Carlos & Stella – Sibling Aggression Case Study

Recently, I started offering the Cribs and Canines training program, a training regimen designed to help current and expecting parents on how to handle their dogs while everyone adjusts to a new baby in the home. This program is very important to me because I have seen firsthand the changes a new baby brings into the home, which also affects the dog. Schedules changes, routines shift, attention is showered on the baby rather than the dog, etc.

Parents want to make sure there are no risks with their newborns, but it’s not just limited to new babies. Even bringing in another pet, be it a cat or another dog, can stir some confusing feelings and behaviors in your dog. Of course everything might be just fine and a new sibling can be a good influence, there is always the chance it can backfire, in a variety of ways.

A few months back, I got a call from a couple who wanted training for their two Bull Terriers, Carlos and Stella. While not from the same litter, Carlos and Stella are brother and sister and had initially started out great together when first brought into the home. However, after some time, some disturbing incidents popped up. There were little scuffles here and there that seemed harmless or just aggressive play. Soon, however, that escalated into bloody fights, mostly where Stella would attack Carlos at very unpredictable moments. In response, Carlo developed severe anxiety and poor recall (and lots of stubbornness!). He would literally tiptoe around the home, afraid and on the lookout for his sister.

Within a family/pack, dogs need to establish certain roles. Particularly between the other animals, dogs need to seek out a hierarchy within the pack, perhaps actively aiming to be the dominant one, or soon understanding that the sibling clearly took that role upon themselves. With Carlos and Stella, it seemed that there was a lot of debate on who should be the “alpha” of the dog pack. It probably did not help that beforehand, both Carlos and Stella had far too much freedom, and were already a bit unreliable before the tension between them came into play.

Upon meeting and assessing Carlos and Stella (and their situation), it was time to hit the reset button and really create some basic boundaries, and a solid foundation of obedience and focus. If Stella wished to be dominant over Carlos, that is fine, as long as they worked it out together. Also, the violence is unacceptable and her disregard for her owners was also a serious issue. Both Stella and Carlos were confused on who was the leader in the home, and both of them in their own individual ways, sought that title for themselves.

I do not follow a dominance theory when it comes to training. I want dogs to make their own decisions because they want to. Because it ends with reward, confidence, and positive relationships with their family, be it human or canine. I do not want the owners to dominate, I want them to lead. Through my reward-based protocol, I empower dog owners as leaders, and show them how to effectively communicate with their dogs, directing them to better choices and behaviors. We set limitations for the dog, but it’s not about punishing the dog – it is about letting the dog understand what is appropriate and what is inappropriate.

Since working with Carlos and Stella, their relationship has transformed. They can go on walks together again, without any bloodshed. They can be with their owners without any jealousy or territorial issues. Carlos has developed much more confidence and Stella, according to her owners and my own experiences with the family, has responded “magnificently” to the training, where her aggression and anxiety levels have plummeted!

If you are having some doggy (or other species) sibling issues in your home, Peachtree Dog Training can fix it! Give us a call at 800-649-7297, and we’ll get your family on the right track! Also, if you’re a parent growing concerned about the relationship between your dog and child, we can happily answer any questions or sign you up for the Cribs and Canines program!