Content

• Steps
• Tips
• Warnings
• What do you need

Do you have several dogs at home? Or are you planning to take another one? With the right approach, you can establish a hierarchy, pay enough attention to each pet. and prevent fights!

Steps

1. 1 Consider if you really should take another dog. Before you take another animal, you need to understand whether you can live in the new environment. Every dog ​​will demand your attention; she will need to be fed, walked; she will need to be looked after, which means additional costs. If one dog misbehaves, another can follow her example. Think about the dog that you already own: if it is already an adult or an old animal, it is unlikely to be able to actively play with a small puppy due to illness or jealousy. On the other hand, perhaps this is what a healthy but old dog needs.
2. 2 If you decide that you can feed another dog and that you are willing to give it a lot of attention, put all doubts aside. One of the advantages of keeping multiple dogs is that they bond with each other and can always keep themselves busy. It is important to remember, however, that you need to create a strong bond between you and your new dog right from the start, as this will be at the heart of your dog's relationship with your other animals.
3. 3 Introduce your new dog to the one you already live with before you take it home. Bring your dog to her, and if they can get along, everything will be fine, but if the dogs are showing aggression towards each other, you should probably give up the idea.
   • Don't introduce the dogs the day you bring the new one home. Try to close the new dog in the room so she can look around.
   • Show the dogs to each other in a neutral place, that is, in a place that your dogs do not consider theirs. Don't rush the animals - it may take a while for them to accept each other.
4. 4 Know what to expect when you first meet dogs. Let the dogs off the leash so they can get to know each other. Dogs can sniff each other under the tail and from the side of the muzzle, they can stand on each other's back or freeze; their fur can stand on end on the nape. Dogs can bark, whine, and growl. This is a canine communication, so you better not interfere with the animals as they will get to know each other and greet each other. They need to understand what the hierarchy will be among them, and your task is then to explain to them that you and all people will always dominate them all. Remember that animals can mark territory. This is a natural need, because this is how the dogs determine who will be the leader, and you will be very unlucky if this happens in your home.To prevent this, dogs need to be trained. Alternatively, you can use special products (sprays, dog diapers, Markitwear special outfits [1]).
   • Maintain a good mood. Dogs pick up on negative emotions, so instead of worrying about whether dogs will get along, be happy to have a new dog. Animals will sense your mood and will be more supportive of each other.
   • Spread the dogs apart if they growl, pose, or pounce on each other. One dog may lose interest in a new animal, while others will try to attack him. In addition, dogs can only look at each other and do nothing (this suggests that they are fighting for leadership). In all of these cases, you need to step in and separate the dogs. You will need to carefully introduce them to each other (for example, on leashes).
   • Seek professional help if the dogs cannot find a common language. This behavior is not uncommon, and your veterinarian's advice will come in handy. You can also ask a dog trainer.
   • Find out what hierarchy the dogs have established. This will be noticeable right away, since one of all the dogs will be the first to eat, go out, jump into your arms. You need to support this hierarchy, as you are the leader, but at the same time do not make the dogs that obey feel unnecessary.
5. 5 Establish rules. After the dogs accept the newcomer, you need to start controlling the dogs and not letting them set their own rules. It may seem that this is simple, but it is not so, because when a pack of dogs is formed, they may decide that all people, including you, are on a lower level (moreover, you can unconsciously encourage such behavior by some actions). To make matters worse, many people believe that dogs can completely entertain each other themselves, and neglect personal interaction with each animal. Remember, it's important for you to devote as much time to training and caring for your new dogs as you did to your first dog.
6. 6 Don't let dogs put humans on the lowest level of the hierarchy. Train your dogs and watch your behavior. Train your dog to obey; if your first dog is already trained (which is how it should be), check to see if you need to brush up on his knowledge. Train all other dogs in the same way as you trained the first one. Each dog should perceive your family members as the main ones, and you as the leader. If you do not deal with dogs, they will begin to fight for the leadership in the pack and will ignore your commands.
   • Don't give animals a reason to question your leadership. Demand obedience and obedience to your dogs. If the dogs refuse to obey, return to training. Refuse the animal from walks, treats and games until it begins to follow commands. Don't let your dog walk out the door first without letting you in. Resume training if any of the dogs do so.
   • Dog training is a whole science. Do it yourself or seek professional help. If several dogs live in the house, training is indispensable.
7. 7 Try to train your dogs to spend time together when you are away. It will be very good if you can do it right away, but it can take a while for the dogs to get used to it. Try to separate the dogs when you are away and leave them alone with each other when you are at home. The essence of these actions is to teach the dogs to entertain each other and not to miss the owner when he is not at home.
   • You may need to keep the dogs in cages in the same room during the first step. This way they can get used to each other.
8. 8 Learn to recognize the signs of aggression. Study the behavior of the dogs, and you can understand when they are actually playing and when they are fighting, and prevent a fight.Remember how you watched how the dogs got acquainted. It is important to prevent any manifestations of aggression. If your dogs are well trained and get along well with each other, outbursts of aggression will rarely happen. Be especially careful when feeding, when dogs are sick, when pregnant and feeding puppies, when meeting a new pet, and whenever you or family members are unable to spend the usual amount of time with the dogs.
   • Remember that dogs can become attached to certain objects. If other dogs do not understand that it is better not to touch these things, a conflict will arise. Most dogs recognize that this is someone else's thing when they hear a growl. If dogs start a fight over this item, it is best to throw it away when they cannot see.
9. 9 Feed each dog from a separate bowl. There should be plenty of space between the bowls. If dogs are showing aggression, separate them in different rooms or cages when feeding because they should not fight over food. Try to make sure that dogs do not get the impression that other dogs are getting more food or that their food is better. Give each dog a feeding spot and give everyone food at the same time. In case of aggression, it may seem to you that it is better to push the dogs together to show them that they can figure out for themselves where whose food is, but this will only aggravate the situation. After everyone has eaten, remove the leftover food so that the dogs do not have the desire to check what is left in the bowls of others and thereby violate other people's territory.
   • It is not the amount of food that matters (dogs may be of different sizes or one of the dogs may be on a diet), but the timing of the feeding. Even if dogs are bred to different locations, they will smell food.
   • If you are giving bones to dogs, make sure each gets a large enough chunk. If a fight breaks out over a bone, move the dogs apart and make sure that the dominant animal does not take the bones away from others. If required, stand in one place and do not let the dogs approach each other until everyone has eaten their bones.
   • One bowl of water should be enough for everyone if the bowl is large enough. But if it seems to you that it is not enough, put another one.
10. 10 Give each dog an equal amount of attention. If one dog realizes that others are getting more attention, it will lead to fights and conflicts. When you have a new dog, you will want to be with her all the time, but don't forget about the others. It is important to pay attention to each of the dogs and spend time alone with them. This prevents dogs from having to fight for your attention. When the dogs stop worrying about this, walking and playing together will become more enjoyable for all of you.
    • Remember that dogs that obey the leaders may step aside when you are playing with all the animals at the same time. Don't let this happen. Throw the ball to this dog more often, ask him to bring a stick, distracting the dominant dog with another stick. Do not forget to play with this dog in private as well.
    • Caring for multiple dogs is not much different from caring for multiple children. Try to divide everything equally and avoid conflicts. Share this information with all family members so that everyone treats dogs the same.
11. 11 Allocate a sleeping area for each dog. The bedding should be appropriate for the size of the animal. Explain to the dogs where the bedding is, and place them in different places so they don't push each other away. If you don’t allocate places for the dogs, they will find them on their own, and if you don’t like their choice, you will have to train them to sleep where you say. Don't be surprised if all the dogs clump together. Just make sure they have enough space there.
12. 12 Enjoy animal companionship. If you are constantly afraid that now there will be a fight, animals will feel it, and it is likely that the conflict will no longer be avoided.Therefore, learn to relax and enjoy the games.
    • Entertain the dogs. Buy them lots of toys and replace them when they start to fall apart. Bring toy bones, tight ropes, balls home so the dogs have plenty of play opportunities. If there is a significant difference in size between dogs, choose the right toys for all small and large dogs.
    • Give the dogs a chance to run. This will allow them to release their energy outside, and they will not bark as often (and it is the barking that annoys the neighbors most of all).

Tips

• Feed the animals according to their age and individual food needs. This is another reason why it is so important to breed dogs at different angles during feeding. You don't want an adult dog to eat puppy food when prescribed special food for aging animals. It is troublesome, but without it it is impossible to keep several dogs.
• If you cut each animal differently, try to spend more time with the dog that you rarely need to cut.
• Sterilize the animals. This will help stop territory battles and prevent unwanted offspring from spawning.
• A puppy can annoy an adult animal. If you want to take a companion for your dog, it is better to choose an older animal.
• Train dogs individually (this does not apply to dogs that are trained so well that they will not be distracted by the actions of others). It is best to train one dog first and then bring new ones home, unless you are taking two puppies at the same time.

Warnings

• Just because a dog is quiet and reserved doesn’t mean it doesn’t want as much attention as more assertive dogs. Divide your time and attention equally.
• If dogs are fighting, seek the services of a professional trainer. You don't want you to suffer from dog aggression! Find out how you can safely end the fight before adopting a new dog. At the very least, throwing a towel over the fighting dogs so they don't understand what's going on will give you a chance to separate them.
• If your dog is in heat, it can be aggressive. Sterilize her, and you will not only get rid of aggression, but also prevent the appearance of unwanted offspring.
• Overly agitated dogs can show aggression even if they didn't intend to. Feeding, returning and playing can be stressful for dogs, so be careful with overly active animals.
• If you have pit bulls, buy a break stick that will allow you to open the mouth if the dog barks at an object or other animal. This attachment is not suitable for other breeds!

What do you need

• Separate bedding, bowls and toys for each dog
• Separate sleeping places for each dog
• Collars and leashes for every dog
• Places for games and training
• Training