Amanda Teixeira
Not only humans, but dogs can also be jealous too. Read here how jealousy manifests itself in dogs, what causes it and how you deal with it if your dog is jealous.
Dogs bond strongly with their humans. If he suddenly doesn’t have as much time for the dog as usual, jealousy can arise. Because jealousy is one of the feelings that dogs can also feel – the fear of losing something or having to share it.
Causes of jealousy in dogs
There are many reasons dogs get jealous. Jealousy can arise when it’s just about a toy, your favorite spot, or the food. Jealousy often occurs when the dog is afraid of losing its caregiver. This is what happens when a new person or animal suddenly enters your life. The three most common situations are:
- The dog owner adopts a second dog.
- The dog owner has a new partner.
- The dog owner has a baby.
In all three situations, the dog suddenly has to share with its caregiver. He no longer gets the full attention of his owner. But all the dog wants is to have “his” human all to himself – this can lead to jealousy in dogs.
Recognize jealousy in dogs
A jealous dog often shows its emotional state very clearly. Exactly how this can vary from dog to dog. The following behaviors are possible:
- The dog shows increased signs of stress when the new partner/dog/baby is around.
- The dog tries to get his human’s attention: he pushes himself in between, nudges him, licks him, jumps up on him.
- Some dogs bark, growl, or snap.
- The “enemy” (the new partner etc.) is ignored or kept at a distance.
If you notice such behaviors in your dog as soon as you engage with the new partner, second dog, etc., it is likely that your dog is jealous. You should then definitely work on getting rid of the jealousy.
Get rid of jealousy in dogs
Depending on what the dog is jealous of, there are a few specifics to consider to get his jealousy under control. However, some aspects are fundamental in all situations:
- Don’t give your dog any reason to get excited: give him regular and extensive attention and don’t neglect him. Rounds of play, pats, and walks must not be neglected! Support your dog in stressful situations and give him security.
- Maintain rituals (e.g. daily routines). This gives the dog security. If a ritual is no longer feasible, slowly switch to a new one. Don’t create several new rules at once, but one after the other. It is best to do this before the new dog moves in, the baby is born or the dog meets the new partner. Then the dog does not associate the change with the new person.
- Always give yourself and your dog time for two. This is important!
- If your dog exhibits jealous behavior, don’t reward that behavior! That means don’t pay attention to him. Instead, send him to his seat and reward him (with attention, a pet, or a game) when he calms down.
- If you can’t get your dog’s jealousy under control even after several weeks, even though you have observed all the points, consult a dog trainer.
Depending on the situation, there are also special things to consider so that jealousy in the dog does not arise in the first place or passes quickly:
The dog is jealous of the new partner
Here are the top tips if your dog is jealous of your new partner:
- The best way for a dog to get to know its partner is not at home, but on neutral ground, e.g. on a walk. He’s probably more accepting of it there than on his own territory.
- Do activities for threesomes where the dog realizes that he can have fun with the new partner too.
- There should still be a time when just you and your dog are out and about.
- Let your new partner feed the dog or play with it. This can create a bond between the two.
Introduce new rules step by step and early on. For example, if the dog is no longer allowed to sleep in bed because of the new partner, get the dog used to it before it gets to know the partner. In this way, the new partner is not perceived as the reason for the rule change. - Maintain rituals to keep the dog safe.
The dog is jealous of a newborn baby
When a baby is born, a lot changes for the dog. Suddenly there is not only a new person, but also new smells, sounds, and daily routines. This can mean stress and uncertainty for a dog.
The good thing about this situation is that you have nine months to prepare yourself and your dog. Therefore, even during pregnancy, think about which rituals with the dog could become difficult when the baby is there, and change them bit by bit. Of course, even with a baby, there should still be fixed routines that the dog can follow and that give him security.
If you live in a partnership and up until now one of the two partners has been the dog’s main caregiver, you can also get your dog used to the fact that the other person also spends more time with the dog and is responsible for it. This may make it easier to distribute tasks with the dog and baby later on.
If the baby is here and the dog shows jealous behavior, going for walks with the stroller and dog together can help to reduce this jealousy. Also, give the dog a chance to get to know the baby properly, but don’t leave it unsupervised with the child.
Use the breaks when the baby is asleep for togetherness with the dog. Play, cuddle, romp – no matter what. This is how you make sure you don’t neglect the dog.
The dog is jealous of the second dog
Dogs are very social animals, but that doesn’t mean that everyone can get along with a second dog. The first dog can get jealous when suddenly there is a second one to share the human with. The top tips to avoid this are:
- Give both dogs equal attention from the start.
- Work with both dogs together as well as with each one individually.
- Keep the rituals that the first dog is already used to or just change them step by step.
- The first encounter between the two dogs should be on neutral ground, not with the first dog at home. A long walk is best.
- There may be fights between the dogs in the first few days. Stay out of these fights as much as possible and let the dogs figure it out for themselves (unless a dog is seriously injured).
It is important that you carefully weigh the decision to get a second dog or not and do not rush into it. Also include your first dog in the decision-making process: Does it get along well with other dogs? Can he handle it when he doesn’t get your full attention? Does he master all basic commands and are there no open “problems”? Is your dog very anxious? Anxious dogs are often more prone to jealousy than confident dogs.
Prevent dog jealousy
So that a dog does not become jealous if it suddenly has to share its owner with another dog or a person, dog owners can take precautions:
- Keep your dog busy both mentally and physically. A busy dog is less prone to jealousy.
- Put a lot of value on a loving, consistent upbringing and socialization of the dog.
- Teach your dog that he can’t always be the center of attention. It must be possible for you to pet other animals without disturbing the dog.
Important: Jealousy arises primarily from insecurity. A healthy self-confidence can therefore prevent jealous behavior in dogs. You can do this, for example, through games and good socialization. You should also give your dog the opportunity to sniff and socialize with other dogs. Support him in stressful situations and do not force him to do anything. You give him orientation and security through rituals and daily routines.