Why does my dog act out when shared between two homes? Is it stress?

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. This can certainly be a confusing situation for Pepper, which may explain why he was confused when he returned the last time. If Pepper is going to a bad environment, I would try and talk this over with his previous owner and ensure him that Pepper is much better off in the environment he has been in the longest. Unfortunately, if he gave you temporary care of his dog, technically Pepper still is his dog. You could also ask the man if you could adopt Pepper from him and pay him an "adoption fee" and make it so that if you adopt Pepper, he no longer has ownership and is no longer allowed to take Pepper for visitation. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

Hi and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Sorry to hear about how things are going with you and Daphne. These situations are always tough on everyone, including the pet. Have you thought about sharing her and letting her stay intermittently with your ex? Might be a good solution if you can both agree on the terms. That way she will never be in this situation again, as both of you will be spending time with her separately. I hope this helps. And I wish all of you and Daphne a long and happy life.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. It is not that the other dogs are influencing Oscar. It is just that they cause just enough excitement or anxiety (or both) for him to forget his training and to get to more of a “fight or flight” stage. A little anti-anxiety medication or slower introduction to your sisters dogs when you visit may help. A vibrating collar to get his attention and then a command (come, sit, etc) with a treat can help refocus his attention and calm his emotions.

Hi and thank you for your question. I am sorry you are having some behavior issues with Luna. Moving can be stressful for both pets and pet parents! Moving to a new area, new home, and the addition of changing to being an only dog is a lot of new changes all at once. Sometimes it just takes time for dogs to acclimate to their new life and new home. She is likely feeling a little insecure in her new place, but that is not unusual. Keep her busy with exercise. Lots of walks, lots of play time with you and gradually introduce her to new people making the experience positive with rewarding her for good behavior with a treat she really really loves. Lavander oil with an essential oil diffuser in your home can aide in calming the mood. Calming chews with L-Theanine in them can also help as well as a number of Rx medications that can help smooth the transition if you are finding yourself and Luna in a road block with progress. Also, working with a trainer around your area can be a very helpful to keep Luna on track and moving in the right direction. Please consult with Luna's veterinarian regarding all supplements and Rx medications. Best of luck!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. It does not sound like Otis is jealous but that he is just not fully potty trained yet. When the kids are over it is likely he gets distracted and forgets he needs to go outside to go potty. Also, when puppies get excited they can urinate without knowing it. I would recommend taking him outside more frequently when the kids are over so he has adequate times to go potty. make sure to praise him when he goes outside to go potty. This behavior will likely pass the next few months With proper training. Good luck and kisses to Otis!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. This sounds like it could be anxiety related, probably due to (or worsened by) the recent trip. Try separating them for a day or so, then taking them for a walk together. If it continues for more than a day or so, talk with your vet about anti-anxiety medications which can help tremendously with this sort of thing. Best wishes to you, Charlie, and Grey!

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!