How do I make my dogs get along?

Question

I have a maltese, poodle and a chihuahua, the poodle is very sweet and friendly but the maltese and the chihuahua doesn't want to play, also get mad when the poodle try to play with them. How do I make them get along? please, help

First, I got my nutered maltese (3yrs), then 3 months later I got the spray Poodle (3yrs), just 3 week after I got the Poodle my daughter wanted a spray Chihuahua (8yrs).

Answer 1

Don't worry about the fact that your dogs don't want to play with the poodle. The poodle could be trying to challenge the position of the pack. Try letting the poodle be the lead dog, that is to say, you give it the attention first. You can't treat them all equal, you'll only go crazy trying! :)



I've live with a pack myself. As the leader of the pack, cause they all see me as one of them, I maintain the obvious pecking order. When I greet the dogs in the morning, or upon my return, I do this in the same order each time. That is to say, I will acknowledge the lead dog first, then the second, then the third and etc. I notice after a while, they come up to me in that order because they are comfortable with this arrangement and don't feel like they will be attacked or ignored. It works!


I free feed their dog food, that is to say, I always have ample food and water down. No one is ever so hungry they are concerned there won't be enough. They, on their own, eat when they feel like it and no one ever fights over the dogfood bowl. However, I feed a high quality dogfood product that is more expensive then the run of the mill food product at a department store. I go to Petco and get a good product. This way the dogs eat less, are getting good nutrition and their health does not make them moody.

When I play with my dogs, it's the same thing. I maintain playing with the lead dog, but always acknowledge all dogs during the play. When I call the dogs into the house from the yard, I call them in by name. I do not allow them entrance until they come as called. This again, re-enforces the pecking order. The lead dog comes in first, then second, third, fourth...you get the idea.

When sitting or laying on the couch, my dogs are allowed to be close with me. I don't make an issue about who rests where unless I notice some competition. Then I will kick everyone off the couch and sit alone. One by one they will come and join me on the couch without so much commotion and we all rest and enjoy TV. It's obvious the lead dog will come first and always sits closest to me.

Even if I desire an other dog to be closer, and if I force the lead dog into submission of the other dog, then problems will arise. I am upsetting the natural order.


I share treats with them only when I am training them. Keep that in mind too.

Hope this helps. Do get into dog obedience and get around other dog people. It's really exciting to learn more and more about dogs.

Answer 2

Ok, what you have here is a "pack" of dogs, you should be considered the "pack leader". This means that they "follow" you, and listen to you. Not eachother. Try to figure out why they get "mad" when the poodle tries to play with them. Also, before you let your dogs begin to "play", get them all out at the sametime for a walk. If this is not possible, then walk them one at a time. This should be done for 1/2 hour everyday. After you walk them, put them out in the yard. Stay with them and observe their playtime. If you see that the Malt and Chi are not wanting to paly with the Poo, then step in and maybe sit with all of them and let them lay around and be quiet with eachother.

Answer 3

there is always an answer to establishing a healthy relationship
amomg animals. Train them to respect you and follow rules. It does not happen overnight, it is a process of life, their and yours.
There are some excellent books out there. Invest in one and start
with page one. Soon you will have a healthier relationship not only with they dogs, but you with others.
Have patience, but work on it, Having a pet is a committment.

Answer 4

You can't make them get along. If the other two are not playfull they are not going to be playfull with the other even if it is a damn poodle.
Now go out and get another dog for the poodle to play with. Or maybe add a cat to the mix.

Answer 5

i don't know the dynamics of your pets or how long you've had them, but i can tell you my situation.......i had a female rottie and a year later we got a male rottie/boxer mix. she took very good care of him until he was older, then they began to fight, a lot! i would freak out and go running to break it up. this went on for two years and it was constant fighting. then one day it dawned on me, they were fighting over who was the dominant dog and since i was breaking it up every time, nothing was ever resolved. so, from then on i just let them go at it. they fought hard for about a week and then it stopped. it was determined that the female was dominant in all aspects except for the food, then the male was dominant. after they figured out who was in charge when, they got along great. hope this helps.

Answer 6

They will either learn to play or they will not. It is impossible to make them like each other. Is the poodle a puppy and new to the group? if so, give them time to get used to her.

Answer 7

Lock them in a room and play some Marvin Gaye!

Answer 8

know what?! have the same problem too! what i do is i leave them in a place and lock 'em there.. they'll get a long anway! good luck to the both of us..

Answer 9

Sing: "Get along little doggy" or show them an old western movie!

Answer 10

if they are male you have to neuter them
if they are females dont worry they will work it out
their way