My dogs fight. Will adding a third dog help them get along better?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Usually these behaviors can be corrected but this usually requires in person training by a qualified dog trainer. I recommend you consider hiring a qualified dog trainer to work with you in person. I think with the appropriate training they may learn to get along great so that you do not have to fear this any longer. Otherwise, they may be fine but it is a bit of an uncertainty if it will happen again. Good luck and have a good day!

Pack dynamics aren't really a thing with dogs, (it's a construct of wolves kept in captivity) so it may be that they are still in the "settling in" period, especially since you didn't mention how long ago you added in the third dog. Adding in a new pet can be stressful for even the most socialized and well-behaved of dogs, and as they try to determine what the new dog is like it may lead to scuffles. If they become upset, agitated or try to get away from each other, separating them all for a while in a time out and letting them relax before reintroduction can help. Removing items of contention such as toys, bones, treats, bedding, etc can also help to reduce any fights over these items. Pheromone diffusers placed in the house can also help reduce tension between new pets. Dogs are also very good communicators, so if one of your dogs hackles or growls, it's a sign that it is time for a time out period. You shouldn't scold or reprimand your dog for this, as that can lead to behaviors where they don't give warning prior to a fight. Instead, calmly just remove the dogs to different locations and try again later. If the problems continue even after a few weeks of being together, or seem to ramp up in intensity even with changes, seeking out a trainer or behaviorist in your area that can help you in person is best.

Hi and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I am so sorry that your two pups have not been getting along recently. I would separate both dogs while you are away until you can figure out the issue. A lot of times housemates will fight due to phobias (thunderstorms, loud noises), separation anxiety or aggression. Also, sometimes one dog may have a medical issue presenting it self to be weaker than the other dog. I would make sure both pets are pain free and have no concerning issues like vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, pain etc. A lot of the time, the newer dog in the household tends to be the aggressor. I would work with each dog separately and together for obedience training. If possible, i would get a professional dog trainer to help. A lot of the time it is the people that need training on how to properly time commands for their pups. Once they have a solid foundation of obedience training I would try a few things that will test ability to ignore one another in the same room, then give one dog attention while the other one ignores it etc. I would reward the dogs for remaining calm. This will help teach them that they can be in the same space and tolerate each other. These can be some helpful training tools that you can start with. However, if the fighting escalates, getting a professional trainer would be highly recommended sooner rather than later! I would really appreciate if you could mark this question as helpful or not as helpful. It allows us to improve on the quality of our answers to other pet owners!

A few thoughts here: first, esteemed PhD level animal biologist Ray Coppinger debunked the "alpha" concept when it comes to dogs several decades ago, but the idea seems to persist for some reason. Second: you should always introduce a new dog to existing members of your canine household on neutral ground. Bringing a "stranger" into your home invites territorial behavior. You don't say how long you've had the newest dog. If it is a short time, they may be working out dominance issues and, as long as no one is getting hurt, this can be okay. Sometimes, there is more noise and posturing than anything really serious going on. Not being there, I can't know for sure. If you are really concerned, or if blood has been drawn, I would ask your vet for a recommendation to a canine behaviorist (NOT the same as a dog trainer!) for help. Good luck with this!

Hi and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Great question. I think this depends on how well they all get along. If you screen the new dog properly and do a meet and greet, and they all end up being great companions, I think it's a great idea and shows you are thinking ahead. A death of a companion can be very devastating not only for humans but for the other pets in the house. Having another pet around would hopefully distract from and provide some relief when one of your other dogs passes. I think if you are ready for another dog and are willing to take on the financial aspect of it, it's a great idea. Best of luck with you and I hope you have many good years left with all of them.

There are some articles here that may be worth reading. http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=SRC&S=1&SourceID=47 Every new dog is a new pack member with thier owne personality. A new dog is challenging your other dogs place and potentially taking resources (food, toys, attention). You need to slowly make introductions and not leave the dogs alone unsupervised until they have reached a stable peace. http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&A=2465&S=1&SourceID=47

I'm sorry to hear that things aren't going well with your new dog. Unfortunately, it sounds like this may not be a good match - just like humans, some dogs have very different personalities and may simply not get along. If you want to try keeping both dogs, I would really recommend getting in touch with a veterinary behaviorist who can evaluate the dogs in person to give you a better idea of whether this is a fixable issue - if so, he/she can help you put together a detailed step-by-step plan to work on the problem. You can search for a behaviorist in your area here: www.dacvb.org In the meantime, I would recommend keeping your older dog on a leash or physically separated from the other dog with a baby gate or other barrier. This will allow the younger dog to relax a bit without being harassed. If things go well like this for a few days, you can gradually allow short periods of contact between them. Reward both dogs when they are together, and particularly praise and reward your older dog for calm behavior around the new dog. You may also want to try a DAP pheromone collar on both dogs, along with a natural calming supplement such as Zylkene or Composure for your older dog to see if this helps a bit.