Owners of 2 or more dogs, what do you do??

Question

I have gotten so many different opinions on this, I am very curious to see what everyone says! Okay, when dogs are establishing their pack order, who is the "top dog" and so on, do you let your dogs just fight it out? I know a lot of people that own two or more dogs, myself included, and we do (well, did, we haven't had to deal with that in a while) let our dogs just fight it out to a point, but if they really are in a fight we don't let them keep fighting. My husband and I own three APBTs. They are amazing dogs! APBTs are one of the most stable, people-friendly breeds in existence and they were bred to be family dogs, but they were also bred to fight dogs. There is no way I could just let my dogs fight it out, it wouldn't be very pretty! Anyway, there are so many different opinions on this and other things that have to do with our pets, even when it comes to the professionals and each swears the other is wrong! What is your opinion and what has worked for you?

We have never had a real fight break out between our dogs.. Thank God! lol! They have had their little scuffles, but nothing bad. We have only had to break them up once and it wasn't really because they were hurting each other, but because I didn't want it to get to that point. I asked this question because earlier today, on another forum, this question was asked and some people completely believed that you HAD to just let the dogs fight it out or it would be an ongoing problem! I honestly couldn't believe that people really believed that! Obviously that's crap! Our dogs get along wonderfully and we didn't let them fight! In my opinion, if your really letting your dogs fight and hurt each other, your no better than trash like Vick! Anyway, thanks for all of the great answers! : )

Cagney... Thanks for the great answer! Brooklyn is the alpha (well, under the hubby and I of course) and he does what he's supposed to do. He keeps the girls in line, but he doesn't go over board with it. When we first brought our last female into the "pack" we did have one pretty big scuffle that I had to break up, but we haven't had any problems besides that! Thank God! lol! : )

I have been reading over the answers and I do want to thank you all for taking the time to answer, but I also want to clarify that we are not having any problems with our dogs. I'm sure that I clearly said that we haven't had problems like this with our dogs for a long time and back when we did, we would let them handle things themselves unless they were actually fighting. If there was any way any of our babies could have gotten hurt, we stopped it right away. This question had been asked on a different forum and I was reading all of the different answers. Everyone seemed to handle this differently. I was simply asking to see how other owners handled this, really just to see how many people did the same things we did. My husband and I are definitely are not dog experts, but we are very experience dog owners. If we weren't we wouldn't even own one APBT, much less three. They are amazing dogs and by far our favorite breed, but they are not a breed for inexperienced dog owners...

... Anyway, I just wanted to clarify that because I had a lot of people that were giving me advice and wishing me luck! lol! I do appreciate it though! Thanks for all of the wonderful answers! : )

To Daniel S... The last thing I want to do is talk to Vick! Well, actually, I take that back, I would LOVE to have a talk with him, but I sure as hell wouldn't be asking him for his opinion on anything, especially if it had to do with dogs! I'm not exactly sure what the point in you even answering my question was?? Thanks for your pathetic comment though! lmfao! : )

To Jav B.. You have no idea what you are talking about!! The last thing I want to be is anything like Vick!! That p***y @$$ b**** doesn't even deserve to live! He should be abused, neglected, tortured and made to fight for his life! Then, if his punk @$$ is still alive they should electrocute him, pour acid all over his body and leave him chained u to die or thrown out on the street until an ACO can pick him up, throw him in a little kennel for a few nights and then put him to sleep! He deserves to go through exactly what he put those poor dogs through and then some! He is the scum of the earth and doesn't even deserve to live! It's pieces of s*** like him that give these amazing breeds such a bad name! People like him are the reason that wonderful, friendly, family dogs like ours are taken from their families and kill! People like him are the reason why so many good, responsible owners like my husband and I have their babies taken from them and killed every single day! F*** You!

Answer 1

Cagney is the one that gave you the best answer!
You MUST be the pack leader, no matter how many in the pack.

Answer 2

It's really not just an opinion, but how to say? Consider it dog politics. Human interference can often make it worse.They are pack animals and there is order to the pack. In any place or household with more than one dog there will be one dominate dog (alfa) and one subordinate (beta or omega) and that's just the way it is. Dogs are DOGS. Even if you think your dogs get along very well, even if it isn't apparent to you, even if they have never had a fight, there is always an alfa and a beta. I have introduced mature dogs into my household when I have had an older dog, so I have seen first hand how it plays out sometimes. I have seen fights that I thought to me, on observation, looked serious and viscious. There might be some slight injury, like a scratch, but it's not really intentional. Neither dog was injured or bloody when it ended, certainly not anything that matched what you hear or observe. I'll be honest..I don't like the fighting. But unless I see that real injury is occuring (I haven't) I don't interfere. I might stomp my foot, make a loud noise or whatever to try to distract them, say Cut It Out, but I don't interfere. I've only had to go through this a few times with mature dogs, but if I leave it to them and allow them to work it out on their own I have found they manage to work it out fairly fast. You can't really fight this. They won't ever see it the same as humans do and just get along. It's a dog thing. Now having said that..if ever I did observe real injury I'd seperate the dogs. I would take that as a clear sign other problems were going on.

ADDED: Here are a couple links that probably explain it better

http://www.italian-greyhound.net/packbehave.htm
http://www.justshepherds.com/dominance.htm
http://www.siberrescue.com/multiple.htm

Answer 3

I have more than a hand full of chihuahuas. They may be small, but at times an argument occurs. Because I am the pack leader. If I ignore it (so that's what they think) usually it will stop. If it sounds like a bigger argument I say HEY! or Whats Going on and that's usually the end of it. If the argument gets into a fight - I STOP IT! I also have learned what things can start an argument. If I suddenly run through the house to answer the phone or door - So I don't run anymore. Anything that gets everyone going-I avoid. The fights that have occurred at my house in the last 10 years I can count on one hand. Lots of little argument! Showing of teeth or a growl. Sometimes if the argument gets a little loud I might say something high pitched not loud like anybody want an tail wack. Something to pull the attention away. Because if two fight - others always get in on it. This has happened-very rarely. I've just learned to ignore(so they think), stay calm (important) and if needed pull the attention somewhere else-kind of make them forget.By the way I have never given a tail wack but if needed have taken out a fly swatter and wacked it on the table-that gets attention! GOD LUCK!
Hope I gave you some ideas!

Answer 4

If you can keep it to a small number, (2 or 3, personally I can't see myself having more than 1 dog at a time), I'd suggest making that any dogs you get after the first get along with the first one (or second one) for a day before deciding whether or not to keep them. Obviously with more than 3 this won't really be feasible. Anyways, as someone else pointed out, there is only 1 top dog. The one feeding and caring for them all. If they're misbehaving even when you tell them to cut it out, maybe think about investing in a doggy training school and reading some books on the topic.

Answer 5

We have minor altercations here and there and there is some noise. Once the noise gets to the point that you know something is really up, I do step in. I think, it's kinda to a certain extent like watching kids argue over something. They need to learn to figure things out, but when trouble gets abrewin, top dog or mom steps in. We had an altercation over a bone. Gracie Lu was eating her bone and Lucky simply walked by. There must have been something there - a look perhaps that we missed. Needless to say, the next thing we new, Gracie let Lucky have it. No blood, just a lot of "yelling". And you know what, we stepped in, stopped it and her little bone was taken away. For the most part peace coexists. We watch things change and rotate on a daily basis. For the most part, Lucky the older dog (by 10 months) watches the other two. We watch them pair off and play, all three play, or two on one - but the two on one always is changing.

I think it's important to give them as much space as possible but to step in when need be. And most importantly, not be scared to let dogs argue and not be scared to step in.

Answer 6

We are alpha, followed by my older dog then the young one. Being 11 1/2 my dog is not always interested in playing with a 2 year old with a lot more energy. They do start to get rough however because the older dog will let out a little growl to let the young guy know he's had enough. Usually works. They do occasionally play though, and it can start to get a little rough and we just make them stop playing.
My 11 1/2 year old is a Shepard/St.Bernard mix and my two year old is a Rotti/Am Staff mix. ( The older dog obviously outweighs his "brother" so he can throw his weight around too, lol

Answer 7

Dogs are funny ~ I own 3 Pomeranians but when I only had 2 it was obvious who was the pack leader; who ate first, who went outside first, to who even jumped on the couch first ~ my 16yrs old Pom was top dog, our other one is a little over 3 yrs old now. When we adopted our 3rd one ~ its funny because now the one who was submissive before has now become dominate over the other 2. My eldest one does not back down and sometimes spats break out ~ For the most part I do not allow it to happen because he is 16yrs old and I am afraid he might get injured; however, if it is just something as simple as drinking water first, going outside first I allow them to pick and choose their own battles and don't get involved.

My little dominate dominator now thinks he is king DAWG! and I guess as long as the other allow him to think that way life is good in our household, we treat them all the same; talk to them all the same. My husband and I do not believe in yelling or hitting our dogs so when they are punished they are told to go to their room and usually that resolves the unpleasant behavior...

Answer 8

We'll let our dogs bicker with each other, light growling - barking, a snap or two, but as soon as teeth seriously come out, we tend to break it up. We will do other things to let the new pup know the pecking order in the house. We feed our older dog first, give him treats first, attention first. Our older dog can eat from the puppy's dish, but the pup can't eat from our older dogs etc... It didn't take long for our younger pup to catch on that he was NOT the Alpha Male.

Answer 9

I have never had a problem with a fight yet. They have had their own little disagreements.. but it never esclatated beyond a growl and a snap.

If they ever got serious, no, I would not let them "fight it out". If you have 2 alpha dogs that are vieing for top position, it can get very nasty. They can do quite a bit of damage to each other that requires medical care. I think its cruel to allow 2 dogs to fight.

Answer 10

I have 3 neutered male toy poodles. I always have 3. but 2 years ago July, I had to put the "top" one to sleep. so, I tried to establish the one who had been #2 as "top" dog, but when I got my most recent puppy, he just came in here, and took the place over. the other 2 must wait until he is finished before they can eat, and he's just an annoying little brat. he's so dominant that he won't even let me be part of the "pack", and I can almost never touch him.
I frequently call him "monster".

Answer 11

I have an alfa female English coon hound who is dominant over my AmStaf and an aussie cattle dog/ greyhound mix. If I let them fight she would kill both of them in a hurry as she's 75 lbs. of solid muscle and bone, with very large teeth that they use in hunting deer and racoons. Do not let them fight or it will keep happening. And you might be right in middle and get the crap torn out of you. I always get them away from each other as I don't want a couple ripped up dogs. You don't want a dog fight in your lap, trust me on that one.