How To Stop Dogs From Fighting In The Same Household

If you’ve ever come home to find your dogs fighting, you know how heartbreaking and frustrating it can be.

But don’t despair – there are things you can do to stop this behavior.

In this article, we’ll share some tips on how to stop dogs from fighting in the same household.

With a little patience and effort, you can help your furry friends get along peacefully.

Keep Them Separate

This will help to prevent further fights from happening.

Keeping two dogs that are fighting separate is a very important step to take in preventing further fights between the two.

By giving each dog a room and preventing them from interacting, you can keep them apart.

This may be difficult at first and require a lot of discipline from you as the pet owner, but it may help calm your pets and you.

With patience, consistency, and affection, this approach will yield positive results.

Give Them Attention

Oftentimes, dogs will fight because they feel like they are competing for your attention.

By giving each dog equal amounts of time and affection, you can help to reduce the chances of them fighting.

An important way to help stop your dogs from fighting with each other is to make sure that they are each getting enough individual attention.

If one dog feels like they are competing with the other dog for your affection, tensions can quickly arise and result in squabbles between the two.

Try to ensure that you are carving out separate play or cuddle time with each of your beloved pets, so they both feel secure and loved.

Not only will this be beneficial for preventing fights but it will also help build a strong bond of trust between them and you.

Exercise Them

Make sure that your dogs are getting plenty of exercise so that they don’t become restless and start fighting with each other.

Exercising is one of the best ways to prevent dogs from fighting in the same household.

Dogs are naturally full of energy, and if they do not have enough outlets for it then they may take their frustrations out on each other.

To prevent your pets from becoming restless and violent, give them enough walks, playtime, and games.

Spending quality time alone with your pet can build trust, deepen your bond, and create a sense of peace and understanding that prevents aggression.

Train Them

Teach them obedience commands such as “sit” or “stay” so that you can better control their behavior around other dogs (and people).

Training your dogs is a key factor in preventing fighting among housemates.

Training forces them to focus on and look to you for guidance when around other dogs or people.

Practicing “sit” and “stay” will give you more control and reduce housemate conflict.

Proper training also allows you to nip any disagreements in the bud before they escalate into full-blown fights.

This will reduce fighting and create a peaceful, safe home for everyone, including pets.

Make Sure Each Dog Has Their Own Food And Water Bowls 

If multiple dogs live in the same household, it’s important to make sure each dog has their own food and water bowls.

Not only does this make feeding time easier for pet parents, but it also helps avoid squabbles between the pups.

Individual feeding stations reduce resource competition and dog aggression.

In households with multiple pets, individualized water and food bowls help them distinguish who is eating and drinking what and reduce fighting.

Feed The Dogs At Different Times Of The Day 

Feeding the dogs at different times of the day can be an effective way to stop your canine companions from fighting in the same household.

This strategy ensures that each dog has a chance to eat without having to compete with their housemates for food.

For example, one dog can be fed in the morning while another is fed at night and both have access to food throughout the day.

We recommend sticking to a mealtime routine and finding out what each dog prefers in terms of placement and amount of food being served.

Additionally, keep an eye on their behavior around mealtimes and always separate them if needed.

With this technique, you will soon notice that your furry family members get along much better.

Give Each Dog Their Own Toys To Play With 

Having multiple dogs in the same household can be a wonderful experience, but it can come with challenges as well.

One area that can often need extra attention is preventing them from fighting.

To help with this, each pet should be given their own specific toys to play with.

This gives them something to call “theirs”, rather than compete over who the toy belongs to.

Additionally, providing healthy outlets for energy and attentiveness can help ensure they remain satisfied when not playing with their toys.

Dog owners should keep a closer eye on how their pets are interacting with each other and if any aggressive behavior arises.

Giving them both items of their own is just one small step towards maintaining a peaceful household for all its canine residents.

Have A Designated Spot For Each Dog To Sleep In 

Having multiple dogs in the same household can be wonderful, but sometimes it can cause issues with resource guarding or fighting.

Designate a sleeping spot for each dog to keep your home peaceful and your dogs safe.

This gives each dog a routine, space to relax, and reduces the risk of any dog feeling threatened by the others.

If you need help setting up comfortable sleeping spots for each of your dogs, talk to a veterinarian or trainer!

They can provide advice tailored to you and your furry family’s specific needs.

Introduce the dogs gradually- start by having them meet outdoors while on leashes 

If you have two dogs in the same household, it’s important to introduce them to each other gradually.

The best way to do this is by having them meet outdoors while on leashes.

This ensures that if any issues arise during introductions, they can be quickly separated before a fight.

Leashed interactions give both dogs a sense of control and security as they get to know each other, creating a happy and harmonious living situation for everyone.

Reward Good Behavior With Treats And Praise 

Having two dogs in the same household can be difficult but, with the right reinforcement, it is possible to prevent them from clashing.

Instead of punishing the dogs for fighting, reward them for friendly behavior.

This will encourage them to interact with each other positively.

Try giving treats when they are peaceful together and giving them verbal praise or petting when they play together nicely.

This reinforcement should reduce aggressive encounters and increase friendship over time.

Multiple-dog households can be harmonious with positive reinforcement and limited physical punishment.

Be Consistent With Your Rules And Rewards

When household pets, such as dogs, are prone to competition, it is important to have consistent rules and rewards.

Dogs will often fight with each other if there is no clear pecking order that has been established for them.

Dogs can learn good and bad behavior by following the rules and being rewarded.

This way, you not only end the fighting but create an overall healthier environment in your home.

Regularly rewarding and reinforcing good behavior can help create a bonding relationship between the pets as well as their owners.

In conclusion, while it can be difficult to stop dogs from fighting in the same household, there are steps you can take to make the situation better.

Those are the methods that can help reduce fighting.

These solutions may not work for all situations, and some types of aggression may require professional help.

The best thing to do is to observe your dog’s behavior and use any necessary measures as soon as possible so that fights can be avoided.

Before You Go…

Now you know how to stop dog fighting in the same household.

If you want to learn more, read the following articles too!

Dimitra Kokologianni, DVM
Dimitra holds a Masters’s degree in public health and a Bachelor’s degree in veterinary medicine. She is a versatile professional with over 7 years of experience. Her passion for animal welfare and preventive medicine makes her an excellent resource for our readers.