My dogs are fighting after our senior dog died. What can I do?

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.

Your house is a lot different, and your own dog may be feeling like there is a bit of an "intruder" situation going on. it may take some time for your dogs to all get along, especially if the change was recent. Until they get along better, the dogs should only be together when able to be supervised by you. You may also want to pick up items of contention such as beds, toys, treats, etc that may be fought over if your dogs feel threatened. If a fight breaks out, immediately separate the dogs for a "time out"/cooldown, and then reintroduce when all dogs are calm and relaxed. When you are not at home, the dogs should be separated or crated in separate crates to avoid a potential fight. If the issue persists, speaking with a trainer or behaviorist may also help as they can often observe what is going on in the home, and can make suggestions based on your specific needs.

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!

I am sorry to hear about your problems with Marilyn. If she is still eating/drinking normally without any vomit/diarrhea/cough/lethargy/weakness then you could try a few different products to help ease any anxiety. There is a pheremone product called Adaptil that is available as a collar or a diffuser plug-in that can be calming to many dogs. You can get this at a vet's office, online, or in some pet stores. I would consider a calming supplement such as Zylkene or Composure (also available at vet's offices or online). I would be sure that Marilyn is still getting attention from the family and that she is able to get away from/escape form the other dog if she doesn't want attention from him. Provide her a safe sleeping area and separate food and water so she doesn't feel any need for competition between the two dogs. If the problem continues or she develops any of the symptoms I mentioned earlier (these could indicate illness) , she should see her regular vet.

I'm so sorry to hear of your sister's loss. I'm sure a loss like that has created a great deal of stress in the household. Dogs can react to stress in their owners and the dogs maybe grieving the loss themselves as well. This can lead to behavior changes such as anxiety and aggression. Given the severity of the behavior changes, I would recommend that Lucy is seen by a veterinarian to ensure there is not an underlying medical condition. Once Lucy is deemed healthy, your veterinarian may recommend a trial of an anti-anxiety medications such as Prozac. It also may be worthwhile to contact a trained animal behaviorist in your area. They can evaluate the interactions between the dogs and may be able to offer a plan to help get the dogs back on track.

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.

Hormonal changes that occur after being spayed or neutered can sometimes cause tensions. Keeping the dogs separated unless supervised may help reduce fights. If you notice one or both dogs becoming too excited or agitated, separating them and giving them a chance to cool off can help. Removing items of contention such as treats or toys can also help reduce fighting. If the fighting continues, or they are unable to be together at all, seeking out a local veterinary behaviorist or trainer in person that can observe their behavior may be useful for formulating a training plan to help both dogs get along again.