My dog ​​is jealous What to do?

As we know, dogs have feelings and emotions just as we do. One of those feelings is jealousy, which can be towards other pets or even humans, as occurs when we adopt a new dog or a baby comes home.

Although it may seem funny, the jealousy derived from the competition between members of the household causes serious behavioral problems. Therefore, it is important that you know how to act in time to avoid this situation, they are the tips that we give you below.

Index of contents

• 1 Is a dog’s jealousy a problem?
• 2 How does jealousy originate?
• 3 Symptoms of jealousy in a dog
• 4 Types of jealousy in dogs
• 5 How to avoid jealousy?
  • 5.1 Previous education
  • 5.2 Behavior after the arrival of the new member
    • 5.2.1 Jealousy between pets
    • 5.2.2 Jealousy for the arrival of a baby

 

Is a dog’s jealousy a problem?

Having more than one dog can be a great idea to ensure that your veteran dog is not left alone during your absences. However, the arrival of a new member can become a problem for your puppy if he fails to understand the division of your attentions.

Your dog may consider that the new dog is breaking the bond between him and his human and absorbing the pampering and attention that previously only belonged to him. This competition can occur with any being that comes between the dog-owner relationship.

If this happens and measures are not taken to prevent jealousy from spreading over time, we will be putting the health of dogs or even the human beings that deal with this dog at risk.

Hate, aggressiveness and fighting will be one of the first consequences that we can observe in these dogs. In addition, we must not forget the feeling of sadness, abandonment, disappointment and depression that, even if unjustified, our jealous dog will feel.

How does jealousy originate?

Just like in humans, canine jealousy can appear suddenly after the arrival of a new member to the “pack”. The dog will not understand why he must share his love with another individual and this will make him jealous.

However, in addition to specific circumstances, some dogs are more prone to jealousy than others. Small breed dogs tend to be possessive and territorial with their owners and objects. In contrast, large dogs tend to be more social and open.

This does not mean that you can get rid of jealousy if you have a Golden retriever, for example. Education is another key point on this topic. If you educate your dog as “the baby of the house” and one day another baby arrives, whether it is for real or a pet, your dog will feel threatened and abandoned.

Symptoms of jealousy in a dog

A jealous dog will begin to show changes in his mood and character. His desire to play with you diminishes, he growls as the jealous limb approaches, is depressed and depressed, and often isolates himself.

In addition to these first signs, you can alert yourself that your dog is jealous if it shows the following symptoms :

• It barks when you get close to the other member
• Urine indoors as a wake-up call and to mark your territory
• It becomes possessive and does not separate from you
• Show your teeth and is aggressive towards the animal or person that bothers him
• Destroy toys and / or his bed to get your attention
• It shows its habitual character again after the absence of that member
• Shows changes in your appetite
• Hides
• Whimpers for no apparent reason

Types of jealousy in dogs

There are two types of jealousy clearly differentiated in the dogs. On the one hand, sexual jealousy, mainly led by males for competitiveness and mating. On the other hand, jealousy caused by inattention or protagonism, the type of jealousy we are dealing with today.

Within the jealousy of the second type, the combinations in which insecurities between members can occur are varied, among the most common, the dog may be jealous of:

• Another dog or pet
• Child or baby
• The owner’s partner

How to avoid jealousy?

Whether your intention is to prevent jealousy in your dog, or if you are looking for a solution after their arrival, then we offer you some key tips you can take to make your dog calm, friendly and sociable.

Previous education

1. The dog is not a baby: Do not treat your puppy like a baby, because even if it is your baby, this can confuse him in the long run and make him possessive towards you.
2. Set standards: don’t let your dog do whatever he wants. Set limits and teach your dog basic obedience orders.
3. Reinforce their behaviors positively adequate.
4. Scold him if necessary: don’t pamper him, if he does something wrong, let him know.
5. Remember that socializing with other dogs and people is vital to make our dog comfortable with the presence of other individuals.

Behavior after the arrival of the new member

Jealousy between pets

1. Introduce the new member in a friendly way. Give them time to smell, relate, establish hierarchies and share moments of fun. Avoid leaving them alone for the first few days.
2. Also, reserve a space and special belongings for each animal, such as beds, toys and feeders. At first it’s better to avoid sharing things …
3. Try not to stop paying the same attention that you used to offer your dog, even if the other member is a puppy. Pet both animals the same time.
4. Reward appropriate behaviors with prizes when they manage to be together without showing discrepancies.
5. Avoid loving the dog if it is being aggressive with the other member, because the dog would understand that he is being rewarded for that attitude.
6. Increase doses of affection for the jealous dog when approaching or close to the other individual. In this way, the dog will relate the presence of other pets or people to increased pampering or other positive behaviors.
7. Scold your dog when he shows bad behavior, such as growling at the other individual. A firm “No” can serve as a wake up call. Yes, always avoid physica
   l punishment.
8. Similarly, don’t let him do what he wants just for the sake of being jealous. Keep your authority and make him respect the rules.
9. Always remember positively reinforce your behavior when you behave well in front of the other member you are jealous of

In the case of jealousy between pets, remember that the most important thing is that you do not show differences between both members. Dogs realize everything and will appreciate the change right away. Have patience and empathy with your puppy and help him understand that you have love for both of you.

Jealousy for the arrival of a baby

1. In the event that the arrival of a baby is approaching home, get used to it on arrival before the baby even arrives. Take advantage of the months before to allow the dog to approach the pregnant woman’s gut, smell the baby’s belongings, etc.
2. Once the baby is born, present it with care and affection for him to smell it under your supervision.
3. Although the dog must get used to the new situation and the hierarchy of the home, don’t stop paying attention to the dog, even if you don’t have that much time.
4. Make sure that the time you dedicate to the dog is “quality”. That is, in addition to time for their basic needs, reserve a space to play, pamper him or do what he likes the most and show him how much you still love him.
5. Follow steps 5 to 9 in the section “Jealousy between pets”.

• Learn more at: How to educate our dog for the arrival of a baby.

It is important to note that if your dog has already reached the point of being aggressive or you have not been able to stop his jealousy after these steps, you should consult your vet or ethologist to solve this problem as soon as possible.