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Harmony in a Multiple Dog Household

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The total number of dogs that any one person can own and still give quality of  life to is not set in stone, as peoples lives vary so much in relation to the time, space and money that they can offer.  Dogs need plenty of space, mental stimulation and exercise to stay physically and psychologically healthy.  So if you place a large number of dogs within a small home environment and regularly deny them these basic things there is a potential for conflict, stress, inter-dog aggression, inappropriate scent marking and destructive behaviours.  Having more than one dog in the house means more time allocated for training as each dog needs its own quality time alone with the owner. It also means more fur lost during moulting, more time needed for grooming each dog, more muddy footprints when it rains, more dog pooh that needs to be picked up and disposed of,  more money needed for those veterinary bills (neutering different sex dogs to prevent unwanted puppies, yearly injections, wormers, flea treatments etc) and kennelling fees if you go away etc.  Think carefully before you embark on adding more canine friends to your household.

The concept of pack behaviour and submission to the pack leader is inherited by puppies at birth and is reinforced by their mothers.  While the litter is in the nest, the mother is the only pack leader and all the puppies defer to her.  The mother uses sharp and immediate physical punishment, often preceded by warning growls at her puppies.  But in adult life in the full canine pack, and in a canine/human pack family situations, there will be several individuals who are above the dog ranking and yet who also defer to the pack leader.  It is important that in the canine/human pack, the dogs should not be allowed to consider themselves superior to any of the human members of the pack.

The key to harmony in a multidog household is a strong pack leader with an awareness of the pack dynamics and an ability to step in and deal with any problems as they arise with confidence and fairness.   You should be able to take all dogs out for walks each day, preferably twice daily and  theoretically they should have some off lead time, not just in the garden.  In adjacent to their walks, at least half an hour personal one to one time every day should include some playing with you interspersed with some obedience training.  Practice obedience training in the house as well as outside.  Most people do not do this but it is very important.  Multiple dog households should have some area inside the house where the dogs are not allowed to go.  It is important to stop your dogs using the entire house as their territory with the right to roam everywhere.  Rules are important with dogs as they are with children.  In most cases the bathroom is the no go area.

An adult pack leader subdues and disciplines the pack most frequently by eye contact and body language, with some vocalisation (growling) and there is rarely need for physical conflict except where an individual makes constant bids to assume power.  It  is a certainty that if you have more than one dog, you will have dogs fighting at some stage of the game.  Almost all of these fights will not be serious and will be over almost as soon as they have begun.  Be aware of any strutting, stiff body postures, staring or any challenging behaviour.  If you see it stop it before it gets beyond your control by a sharp firm "oiyt".  When this breaks the behaviour imediately verbally praise every one in a light airy manner. 

Hierarchical disputes are more common among dogs of the same sex and fights between two females usually of equal ranking are typically more vicious.  It is generally believed that bitch/bitch fighting is the worst kind of dog fight and that they will fight to the death, whereas dogs will not.  The reason is probably that in the wild only the highest ranking females come into season and the number of them who do is dependant upon the current food supply. (Mother Nature is a very clever girl).  Bitch fighting is therefore probably a survival instinct:for the survival of their kind.

The most common causes of these squabbles are:-

1.  Rank or Status Rivalry

The dogs will need to work out for themselves who comes first in the pecking order, who is the leader and who are the subordinates. Once they have sorted the status structure out you will need to pay attention to which dog came out on top. This dominant pack leader needs to be dealt with first in all situations.  This makes for calm in the pack.   It must be remembered that the human family holds the very top position in the pack at all times. If you fail to adhere to this you will have a competition on your hands with all dogs vying for your attention and fighting will be inevitable as the alpha dog asserts himself by putting the other dogs back in their place - beneath him in the pack order.  It is essential that the dominant dog never feels his position is threatened.

Disputes generally arise if there is a change in dominance because the original top ranking dog loses status as he weakens with age or when a younger dog with a desire for a higher status reaches social maturity (18 months to 3 years of age) and begins to challenge the existing alpha dog. Sometimes the owner will assume the dog that has lived with them the longest should be the top dog.  In fact this is rarely the case.  The onset of the problem is usually because the younger or newer dog challenges the other for higher status.  Left to their own devices, this can normally be resolved quite quickly sometimes after only one quick spat.  The owners however will not accept that the senior resident should step down, even if it is quite prepared to do so.  They scold or hit the challenger and then isolate him to let things cool down.  The trouble is that they do not cool down.  By punishing and isolating the dog that has probably just established its rank, they have promoted the underdog and the whole business will have to be gone through again.  A vicious circle has been created.  If an owner frequently interferes with the natural order of a stable social hierarchy because he/she continually protects the submissive dog and punishes the top-ranking dog it effectively lowers the rank of the dominant dog and elevates the status of the submissive dog, which perpetuates and exacerbates the competition between the dogs.  This type of aggression can be very dangerous and may persist for some time. The fights are often vicious and result in injury to one or both dogs.  In these alliance aggressive situations, the dogs generally fight only in the owner's presence, but can peacefully cohabitate in the owner's absence.

Pack Hierarchy may also be affected when a new dog is introduced to an existing pack or when a dog is reunited with his social group following a period of absence.  Under all of these circumstances, disputes are usually not life threatening and a new rank order will be created within a short time as long as the owners do not intervene.

2.  Competition for resources

Food, toys, socks, gloves, slippers, territorial priviledge (who goes first through the doorway, into the car) and owner attention can all be flashpoints for rivalry and inter-pack aggression.  The possession of articles is a canine way of establishing dominance over others, including their owners.  Possession being nine-tenths of the canine law.  Quite often, dogs will pick up an article in the presence of the owner and "dare" them to get it back.  This is a clear-cut attempt to dominate, although sometimes it can be done as attention-seeking behaviour.  If when the owner goes to retrieve the article, the dog growls, then dominance is the ulterior motive.  Make sure you as the alpha leader  "own"  and can take possession of  all items that cause  friction.

Always stroke and pet the dominant dog first.  Make sure that everyone gets their fair share of these so that there is no need to challenge.

When taking the dogs for a walk always connect the Dominant dog to his lead before the other dogs.

If a challenger attempts to push in, ignore him and carry on with what you are doing.  By ignoring him you are not aiding his challenge.

Always feed the dominant dog first (this includes treats).   All dogs should have their own food bowl.  A communal water bowel is usually fine but if you have a large number of dogs a couple of water bowls would be better.

Avoid whipping up excitement in confined areas - doorways, cars etc.  Don't reward any excitement by responding to it.  Walk in the door after an absence and ignore all dogs untill they are calm. Once order has been established call the dogs to you one at a time for a calm controlled, dog in a sit greeting.  The alpha dog being the first in line.

Toys can be used for games unless grumbling occurs.  If this happens, remove all toys, balls, treats etc. immediately.  If a dog is allowed to be destructive with toys it may stimulate a dominant instinct.

Do not let children over excite the dogs.

If the Dominant dog growls at a pack member do not shout at him as this will make the inferior dog feel more important as your actions will be seen as supporting him.


Giving a home to a dog whose temperament is compatible with the personality of your existing dog is of the utmost importance in terms of avoiding any friction. Some dogs (individuals and particular breeds) may be genetically predisposed to developing a dominant temperament so it is important that you research the breed as well as the breed lines before selecting a canine companion to join your canine pack. Establishing your role as the benevolent leader early on in your relationship with a new puppy is paramount. Obedience training, early socialization, management styles that reduce conflict between the dogs, and proper introductions, all help promote positive social integration.  It is often easier to introduce dogs of the opposite sex.



Things you could do to avoid conflict include Do You Have Too Many Dogs
Observing the dog interactions closely enough that you understand the general situation. Establish a strong leadership role.  It is important that the dogs owner shall be the pack leader in all situations and be aware that dogs of all shapes and sizes and characers may make periodic bids for supremacy, especially during adolescence

Bringing any new dog into the family very attentively and with patience preferably outside the home environment on neutral territory

Separating dogs who don't much like each other as needed.  They should not be allowed to have visual contact when confined if they continue to threaten each other. This may increase their arousal levels thus perpetuating and possibly exacerbating their aggression towards one another.

Identify all sources of conflict and competition and change their management strategy to prevent further friction.  Feeding your dogs in different rooms if there are issues around food. Diet can play an important part in a dogs welfare.  A high energy diet not fully utilised in growing or working may make a young or problem dog difficult to redirect.  In the event that the dogs begin to compete over a resource, the subordinate dog should be removed from the situation while the top ranking dog remains in the company of the owners.

Being sure that every dog gets some good one on one attention from you

Doing individual training to enhance the dogs' basic skills (like sit and down) as well as their patience.  this will help to achieve stability within the pack and give the dominant dog boundaries. Regular walks or trips out are advisable

Neutering the lower ranking dogs may help to keep the peace.  Rampaging hormones can be a huge contribution in dog aggression

Reinforce pack order at all times.  You as pack leader first, then the other members of your human family, then the dogs, in the order they have established for themselves.  Making sure that the  higher ranking position is kept by the more dominant dog and ensure he is the first to receive access to all resources. The second ranking dog should be obliged to follow. 
Are you able to take all your dogs out together for walks every day and keep them under suitable control at all times

Do you have time to give each dog at  least half an hour one-to-one interaction/play/training every day

Do you have time to keep all your dogs well groomed, with nails clipped and teeth cleened on a regular basis

Do you have time to keep all bedding and living quarters scrupulously clean, and to employ regular flea control measures

Are you able to insure all your dogs or pay vets bills that may crop up for them

Are you able to feed all your dogs a good quality food

Do you have enough space for your dogs to run free in, including a fair-sized garden

Do you have someone who can look after all your dogs should you need to go away/have a crisis



Your Dog Monthly May 2010
Aggression - Judy Cooper
http://www.petplace.com/dogs/inter-dog-dominance-aggression/page1.aspx
Think Dog - John Fisher



inter-dog-dominance aggression
Managing a Multi-Dog Household
 Selecting a Pet for a Multi-Pet Household



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The above information is simply informational. It's intent is not to replace the advice of a veterinarian nor to assist you in making a diagnosis of your pet. Please consult with your own veterinarian for confirmation of any diagnosis. Your pets life may depend on it.