How do you train an older dog to get along with other dogs? A Comprehensive Guide

More Methods to Control Dog-to-Dog Aggression

Teach basic obedience commands, and reinforce them so that you can tell the dog “down” when he is becoming excited and likely to lunge.

When the dog is “down,” and the other dog walks away without confronting him, he is more likely to be less nervous at the next encounter.

Walk the dog with a slip collar and on a short leash, but try to stay relaxed so that the leash is not tight. Some of the Dunbar followers might not agree with the use of this collar, but it still works in some cases.

Walk the dog with a basket muzzle. This type of muzzle allows your dog to pant and helps calm some dogs.

Practice avoidance. When a dog comes towards you, move him away from the conflict, and stand in front of the aggressive dog to block his view.

If obedience and avoidance do not work, try “flooding” by introducing several new dogs in a controlled situation. This will work with some dogs, but if the dog that is aggressive towards other dogs is guarding his territory or owner, this is probably not going to help.

Try classical conditioning. This will require a dog that is willing to consume treats when another dog is in his “zone.” So, if the dog is so upset that he will not calm down, it may or may not work.

When dogs from the same home use dominant behavior during play, aggression can get out of control.

You probably already know which of the things listed in the chart above makes your dog most aggressive. Sometimes his reaction to these stimuli starts early; other times, theyll develop as the dog matures and becomes territorial.

All of them can be serious, but aggression towards strange dogs met during the walk is more common and easier to put up with. An older dog that is aggressive to a new puppy in the household is one of the most difficult situations a dog owner can endure. Sometimes they get over it as the puppy gets older, but if two adult dogs fight constantly, then it is unlikely that they are going to get over their aggression issues with other dogs they meet during a walk.

Both people and dogs can be injured seriously during a fight. If you are not able to consult an animal behaviorist, you need to consider finding a new home for one of the dogs. The suggestions in this article work best when the dogs aggression is directed at dogs that are strangers.

This video gives instructions on the use of an electronic collar (a shock collar) for training a dog-aggressive dog. It is not a technique I use and not something I list in the article above, but if you take a moment to watch this, you may choose to use this method instead of those I have found successful.

FAQ About Dog Aggression

This method for teaching your dog to get along with other dogs works well if you don’t have another pooch to help you practice. It can also be trained in a variety of settings. Start out on a bench or sitting well away from a path where dogs frequently walk. Every time a dog comes into view, immediately treat and praise your pooch.

After reinforcing the command word over several sessions, remove the trading aspect by saying the command without having a treat in hand. Your dog should drop or release the toy. When this happens, immediately treat and praise. If your dog doesn’t willingly release the toy, go back a step and reinforce the command.

Allow your dog to meet the other, calm and friendly dog. You should approach the other dog from the side with the friendly dog remaining stationary in a sit or calm stand. Try to keep the leash slack and remain calm yourself. Repeat this introduction with a variety of dogs to build positive associations.

Repeat this training in multiple scenarios, including with other dogs around, to help get your dog used to giving up and sharing their toys. The idea is to train your dog that when they release a toy they will receive a reward and positive reinforcement of their good behavior.

After several sessions, walk parallel to the path, well away from other dogs. Try to keep your dog’s attention and treat and praise for good behavior and calm walking. Keep your dog a far enough distance away that they aren’t able to touch or interact with other dogs.

You can’t cure fear-based aggression toward other dogs. “They may never become the easygoing dogs that you can take to the dog park,” says the head of the Tufts Animal Behavior Clinic, Stephanie Borns-Weil, DVM. Still, she says, while the problem will never go away completely, your dog can still live a satisfying life and go outside without you having to constantly fear altercations. Here are seven empowering steps you can take to help your dog be okay in a world with other people’s dogs.

Always keep in mind that it’s fear, not nastiness. Dogs who act aggressively toward other dogs are not being mean or willful. They’re frightened. When pet owners understand that, “they can have more compassion and treat their dogs more kindly,” Dr. Borns-Weil says. That way, they’re not compounding the dog’s problem of feeling unnerved by yelling at her or angrily yanking her leash.

Think low protein. Protein decreases the amount of a chemical called tryptophan, which is the precursor to serotonin. So the more protein, the less serotonin, which stabilizes mood.

Of course, in the best of all possible worlds, your dog is not averse to either species. But a dog can get into a frightful scrape with a person or another dog early in life, before she came to live with you, and she then generalizes her fear to all members of that species. She either runs and hides every time she sees a person or another dog, or gets aggressive in order to protect herself.

Consider medication, if necessary. If the lifestyle steps recommended here aren’t enough on their own to help keep a dog calm in the presence of other dogs, medication may get her over the hump. Some, like clonidine, last a few hours to help a dog stay calm during her time outside. Others like SSRIs, work 24 hours a day to lower overall background anxiety. Sometimes veterinarians recommend using the two types in combination, Either way, they can often help a dog calm down enough to learn the lessons you’re trying to teach through compassionate leadership. She might not need them forever.Why Worse On Leash?

Learn how to let your reactive dog meet other dogs