019s about it. We\u2019re hoping you feel more confident about your dogs interacting with each other without turning you into a boxing referee. <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Our full guide to resource guarding<\/a> has more useful information to know about dogs in the same household fighting over resources – you probably want to know all the details on how to prevent this.<\/p>\n\n\n\nHow to stop dogs from fighting in the same household<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Get a vet check <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Develop a training plan <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Supervise and manage interactions <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Prevent resource guarding <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Give your dog individual attention <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Teach stationing behavior <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Train basic obedience cues <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Top tips for making sure dog siblings get along <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n