Dog Sibling Aggression: A Comprehensive Guide to Treatment and Prevention

Dog sibling aggression can be a challenging issue for many pet owners. It's estimated that up to 25% of households with multiple dogs experience some level of aggression between their pets.

To understand why dog sibling aggression occurs, it's essential to consider the factors that contribute to it. The age gap between dogs is a significant factor, with dogs that are less than 6 months apart being more likely to develop aggression towards each other.

A study found that dogs with a history of trauma or abuse are more prone to aggression towards their siblings. This highlights the importance of socialization and proper training from an early age.

A fresh viewpoint: Crate Training Schedule by Age

A dominance hierarchy is often cited as a reason for dog aggression, but it's a complicated concept that may not be as relevant as you think. The idea that a clear hierarchy can be established through physical fighting is actually a myth.

In most cases, dogs don't establish a clear dominance hierarchy, and if your dogs are fighting, it's unlikely to be about dominance. A veterinary behaviorist can help determine the underlying cause of the aggression and develop a treatment plan.

A fresh viewpoint: Canine Dominance Behavior

If your pet starts fighting, it could be due to a medical issue such as arthritis or dental problems, which can cause pain and irritability.

Some common causes of fighting among pets include boredom, anxiety, and lack of exercise or mental stimulation.

A change in your pet's environment or routine can also lead to fighting, as they may feel stressed or uneasy.

For example, if you've recently moved to a new home, your pet may be feeling overwhelmed and lash out at other pets.

Medical conditions like hyperthyroidism can also cause irritability and aggression in pets.

In some cases, fighting can be a sign of underlying medical issues that need to be addressed by a veterinarian.

If you're experiencing issues with your pet's behavior, it's essential to consult with a veterinarian to rule out any underlying medical conditions.

For your interest: Male Dogs Fighting Same Household

Medication can be a helpful tool in managing canine aggression. Pharmacologic treatment is sometimes necessary to assist in reintroducing a pair of feuding dogs.

The medications of choice for anxiety-reducing effects are buspirone and fluoxetine. Buspirone and fluoxetine are most frequently employed for their anxiety-reducing effects.

If one dog only is to be treated, it's usually best to treat the aggressor. Treating the aggressor can help reduce aggression and improve the overall situation.

Your veterinarian should determine whether medication is appropriate for your pet to help treat aggression. The most common medication prescribed for aggression is fluoxetine, an SSRI.

Fluoxetine can take up to 2-4 weeks before results are seen. Adjustments in dosage may also be recommended by your veterinarian to achieve desired results.

Side effects of fluoxetine are uncommon but can include sedation, vomiting, decreased appetite, constipation, agitation, and seizures. Fluoxetine should be used cautiously with Tramadol or in patients with a history of seizures.

On a similar theme: Does Cbd Help with Dog Aggression

Let's break down the potential causes of dog fighting and understand what might be driving the behavior. A dominance struggle in the home is a common myth, but it's not always the root cause of aggression.

In fact, many household dogs don't establish a clear dominance hierarchy, and a veterinary behaviorist will be able to determine if a failed hierarchy is the reason behind the aggression.

Littermate syndrome, on the other hand, is a real phenomenon where two puppies adopted at the same time grow up together and form a deep bond with each other. This can lead to a lack of socialization with their human family and other pets.

Some common signs of littermate syndrome include excessive barking, howling, or whining when separated, destructive behavior like chewing or peeing around the house, and extreme anxiety in new situations.

Here are some key characteristics of littermate syndrome:

Signs of dog sibling aggression can be subtle, but they're essential to recognize to prevent potential issues. Fearfulness of unfamiliar people, dogs, and other novel stimuli is a common sign.

Intense anxiety when separated, even briefly, is another indication that something's amiss. I've seen dogs get frantic when their owners leave the room, and it's heartbreaking.

Difficulty learning basic obedience skills can also be a sign of dog sibling aggression. It's frustrating for owners when their dogs seem to ignore commands or have trouble focusing.

Incessant fighting with each other is a clear indication that something's wrong. It's not normal for dogs to constantly argue and fight with each other.

Here are some common signs of dog sibling aggression:

Treatment for dog sibling aggression takes time and effort, with improvement seen in 96% of cases, but it may take weeks to months before noticeable progress is made.

Avoiding aggressive situations and triggers is crucial in preventing and treating dog sibling aggression. This means being aware of your dog's body language and removing them from situations that may escalate aggression.

Desensitization and counter-conditioning are essential techniques in treating dog sibling aggression, and involve gradually exposing the dogs to each other in a controlled environment. This helps the dogs learn positive experiences occur when the other dog is near.

Medication, such as fluoxetine, can be used to reduce anxiety and aggression in dogs, but it's often used in conjunction with behavior modification techniques. Medication alone is not usually enough to resolve aggression successfully.

Consistency is key in treating dog sibling aggression, so it's essential that every human member of the household is on the same page and uses the same treatment protocols. This helps prevent mixed messages and treatment failure.

Spaying and neutering of intact dogs can also help reduce aggression, and exercise can have a calming effect on dogs. Taking your dogs for walks or runs can be a great way to help them bond and release energy.

You might enjoy: Prey Drive in Dogs How to Stop It

Identifying the causes of aggression is crucial to addressing the behavior. Aggression may be dominance-related, territorial, possessive, or caused by fear/anxiety.

Dogs can become aggressive towards each other for a variety of reasons, including changes within the household that lead to an unstable hierarchy. This can include the addition of a new dog, social maturity of a puppy, or loss of a canine or human family member.

Separating the dogs or intervening before they become too excited may help in situations that induce excitement. Common triggers include competition for resources, such as food, treats, toys, or owner attention.

Avoiding triggers is key to managing aggression. Deny both dogs free access to food, toys, treats, or preferred resting places.

Conflict between partners in a household can be a complex issue, and it's often not as simple as one dog trying to dominate the other.

A dominance hierarchy is not always the reason for aggression between dogs, and in most cases, another reason will be discovered.

In many households, dogs do not establish a clear hierarchy, and physical fighting is not a necessary part of maintaining a hierarchy.

A veterinary behaviorist can help determine if aggression is related to a failed attempt to form and maintain a dominance hierarchy.

Separating littermates, especially if symptoms appear early, can be beneficial for each dog to develop normally as an individual.

It's often best to separate littermates, and potential new owners should meet both puppies to determine which to take home.

Additional reading: Dog Dominance Training

Dealing with aggressive behavior in dogs can be challenging, but it's essential to address the issue early on.

Dogs may fight for a variety of reasons, including dominance, territorialism, possessiveness, or fear/anxiety.

Aggression can be caused by changes within the household, such as the addition of a new dog, social maturity of a puppy, or loss of a canine or human family member.

A dog's position within the hierarchy can be fluid and change over time or with different circumstances, making it tricky to identify the "alpha dog."

Some dogs may be predisposed to aggression if they were not well socialized as puppies, have experienced social trauma, or lack good training.

Interference with normal social rituals, reinforcement of aggressive behavior, and inconsistent responses to a dog's behavior can all contribute to aggression.

Dogs can be treated, but first, it's essential to rule out physical problems that may contribute to aggression, such as hormone disorders or painful conditions.

Avoiding triggers is crucial in managing aggression, including competition for resources, situations that induce excitement, and situations that cause stress or anxiety.

Separating the dogs or intervening before they become too excited may help in these situations, but in some cases, dogs must be completely separated then gradually reintroduced with desensitization and counter-conditioning training.

In cases of dominance aggression, dogs may fight for specific resources or space-guarding issues, and it's more common among dogs of the same sex.

In most cases, both dogs are less respectful than they should be to the owner since the presence of a dominant individual within the social group tends to suppress aggression between other pack members.

Aversive citronella spray and head collars with a trailing leash can be used to separate dogs during fights without harming them.

See what others are reading: Dog Training Resources

Dog sibling aggression is a common issue that can arise when two dogs in the same household fight over resources or space. This type of aggression is often referred to as sibling rivalry.

Dogs have a natural instinct to establish a dominance hierarchy, and if this hierarchy is not established, fighting can ensue. In fact, research suggests that dogs have no sense of equality, so one dog must always be the leader. Unfortunately, this can be a difficult concept for owners to grasp, and they may try to treat their dogs as equals, which can actually fuel continued fighting.

There are two types of sibling rivalry: Type 1, which is a simple dominance struggle between dogs, and Type 2, which is alliance aggression caused by human interference. Type 2 is particularly problematic because it can lead to severe injury and persist for a long time.

To establish a stable social hierarchy, owners must take a strong leadership role and establish a non-confrontational dominance program. This means identifying all sources of conflict and competition and changing management strategies to prevent future altercations between the dogs.

Here are some key strategies for preventing and addressing dog sibling aggression:

By understanding canine behavior and taking proactive steps to establish a stable social hierarchy, owners can reduce the likelihood of dog sibling aggression and create a more harmonious household.

Separating siblings from a young age is crucial to prevent littermate syndrome. Shelley Smith, adoption center manager at Pets Unlimited, stopped placing siblings together after a disturbing case where a Dachshund mix was returned to the shelter with multiple injuries.

Planned separations must begin immediately, even if it means getting the puppies to sleep in separate crates right next to each other. This traumatic experience is better than waiting until the puppies are four months old, as noted by trainer Ian Dunbar.

To prevent littermate syndrome, it's essential to teach puppies how to be alone, which is impossible with two siblings. Dunbar encourages multiple dog households, but the timing, temperament, and age of each dog entering the home are paramount.

The best littermate syndrome prevention might be to avoid adopting siblings in the first place. Most people have never heard of littermate syndrome, finding out about it while researching their dogs' problematic behaviors.

Here are some key takeaways to prevent littermate syndrome:

Rehoming a puppy might be necessary if the aggression from littermate syndrome persists and poses a risk to your family's safety.

The less-dominant puppy can be particularly vulnerable to unsafe situations.

Sometimes, rehoming one of the pups is the best solution to ensure a peaceful environment for your dogs and family.

Littermates with a pack mentality can become aggressive towards other dogs and people, including you.

If you've tried everything possible to reduce the aggression and nothing is working, it may be time to consider rehoming one of your pups.

For another approach, see: Family Dog Training

Preventing Littermate Syndrome is crucial to avoid the devastating effects it can have on your puppies. It's essential to start separating them immediately, even if it's just for short periods.

Planned separations must begin right away, as soon as the puppies are born. Delaying this can lead to severe consequences, as seen in cases where owners have kept four-month-old siblings together for eight weeks without purposeful separation.

Feeding, walking, and training each puppy separately is a must, with individual crates in different parts of the home. This allows them to learn how to be alone, a key lesson in any well-thought-out puppy program.

Even trips to puppy socials and the vet should be separate, so they learn to incorporate these episodes into their respective psyches without being overly dependent on their littermate. This may seem time-consuming and exhausting, but it's a small price to pay for the well-being of your puppies.

Dunbar emphasizes the importance of teaching puppies to be content with being alone, which is impossible with two siblings. This lesson is crucial, especially when one puppy dies, and the other is left behind.

In some cases, it's best to avoid adopting siblings altogether. The cons of adopting siblings far outweigh the pros, and most trainers and behavior professionals recognize this. The only advantage is a short-term gain of the puppies being less lonely in the first month of life, but everything else is a loss.

Discover more: Basic Obedience Training for Puppies

Many shelters are now declining to place siblings together due to the risks of littermate issues.

Shelley Smith, adoption center manager at Pets Unlimited in San Francisco, stopped placing siblings together after a disturbing case where a Dachshund mix named Thelma was repeatedly attacked by her sibling.

The consensus among canine professionals is that it's not worth the risk of littermate syndrome.

Most would encourage people to adopt a single puppy who suits their lifestyle and focus on training and socialization.

Separating siblings can actually help prevent fighting and anxiety, as seen in Thelma's case.

Once your puppy is a dog, you can consider getting a second, but they'll be at different stages, and the older one may be a great life teacher to the younger.

Related reading: Dogs from Puppy Mills Behavior

Littermate syndrome can be quite common, especially when raising two similar-age puppies together. It's not an official diagnosis, so it's not guaranteed to occur even in these situations.

Raising puppies together without enough time apart can lead to issues with socialization. This is because they may not get to interact with other people and pets in a normal way.

The good news is that littermate syndrome can be avoided with some effort. With consistent training and hard work, you can help your puppies develop into well-adjusted adult dogs.