How to deal with dogs that don't get along?

If you are starting to see an issue with your dogs not getting along, don’t put off getting help. Do not let them “figure it out on their own.” Dogs make bad decisions all the time. If your dogs are physically fighting, or if you have dogs of significantly different sizes so a fight would be seriously unmatched, get the help of a professional, reward-based trainer. Using punishment-based methods can increase aggression, and aggression is what we’re trying to resolve. Keep dogs separated when you are not there to supervise them. Teach practical behaviors, such as Sit, Down, Stay, Come, and Leave It. Train until they listen to you and respond the first time you cue them, even during distractions. Use treats so they learn they get rewarded when they do what you ask. Watch for signs of aggravating or threatening behaviors, such as staring or blocking, and calmly and in an upbeat tone redirect or distract the dogs immediately. Ensure all dogs are getting sufficient social, physical, and exploratory activities. Praise the dogs when they are together and acting nicely.

Before purchasing a second animal, do your research to find compatible pets. For example, if you have a Jack Russel, you want to avoid buying cats or smaller animals because Jack Russels are hunters and may attack the new pet. Understand the Behavior Before you can address the behavioral problems, you need to understand the motivation behind them. For example, is your dog afraid of the new pet, or does it appear angered by it? Fear and anger may present similarly through barking, growling, or hissing, but they are two distinct emotions. Provide Individual Space The best way to introduce animals to each other is by providing time and space. Whenever possible, set up a quarantine room for your new arrival. Use Positive Reinforcement When you introduce your pets, you want to praise positive behavior. For example, when your new pet is behind a spare room door and your existing pet shows interest, happiness, or excitement, give them affection. Desensitize and Socialize When the new pet is ready, you can remove the gate and let them roam the house. It is best to lock your other animals up and give the new pet a few minutes to explore independently. Once it has had time to adjust to the extra space, let your other pets out, one at a time. You can consult a trainer or other pet professional if all else fails. Remember, the key to successful introductions is control and pace. Control the spaces and keep the process slow.

If your dogs can’t seem to get along, your immediate concern should be for the dogs’ safety. The first and most important step is to set up your environment so that it is impossible for your dogs to attack one another or any other dogs. Start by establishing separate areas of the house for each dog using Dog Gates, Dog Crates or other equipment to keep them apart. Do not let the dogs interact again until both have a very strong understanding of the “Leave it” cue. A visit to a professional behaviorist/trainer who is well-versed in positive training methods is strongly recommended. He or she can evaluate the situation and set you up on a behavior modification program. In addition to consulting a professional dog trainer, you can begin working separately with each dog on deference skills. This means you will need to teach each dog a “Leave it” cue. The goal is to train each dog to disengage from whatever behavior he is involved in and come to you immediately. Only then should you consider re-introducing dogs that have previously attacked one another. Dogs that continue to attack each other, even after training, should be separated permanently.