Managing a Multi-Dog Household 

A household with dogs is a home full of love; the more, the merrier! However, having multiple canines running around can be hectic, especially if they all compete to be the loudest, to be in charge, or to have the biggest share of resources. 

It is normal for pups in multi-dog households to scuffle or cause havoc from time to time, but when things get out of hand, there can be some dangerous consequences. Fights can lead to long-term resentment or discontent between dogs, which can make your living situation uncomfortable.

Rowdiness or shared destruction can, likewise, eat up your patience and your paycheck if not put in check.

The best measures for building a stable environment with multiple dogs are preventative. By instilling good habits into your pups, you can minimize the chances of a dog developing unwanted behaviors.

Your dogs count on you to lead the way, and thankfully, there are many things you can do to communicate what good etiquette looks like in your household. 

Canines and Pack Mentality

Over one-third of American households have more than one pet. Animals like dogs are most comfortable in groups because of their ancestral background. 

Out in the wild, dogs were pack animals that stuck together for survival. In order to find food, stay protected from the elements, and defend against predators, dogs employed a strategy of strength in numbers.

Today, pet parents can tap into these natural instincts and create a close bond between their pups, but it will require enforcing order. 

Common Sources of Stress or Conflict Between Family Dogs 

Most conflicts between family dogs result from an unspoken hierarchy — oldest, biggest, etc. Some of the most common situations where dogs begin to feud revolve around their milestones of the day. 

Feeding Time 

Dogs can be territorial when it comes to their meals. Oftentimes, dogs will fixate on a food bowl and resource guard that territory during mealtime and when they feel threatened. 

Resource-guarding food and food-related items like their bowls can lead to behaviors like growling, snipping, and making angry expressions. Other dogs will devour their meals as quickly as possible so that they can move on to their sibling’s portion. 

Overeating and eating too fast can lead to conditions like gastrointestinal problems and obesity. In response, pups who rarely get to finish a meal uninterrupted may try to move their bowls and eat in a more private place. 

To combat some of the most common feeding time concerns, pet parents in a multi-dog household can try feeding the pups in separate locations. You can separate the dogs with baby gates or feed them in entirely different rooms.

If it is more convenient, pet parents can also try letting the dogs into the room to eat one at a time. This way, one dog can get a head-start on their meal. 

Going Outside

Getting time outside is one of the main highlights of a dog’s day. In a household with multiple pups, they may fight for an optimal position at the door out of anticipation. This can be dangerous, though. Barking can escalate to shoving and pushing, which can cause serious injuries. 

Practicing the “wait” command can be a productive way to prevent this type of disorder within your pack. A simple way to train the wait command involves rewarding the pup only when they properly wait for their food.

This is not an instant solution to competitive behavior, so while you are training your dogs to listen when they hear the “wait” command, you can utilize baby gates and separate the dogs by room when you rally them up to go outside. 

Playtime

It’s natural for dogs to roughhouse: wrestling, chasing, and sometimes even biting. Oftentimes, this behavior can be a productive way for a close pair to bond and release energy.

However, when it comes to dogs’ personal boundaries, it isn’t always fun and games. 

Play fighting can be a way for dogs to practice important social cues like gentle nips, play bows, and snarling. This friendly jousting will help dogs in the same household understand each other’s boundaries, and it is a natural way for new dogs to form a relationship. 

However, play fights can also turn into aggression or the chance for destruction when the dogs become overly excited by the stimulation. Dog owners should be extra vigilant if their dogs are of different sizes or if one is a puppy.

They should also watch out that energy levels don’t get too high in areas with dangers, such as a room with glasses or near stairs.

The best way to approach dogs who are escalating a play fight to a dangerous level is to calmly intervene. Avoid yelling or making other loud noises because this may only further agitate the pups.

Redirecting their attention to toys or other outlets for their attention can give them time to calm down from their overly aroused state. 

Bedtime

It’s common for dogs to fight for the optimal sleeping spot. Some pups are snuggle bugs and like to rest where the humans do, but when you are living with multiple dogs in the household, some territory disputes may break out. 

Excess acrobatics on the bed are especially dangerous because a dog can easily lose their balance and slip from the elevated surface, potentially resulting in a variety of injuries like breaks and fractures. Not to mention, sleeping under two restless pups can be uncomfortable for the human in the bed, too. 

The most productive way to bring bad behaviors in bed to a halt is to eliminate the privilege altogether. If the owner’s ultimate goal is to reintroduce sleeping on the bed, it should be done slowly after a period of incorporating good bedtime manners with crates or dog beds.

Dogs can become possessive over these items, too, so you can mitigate the competition by purchasing identical supplies for all dogs.   

Affection From Their Human

Canines are crazy about their humans, and some researchers would suggest that your dog loves you more than treats. A 2016 study found that when offered food or praise as a reward, the vast majority of dogs (85%+) preferred their human’s affection. 

In a house with more than one dog, the pups may jostle over who gets the most time with their favorite human in the house. Other times, it’s not even a contest — one dog may naturally get the lion’s share of affection and bonding time.

It is critical not to show favoritism, as the other dogs may begin to develop anxiety or distance themselves from the rest of the house — potentially to the point of being less responsive to commands. If the competition becomes physical, not just emotional, one dog may even pick on the perceived favorite, especially if they are smaller. 

To prevent this type of competition, try to spread out your time with each dog so that every pup feels love throughout the day. If one dog gets to enjoy activities the other cannot or would not participate in, then return the favor by engaging them in a preferred activity of their own.

Tips for Managing a Multi-Dog Household

Build Individual Relationships With Each Dog

Spend quality time with each pup individually because as your bond grows their trust in your commands will too. 

A dog that is closely bonded to their human is more likely to listen when told to do something like “wait” or “stop”. Take the pups individually out for a special day of their own, involving some of their favorite things. 

Exercise Is Key 

When dogs have consistent routines with plenty of physical activity, they are less likely to express their hyperactivity in dangerous ways like destruction or play aggression. If you notice your dogs getting into trouble more often than you consider normal, it may be because there isn’t enough exercise in their daily routines. 

Be Strict About Enforcing Rules

Getting your dogs to act on their best behavior means leading by example. If you are relaxed about enforcing the rules, your dogs may become just as relaxed about following those rules.

Furthermore, if the dogs notice you being more lenient on one specific pup, they may act out as a result.

Instill Good Mealtime Etiquette

The best way to nip bad mealtime habits in the bud is to build a consistent feeding time routine that practices good manners. This can look different in every household.

For example, you may crate all of your dogs and allow them out one by one, allocating time for certain pups to get a head start over the others. Many dogs thrive on the ‘wait’ command, and once they master the skill during mealtime, it can be used in other situations, too. 

Establish a Routine 

Giving your dogs a consistent schedule can help them regulate their energy levels and behaviors throughout the day. For example, if you always give your dogs an hour to play from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., then their bodies will adapt to the routine, reserving energy for their regularly scheduled 4 p.m. playtime.

Generally, a pet parent can start by trying to feed, walk, play with, and put their dogs to sleep at the same times every day. The beauty of this tip is that it’s completely customizable to your and your dogs’ schedules. 

Training and Socialization 

Perhaps one of the most important of the multi-dog home tips, training provides canines with examples of good behavior and the opportunity to practice developing those skills. All dogs learn at their own pace, so it may be difficult to train your pack in a group at home.

Although it can be a challenge to wrangle up multiple dogs and get them to focus on the same task, the benefits can protect your fur family from dangerous interactions.   

Greenlin Can Give Your Pups Great Tools to Thrive Together

Our Lambs Gap location employs loving and experienced dog trainers who can aid your fur family through their mischief-making or sibling rivalry. 

We offer a variety of training packages to accommodate all family schedules. Bring your dogs in for a Day Play and Train session, where they’ll work on obedience and socialization skills, or board them in our luxurious canine suites with the Lodge and Learn program.

Your dog’s training experience is completely customizable with Greenlin.  

Our facility has training resources for all different families, so the curriculum and length of training can be tailored to each specific dog’s needs. Want to learn more about the training programs and availability at Greenlin in Lambs Gap?

Call (717) 732-2255, contact us online, or stop by for a tour of the facility!