How to Deal with a Jealous Pet

In a recent study on dog behavior, psychologists unequivocally discovered that dogs do experience jealousy. Dogs do sense jealousy, whether it’s the same kind of jealousy that people feel or a result of deeply entrenched behaviors like resource guarding or redirected excitement.

How can you tell whether your dog is jealous? Some of these actions may be recognizable to you:

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Your dog insinuates himself into your hug as you give your family member a bear hug, and you hear the unmistakable whining.
As another dog (or family member) passes, the dog on your lap growls.
Your other dog shoos the other dog out of the way as you pet one of the dogs.
Any bells ringing? We have some excellent advice and techniques to help you restore some harmony to your family dynamic if you’re coping with an envious dog.

Your voice, touch, and attention are all valuable commodities, so it makes sense that a jealous dog would want to keep them all for himself. Lesley Nelson

Using Flickr and State Farm

Why Do Dogs Get Jealous?
It’s only logical that dogs would desire a portion of the love, food, and other benefits you give them. You should take a closer look at any changes to your dog’s home environment if they start becoming envious and demanding your attention more forcefully.

Most frequently, modifications like this lead to dog jealousy

• new timetable
• brand-new neighborhood and home
• fresh caregiver
• new animals living there
• new occupants of the house
• a newborn or youngster

How to Comfort Your Hurt Dog

If you haven’t practiced obedience since kindergarten for puppies, it may be time to dust out the treat bag and save aside some money for a few 20-minute training sessions.

Establishing your leadership and honing the skills you’ll need to handle jealously situations will come from rewarding actions like “leave it” and “go to your rug/crate.”

Take away the “reward”—you might be it!
When jealousy strikes, have you unintentionally rewarded your dog with your attention? The excitement of unfavorable attention can become enjoyable for your dog, just like it can for human children.

Pick and choose which jealous acts to ignore, and when it would be preferable to leave the room.

Include the target of your resentment in your routine training exercises.
Have the new family member join you for walks, meals, and fun if they have upset the balance in your home.

Keep in mind the adage “no free lunch” and make sure that every treat, animal, and food comes at a price of being submissive and composed. Your new housemate will quickly become another member of the group.

Jealousy between dogs
All of a sudden, the dogs only receive rewards when they are gathered together, sitting properly, or lying on their beds. Associating the new dog with positive things and brushing up on obedience techniques are two fantastic training benefits.

Additionally, walk the two dogs together every day. Going outside and urinating on things is the best way to put dogs in a pack mentality. Try out various timings, treats, and tricks. The dogs eventually come to understand that quiet acquiescence is the best behavior of all.

When a protective dog acts aggressively when he believes you are in danger, he is exhibiting a natural response. Some dog breeds were created particularly to protect their owners’ families and homes. Don’t mistake a dog’s protectiveness for jealousy or possessiveness. He zeroes in on a different canine, person, or circumstance that demands his complete attention. He releases his guard and shifts out of alert state once he is certain there is no threat. One of his key responsibilities is guarding his pack.

Aggression is a significant problem that needs to be addressed right away. Anytime your dog acts aggressively, take him to the vet to make sure he doesn’t have a medical problem. To handle the aggression of a possessive dog, you might want the assistance of an animal behaviorist.

Rewarding your dog just for behaviors that match your expectations will help you stop undesired behavior in your dog. Simply disregard your dog’s behavior when he tries to stand between you and someone else. He’s trying to get between you, so if you’re sitting on the couch, get up. Simply stand up; don’t speak to him, don’t touch him, and don’t even look at him. Giving your dog affection is something you do on your terms, not his. You are instructing him that his behavior is unacceptable if you ignore it, and you won’t pay attention to him until he is calm and has all four feet on the ground. The best approach to instruct him is through your body language because dogs are skilled at interpreting even human body language. It’s crucial to keep your dog socialized with different people, dogs, and cats, as well as to give him the chance to try new things. Make sure he gets plenty of exercise and mental stimulation to maintain a healthy body and mind.

Being the pack leader and sticking to a schedule are crucial. Your dog will feel secure in the schedule you build with him when he understands what to anticipate throughout the day, such as when he will eat, go outside for potty breaks, go on walks, and have playtime. However, an impromptu stroll or game of fetch is always appreciated, and gathering some treats for a training session helps him understand what you expect of him, instills etiquette in him, and aids in your ability to control him.