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Jealousy is pretty common in dogs, and often manifests as being possessive and showing jealousy towards other dogs and people.
However, it can sometimes develop into a deeper problem, especially when it results in discomfort for your dog or signs of aggression towards others.
If your pooch is needy for your attention when other pets and people are around, or if your dog is struggling to accept a new baby, person or animal in the house, here are some ways to identify and reduce the jealous behaviour before it gets worse.
If your pooch is feeling jealous, they will likely show it in the following ways when in the company of a ‘competing’ person or animal:
They want to be the focus of all your attention!
You are your dog’s whole world, and they want the same treatment in return! Of course, this isn’t always plausible, and when you’re paying attention to others such as visitors, a partner, a new dog or new baby, this is when jealous behaviour can be triggered.
Though we can’t be sure dogs feel the same jealousy that humans do, they can feel competitive around another person or pet and will try to claim ownership of you.
Dogs will often show jealousy because they feel they have ownership of you.
They may do this by guarding or protecting you when there is no real threat, playing up when you’re giving attention to somebody else, or when there’s a new person or pet in their home (i.e. their territory) causing them to feel threatened and/or neglected.
Common scenarios for dogs to get jealous include:
Yes, sometimes - if your pooch gets particularly aggressive to show their jealousy, it can become dangerous.
It’s normal for dogs to show some possessiveness or attention-seeking behaviours around new dogs or people; however, if your pooch lashes out with biting, snarling or fighting, you might want to talk to a pet behavioural therapist or dog trainer about ways to reduce their jealousy.
Yes, some dogs are prone to possessiveness - usually those that are somewhat clingy and have strong attachments to their owners.
Dogs that form very strong attachments include:
Remember, however, that all dogs are capable of showing possessive or jealous behaviour.
It’s common for a dog to feel distrustful towards another dog in (what they perceive to be) their territory.
Dogs are territorial animals, and though they are often friendly and playful with each other, dog behaviour is largely about dominance.
Depending on your dog’s temperament, this means they might immediately show jealousy, possessiveness or aggression when a new dog is introduced, either out on a walk, in your home or in someone else’s home.
Though it’s common, it can be stressful trying to predict what your dog will do in these scenarios, so you can take steps to try to prevent this jealous behaviour.
If you think your dog is acting out because of jealousy, let’s go into some ways you can reduce these behaviours:
Yes, in a lot of cases.
You must train your pooch to stay back and remain calm whenever they feel needlessly threatened or possessive, with commands such as ‘Settle’, ‘Back’, ‘Stay’ or whatever your command is to to calm your dog.
Reward them with healthy dog treats whenever they obey your commands, and eventually the positive association should stick.
If you struggle to reduce your dog’s jealous behaviour, and none of the above suggestions seem to make a difference, it’s probably a good idea to chat to your vet or a dog behavioural therapist. They can offer advice or training for your specific dog’s temperament and lifestyle.
They might be - especially if you’ve had one dog for a while and they’ve had you all to themselves.
If you sense any jealousy when you have a new dog, make sure you’re showing equal love and attention to all of your dogs, and build routines in which all dogs feel valued and important.
Encourage play and games together and give lots of praise so your dog understands: this new pooch is not a threat, and you have enough love to go around!
If your dog seems very wary of a new person in the house, or jumps on you when your partner hugs or kisses you, these are sure-fire signs of jealousy.
Your pooch is prone to believe they deserve all your attention, and another human receiving affection from you may send them into possessive mode.
Yes, some dogs can be possessive of their owners.
They usually show this by being clingy, aggressive towards other people or dogs, misbehaving for attention, or sitting and wedging themselves between you and the other person or animal.
Strengthening your dog’s boundaries through training, and giving all your pets an equal amount of love and attention, can reduce your dog’s jealous behaviour.
There isn’t really any scientific evidence that male or female dogs are clingier or more prone to jealous behaviours - it’s really more about genetics, personality, temperament and the dog’s upbringing.
However, unneutered males are likely to be more territorial, so they might bark at unknown people or dogs and guard their owners more aggressively.
Help your dog feel calmer and happier with a nutritious grain-free diet for dogs. Our balanced meals for dogs use organic whole proteins and delicious fresh veg as well as powerful supplements, and our healthy dog treats are bursting with probiotics and lip-smacking meaty flavours.
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