Experienced, dog owners know when their pets are out of sorts. Suddenly, a docile pup is up and barking at another pet in the house. This scenario may not be normal for this particular animal. It’s a fact that dogs have emotions that can run out of control, including behaviors that appear like jealousy. If pet owners believe that their pup is jealous, they must put their best foot forward to correct the situation. Explore these suggestions when it comes to jealousy and dog training. A happy household can arise once again.
Remember the Pack Mentality
It’s important to remember that dogs aren’t actually jealous. People tend to personify their pets in this manner. What’s perceived as jealousy is more like a pack mentality. In the wild, canines live in groups that have a hierarchical arrangement. There’s always an leader dog, which is the leader of the group.
Pet owners might have an leader personality in their dog, especially with other animals in the house. The leader exerts aggression and demands attention at the expense of other animals’ needs. A jealous dog may simply be the leader trying to show dominance in any Lakewood home.
Be Responsible With Reactions
A seemingly jealous dog may be rewarded without the realization of the family. As the pup is brought home from dog boarding, it might become aggressive with other animals in the house upon arrival. Pet owners want to calm the situation so they place all of their attention on the excited pup.
This reaction is actually a negative one. Pet owners are actually reinforcing the aggression by giving their attention to the dog. Whether the pet arrives home from dog daycare or the kennel, it should be taught to sit and stay upon arrival. This control through training takes time, but it reduces the perceived jealousy occurring in the household instead of reinforcing it.
Recall Positive Reinforcement
Pet owners can try positive reinforcement to calm a jealous dog. When there are two dogs at a Lakewood home, greet both dogs at the beginning of the day. If the jealous dog becomes aggressive, command it to sit and stay. Give the other pet a pat and petting for a short duration of time.
Reward the sitting dog with a treat. Pet owners may need to repeat this process several times over, but the jealous dog will learn to associate a treat with being calm. At some point in the future, both pets will have a calm demeanor as they anticipate either a treat or loving gesture from the owner.
Try Behavior Modification
Some pets display jealousy in the form of barking. Owners automatically hush them during this behavior, which only reinforces the barking in the first place. Try behavior modification where only good actions result in a reaction from the owner. Ignore the barking when it occurs. Reward the dog with praise or a treat when it calms down. Many dog boarding facilities use behavior modification during their operations because it teaches the animal about approved actions without any negative repercussions.
Keep up With Everyday Routines
Many pet owners don’t realize that irregular routines can create perceived jealousy. Missed meals or walks create aggression and other outbursts in a Golden home. Ideally, stick to a routine that the pets and owners enjoy. If a routine must be broken, try to return to the habit as quickly as possible.
Routines make animals feel safe. They don’t feel as if they need to compete for attention when they understand what encompasses a “typical” day.
Set up One-on-One Meetings
It’s incredibly easy to give one animal more attention than another. To combat this scenario, set up individual meetings with the pets. The owner might spend an exclusive hour with one dog playing fetch. Another hour is dedicated to the other pet with its favorite pastime. Offering full attention to the pet on a regular basis only reduces any jealous emotions.
Continue With Training Sessions
Jealousy may emerge during stressful times. Consider regular training sessions with the pups to reinforce basic ideas. Go over sitting, staying and fetching. If any pet displays jealous aggression, the owner can use the training to stop the habit in its tracks. The commands serve as a distraction so that another behavior takes over.
Reinforce the Pack
Although pet owners don’t necessarily want an leader-and-follower relationship within their family pack, it’s still a good idea to reinforce the group dynamic. Don’t walk the dogs separately. If a family has at least two dogs, they should be walked together. With separate leashes, the dogs can explore together and mark territories along the way.
Walking as a group may not seem like a big deal, but dogs perceive the activity as a bonding situation. Jealousy may not play too much of a role if the animals see each other as partners rather than adversaries.
When to Seek Professional Help
If pet owners notice that their efforts aren’t working, it may be time for professional help. Jealousy that goes out of control might include nipping or biting among the pets in the home. A trip to a dog daycare for socialization may be the answer.
Professionals ascertain the pet’s issues as it arrives at the kennel. By learning about the dog and its home environment, a training strategy can be created. Every pet deserves to be happy in the household.
When pet owners have any questions about dog training, local professionals are always the best resource. Consider classes in Golden so that the pup and family members can learn more about jealousy and other emotions. Dealing with any misbehavior is possible with the right strategies and loving care.
