Train Your Dogs to Establish Their Own Form of Sharing!Ways to Create a Form of Fairness Among Dogs. To understand why fairness does not work too well with dogs, you must first have a little insight into the canine hierarchical structure. Having more than one pet in your household means that one is the dominant one and the other is more submissive

If you live in a multi-pet household, especially one with multiple dogs, then you may try to practice fairness. If one pooch gets a tasty bone, then the other one gets the same exact bone. Teaching fairness is okay with children, but doing so in the dog world can lead to problems. So, next time you try to take a toy away from Fido and give it to Spot, rethink what you are teaching through this action. You may be setting your home up for a dangerous war zone.

To understand why fairness does not work too well with dogs, you must first have a little insight into the canine hierarchical structure. Having more than one pet in your household means that one is the dominant one and the other is more submissive. You, however, should establish yourself as the pack leader. That way, you have control over your pets. The dominant dog may pick his favorite resting spots and push the other out of the way, or he may be the first to be petted when you arrive home. You may not feel that this is fair for the other dog, but you must understand that it is part of the structural rules the dogs have already set in place. If you intervene, then you could be asking for trouble.

So, let your dogs establish their own form of sharing. They will come up with ways to create a form of fairness within their own hierarchy. If you'll notice, they may take turns lying on the favorite sofa spot, or they may each have their own spots within your home. Even if Fido gets to chew on both of the bones before he hands them over to Spot, you must realize that this is the way your dogs are handling things. Problems can arise when you favor another dog in the name of "fairness." Taking Fido's bones away and giving them to Spot can create an aggressive situation, hurting the relationship between the dogs.

Now, there are times when you can practice fairness without shaking the hierarchical structure. It is important that you spend time with each dog individually. The dogs both need love and attention, but they may not get it at the same time. Obedience training is one such time when you need to practice fairness. One pooch should be confined while you work with the other. You can do this by leaving Fido indoors and taking Spot outdoors for obedience training. You can also confine one with a pet gate while you practice with the other. However, the problem with a pet gate is that the dogs can still see each other. You may have one dog howling and barking while you are trying to get the other to pay attention to you.

Yes, your dogs do have their own ways of sharing, but there are times when you may need to intervene. Spot may steal Fido's bone to provoke a playful chase, not to start a fight. On the other hand, Spot may become aggressive and protective over the bones. The former is okay behavior; the latter is not. If either dog begins to exhibit aggression, then it's time for you to step in. Never physically intervene between two dogs! Instead, step in with professional training and help. A dog may exhibit aggression over his toys, his food, his bedding or favorite resting spot, or even you. This type of aggression is not healthy, and it can cause violence within your home. If you think your dog has become too territorial, then seek a professional's help.

Dogs create their own forms of fairness; there is no need for you to step in and play that role. You may not like the fact that one dog gets to play with all the new toys first, but that is not something that requires your intervention. You should intervene, however, if one dog begins to show violent or aggressive tendencies. Aggression is an issue that often requires the help of a behavioral specialist. Instead of trying to be fair with the dogs together, be fair with them independently. Spend time training and playing with each dog individually.

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