Sibling Rivalry in Dogs: Can’t we all just get along? ☮️

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In this Issue

• 🥷Sibling aggression

• ❓ Poll results

• 💡 Sit & Stay Pro Tip

• 😊The Smile Section — Meet Tillie!

• 👩‍⚕️Vet Recommendations

The only thing better than one dog is two dogs.

View the 2020 study on sibling aggression here.

Canine sibling rivalry (also known as interdog aggression) is a problem for many dog owners. If one dog worms its way into your heart, it’s almost guaranteed another will follow. But what if you get that second dog, and the dynamic is nothing like what you hoped for?

If any of the following sounds familiar, you’ll want to keep reading.

• “I thought my old dog and my new dog would be best friends.”

• “I thought if we got littermates, they’d always get along.”

• “We always make sure they play fair and get the same amount of food and treats; what’s their problem?”

Poll Results

Sit & Stay Pro Tip — How to Combat Canine Sibling Aggression

John from Canine Trade Group points out that puppies begin competing as soon as they can move around. They play, but that playfulness is really about testing boundaries and answering the question: Who will dominate who?

At around six months of age, this battle for dominance becomes more serious, and littermates (if still together) will create a natural hierarchy. This urge to be top dog continues until females are 18-24 months of age and males are 36 months.

There are a few ways to address interdog aggression, no matter how your pups became siblings.

1. Don’t interfere.

According to the VCA, trying to make everything fair for two dogs who live together is a mistake. They’re dogs, not humans, and their version of “fair” differs from ours.

As pack animals, there is going to be a dominant dog and a submissive dog. By interfering when the dominant dog asserts his role, you set the submissive dog up for failure when you aren’t around and undermine the dominant dog’s authority.

In short, you create conflict instead of alleviating it.

1. Mitigate jealousy.

Your dogs may treat each other differently, but that doesn’t mean you should. Avoid sparking jealousy by offering separate walks and playtime, and use the opportunity to train your dogs away from distractions (a.k.a. each other.).

If their rivalry is particularly bad, supervised interactions are always best. Separate your pups with gates or crates, and only let them out when you’re there to intervene if they move from dominant behavior to aggressive behavior.

Should you get between two dogs that are fighting? No. But if you read our third method to combat sibling aggression, you may be able to stop them without putting yourself in danger.

1. Train.

One dog will be dominant over the other, but the owner should always maintain control over both dogs. We achieve this with training—and more training.

If your dog consistently listens to you, and you’ve trained them to listen around distractions, one command should be able to stop your dogs in their tracks.

The Smile Section — Meet Tillie!

What a cutie! Thanks for making us smile, Shonda and Alton!

If you want to share your adorable pup, email us at [email protected] with a photo or two and a little about them!

Vet Recommendations — How to Stop Two Dogs That Are Actively Fighting

The Spruce Pets offers advice on how to safely stop two dogs who are fighting. This article was written by a veterinary technician and reviewed by a veterinarian.

Tips include:

• Clear the scene.

• Use a hose, blanket, or umbrella.

• Get a second adult for the “wheelbarrow method.”

• Never try to grab fighting dogs by the collar!

Read more here.

Treats

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