Sibling Aggression Case Study

Sibling rivalry is a common problem, and not just among children. Canine sibling aggression can occur between two dogs within the same household, whether those siblings are biological or adoptive, male or female. Curbing the problem is easy if you hire a knowledgeable trainer.

As a graduate of the Canine Trade Group Academy, I’ve learned how to deal with all kinds of behavior issues. I was taught not only simple solutions like basic obedience, but also what goes on in the canine mind, how to get to the root of a problem, and how to combine a number of effective techniques to solve even the most unique challenges. Including sibling aggression.

I recently worked with an owner who was overwhelmed by her three dogs and their embarrassing and sometimes dangerous behavior. The oldest dog, La-la, had some anxiety issues and wasn’t a big fan of new visitors, including me. She had to be put in a separate room during the in-home consultation while I observed the main reason the owner had called: Mocha and Chino, two litter-mates whose adolescent wrestling had begun turning into legitimate dog fights. The problem seemed to be that Mocha had established himself as the alpha dog over Chino, and if Chino dared to challenge him, the playful wrestling would escalate.

After a while, we let La-la out of the room, and I observed Mocha trying to establish dominance over her as well. She wasn’t having it, but it became clear that Mocha was the main problem.

We solved Mocha’s behavior problem by establishing boundaries, implementing basic obedience training, and practicing proper leash handling techniques. All of these methods worked together to ensure all dogs (especially Mocha) recognized the owner as the leader of the pack rather than themselves. Once that leadership, focus, and respect was established, the owner saw monumental change in her once-chaotic household. La-la’s anxiety abated, as did Mocha’s aggression and Chino’s lack of confidence.

If you’d like me to get to the root cause of your dog’s behavioral problem and design a training plan that will work for you, give me a call at 800.649.7297.