How can I establish Truce between Two Mutts living in the Same House?

By | March 3, 2016

Can Two Dogs Ever Get Along under the Same Roof?

“Two dogs over one bone seldom agree.”

                                                                                                                            – German Proverb

 

This is a great proverb and it highlights the problems that dog owners of multiple dogs face while the mutts come across each other. Each doggy has a special place in the heart of the owner; and so they do not any of the two to get hurt while playing together. But can you be 100% sure with two doggies? I bet not.

After all, they are animals and sometimes they too have special time to do things that we, as human beings take liberty of doing. But when things get serious it becomes a concern for the dog owner, hence; it is important to never leave the dogs alone as a part of precaution in the following situations:

  1. If you have two dogs that have never met each other it is not a good idea to leave them loose. Keep both of them on tight leash
  2. The history of fights that the two dogs have had in the recent past if they know each other
  3. If one of the two show possessiveness/guarding of food, beds, water, bones, dog walkers, toys, furniture etc.
  4. If one of the two causes the other dog to end up in problem
  5. One of the two is not yet housebroken and the other one starts peeing in the house
  6. If either of the dogs show aggression towards trigger like the mail carrier, doorbell or hearing other dogs outside this can lead to the redirection of aggression of one dog to another. So watch out for it…
  • The first set of instruction is to get the dogs neutered if they are male. It is important to note that dogs are very friendly while they are puppy, but after reaching puberty they go through a lot of hormonal changes which makes them guard their space when the sexual and territorial instincts starts to develop.
  • Males living in the same territory are considered to be competition in the doggy world. This works even if there are no females in heat around. Once you neuter the dogs it will result in reduced aggression and will eliminate sexual frustration in them. This will result in fewer fights between the dogs. Note: It takes several months for the hormonal changes to take effect after the surgery so have patience while dealing with the dogs.

Two Mutts in Same House

  • Dogs also depict certain nonverbal cues when they are about to fight, hence; it is important to look for signs like barking, several frowned stares, elevated hair on the back and anxiety every time the two of them are near to each other. Once you find any of these signs of either of the two dogs separate them before the fight starts. This will take some time for you to understand the cues, but with time you will master this skill.
  • Exercising both the doggies is a must. Remember that dogs show aggression to expend their excess energy. A dog that does not get enough activity can get frustrated, which can build up to become aggression towards the other dog. If both the dogs get along well take them for exercise together. Otherwise, you will have to take them alternately. There are certain dogs that need more exercise than others, hence; you need to make them tired before ending the exercise schedule.
  • If you are not around for a specific period of time, keep the dogs separate so that there is no scope of injury in case they fight in your absence. You can even divide a specific region in the house like a yard into two by utilizing a gate or a fence. Alternatively, you can keep one dog in a crate while the other dog can freely roam.
  • If you multiple dogs there is bound to be one amongst them you can be the dominant one. Once you find that there is a leader pack amongst the dogs respect the position. It is important to feed the leader first and then the other dogs to re-confirm their position. Once the submissive dog accepts it, peace will be restored between the dogs.
  • The last alternative is to have a discussion with your veterinarian if the aggression episode amongst one dogs repeats consequently. This is specifically important if your dog has an anxiety problem. With proper treatment, it is possible to control the aggressive behavior. But do not ever consider it to be an alternative to training. Remember training is a must for all the dogs in the household.

Once you have taken these steps; it will become quite easier for you to establish truce between the two dogs. If you have already been through an experience of tolerating the fight between two mutts, share with us how did you deal with the problem; and we would be glad to integrate it in our upcoming blogs.