Multiple dog homes: Tips for Reducing Dog Conflicts

In multiple dog homes, harmonious relationships are common if each dog is treated fairly and if the owners understand dog body language. However, scuffles can occur. Learning how to read your dogs’ cues, especially signs of stress and anxiety, is crucial to maintaining peace in a multi-dog household.

Understanding Dog Body Language and Stress Signals

Dogs often communicate through body language, and recognizing stress and anxiety in dogs can prevent fights. Minor disputes among dogs are normal, often sparked by food, toys, or attention from you. These squabbles are usually brief and can be managed with a simple interruption, like saying “Oi, stop that!”

Common Causes of Dog Conflicts

The most common cause of tension in multiple dog homes is resource guarding, where a dog defends food, toys, or even the owner. Other factors include young dogs pestering older ones, pain, or anxiety disorders. Keep an eye on body language and signs of aggression, which often build up over time due to increasing stress.

Common triggers include:

• Resource guarding: Defending food, toys, or attention. Food bowls banging and food preparation can get dogs worked up before the food is even presented.
• Household changes: New dynamics, moves, or family members.
• Arrival of baby into the home.  For tips to help your situation if you are expecting and currently have a dog, or multiple dogs, click HERE.
• Routine changes: Adjustments that can create anxiety.
• Owners raising their voices
• High energy play
• Loud noises and visitors: Such as thunderstorms, doorbells, and guests.

Managing Triggers and Avoiding Conflicts

Reducing fights involves managing and minimizing triggers in the home. Some ways to do this include:

1. Avoiding Triggers: Prevent dogs from being exposed to stressors.
2. Removing Triggers: Where possible, eliminate stress-inducing situations.
3. Counter Conditioning: Change how dogs feel about triggers by pairing them with positive experiences, like treats or favorite toys. This helps dogs associate triggers with something enjoyable, which may reduce anxiety over time.

Training and House Rules for Peaceful Coexistence

In addition to managing triggers, it’s essential to establish house rules. This helps dogs understand boundaries and reduces conflicts, particularly in multiple dog homes. Consider the following tips:

• Balanced Attention: Treat each dog equally.
• Give Older Dogs Space: Allow senior dogs quiet zones.
• Basic Obedience Training: Teach all dogs obedience commands like “sit” and “come” to help control their behavior.
• Resource Management: Control access to high-value items and use baby gates for separation when needed.
• Crate Training: Crate training provide a personal space for each dog and help manage interactions.
• Separate Feeding Areas: If fights happen during mealtime, feed dogs separately to reduce competition.   A baby gate can be very useful here.

Handling Serious Conflicts in Multiple Dog Homes

If fights become intense, where a dog intends to harm another, it may be time to seek professional help. Trainers experienced with multiple dog homes can help you implement behavior strategies and restore peace.

Preventing Escalation Through Early Intervention

Addressing minor issues before they become severe can save you from future conflicts. Waiting too long might lead to permanent separation of the dogs within the home, making reunification challenging.

Finding a qualified trainer with experience in multi-dog households is key to addressing these issues effectively.

By managing triggers, setting boundaries, and understanding dog body language, you can create a peaceful multiple dog home.

Early intervention, balanced attention, and proper training can help your dogs live harmoniously and reduce conflict.

About the Author:

Lara Shannon is a certified dog behaviourist and trainer, pet food nutrition specialist, Executive Producer and Host of Pooches at Play on Channel 10 and editor of Poochesatplay.com. Lara also runs her own dog training business in Melbourne’s Bayside area and is the Author of World of Dogs and Eat, Play, Love Your Dog