06/26/2025
Keeping the peace in a multi-dog household is a balance and it requires healthy boundaries and some mediation from the humans in the home.
Boundaries: We aren’t talking about limiting couch privileges or feeding in a specific order. By boundaries, we mean teaching our dogs what is socially acceptable when living under the same roof. Boundary # 1: we don’t take resources from another dog’s possession. This rule is a must if you want to prevent resource guarding behaviors from developing amongst the group.
Boundary # 2: We don’t participate in play that is not mutual. If another dog doesn’t accept the invite to play, we move on.
Boundary # 3: We don’t police other dog’s behaviors. While there are many times when “splitting” behavior is appropriate, if two dogs are playing together nicely, there’s no need to yell at them to stop. Nobody likes a fun police.
Mediation: It isn’t our dog’s job to stop other dogs from making poor choices, it’s ours. It’s important our dogs feel secure that we will intervene to keep everyone safe and happy. For example: If a dog steals a toy, we step in and return the stolen toy and provide the thief with another option.
Stay tuned for our next tips for a successful multidog household!
