Keeping the Peace in a Multi-Dog House
Dogs are social animals, and we often think of our canine companions as part of our families, though they might consider themselves to be part of our “pack.” However, both dog packs and families have subtle, and sometimes overt, hierarchies that can impact behavior. In houses with one dog, certain dog behaviors might be lost because the human-dog relationship is not exactly like a “pack.” In households that have more than one dog, however, the subtleties of interdog relationships can sometimes start to become apparent; and while some canine behavior may be completely normal between dogs, it may not be acceptable in the human family dynamic.
Often interdog aggression or types of “sibling rivalry” can be easy to spot, but other “problem” behaviors such as alarm barking, territorial defense, or predatory behavior may be harder to identify and address. This archival study, originally published in 1997, is aimed at veterinary practitioners. It highlights statistics showing that dogs are less likely to be relinquished to shelters if vets are involved in behavioral monitoring. When vets are actively engaged in helping to accurately and effectively address problem behavior in dogs, it is thought that their human companions are more likely to try various solutions before “giving up” their pet.
The researchers identify various common problem behaviors that manifest in multi-dog households, and state how each might be addressed. For excessive barking, which may be caused by one dog having a greater propensity to become excited by outside stimuli, and cause the other dog(s) to join in, the vets suggest removing the dogs from the source of the stimulation, as well as potentially training the dogs separately to not bark at the stimulation before joining them together for final training stages. They also highlight the need for the human companion to be assertive in training, but caution against devices like punishment collars.
For territorial defense, the researchers note that “becoming alert and watchful when strangers enter a territory is within a dog’s normal behavior repertoire,” but that it can easily become problematic if it results in immediately aggressive behavior towards unfamiliar people or animals. The authors claim that the most effective approach is to make sure that each dog in the group is familiar and responsive to sit and stay commands. Once they are, a process of desensitization conditioning (which they describe in vast detail) can be enacted to remedy the behavior in the individual and the group. These are just two of the most common behaviors addressed in the article, with many others discussed in detail. The researchers also outline the pros and cons of various medications.
The information in this study could be important to help many advocates in their efforts to curb the number of relinquishments of dogs to shelters. For companion animal advocates, knowing how to spot and address problem behaviors in multi-dog households is important to avoid situations where human companions feel that they have to relinquish one dog or another. Being well-versed in identifying and mediating problem behaviors in multi-dog homes will also help us to advocate for these animals more effectively.