How to Stop Jealous Dogs

Jealousy is common in dogs. It can been seen in dogs protecting family members by snapping at visitors or other pets. Jealousy is a natural attitude linked to the establishment of leadership. Dogs tend to form and live in packs, and leadership gives them structure and discipline, which in the wild improves their odds of survival. When dogs are family pets, however, their owner must assume the leadership role and provide structure to the dogs' life. Jealousy should not be encouraged and seen as a cute behavior. It can escalate into an aggression problem. By emphasizing a leadership role and discouraging jealousy, you can tone down the attitude.

Things You'll Need

  • Treats
  • Leash
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Instructions

    • 1

      Determine what triggers the jealous response in each jealous dog. Look for attitude indicators to link the response to something that just occurred. Indicators include the dog's head close to the ground while the dog is not sniffing, its tail in a downward position or tucked behind its hind legs and growling or excessive barking.

    • 2

      Remove each jealous dog from the situation temporarily in order to prevent injury to itself, other dogs and people and to allow it to calm down. Then address the situation. Reward calm behavior, and do not force the dog. It will accept the situation eventually.

    • 3

      State the word "no" while using a diversion when a jealous dog tries to protect you from someone approaching. Use a firm poke, if necessary, to get each jealous dog's attention. As a way to correct this behavior have a friend play the role of the person approaching. If the dog stops the behavior, reward it with a treat or a statement of "good boy." If the dog maintains the behavior, divert its attention again. Do not give the dog attention, including looks, or pet the to calm it because that only serves as a reward for misbehavior.

    • 4

      Turn away from each jealous dog, and do not give it attention. Do not pet the dog or make eye contact when it pushes its way in while you give affection to other pets or people. Try several times until the dog is convinced it will not obtain attention this way.

    • 5

      Introduce a new dog at a neutral place such as a park or someplace that is not your original dog's territory. Take them for a walk. Have someone walk the new dog at a distance, and bring the two dogs closer while walking, encouraging good behavior, such as friendly sniffing or ignoring each other, with treats. At home, keep both dogs separated from each other for a while so that they may see and smell each other but not reach each other. Praise good behavior such as friendliness with treats.

    • 6

      Retrieve treats that each jealous dog stole from another pet. Give the treats to the pet from which they where taken. Give a fair share of attention, treats and affection, however, to every one of your dogs.