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Can You Hear Me Now? When group barking is out of control!

Even if you don’t have guarding breeds like I do (mostly), barking can be a problem. When one dog decides there is something to bark about, others typically will follow along, even if simply out of habit. It is up to you to know how to reinvent the habit!

How do you do that? It takes consistency and patience, just like with any other training. Good timing helps too!

It is really important that you do not dismiss all barking done by your dogs because just like human talking, barking is a form of communication. Keeping that line of communication open between you and your dogs is vital. Your dogs need to trust that they can count on you to hear what they are saying, How can you do this while maintaining your hearing ability? Easy, at least most of the time.

Barking happens for a variety of reasons. I will start by addressing alert barking.

You can begin by acknowledging the first bark as an alert to you, the human in charge of taking care of scary things! An alert bark means that your dog is trying to tell you that he saw or heard something that he was not aware of a moment ago. It may or may not be appropriate to bark then, depending on what the situation entails. In any case, you certainly will not typically want the barking to continue once the alert is sounded. But in order to keep your dog’s trust and to ensure that he continues to bark when it is really important to alert, you should learn to properly acknowledge an alert bark.

To do this you can develop a cue word or phrase that you use for just this purpose. It need not make sense to anyone else or even be in English! I learned a great trick from the wonderful trainer, Pam Dennison, several years ago at a seminar she conducted here in my city. Her advice was to go and look in the direction of the bark and while looking back at your dogs, say in a calm and assured voice, “It’s just Uncle Fred”. The first time I did this with my dogs, my dog Kera looked at me like, “We don’t have an Uncle Fred.” But she ceased barking! I have since modified that phrase to another cue phrase. I now use, “It’s just the neighbor, we’re fine,” with much success. That is, when I am consistent enough to remember to do this instead of yelling, which is most of the time, thankfully!

Why not simply yell instead? Well, aside from the fact that yelling usually doesn’t work, yelling is to your dogs the human equivalent of barking. Which pretty much explains why yelling doesn’t work well: your dogs think you are helping them to alert everyone! So choosing the proper response to your dog’s excessive barking can have much better results than choosing to yell.

What other scenarios can result in group barking? The possibilities are endless so I will do my best to summarize some scenarios. Any time you have a group of dogs together, when one barks, the other will likely follow. It’s just a natural response. Your job as the owner and crew leader is to establish an alternate behavior that is a much more rewardable action that barking. What that means is that you will be very consistent about rewarding what you do want your dogs to do instead of barking.

For example, when on a group walk, I have taught my dogs to look at me when they see an animal that they want to bark at (and then chase!). For doing what I want, the dog in question gets handsomely rewarded with a yummy treat. I have done this in steps with a clicker. In some part, I have used Leslie McDevitt’s “Control Unleashed” exercises. www.controlunleashed.net I click when they see the object of attention and because my dogs equate a click with a high value treat, I typically get a quick head turn which results in a treat for the turned head!

This did not happen overnight. In fact, with Kera and Trent, it still isn’t completely second nature. But with Merlin, who is extremely food motivated, he has been doing the head turn at the sight of a squirrel or a deer for years. Siri has recently joined him in deer head turns and for her, this is a graduation of sorts. She is highly excited at the sight of a deer but because she is also very food motivated as well as competitive, she has (in my mind) decided that it is preferable to get fed when Merlin gets fed rather than afterwards. Kera has some northern breed in her so nature takes over a bit more with her and working on impulse control with Trent is ongoing but they respond to competition as well so we persist in their training.

Competition is an important training tool with a multiple dog crew if your crew gets along well. If not, you do not want to incite any wars over resources, which is what anything one dog focuses on becomes. If fights over resources are an issue, work on that before worrying about group barking. So be very careful about using competition but do use it with your crew if it is appropriate to do so.

I use competition in many situations. Rewarding a dog who looks at me when wildlife is spotted is just one situation where I use this tactic. How do I use it? By simply being more verbally enthusiastic than I need to be in noticing what dogs looked at me for rewards instead of a squirrel bark alert. I also use this method in my vehicle when we see other dogs. My dogs typically ignore other dogs that we see being walked UNLESS we are in the park where we walk. In that case, a couple of them may bark, most notably Trent, Kera and Siri in order of likeliness.

Trent’s barking is a work in progress and in his case, I do not use competition if he is with us. What works best for him is a whole other blog subject and best addressed by researching the wonderful Grisha Stewart’s work with BAT. ahimsadogtraining.com But with Kera and Siri, I use a NRM (No Reward Marker). My NRM is “Too Bad!” said in a very happy sing song voice. I immediately tell Merlin that he is the best dog ever after telling Siri and Kera individually “Too Bad”. Merlin gets a treat with his verbal reward. This virtually guarantees that the next dog that we see, Siri and Kera are quiet for and everyone gets rewarded. This is a win/win situation for all of us!

Another scenario in which competition can be employed, is when in your crew’s outdoor territory, their yard. If your dogs are prone to excessive barking in this situation as many dogs are, the number one thing that you need to do is supervise, supervise, and supervise more. There is nothing that you can do to remedy this situation if you are remiss in this area. Weather permitting, the easy way to train an alternate behavior to barking is by simply sitting outside with your dogs and using your clicker to mark any time a dog chooses to come to you. Of course, following this with a super yummy treat will be the real reason for choosing the alternate behavior.

Note that I did not mention calling your dogs to you when they bark. If you do this and then click and treat for coming to you, you run the risk of creating what is called a behavior chain. What that means is that your dog barks, you call him, he comes, you click and treat. He associates the bark with the beginning of the behavior chain and necessary to the end result. This is not what you want!

This method is best used at low distraction time frames at first in order to minimize the annoyance to your neighbors. And as always, I would recommend teaching a good recall so that if barking is a typical result of your dogs being outside, you can quickly get them inside in order to avoid citations! In this case, you would reward your dogs once inside, for coming to you, not for barking. Varying the sequence of the rewards can help prevent a behavior chain in this circumstance as well. And again, you can use competition in both of these circumstances if it is appropriate with your crew.

A visitor arriving at your home is a scenario that can cause a lot of barking, especially if you have guarding breeds. I am not going to address that scenario in this blog because it is a subject in of itself, so look for a future blog on that subject.

Vigilance and consistency can go a long way towards eliminating nuisance barking with your crew. Patience helps! Do not get frustrated, but remember, even dog pros yell sometimes! It’s just human nature but so is barking canine nature. If both humans and canines practice impulse control, your life with multiple dogs can be much calmer!

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Howliday Harmony with the Crew

The holiday season is in full swing. Some love it, some could leave it. The same thing happens with our pets, especially if you have a multiple dog household. If you are the hostess with the mostest during the holidays, then your crew could easily get overwhelmed. The disruption in routines and extra people milling about can cause stress among your crew that you may not even notice.

Maybe your crew loves people and you are wondering what I am babbling about? Well, even those pups who love to ham it up for guests can get tired of always being on when guests are overnighting for days on end. Your crew will need special care during this joyous season, just as you do, to prevent frayed nerves.

Happy Holiday events in the multiple dog home

Sticking with the normal routine for walks and mealtimes as much as possible will greatly assist your crew to stay their usual personable selves. Advising your guests to be respectful of any particular personality quirks that your crew possesses will go a long way towards preserving everyone’s sanity. Make sure that they have a place to go that is off limits to your guests as needed. Quiet time can be restorative. Such a refuge should have some of your dogs’ personal items and be comfy and quietly soothing. Of course, if you have separate quarters for dogs that do not get along, continue with that in all situations. You will just have to be extra vigilant about this when guests are around.

Mealtimes can be a special challenge because you’ll need to monitor the situation so that guests do not dole out inappropriate items to your crew. Plenty of dogs have been harmed by a well meaning person giving a dog some food item that would be better left to the humans. Vicki from Hanover, PA has a great solution for holiday meal times. She plans the festive human meal for her dogs’ regular mealtimes. Her dogs eat in their crates and have a 45 minute rest after every meal. This ensures plenty of time for the human meal time so safety is almost ensured.

Of course, in many homes during holiday celebrations, there are trays of food out other than mealtimes so instructions must be thoroughly drilled into guests if you wish your crew to mingle with the guests! Ensuring ahead of time that your dogs aren’t counter surfers is your best bet for a party that pleases everyone involved, humans and canines.

Many a skittish pup can be easily overwhelmed with extra people around during the holidays. If any of your crew fits in this category more than a bit, then perhaps those pups should be in a quiet room for the duration of the guests attendance if that is practical. A quiet room with some soothing music or a TV playing along with a stuffed Kong and some calming remedies can make a big difference. Aromadog Chill Out spray as well as Composure for dogs can take the edge off of what could easily be a very stressful experience. An anxiety wrap or a Thundershirt can help an especially anxious pup who enjoys wearing clothing. Some dogs require event pharmaceuticals so if your dog fits into that category, talk with your vet about appropriate options well in advance of need for best results. Courtenay in Kamloops, British Columbia crates her more anxious crew members with a frozen Kong and some music from Through a Dogs Ear, as well as various above mentioned offerings.

Keeping the crew calm when out mingling with guests is important if this is the option you choose. Courtenay has a couple of crew members out with guests but they are leashed and asked to showcase their tricks for lots of treats to keep them busy, if this is what they enjoy. Kym from Albany, GA lets her crew run around the yard with the children for a bit. After their run, they go to their room with the door closed to rest for a bit with a low playing TV and plenty of toys. After a nap, they get another run with the children. This allows them to calm down after the excitement. This way cortisol levels can be kept in check.

It is especially important to be aware of your crew’s excitement level when you have extra children in attendance. Children, especially those who do not live with your dogs, may not act appropriately at all times. Being aware of what is transpiring at all times when dogs and children interact together is very important in order to prevent potential problems. When in doubt, err on the side of caution and remove any dog that seems unable to contain his excitement level. Please use the methods mentioned above to do this in the most positive manner possible, because your crew should not associate guests presences with being banished. They should view it favorably. The holiday season can be magical for everyone as long as both dog and human needs are taken into consideration.

Another important scenario where one can be festive but cautious is the gift giving ritual. It is important to be realistic about any resource guarding that a crew member may be prone to. Holiday gifting means high value resources. There are enough tense family situations during the holidays. There is no need to set the scene for the same with your canine family members! So dole out your gifts with care where needed. And have a wonderful and safe holiday season from my crew to yours!

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To Add or Not To Add

Everyone is different. We all have stories to tell about the dogs that we have acquired in our lives. Some of us go to shelters or rescue groups when we get the urge to fill a void. Some of us go to breeders. Some of us do both at different times in our lives. Some of us simply end up keeping a dog that we found or the one who found us. Some of us fail as foster mom’s (or dad’s!) and keep a dog who was supposed to be temporarily in our lives but should that really be considered as failing? Some of us simply can’t resist an email with a sad face in need. The stories are endless.

The criteria that each of us use to decide that another crew member is an option differ as much as the ways that we add the new pup. So many things can make a difference in whether the decision is an easy one or a hard one. Possessing a desire to fill a void left in one’s heart after having lost a crew member is usually one of the easy decisions. So is feeling so comfortable with the number you currently have in your life that an addition would not create unrest. Having dogs who are super dog friendly makes thoughts of the more the merrier easier as well.

There are many things that should factor into the decision to add if none of the above situations apply to you. One of the most important considerations is whether you can financially afford to add another crew member. Food, toys, beds, supplies, and vet visits all add up. It is important to be realistic as to whether an addition would create a hardship on you or not.

Time is another consideration. Do you have time to add more duties to your life? This is an especially important consideration if the new addition you are considering is a puppy. Puppies take a lot of time and energy to raise properly and rightly so! The breed that you are considering adding is important as well as some breeds are naturally more active than others.

Aside from the previously mentioned considerations, how your current crew approaches having a new dog around is important to note! If they are not at all welcoming, then that is something you should be working on modifying before you contemplate an addition to your crew.

If they are welcoming in most scenarios, then that is one less con that you have to consider. Simply taking into consideration the best personality type to add to your crew is the best route to success in this case. If you have a mix of males and females, you should consider the current dynamic and whether one sex might be a better choice than another. If you are unsure of the answer to that question, enlist a dog behavior savvy friend or hire a professional to give an opinion.

Having senior dogs in your home creates a special situation to consider, especially if you are contemplating adding a very young dog to your crew. You must be very cognizant of keeping your senior dogs physically safe and secure while still allowing a young dog enough exercise and stimulation. Making sure that you are up to such a task will ensure your best success.

Make sure that you take all facets of adding a new crew member into consideration. I recently had to do just this. A close friend has an oops litter (not something I condone but it truly was an accident) and the breed mix is not a pairing that is likely to ever be repeated and includes one of my favorite breeds. The mother dog is a favorite of mine and of a delightful temperament. Three of my dogs adore puppies and would be very good with an addition that young. The fourth would be accepting enough to deal with. But among my considerations is the fact that in my house, I do everything! I am the sole human present so I have a lot on my plate. I also have a difficult foster dog living with me at present with no concrete leads on her placement prospects at present. Add to that, being self employed is not a secure income at times and you have what I call not the best timing to add a crew member.

Should perfect timing always matter? No, because life doesn’t always happen according to our self-imposed schedules and many of our best memories are created when we let life just happen. But I am nothing if not practical. And my biggest blockade is the presence of the foster dog. So at this writing, the puppies are just our weeks old and the decision is leaning towards no. But could that change? I honestly don’t know.

I do know that I am comfortable with my crew as it stands. I am also not especially eager to take on the work of a puppy, especially a puppy of such lineage that will need much socialization and expertise. As previously mentioned, we all have our criteria that will differ. We each must make our own decisions on changing our household dynamics. But taking all facets of the consequences of a decision into consideration will give each of us the best chance of living happily with such a decision. The results of my particular dilemma remain to be seen. Stay tuned.

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Multiple Dogs Mean More Work When Crisis’ Hit

Emergencies are never pleasant to focus on, but when you live with multiple dogs spending some time on preparation for such is vital. Investing some time in advance will make your life or the life of your loved ones, as well as your crew’s lives, run much more smoothly should the unthinkable occur. While researching this topic, I discovered that I am personally guilty of not being as prepared as I should be. I will be remedying that.

There are three different general types of emergencies that can arise, one of which is dependent on where you live. The first type of emergency requires you to vacate your home, sometimes with little notice. This requires forethought when you live with multiple dogs. The reasons for such an event can range from living in an area prone to natural disasters such as hurricanes, floods, tornadoes or earthquakes to having an accident happen near your home that involves something toxic. Recently, in my own neighborhood, local authorities decided that a bridge had to be imploded. All of the homes on the street below it were required to be vacated for approximately three weeks. The homeowners were only given a couple of days to remove themselves. The local bridge inspectors suddenly declared the bridge in danger of collapsing and staying longer was not an option.

Examples such as this make it clear that living in an area that suffers little in the way of natural disasters doesn’t mean you are safe from disaster prep. Hurricane Katrina was a terrible event but something good came out of this tragedy. Emergency personnel are no longer being permitted to make you choose between safety and your pets. This is progress, but you should be prepared to do your part.

Accomodating multiple dogs in your car in an emergency

Make sure you can accomodate multiple dogs with their special needs in your car in an emergency

You must ask yourself hard questions and make an effort to find satisfactory answers to them. Do you have a large enough vehicle to get all of your dogs out in one trip if that is all you will get? If you have other humans in your home, that also have vehicles, you must consider the possibility that they will not be home when the need to vacate arises. Do you have anyone close enough to assist you? Having several options here is best. Do you have a place to go to that will accept all of your animals? If you have no relatives or friends that are capable of housing such a crew, can you afford a motel that will? Again, having several potential options here will maximize your ability to vacate safely and quickly if need be. Do you have enough food on hand to feed your crew for several days? If any of your crew are on any medication, do you have a several day supply until you are in a position o replenish supplies? Do you have bottled water in such an amount that you can take some with you for everyone until you get to safety? Do you have supplies ready to grab fast to bring with you? These are all things to consider when planning ahead.

If all of your crew doesn’t get along with each other, do you have enough crates and enough room in your vehicle to transport them all without incident, to safety? Even if your crew is well behaved with one another, do you have enough crates to take with you to your safe place? Scared dogs out of their element can be a danger to themselves at times. Crates help prevent many issues as needed. Do you have identification on each dog, including a current cell phone number? Do you have enough sturdy leashes for each dog? The list is endless.

There are so many variables and all of these things need addressed prior to an emergency since getting out safely will be your number one priority if such an emergency arises. A plan forged ahead of time will save you valuable time. Now is the time to create a plan. Write it up on paper and as you prepare the answers to all the questions that may come up, check them off. Having a place to keep your plan is important. Keep your grab and go supplies in the same place. Add things that you think of later as your plan develops. A first aid kit for the dogs is a handy thing to keep with such supplies.

I have a Nissan Xterra and this wonderful vehicle comes with a human first aid kit built into the back panel. I added doggy first aid supplies to it when I bought it. If you have a first aid kit in your vehicle for humans, adding supplies for your crew is an option that saves time when vacating.

Start collecting supplies as soon as you can. Make up a bag or two (or three, etc.) that holds basics that you can keep ready to grab as needed. Things like medicine and food have expiration dates. The best way to handle that is to never let yourself get so low that you don’t have a week’s worth of such for all dogs. I feed a raw diet and this means meals are not easy to take along. For those of you who have chosen this feeding method, keeping a few bags of freeze dried raw food on hand is very helpful.

Making sure that you include a few familiar items for each dog can help keep scared dogs calmer when in a strange environment. Kongs are easy to include. So is a jar of peanut butter. This is also the time to be aware of whether your dog’s collar is safe. The fit is important when your dogs may in a situation that would cause them distress. A scared dog getting out of the collar in an unfamiliar place is a nightmare you don’t want to live through. Many people don’t leave collars on their dogs in the home. For those of you who choose this option, check the fit and gauge the safety before the need to do so may arise. Martingale style collars, when properly fitted offer the best safety option. Make sure that the id tags are current and keep them attached to collars at all times, even if the collars are not on your dogs in the house. They will be ready to grab and wear at a moment’s notice. Examine leashes and discard any frayed ones that may break when a panicky dog is attached.

Tara from Houston has been through hurricanes Ike and Rita and has great suggestions. She keeps vet records in a three ring binder so she can grab it and go. She suggests keeping current photos of all of your dogs with you and even with your vehicle with a legible license plate showing. This is important in proving ownership if one of your dogs should get away from you during the chaos. Tie outs and long lines are handy to keep on hand should you return home to destroyed fencing. She also has a generator and a full freezer set as high as it goes for possible returns to electrical outages as is typical in hurricane country.

Be prepared to take all your animals to a hotel in an emergency

Phyllis, also from Houston, has evacuated with seven dogs, three cats and more than thirty parakeets. She has evacuation down to a science. Multiple small dogs can share small crates. All her dogs have matching colored collars with cell phone numbers on them and matching leads. Identifying them as part of one family should separation occur is a breeze that way. She also keeps small suitcases handy ready to pack basics should a warning suddenly arise.

Many of the suggestions already given can also apply to a situation that keeps you and your crew stuck in your home for a period of time. Snowstorms and the like can wreak havoc with your normal routine. Being prepared to be stuck in the house without being able to get out and about to obtain supplies is something that applies in many locales. If this applies to where you live, being ready will give you peace of mind. Extra food, water and medication is a priority. Snowstorms can also cause power outages. While having the power returned during the colder weather is a priority for the utility companies, realizing that having no power creates even more of a complication in a multiple dog household will help you prepare properly.

The third type of emergency that any dog owner but especially a multiple dog owner should prepare for, is something happening to you. This especially applies to single people. Those of you with a significant other should obviously be able to count of assistance from said significant other. But what if you are both involved in an accident? The need to prepare applies to everyone.

Spend time deciding on who will help take care of your dogs should you be immobilized or hospitalized without notice. Keep an easily located record of names and numbers handy. There should be contact numbers both in your wallet and in your home. Keys to access your home should be either with the people who can use them or hidden where said people can get to them. Friends or relatives should be told about your plans should they be contacted before your written instructions are found.

Pam in Sacramento offers a wealth of ideas on this situation. She keeps a plastic sleeve for each dog with their leashes. Each sleeve includes a recent picture of each dog, medical data, diet and anything unusual that a caretaker would need to know. She also keeps a copy of her will with these should the unthinkable occur. Instructions regarding who gets each of her dogs are included. Should someone named no longer be able to take in a dog, her will includes a provision for a rescue that agreed to take any of her dogs in need. She also keeps a duplicate of this packet in her car, just in case. I feel a need to get moving faster on my own preparation just reading what she has done.

As far as my own preparation goes, as of now I have three friends named in my cell phone as emergency contacts. They all know where my key is hidden. I have a card in my wallet with two of those names on it. I have a life insurance policy that goes towards the care of my dogs. I have a friend who would help place my dogs as needed and the shelter that I work with would do the same.

I always have extra raw food frozen and ready. I do not have a generator but winter would eliminate the need for that here with regards to keeping food cold. We just don’t lose power here where I live in the warmer months. I live too close to major targets for having power returned promptly. My vehicle fits all of my dogs and I have a soft-side travel crate. I have dozens of sturdy leather leashes and my dogs all wear martingale collars with current tags. Three of my dogs are chipped and I have a current picture off all of them with me plus one of them with my license plate (that was an accident!). I have dehydrated raw handy. I have a foster dog who is not good with my own dogs up close and personal but she hates the car and would ride happily in the front seat while muzzled. My dogs listen well and would not bother her. And I have more crates than I can count. I keep collapsible bowls in my car for hiking and camping as well as long lines and tie outs. While this all sounds like I have done something, I realize after learning about others’ preparation, that I have much work to do. I urge you all to do what you can to prepare as life often throws curves at us when we least` expect it. Better to be ready and not need it.

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Unequal Footing Among the Crew

Mobility Issues for Injured, Sick, and Infirm Dogs

It happens to everyone who has a multiple dog home. Inevitably, a crew member will get injured, sick, or simply grow older and have a mobility issue of some sort. This can cause a long or short term problem depending on the situation. Injuries need to heal, whether with or without surgery (which can increase recovery duration). Getting older happens and sadly, there is no long-term reverse to that situation. This means that you have to make adjustments to established routines.

But these scenarios do not have to be more difficult than they need to be. If a good foundation of manners is already in place in your home, you’re already a long way towards preventing the majority of problems. Minimizing pushing and shoving should be the first item on the agenda of any multiple dog household. With an infirm crew member, manners should become the required norm on a daily basis.

Establishing your role as benevolent leader is more important now than ever. Making it clear to the crew that politeness rules in the house is imperative when one of it’s members cannot be jostled. You are the one who is in charge of keeping your infirm/older crew member safest.

We will tackle the issue of an instance of illness/injury first. If it is safer to separate a crew member for the duration of his recovery, then try to do so at least for the majority of waking hours. It will mean more work for you in the short term but a faster recovery in the long term for your mobility-challenged pup. It will also ensure that safety comes first.

There are a variety of ways that separation can be done that are dependent on the seriousness of the injury/illness involved. Creating a special area for the one in need is one possibility. An x-pen or a crate cordoned off in a portion of a room can be creatively arranged to form an area for your recovering pup. With this option, the other dogs can see and interact with him in an appropriate manner while preventing jostling.

If you have the space, a separate room is another option. You can place a baby gate between areas to allow the recovering pup to interact with the others here as well.

Using x-pens, crates, and baby gates can provide a safe haven for a sick or infirm dog

You do have to be careful to not create jealousy between your injured/ill crew member and the others. It’s important to make sure that everyone gets attention. It’s a given that you need to tend to the one in need but please take care to not short the others during this stressful time. It will go a long way towards keeping the crew calmer as a whole.

You can allow whole crew interaction at times you feel it is comfortable doing so if you take control of the situation. Examples of this are leashing the one in need for combined potty breaks. This way, you can be right there to block interaction as needed. This also allows you to retain control of the activity level that your recovering crew member has. Sometimes a dog in need of recovery and calm behavior doesn’t realize that being active is a bad thing, An example of this is heartworm positive dog. He may feel mostly fine but too much activity can have detrimental effects that you definitely want to avoid.

It can be helpful to your recovering dog to get some small amount of exercise to relieve mental anxiety but this exercise must be gentle. By gentle exercise, I mean slow short walks that are more a change of scenery than strenuous in any way (while following instructions from your vet). A situation such as this may necessitate separate exercise jaunts. It’s more work for you, but it is time well spent. You may be more tired in the short term but you will ensure a faster and more solid recovery for your pup. You will also get more exercise yourself and that is rarely a bad thing for us humans!

For the aging crew member, depending on mobility issues, some of the same considerations may apply. But usually, the rest of the crew is already used to behaving mannerly towards their elder so they just continue to do so. Many older dogs don’t hesitate to give warnings when a youngster jostles inappropriately. You should support the right to offer these warnings, provided they’re not excessive.

Is some cases, younger dog might treat an aging dog differently. This can come in the form of bodily rudeness and even outright attacks. It is very important that you be on the lookout for this possibility. The early elimination of this behavior makes it less likely to continue. Making it clear to the rest of your crew that your seniors safety is very important to you sets a precedent. Be consistent with this stance.

It may become necessary to create a new sleeping area for your aging senior. Stairs can present a problem, especially if your dog is large. You cannot simply pick up a large dog and tote them upstairs where they are used to sleeping! If a sling is a possibility, it’s worth a try. If your senior is used to sleeping where you sleep and you sleep upstairs, then it will help him to continue this practice if possible. But do not cause more stress getting your dog up stairs than he would feel sleeping elsewhere.

There are many ways to help keep your special dog as stress-free as possible sleeping in a new location. D.A.P. Comfort Zone is an option, either a plug-in if you have a small space or sprayed on bedding if the room is an open setting. If other family members sleep on the main floor, it would be best for the senior to sleep as close as possible to them, provided he feels comforted by them. A special routine at bedtime can also set the tone for calm. Investing in an inexpensive baby monitoring system can enable you to be available to attend to him should he need something in the middle of the night. It is very comforting to a dog to know that his needs are met by you, no matter where in the house you may be. It encourages calm.

All of these ideas can help you to take the best care of your mobility impaired pup that you can. Using common sense and fairness can also help you. Safety first is always the best motto!

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Different Day, Different Dog Activity

Playing fair with with the dogs left home alone.

If you are like most multiple dog owners, you are a dog geek, participating in a variety of dog related activities. In the case of a multiple dog home, activities done with one dog probably are not the same as activities done with the others.

This requires that you sometimes or even frequently take one dog and leave the others at home. If you are a dedicated multiple dog owner (and I know you are or you would not be reading this), then you probably spend more time than you should feeling guilty and wondering if your dogs understand why they don’t all get to go sometimes.

There are rules about playing fair, but there are also rules about life not necessarily being fair at every moment. That is to say, just like with people, all dogs can not always have the same privileges or get the same treatment at the same time. It is inevitable that one dog needs a med and another doesn’t, or one dog needs extra training (which results in extra one-on-one time) and another doesn’t. This could easily be a cause for jealousy among the rest of your crew.

Preventing these situations from being an issue is easier than imagined. First, the crew needs to learn that they don’t decide who gets what and when. You do. There should not be a pecking order other than you as the leader. Of course, there are always leader dogs and follower dogs. But if you regularly reinforce positions that you imagine to be set in stone, you can cause chaos in the crew. Status among dogs is fluid and dependent on the situation at hand.

On a daily basis, vary who gets what first. Take care to make it the status quo that no one knows in advance who goes first. This levels the playing field and sets the tone for everything else, including when one gets to go and the others don’t.

Three dogs who know it's not their turn this time.

So it’s more like this: life is fair today but may not be tomorrow. One day one dog goes to a dog show and the next day another dog goes to agility class. Maybe you have a dog or two that is not involved in any dog sports or the like. That dog should get a solo walk or something else one-on-one with you. This is another way of leveling the playing field.

Practicing this makes it easier when you take one dog somewhere and leave the rest behind. Not doing everything as one big crew also helps your dogs to have time away from each other. It’s very important that your dogs learn to function as individuals and not just as part of a crew. There will come a day when you will lose one before the others. It’s inevitable unfortunately. Having a history of being able to function without a particular crew member present, even if for a short time, is helpful to emotional survival.

It may be even harder when you have just two dogs since there is only one left when you take the other somewhere. And if you’re a single person, this makes things harder on the one who is home alone. So make sure it’s not a sad or scary situation. Making the home alone situation as safe and special as possible is more important with a crew of two. A special Kong along with some soothing music can make all the difference in the world to the one left alone.

If you have done your homework and set the stage for success with your crew, then you should feel comfortable with the dynamics of any combo of dogs left alone. And it’s a lot easier when your dogs have learned that life is not always fair. If you have taught that, then all should be well. If you have any worries at all about leaving certain dogs alone together, then always pay attention to your gut and make the proper provisions. Safety first.

Now back to guilt. Work on letting it go. Your dogs will easily pick up on any unease that you feel about leaving any of them behind. The more you make sure that each dog gets special one-on-one time on a regular basis, the better off you will be. Every time you take one dog on an outing act as though it’s a natural activity and your dogs will think of it as perfectly appropriate. Just be on your way and your remaining crew will treat it as any other outing without them and simply eagerly await your return.

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Rescue, Fostering and the Multiple Dog Home

Those of you who already foster dogs for rescues or shelters successfully can probably skip this. But if you have any issues with foster dogs and your own crew or if you are thinking of taking in fosters, get comfy, this is for you!!

Bringing a revolving door’s worth of foster dogs into your home can be very rewarding but it can also create a multitude of problems….or not. This can very much depend on you and your relationship with your crew. If you maintain a leadership position with your crew, fostering dogs can be much easier. If your dogs are used to looking to you for direction, you already have a good foundation.

If you have any dog aggressive dogs, then you probably should not be fostering! This should go without saying. Maybe you think that you can keep them separate at all times? Certainly, if you have a set up that makes this possible and you are confident that you can keep everyone safe, then you may be an exception. But accidents happen, doors and gates can get left open. Always remember the potential and respect the danger and plan accordingly.

Back to fostering, maintaining your crew’s normal schedule as much as possible is your primary goal. If your dogs get to perform their usual routine, there is much less reason for problems to occur.

Depending on the demeanor of your own crew, you may want to introduce the newbie to them one on one. A locale that is away from your own home is best for neutrality but intros can also go well in home. I personally bring my new foster dogs out into the yard to meet my crew en masse but I am a professional and am usually very sure of the foster dog’s personality prior to bringing one home.

Allow plenty of time for the first meeting so that everyone can feel comfortable on their own time schedule. If you have any doubts about your ability to recognize potential trouble, then ask a body language savvy friend to attend. I make sure that my schedule is very open on the day that I bring a new dog in so there is enough time to help things run smoothly.

I believe that you should feed foster dogs separately from your own crew but I know of rescuers who feed everyone together successfully. You have to learn what works for your own situation. When in doubt, separate.

Sleeping arrangements are the same. Your own crew deserves the privilege of maintaining the status quo as far as bedtime is concerned. Forcing them to sleep close by a new dog can be stressful. Minimizing stress in your own crew will minimize stress all around. Be sure to make safe sleeping arrangements for your foster dog so he can also sleep as stress-free as possible.

Pottying everyone can certainly be done together if everyone gets on well. To ensure that exits into the yard run smoothly, the first thing I teach a new dog is to “wait” at the door. I have only ever had one dog take longer than five minutes to learn this behavior. This is one of the most useful behaviors that your foster dog can learn. Potential adopters will be impressed with a dog that has some impulse control skills.

Walking your foster dog with your own crew will depend on how you presently handle walks. If you walk everyone separately, then continue that practice. If you combine walks, you might want to consider walking your foster dog with your easiest to walk dog. Your new charge will likely need some walking on loose leash lessons so using your easy to walk dog as a walking partner will help you stay sane. Of course, management tools such as a front clip harness are your friend in this scenario.

When it is time for your foster dog to go to his new home, consider whether your crew has become friendly with your ward. I have discovered by trial and error that if my own dogs get to see the adopter leave my home with my soon to be ex-foster dog, it gives them closure. I always sensed their confusion when I left with a foster dog that never returned. When handling an adoption straight from my own home, I noticed that my own crew are now much more relaxed about the whereabouts of the exiting foster dog. I baby-gate the kitchen and handle the contracts and instructions in the kitchen while my crew watches from the next room. I find this to be a win/win situation all around. Of course, you may not have this option. If not, try to be very upbeat about your departure with your foster dog. Reassure your dogs that all is well. Act happy that you have time alone again with your own crew and they will follow your lead.

Fostering rescue/shelter dogs can be a very rewarding experience if you plan for it well. One word of caution though: if you keep your foster dog, you will be less able to foster another dog in the future. Be realistic about your limitations. Collecting is not rescue. Stick with a manageable number for you for your sanity’s sake!

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Resource Guarding in Multiple Dog Households

In any multiple dog household, odds are there is a crew member who resource guards in some way. Whether the guarding is minor or major, it can be a problem. To resolve this, establishing yourself in the role of benevolent leader is more important than anything else. A leader creates boundaries for behavior that should be respected. Establishing a pattern of these boundaries will help your crew know what is and isn’t appropriate.

If one of your crew members guards to such an extent that you fear for your own or your family’s safety, you should get in home professional assistance ASAP. The same goes if any of your crew is guarding something from another crew member to such an extent that the offending dog attacks the other predictably at certain triggers. But if the guarding starts with a growl, you can likely work on this yourself. In all cases, the training methods used should be based on positive reinforcement only—force-based training techniques will only exacerbate the issue.

The first step in this process is to teach your crew that all good things come from you and you can just as easily take them away. Always deliver any high value items directly to your dog’s personally. Never permit one dog to take another dog’s high value item away. Retrieve the item (using the “leave it” cue below) and return it to the dog who it was taken from. Make this action evident to all involved. It is important that your dogs understand that you make the decisions about who gets what.

Having an abundance of things available for your dogs, such as toys, dog beds and other items, typically reduces guarding behavior. Reward your dogs when you notice that they are sharing nicely.

An important thing to work on with all of your crew members is a strong “Leave It” cue. You will need to work on this with each dog individually at first, adding a dog or two as appropriate. Be sure to practice this cue with many different items and in several different areas of your house. Reward lavishly for compliance. The value of the reward should always be higher than the item you’re asking your dog to leave.

Another option for managing guarding of only certain items is to simply tether or crate the dogs in question when the high value item of choice is in use. If you only have battles over bully sticks, then just make that brief separation a part of the bully stick experience. However, if you have guarding of multiple items, it is in everyone’s best interests if you work on minimizing the guarding.

“Time outs” can be invaluable in assisting with modifying guarding behavior. Implementing a time out properly is imperative. The timing of the time out is everything. Time outs are meant to be negative only in the fact that there is a removal of attention. The cue word or phrase that is chosen for the time out should be said in a happy tone. Time Outs should not exceed two minutes typically, but there are exceptions to every rule.

Modifying resource guarding in a multiple dog household is not always going to be an easy feat. But it is well worth it for everyone’s safety and sanity.

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Raw Feeding a Multiple Dog Household

Raw feeding can be a volatile subject in any circle. There are firm believers in the benefits and there are those who are equally firm about its drawbacks. I am in the benefits firm believer camp. What if you are in the middle? Maybe you are interested but terrified at what the cost or the logistics would be with a multiple dog household?

Two of the Author's dogs eating a raw breakfast

I am here to tell you that not only can it be done on a budget; it can be done with little challenge, provided you are a person who is willing to do a bit more than toss kibble in a bowl.

The pros are fewer vet visits, better coats, far less smelly poops, less doggy smell to the crew’s coats, whiter teeth, I could go on and on! The cons are more time to set aside at meal times, more stores to go to for a balanced diet and a supplement shelf that solely belongs to the dogs!

If you currently feed a premium kibble, then a raw diet is typically more affordable if you do not go the pre-made raw route. What does that mean exactly, you are wondering, right?

Well, I purchase whole meat parts in bulk and feed those for dinners. I feed pre-made ground raw for breakfasts. Typically, breakfast is when we are all more strapped for time so this is my solution and compromise. Of course, some raw feeders grind their own. That lowers the cost but increases the time commitment.

It does take some planning in the time department to get into a routine for this kind of feeding method in a multiple dog home. But once you get into a routine, it becomes second nature. It will never be as easy as tossing kibble into a bowl. But the rewards are well worth it.

If you have any resource guarding among your crew, you will need to separate their feeding areas a bit more than with kibble. But the drawbacks are such a small price to pay for the benefits.

Even if you choose to feed only pre-made raw, the benefits are sill so notable that you will never be sorry you went this route.

With my own crew, in the morning, they get pre-made raw fed in bowls in four different areas of my large kitchen. At dinner time, they eat from towels placed in the same four areas. Breakfast prep includes additions such as various dairy products such as yogurt, cottage cheese or kefir. This is also when I add any supplements that each dog gets. Dinner time seems like it would be easier because there are no supplements or dairy add ins but that is when the whole meat pieces sometimes need trimmed. My crew gets a low fat diet and I remove all obvious fat. So I allow for trimming time when I meal plan. It depends on what is on the menu that evening as far as how long it may take..

I would be lying if I said that it was always easy. Dinner time trimming can be a pain at times but I would never go back to kibble. As I said, the benefits far outweigh the drawbacks.

If this is s lifestyle you are interested in, please do your research. Make sure that you understand the finer points of raw feeding before you take the plunge. It’s important that you learn why variety is important and how to achieve nutrient balance. There are a number of websites that can be of assistance to you. One of the best sources of information for al things dog is www.dogaware.com Avail yourself of it’s information. Seek out like minded people and accept support. You won’t be sorry that you made the change.

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Responsible Multiple Dog Ownership

Recently in my hometown, there was a very disturbing incident involving three Pitbulls that jumped their fence and attacked a policewoman known for her animal rescue efforts, along with her five year old daughter (who was not harmed) and two of her dogs that they were walking. Everyone ended up okay physically after some minor cuts, bruises and bites, but mentally, they will remember this for a long time. This is not a commentary about Pibulls. I love Pitbulls. My Trent is a Pitbull mix. This incident could have happened with any breed but it’s always worse when it happens with a breed that some people find scary.

In addition, this incident happened in a good neighborhood and the owner appeared on the surface to be responsible. But appearances are deceiving at times as in this case.

The first problem here was that this occurred in a front yard situation with a four foot chain link fence when the owner was not supervising her dogs. There are several red flags here. Front yard, chain link see through fence, urban neighborhood, multiple reactive dogs, no supervision: take your pick which was the final trigger. They all contributed to this very scary incident.

The dogs in question were also not neutered. This makes a difference in some cases. I strongly believe in spaying and neutering, especially in breeds that are over bred such as Pitbulls. Responsible multiple dog owners alter their pets when they are pet homes. (I am not going to expand upon the exceptions but note that there are always exceptions.)

If you have multiple dogs that can be reactive, then you MUST supervise all outside visits, with no exceptions; especially when your outside environment offers a view to multiple stimuli. A front yard with a neighborhood view is a prime place for reactivity to occur. Life happens. You cannot stop people and animals from passing your yard unless you own the perimeter to it as well. It is unrealistic to expect your dogs to police themselves.

Training could have prevented this. Supervision could have either prevented or minimized this. A different venue such as a backyard, may have prevented this. Any number of things done differently can make a big difference in whether your dogs are declared dangerous and must be euthanized. It is a big responsibility to maintain a household with multiple dogs. Please respect that responsibility.

Training is even more important when you have breeds that others perceive as scary. You should not accept this responsibility lightly. Training can make the difference in how your neighbors view your dogs. Training can make a difference in whether your dogs are viewed as scary or not. Please be responsible and train your dogs. Be aware of what can happen in any circumstance and be pro-active. Your dogs’ lives may depend on it someday.

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