Training Considerations in Multiple-Dog Households
Dogs living in pairs, trios, or larger groups all need to have a special relationship with their human family. Such situations may pose some challenges when it comes to a dog’s behavior.
In order for the humans to maintain control of the environment, training is required. Schedule a little training time each week for each of the dogs in your group. Keep them sharp in obedience. Although it is ok for the dogs to be together for scheduled play sessions during the day, this training should be done with one dog at a time until the relationship is solid. Once you have good control of your pack, then you can begin to expand on the time that they spend together.
The use of your dog’s name is very important when training. Generally, your dog’s name would only precede an in-motion command such as “let’s go” or “heel.” Stationary commands such as “sit” do not call for your dog’s name prior to the command. In a multiple-dog setting, it is helpful to always use each dog’s name so that each one may be controlled without confusion. If you lined them up in a “sit-stay” and called just one, the others should remain in the “sit-stay.” If even once began to move, you’d make an ugh-ugh sound followed by the command “Sparky, staaaaaay.”
How do people own numerous dogs and maintain peace and harmony? It’s an attitude, a learned way to behave around dogs. Some owners are naturals and just have “it”. These owners are able to that earn their dog’s trust by having a calm, yet very strong attitude combined with a sense of fairness and compassion. The more contact with dogs that you have, the better off you will be. Learning how to read the structure of the group is also an important component for success. You are the one who calls the shots, but beyond that it is crucial for you to support the hierarchy as it naturally falls. You can’t choose who is in charge for them, they must do it themselves, and hopefully without violence.
There are cases of dog owners who report that their dogs get along fine by themselves, but problems develop when the owner comes home. This is a clear indication that the owners are disrupting the natural order and the subordinate dog is owner-reinforced to be dominant. The way to avoid these problems is to side with the dominant dog and help the subordinate to become comfortable in that space.
Naturally, it is easier for us to yell at the growling dog than it is to yell at the dog that is being growled at. This is wrong. We should side with the dominant dog to try to avoid a fight. If you discipline the subordinate as the dominant dog does then things will change.
A common fight scenario is who may greet a visitor first. The dominant dog should be allowed to greet first. If the subordinate should be so bold as to try to get to the door first, the dominant dog might attack. Assist in this situation by teaching the subordinate to hang back when someone comes in. The dominant dog will allow the subordinate access to the visitor, but in his own time, and the subordinate should wait and look to him for that time.
With consistent training, discipline, and support for the hierarchy of the group, your house can become a happy home for all of its residents.
Felix Senhouse is a contributor for http://www.familydogcare.com
Family Dog Care is your complete resource for dog related news and information, covering topics that range from dog training to pet insurance.
Tags: dog, dog training, dogs