Multidog households - what does it mean?
Well a multi dog household would count as any household with more than 1 dog in it....But they can be a bit difficult to manage.
There are a lot of key things to think about when you have a multi dog household that can prevent aggression. It's important to operate in a way that preserves relationships between your dogs, and doesn't take unnecessary risks.
What can this look like?
Well, lets maybe break it down into a few areas:
Resource Guarding
Resource issues are very common between dogs, they are very normal but can cause huge upset between dogs and their housemates.
Guarding can crop up in any dog. It is important we recognise what our dog's triggers are, it could be food specific, toy specific or even person specific.
Resource guarding issues might crop up as growling, full on attacks and just a bit of side eye, but even if it's just side eye, it is essential we take precautions so that things don't escalate.
Important food management possibilities:
- barriers to separate dogs when resources are around.
- space when eating so that there is no conflict around food.
- no long lasting chews left around long term.
- supervise when high value items are around - kongs, enrichment toys, snuffle mats, training items.
- work on associations when other dogs are around with a trainer.
- stations for feeding.
Important toy management possibilities:
- Don't have toys left around if your dog struggles
- provide reassurance to your dog.
- use a barrier when toys are around
- train a station or place cue for where objects are allowed
"What if my dog guards me when In a confined or open space with other dogs? They don't want other dogs coming up to me."
This is a good reason to get in touch with a behaviourist. It will be difficult to work within your household if you have conflict between the dogs because of your presence. It is really important to work with a professional in order to keep everyone safe.
A blog is a good start to get information on this topic, but it won't resolve the issues for you. Get in touch if you need help!