how to get a territorial dog to like another dog

This is his attempt to assert territorial boundaries. Two dogs are as easy to take care of as one dog, if your first dog has been well trained and will model good dog-manners to the new dog. For example, if your dog has a solid “sit-stay,” you can use it to keep her calm in another part of the house when someone knocks on the door. It is very common for dogs to instinctively guard resources that are important to them including food, toys, beds and people. Eventually, let the dogs walk next to each other. Your dog is a loving, adoring little creature with nothing but kisses and cuddling on his mind, but when meeting other dogs he/she seems to get aggressive, protective and or territorial.Sound familiar? Here are six tips on how to introduce your dog to a potential canine friend. We have all seen at a dog park where for some reason one dog is just obsessed with another dog. You could also try varying your walking route each day, which will increase the chances of your pet meeting other dogs. 3) Drive Home In Separate Cars. Territorialism from Old Dog. Training a territorial dog Like most creatures, including humans, dogs are territorial by nature. 1. That takes training. "Something different about the sight, sound, or actions of the stimulus is causing an alerting, anxious, or defensive response on the part of the dog. Make sure both dogs are on-leash. Frenchies simply want to have all your attention, so they may growl when the other dog approaches you and wants to cuddle. They like to be pampered, they are attention addicts and love to be the center of the Universe! Basic obedience lays the groundwork for troubleshooting problem behavior, and basic commands can be incredibly useful in a tense situation. There are several reasons why a dog won’t take to another dog and a lot of it comes down to territorial behavior. Dogs are territorial creatures and the introduction of a new dog into another dog's territory may result in dog fights and training issues. If all of your dogs are looking to you as a leader, they will not be looking at each other … It’s worth noting that I usually have a hard time getting a dog to lie down when there are other, unfamiliar dogs … Get back to basics. As the dogs sniff and greet one another, praise lavishly and keep an upbeat tone of voice so your first dog understands that the newcomer is a good thing. If the dogs practice inappropriate behavior like stiffening or staring, try to get the dogs … Some dogs get along famously with their fellow canines , while others have a much harder time in the social department. Dogs that bark at each other in the home are a nightmare. To socialize your adult dog with other dogs, introduce it to a friend or family member’s dog, since mature dogs get on better with one-on-one interactions rather than large groups. I only have one dog, german shepherd mix, but my problem is when we go in dog parks and there is a toy or a branch, if another dog has it, my dog will get aggressive with that dog to get the toy/branch, he is still a baby (10 months), but we don’t want him to continue this behavior, we eventually would like another dog. Never force your dog to accept handling by a stranger, especially a child. If one dog trys to stop and the other dog keeps going – bad. They also sometimes get territorial over their owner. If at any point of this tutorial you notice NO changes in your dog, or you can't even get him to relax to start with the program, I suggest you visit your vet and ask about meds for aggressive dogs. Introducing Your German Shepherd to Another Dog. Unfortunately, this isn’t always possible, so the next best option is an outdoor space with enough room for the dogs to roam on-leash as they get to know one another. Keep praising the dogs if they aren’t showing any negative behaviors. Carefully observe their reactions to one another and reward good manners. Put away anything that might cause a scuffle—like dog toys, bones, beds, and even empty food bowls. If your dog is one of the latter, knowing the specific cause behind his woes might help you better manage the problem. He will not play with any other dogs, and will not leave the dog he/she is obsessing over alone. Avoiding dog fights. You do not need to do this every day anymore, just once in a while to make sure things are OK. You can sit and hope that the two will start to get along with each other … Dog on Dog Aggressive Behavior. Give your new dog time to explore your home and get comfortable before you bring your other dogs back out. To help avoid that, put them outside or in another room before you bring home the new dog. It is normal and all dogs have those moments. While you might want to know how to get an aggressive dog to trust you, that's not always possible—sometimes it's best to leave the dog alone. A hard stare into another dog’s eyes is a challenge — not a friendly way to greet. Generally, people and other animals that are unusual, less familiar to the dog, or most unlike the members of the household are the most likely “targets” of territorial aggression. Some dog breeds are known for their propensity to be friendly with other pups, and, as it turns out, this is a trait our readers are quite interested in when it comes to choosing a dog of their own. If you misjudge a situation, you may be able to break off conflict by giving the dogs a cue to leave each other alone, for example. Most dogs tend to relate to each other in a hierarchical system of leaders and followers, and most dogs tend to be at least somewhat territorial. If your dog barks when people or dogs walk by the house, yard or car, he is likely to be motivated, at least in part, by territoriality. If both dogs stop – good. One thought on “ My Dog Doesn’t Like Other Dogs: 5 steps to Stop the Barking and Lunging ” Positively November 28, 2017 at 3:03 pm. Make Sure Your Current Dog Is Properly Trained. The dog sees the other animal as an interloper and a threat. Dogs with separation anxiety frequently remain distressed even if there are other dogs in the house with them, and if the dogs turn out to be incompatible the new dog will introduce new problems. With the other dog at a distance, try feeding your dog treats, but stop when the other dog is … Your old dog may break housetraining during the acclimation period. If outdoor space isn’t available, opt for a large garage or basement. Dogs in the same pack fight for one reason only: because they do not have a strong pack leader. It’s pivotal that dogs sharing the same space are able to remain on cordial terms, at worst, as canines can sometimes get territorial – any kind of disdain for each other tends to end badly. If a dog is pushed too far out of its comfort zone and not allowed to get away, it may resort to biting. To help prevent the resident dog from getting territorial, choose a place such as a park or other open area for the initial meeting. Resource guarding in dogs can range from relatively benign behavior, like running away with a coveted item or growling at an approaching person, to full-blown aggression, such as biting or chasing a person away. Have your German Shepherd and the new dog meet at the training center, the street, or the park. This is why establishing rules, boundaries, and limitations for the entire pack is important. And sometimes we can help dogs learn to spend time at ease in one another’s company by having them lie down on comfortable beds, at a distance from one another, and stay there. Ideally, you will ride home with your current dog and your friend will drive separately with your new pooch. Obsessive behavior is also bad. If you’d like help getting started with basic positive training for your puppy or your older dog, you might like to join one of our online training courses. Once your dog does approach, the person should continue to avoid eye contact and make slow, non-threatening movements. Notes on Training Games as Introductions. Some dachshunds get jealous and territorial and can be suspicious of other dogs. Once you've decided to get another dog, you'll want to make the introduction with a … The actions of the owner, such as paying attention to one dog rather than the other, are a trigger for 46 percent of the pairs. When dogs first look into each other’s eyes, the appropriate behavior is to give a glance and then look away. Some dogs only direct resource guarding toward certain people, often strangers. Introduce them to one another in a neutral location, such as a park, to reduce the chance for territorial aggression. If you’re umming and ahh’ing about getting a friend for your dachshund or introducing a dachshund into a home with other dogs, read on to find out whether daxies like companions, what breeds they get along with and whether getting a second dog is a good idea. HI Craig, we recommend a consultation with a qualified trainer to give you some tips on how to manage or change this behavior. If you already live with a dog who displays bad habits — like digging up the pansies and petunias in the backyard — chances are that your new pup will pick up the same undesirable tendencies. Even if there were no issues at all during the initial meetup, your resident dogs might get a little territorial when the new pup arrives. Well you’re not alone! Try introducing your dog to one stimulant at a time. The key to helping a dog that doesn’t like other dogs is to make exposure to other dogs satisfying and rewarding. By introducing your German Shepherd to another dog in a neutral territory, you’re letting them get to know each other minus the territorial instincts. Other dogs guard their resources from all people. ), of course, you'd want them to get … It makes sense — if you want multiple dogs in your home (and we can't blame you if you do! These should be like little test-reminders. Dogs communicate fear and aggression through their body language, showing signs such as shivering, cowering, tucking their tail between the legs, and averting their eyes.In addition, dogs often show aggression when they are afraid. Once the dogs are familiar with each other, it’s time to head home. Your dog may show a dislike to other dogs for a number of reasons, but you can typically help him get over this problem in a few simple steps. 'Territorial aggression' addresses a similar need, but on a much larger scale, and often occurs along boundaries of territory that the dog lives in, such as a yard or home. If other dogs stimulate anxiousness, start with just one other dog at a time, specifically one you trust. Some dogs get along just fine with other dogs, but others have issues with their perceived competitors. For example, a dog that is establishing dominance by being aggressive can exhibit that by attacking other dogs, being unfriendly with new family members, or lashing out when on a leash. You can help your dog feel comfortable with meeting other animals by starting out with "positive reinforcement, counter-conditioning and training with a known friendly, calm dog," says Dr. Gramlich. Dogs bark for many reasons, including territorial barking and barking for attention, so be sure to follow the approach that addresses your dog’s root cause. Do promote positive association with other dogs.