How can I Keep my Dogs from Squabbling?
What techniques can deal with jealous
rivalry in dogs? I have two Yorkies that are
squabbling quite a bit if one gets more attention
than the other. I am at my wits’ end.
Thanks.
Donna
Blanchester, VA
The key point of your question is that the fighting occurs when one of the dogs is receiving attention from you.
Dogs and people see the world from different perspectives. Humans generally favor equality. If we have two dogs, our idea of fairness is to treat them as equals. We give them equal amounts of attention, love and kindness.
Dogs, however, are not proponents of equality. They establish dominance hierarchies among themselves. In a pair of dogs, one is likely to be dominant. The other will be submissive. In the dog world, the dominant dog has first rights to toys, food and attention from the people in the house.
As long as the submissive dog respects this entitlement, peace will reign. However, some submissive dogs realize that they can challenge their dominant sibling by enlisting an ally: a person in the house. The submissive dog may fail to respect the dominance of his cohort when he knows that mom will back him up. The dominant dog responds by starting a fight.
The key to ending these fights is to realize which of your dogs is dominant. The dominant dog should be the first to receive attention, food and toys.
I am not saying to neglect the submissive dog. However, if you look at the situation from a dog’s point of view, your life may become more tranquil.
You have questions. 
I believe this has actually been proven to be untrue. For one, dog status is more fluid than was previously believed, and usually contextual. Further Jean Donaldson has published a list of myths which actually includes this popular one of supporting the “hierarchy” — her list can be found here.
http://ca.lifestyle.yahoo.com/pets/dogs/articles/e/behaviour-training/dogsincanada/61/fairy-tales/1
She says, There is no evidence that this has any impact on inter-dog relations, or any type of aggression.
Further, a recent study found that dogs recognize unfairness in the distribution of treats
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1047481/Living-humans-taught-dogs-morals-say-scientists.html
Food for thought. One might think it was better to use facts in dog training rather than superstition.
I don’t let any of my dogs exhibit dominance. I’m the top dog and the only dominant one in this family. I have three dachshunds and a Boston. Occasionally the 2 females (one doxie, one Boston) get in a serious fight. I make them both submit to me. Tends to stop future outbreaks for a good long while.
If dogs are trained (I don’t buy into the antiquated dominance theory – there were very few documented studies done on it and none hold up) you do not have quibbles/fights etc. I have 3 dogs ranging in weight from 3lbs – 125 lbs. They are all very affectionate and I do not have issues with squabbles or fights. They look to me if they are feeling uncomfortable and I work them through it. My dogs are active but only when told to be and quiet if asked. Peace rains – we have hard and fun play/exercise time and rowdy games of fetch/tug but they take turns there also… two wait while one fetches etc.
My friends and I all have multiple dogs and at times we will be together at one house or another with 8-11 dogs and they are all in a down command and RELAXED because that’s just how we do things.
I can relate to the poster of this question. I have two female cocker spaniels and experienced the possessive aggressive behavior. At my wit’s end I enlisted the help of a dog psychologist who showed me how I created the problem and allowed it to happen. Peace has now been restored but we went through doggie hell for a couple of weeks. A toddler’s playpen worked well for time out for the aggressor. .
I understand the dominant dog and sub dog theory. my older (smaller) girl dog is th boss, the younger, bigger, somewhat clumsy & floppy male dog is the sub. They generally get along, but he is an attention hound. and while she doesn’t get upset by this- the hugs are all around — one thing he does do is get “floppy’ on his back, or just plain crazy wriggly, and when he does- he often pushes her out of the way, or kicks or otherwise prods her and that’s when she lets him have it. I am trying to solve the mystery of when another dog walks by, or anything for these two to bark at together… they often bark and will end up barking at each other, or starting a fight. i can’t tell how it starts, but wondering why they choose to “fight each other” very shortly after taking an alliance… after a moment, they’re fine. A couple dogs down the street do this as well and the one’s screams are just awful to hear. :( but then all is well. why the in-fighting in “defense” situations?
This is so interesting because the only thing I’m ever strict about is equality, in terms of treats and play time. Maybe I should rethink this? I might not have to be so fair with them, but then again the only squabble they have ever had was the day they met.
I see NO dominance behavior going on at all but Milo does have the upper hand because he is not blind.
I have four dogs and one of them seems to be very dominant. She has attacked one of my older dogs about three times and it is horrible. No harm done, but I go crazy. One thing that I have noticed is that if I take one of the dogs out by itself,like to a vets visit, this specific dog, when I get back, gets very agitated and even agressive. I notice that she gets very anxious, like with her snout up smelling agressively, and a few times, she gets agressive where if I don’t stop her, she will go for one of the other dogs. Can anyone help me in solving this problem?
I have 5 maltese and one shih tzu. When we first got the shih tzu as an adult (previous owners had aggressive fighting dog issues) there were a few “fights” ended by me picking up the aggressor and placing her into the laundry room and closing the door. Usually this was the shih tzu. She quickly learned that “I” and only “I” was top dog. “I” provide the food, toys, grooming etc. It took about 3 weeks for most of her agressiveness to get under control. She still is a tad slow at moving out of my way when I go through a doorway but she does move most of the time as she knows I am going through. (I shuffle my way through so she is not hurt, just displaced)
Training would benefit all of these type situations. Obedience training without force. Please check out Karen Pryor, Jean Donaldson, Ian Dunbar DVM. They have steered many an owner clear of these problems with simple but very effective training. As much as we like to think of our dogs as little people in Fur Coats they aren’t. They are dogs and when we communicate with them in a manner that they understand we see huge improvements in their behaviour. I urge you all to do this. Peace will reign and you will not damage your relationship with your dog.
Is humping a dominance issue or a sexual issue? My Boston Terrier humps only large dogs. Many in my family have large dogs and they constantly chastise me for not controlling my dog. Please help.
I have several dogs I’ve rescued. An AmStaff (85#), a mixed pit (about the same size), a mixed sheperd ( a clown at 45 #), and several month ago a pit female that was running the streets (smallest one Ive ever seen). Thing were going well, now Repeat (the baby) has started showing really alarming behavior. When playing she’s becoming more aggressive. Lunging for head and throat. My poor AmStaff is really submissive, he’ll play, roll over and not turn on them. Now his nose, head and behind ear is constantly turning up with terrible gouges. I don’t understand what happened so quickly. I make sure I favor none in particular and show them I’m the Alpha. Short of putting her in a shelter I’m not sure what to do except muzzle. I can’t trust her. How do I change her behavior when she frightens the other dogs.
Linda I would find a veterinary behaviorist in your area or a certified applied animal behaviorist.
http://www.avsabonline.org/avsabonline/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=79&Itemid=357
http://www.animalbehavior.org/ABSAppliedBehavior/caab-directory
I have 3 dogs, 2 beagles and a German Shepherd-Husky mix. My youngester beagle is the dominant one and will be in the face of the German Shepherd. When she is bad, I separate her from the pack. When she comes back, she will be better for a period of time. We have had much less problems with this behavior but there is certainly a jealousy factor. As mentioned above, in a pack of dogs not only do you have an alpha dog but there is a beta dog which is considered the next dominant dog and you can establish which dog is the beta dog by training.
I have had horses and I currently have 3 boxers. I am the dominant member of the pack. All my dogs are submissive to me and my wife. I also establish and maintain the pecking order. I correct, not punish the dog that gets out of line (just like dogs do). See CesarMillian.com for assistance with dog behavior. The Dog Whisperer has worked wonders with dogs, that vets, trainers and even behavior experts, who said put them down because there was no hope of changing them!. They can be changed, when you understand them! and remember they are not human. If the human is not the pack leader you will have problems
I have four small yorkies ranging from 6yrs to 14 years two boys and two girls. One of the oldest yorkies is fearless, the problem comes with the 55 pound mixed dog with part greyhound who we have had since a puppy. She is now six years old. We have had to muzzle her all the time in the house for the past tow years as she has attacked three of the four yorkes quite badly where she grabbed and shook and put bite wounds in them. We have had sucess with the muzzle in the house with them and when she is outside with us she does not have to wear it. I feel bad but I ahve seen her hackles go up in the house when any of the yorkies get in her face and start trouble with her first. I wish I could trust her but am afraid as the vet said I should have put her down after the last attack. Any advice?? She listens to me very well but I am not aloways in the same room with all of them in the house at the same time. Help
I would recommend giving equal attention to one another. Give a treat (dog biscuit, rawhide, etc) to both of them, reach out and pet them on the head, and when they respond, praise them with another dog biscuit (if you gave them a rawhide, don’t give them anything) and then continue petting them. Put them in separate kennels or crates when you go to sleep / to work, outside, etc.
If you give attention to only one, it will turn out like that – jealousy of more attention to one dog than the other.
Then, if they respond in a good matter, praise them and continue to pet them like usual, if they still fuss – you may be better just teaching them how to separate the attention between them – for better results. If that does not work, then I am not sure. My dogs get jealous sometimes too – especially Dotty, the one who is not fixed as of yet.
It will return in bad or good results – keep doing that and they will return to thinking ‘oh, maybe that isn’t good.’ Good luck. I’m sorry if these are bad directions.