How to Help Dogs in Your Home Get Along
You should be the leader
I’ve been in your shoes. I have two dogs who used to try to hurt each other on a regular basis, as well as any other dogs they saw. The vet bills I paid for my own dogs in addition to the vet bills for other dogs my dogs hurt were piling up! I had to find some answers. You’ve probably already researched this and seen the advice telling you to build up one dog as the alpha so the others will fall in line. It is true that dogs are social animals and look for a hierarchical structure to give security in what role they will play. And they will try to figure it out on their own if there is no other leader in the house, but choosing an alpha among your dogs will not fix your problem, and in many ways, it could exacerbate it. You need to be the leader. They need to look to you. You need to be the source of protection and discipline in order to manage their interactions and help them feel safe. How do you do this?
Control the resources. Pull up all food, toys, and chews. Don’t let them be pushy on the furniture and beds. Don’t let them be pushy or controlling with your affection. Then, when they understand they can’t just have those things whenever they want them, give them to them, but only because of your initiative and only when they are in the calm state of mind you want reinforced. Only bring out toys when you are ready to play with them, then put them back up. Only allow them on furniture if you invite them (and don’t invite them if they’re being pushy).
Play with them. I know this sounds ill-fitting to such complex issues, but a lot of dog aggression is from dogs who feel compelled to be aggressive from their genetics but don’t know how or where that’s appropriate. Play tug. Play a lot. If they won’t play with you, keep showing them on a daily basis that you want to play with them but teasing them with the toy and stealing it and throwing it around and having fun with it yourself. Play with them individually only with the other dog crate. Learn more about play here: https://www.thetrustedcompanion.com/thetrustedcompanionblog/play-why-its-important-and-how-to-do-it
Control states of mind. You have to teach them how to be calm in your home, moving through doorways, jumping out of the car, when you’re making their food, or any situation where right now, they may be overly amped. This amped state of mind leads to fights. Hold what they want until they are calm. Only feed them when they stop being anxious. Only pet them when they aren’t being pushy. Only invite them on the furniture when they are relaxed. Only let them through doorways or thresholds when they’ve calmed down and stopped being pushy.
Train. You have to find a way to give them alternative behavior when they are anxious so they don’t feel the need to attack their housemate. You have to have a way to control the situations in your home so they don’t control them themselves. You have to be able to ask your dog to focus on you when they are anxious and to hold still around the other dogs in your home.
Manny and Reginald
All of your dogs should be trained
I know that one of your dogs is probably the “bad dog” and the aggressor. And I understand that it feels like that’s the dog that needs training. Pack dynamics and issues can be complex, but rarely are they the result of the actions of only one dog. Multiple dogs may be anxious and that anxiety may look different in each dog. One dog may want to attack, the other may freeze and tremble or run and hide. Another dog may just be really pushy making other dogs feel like they need to correct it. Regardless, just as the anxiety can be contagious, so can being calm. Training all dogs how to be calm will help all dogs remain calm. Training all dogs to understand healthy interactions will be far more successful than just one. In addition to teaching the aggressive dog how to calm down, you also need to show them that you can handle the pushy dog and that they don’t have to. It’s hard to pinpoint the exact issues sometimes, but the answer is never to train just one and not all of the dogs in your house.
Be patient
Behavior and mindset changes don’t happen overnight. This requires some commitment and routine changes at home. Some of these behaviors and mindsets have been entrenched over years of habit, and there aren't any quick fixes. But if we can set the right behaviors, condition the right states of mind, and create good habits and decision making for your pups, we can help them learn how to co-exist. You may not like your co-worker, but you can’t punch them in the face. Even if you really want to. Your dogs may not like each other, but that doesn’t mean they have to act out, and we can teach them those parameters. The cool thing, though, is sometimes after spending time with your co-worker (and not punching them in the face), you learn they’re not so bad, and maybe worth getting a beer with. Where there’s no guarantees your dogs will like each other, there is a good chance that if we can teach your dogs to stop attacking each other, and they don’t have to live on edge constantly, they may begin to actually like and enjoy each other over some time and trust building.
I did this with my dogs, and then many others. This is what I care about, and I can help you. Let’s get started.
Reg, Manny, and new family member, Yeti
Recommended Packages
ESSENTIAL $500:
Includes 3 30-60 minute private lessons at a park in Elkton, VA or Penn Laird, VA (appointments subject to weather)
Includes Herm-Sprenger prong collar and long training leash
Teaches how to improve your relationship with your dog through play
Teaches leash manners, “out”, and “place” or “come”
Teaches how to play and set parameters for inappropriate behavior
Can cater to specific issues
For dogs at least 5 months old
COMPLETE $850:
Includes everything in Essential package plus 3 additional 30-60 minute private lessons for a total of 6 lessons and electric collar (appointments subject to weather)
Includes remote electric collar
Teaches fundamentals of play and how to use play to develop your bond and communication with your dog
Teaches leash manners, “out”, “come”, “sit”, “place”, “down”, and “heel”
We will proof commands for distance and duration
Will cater to any specific issues with your dog
For dogs at least 4 months old
ROCKSTAR $1100:
Includes everything in the Complete package plus 2 additional 30-60 minute lessons in Elkton for a total of 8 lessons (appointments subject to weather).
2 additional private lessons can be used for teaching additional advanced commands to really bring out the rockstar in your dog! Advance commands can include your choice from extended distance sit and down, come to the heel position, send aways to place, stand, front, maintain eye contact, or feel free to ask about something else!
For dogs at least 4 months old
ANXIETY & AGGRESSION $1100:
Includes everything in the Complete package plus 2 additional lessons in Elkton for a total of 8 lessons (appointments subject to weather).
2 additional lessons will be used to work specifically around the sources of the anxiety and aggression where applicable.
Focus on building confidence and trust
For dogs at least 5 months old
*Military, First Responder, and Multiple Dog discounts can be applied!!
ESSENTIAL $800:
Includes 3 30-60 minute lessons conveniently in your home
Teaches how to improve your relationship with your dog through play
Teaches leash manners, “out”, and “place” or “come”
Teaches play and how to set parameters for inappropriate behavior
We will proof commands for distance and duration
Includes Herm-Sprenger prong collar and long training leash
Allows us to address specific issues in your environment
For dogs at least 5 months old
Includes everything within an hour of Massanutten, though further distances are able to be accommodated for a small surcharge.
COMPLETE $1550:
Includes everything in Essential package plus 3 additional 30-60 minute in-home lessons for a total of 6 lessons and electric collar
Includes remote electric collar
Teaches fundamentals of play and how to use play to develop the communication and bond with your dog
Teaches “out”, “place”, “come”, “down”, and “heel”
We will proof commands for distance and duration
Will cater to any specific issues with your dog
For dogs at least 4 months old
Includes everything within an hour of Massanutten, though further distances are able to be accommodated for a small surcharge.
ROCKSTAR $1800:
Includes everything in the Complete plus 2 additional 30-60 minute lessons for a total of 8 lessons
2 additional lessons can be used for advanced commands and specific issues anxiety or aggression. Advance commands can include your choice from extended distance sit and down, come to the heel position, send aways to place, stand, front, maintain eye contact, or feel free to ask about something else!
For dogs at least 4 months old
Includes everything within an hour of Massanutten, though further distances are able to be accommodated for a small surcharge.
ANXIETY & AGGRESSION $1800:
Includes everything in the Complete plus 2 additional lessons for a total of 8 lessons
Lessons will be used with an emphasis on building confidence and reliability around the source of the aggression or the anxiety where applicable.
For dogs at least 5 months old
Includes everything within an hour of Massanutten, though further distances are able to be accommodated for a small surcharge
*Military, First Responder, and Multiple Dog discounts can be applied!!
This package is designed for dogs with anxiety in certain situations, reactivity towards people or dogs, some mild to moderate aggression, and adult dogs who need more time developing confidence and practicing good habits around a diversity of distractions. The additional weeks will be used to further guide the genetic and emotional drives to appropriate and fulfilling places as well as develop a stronger and more profound relationship with your pup. Emotions and genetics matter a lot especially in anxiety and aggression. 5 weeks gives us more time to focus on those components of your problem issues. It is possible to teach your dog through stress and coercion, but if we can help build trust and motivation through play, they will be much more excited to learn and maintain what they learn. Motivation is far more important to learning than repetition.
Play is the highest form of social interaction with your pup and the highest form of reinforcement when the dog understands how to play. We will attempt to develop it as the primary positive reinforcer, but also as the means to communicate boundaries and develop a trusting relationship to help guide your pup through their issues. It is impossible to fully suppress behaviors reinforced by your dog’s individual genetics. If they are genetically inclined to bite or chase, we cannot keep them from biting or chasing forever. It will always eventually pop up in the places we don’t want, because it’s who they are, and suppressing who they are creates anxiety. However, if we use our time to develop outlets for those behaviors by biting tugs or chasing balls through play, then we have a significant chance to be successful at telling them they can’t bite people or chase cars, etc for the long term. We will also use our time to create more embedded patterns and habits of the more acceptable behaviors and states of mind so that they translate to your home more readily.
Your dog lives with a trainer at their house for 5 weeks!
Can include electronic collar from E-Collar Technologies and Herm-Sprenger prong collar for off leash and on leash reliability
Can include commands of “out”, “come”, “sit”, “place”, “heel”," “down”, leash manners and door manners
Will develop the fundamentals and rules of fetch and tug within the time allowance
Can proof commands for high distraction, long distances, and long duration holding commands until released
Commands will be proofed off leash where applicable
Can spend additional time proofing for higher distractions
Can spend additional time working around sources of anxiety with a focus on increasing confidence
Can spend additional time working on specific issues like resource guarding
Can spend additional time getting multiple dogs accustomed to working with each other
Slower and easier introduction to the commands
Can cater training to any specific issues with your dog
Updates every single day
2-4 hour in-home turnover (within 2 hours of Massanutten) to make sure you know how to maintain the training and develop your new relationship with your dog!
Lifetime refresher lessons at the park in Massanutten should you need any help transitioning the dog home or even if you let things slip a little
50% discount on a consultation for help getting started before Board and Train start date.
For dogs at least 4 months old
Rushed scheduling is available for a 30% surcharge.
*Military, First Responder, and Multiple Dog discounts can be applied!!
*All Board and Train purchases must be paid and full and have returned signed contracts before scheduling.
This package is best for dogs with more advanced anxiety or aggression issues, but is still a fantastic solution for most dogs! Where no training option is magic and there will be work to do with you and your environment no matter how long they train, this option allows for fuller immersion in training structures, fuller development of play, emotional associations, and communication, and the more normalization of good behavioral and emotional habits make that transition home much easier. You cannot rehabilitate aggression or anxiety issues by just focusing on behavior. This package gives more time to focus on the emotional and genetic contributors to the issues your having to set you up for long-term success and your dog up for success and self-confidence.
You couldn’t rush a relationship with your dog and neither can your trainer. The more time we have to develop our mutual trust and communication, the better learning environment we can create for your pup and the more durable the training will become. You can teach commands through stress and you can bribe with food, but neither of these options develop the mutual trust, respect, and communication that time and play can develop. Play satisfies your dog on a genetic level and gives them purpose in life. How awesome would it be for you to be the provider of that fulfillment? You can certainly use coercion to make yourself relevant to your dog when they are distracted, anxious, or aggressive, but mostly this masks the behavioral in the short term when the genetic and emotional underpinnings aren’t addressed. A large reason why behavioral issues develop is because your dog doesn’t have outlets for the things that make them who they are (chasing, biting, herding, barking, etc.) and don’t know how now to have that fulfilling relationship with you. Your dog is an incredibly social animal. If you aren’t providing the genetic or social fulfillment to your dog, they will look for it elsewhere and live a less confident life. This training option is designed to more fully develop the concepts of play so your dog can find that fulfillment they need, set up a very motivational and successful learning environment ant relationship, and then use that play and that relationship to create the boundaries and communication we need to help them navigate their issues and find long-term success.
Your dog lives with a trainer at their house for 8 weeks!
Immersion into normal life with new and better habits
Will develop the fundamentals and rules of fetch and tug within the time allowance
Healthy dog and human socialization
Fuller integration of commands with normal life
Can include electronic collar from E-Collar Technologies and Herm-Sprenger prong collar for off leash and on leash reliability!
Can include commands of “out”, “come”, “sit”, “place”, “heel”," “down”, leash manners and door manners, proofing for high distraction, long distances, and long duration holding commands until released
Commands will be proofed off leash where applicable
Can address and build confidence regarding any anxiety or aggressive behavior
Can solidify good habits regarding specific issues
Can integrate dogs from the same home together in training as well as normal life
Can spend time developing tracking or detection
Updates every single day
2-4 hour in-home turnover (within 2 hours of Massanutten) to make sure you know how to maintain the training and develop your new relationship with your dog!
Lifetime refresher lessons at the park in Massanutten should you need any help transitioning the dog home or even if you let things slip a little
50% discount on a consultation for help getting started before Board and Train start date.
For dogs at least 4 months old
Rushed scheduling is available for a 30% surcharge.
*Military, First Responder, and Multiple Dog discounts can be applied!!
*All Board and Train purchases must be paid and full and have returned signed contracts before scheduling.