Training Considerations in Multiple-Dog Households

Dogs living in pairs, trios, or larger colonies all need to have a special relationship with their human family. I say special because in order for the humans to have control of the environment some form of training is needed. This training should be done with one dog at a time until the relationship is solid and clear. Although it is fine for the dogs to be with one another for scheduled play sessions during the day, it is far more important for each dog to have private time with the family for bonding and training. Once you have good control of your pack, then you can begin to expand on the time that they spend together. Block out a little training time every week for training your group. Keep them sharp in obedience, whether it is one-on-one or the whole group.

Generally, your dog's name would only precede an in-motion command such as "let's go" or "heel." Stationary commands such as "sit" usually do not call for your dog's name prior to the command. But in a multiple-dog setting, it is helpful always to use each dog's name so that each one may be controlled without confusion. If you lined them up in a "sit-stay" and called just one, the others should remain in the "sit-stay." If even one began to move you'd make an ugh-ugh sound followed by the command "Sparky, staaaaaay."

How do people really keep numerous dogs and maintain peace and harmony? It's an attitude, a learned way to behave around dogs. Some owners are naturals and just have "it,". These owners have a quiet, calm, yet very strong attitude combined with a sense of fairness and compassion that earns them the trust of their dog. Some things come faster for some than for others, but the more contact with dogs that you have had the better you will be. Learning how to read the structure is one imperative component for success. You are calling the shots, but beyond that it is crucial for you to support the hierarchy as it naturally falls. You can't choose who is in charge for them, they must do it, and hopefully without violence.

There are cases upon cases of dog owners who report that their dogs get along fine by themselves, but problems develop when the owner comes home. This is a clear indication that the owners are disrupting the natural order and the subordinate dog is owner-reinforced to be dominant. The way to avoid these problems is to side with the dominant dog and help the subordinate to become comfortable in that space.
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Realistically, it is more natural for us to yell at the growling dog than it is to yell at the dog that is being growled at. This is wrong. We should side with the dominant dog to try to avoid a fight. If you discipline the subordinate as the dominant dog does then things will change. A common fight scenario is who may greet a visitor first. The dominant dog is allowed to greet first. If the subordinate should be so bold as to try to get to the door first, the dominant dog might attack. Help this situation out by teaching the subordinate to hang back when someone comes in. On a natural level, the dominant dog will allow the subordinate access to the visitor, but in his own time, and the subordinate should wait and look to him for that time.