How to stop dog being territorial at home with other dogs?

when a dog in the family shows a strong territorial awareness towards other dogs, it not only makes the relationship between the dogs tense but also worries the owner. Don't worry. As long as we deeply understand the reasons behind it, use scientific methods, and give the dog enough patience and love, this problem can be solved.

The territorial awareness of dogs largely stems from their instincts. In the wild, demarcating and guarding the territory is crucial for survival, and this habit still remains in domesticated dogs. When another dog enters the "territory" it has identified, such as the home, it will instinctively activate its defense mode. Some dogs may have been over - protected since they were puppies and lack the opportunity to socialize normally with other dogs. When suddenly facing their own kind, they don't know how to get along friendly and can only show territorial awareness to protect their familiar environment and resources. For example, if a dog has been living alone and a new dog suddenly comes into the house, it will feel that its food, toys, and even the owner's love are threatened, thus becoming extremely territorial.

In addition, the personality differences of dogs also affect the strength of their territorial awareness. Dogs with a more dominant personality tend to defend their "territorial sovereignty" more. And dogs that have had unpleasant experiences in previous interactions with other dogs, such as being bullied or attacked, will also show strong territorial awareness when facing their own kind again to avoid being injured again.

In the face of a dog's territorial behavior towards other dogs at home, we can take a series of effective measures. First of all, scientific socialization training should be carried out. This is especially important for puppies. When the dog is young, take it to meet different dogs more often to let it gradually get used to getting along with its own kind. You can choose an open and safe place such as a park to let the dog have short - term interactions with other gentle dogs. At first, the dog may show nervousness or aggression. At this time, don't stop it forcefully. Instead, soothe it with a gentle tone and give it some small snacks as rewards at the same time, so that it associates the contact with other dogs with a pleasant experience. As the number of contacts increases, the dog will gradually let down its guard and learn to get along friendly with other dogs.

Establishing clear rules and boundaries is also of great significance. We need to let the dog understand which behaviors are allowed and which are absolutely not. For example, when there is a new dog in the house, stipulate that the dog cannot bark at or attack the new partner at will. If the dog follows the rules, praise and reward it in a timely manner, such as praising it for "doing a good job" and giving it delicious snacks. If the dog violates the rules and shows territorial behavior, stop it with a serious tone, such as firmly saying "no", but don't scold or beat it to avoid making the dog feel scared or rebellious. In this way, the dog will gradually understand the correct way to get along with other dogs in the family environment.

In daily life, resources should be allocated reasonably. Prepare independent food bowls, water bowls, toys, and sleeping places for each dog to avoid territorial conflicts due to resource competition. When feeding the dogs, feed them separately to ensure that each dog can eat at ease without being afraid of food being snatched, which may trigger territorial awareness. At the same time, give equal attention and companionship to each dog. Don't let the dog feel left out, which may lead to hostility towards other dogs.

If the dog's territorial awareness is very strong and it is difficult to improve through the above methods, you can consider seeking the help of a professional pet behavior expert. The expert will develop a personalized training plan according to the specific situation of the dog to help the dog overcome excessive territorial awareness.

Each dog is a unique treasure in the family, and their health and happiness are our greatest wishes. When we see that dogs do not get along well with other dogs because of territorial awareness, we should give them more understanding and patience. Through scientific training and careful care, we can help dogs learn to coexist harmoniously with other dogs, fill the home with the happy playing figures of dogs, and jointly create a warm and harmonious family atmosphere. Let us accompany the dogs to grow up with love and patience and create more beautiful memories.