Easy Lesson on How to Stop Dog Jealousy

During this Omaha dog training session, we worked with Rex, a 1 year-old Lab, on how to stop dog jealousy. Rex graduated from our puppy class and gets jealous when other dogs have his toys. In the picture, Rex is on the left with his roomie Brooklyn and foster dog Opie, who is available for adoption.

Rex is an amazingly well behaved dog 99% of the time, but he has started to show signs of jealousy when dogs his guardian is fostering show interest in any of the available dog toys. The last time it happened, a dog fight over toys broke out.

How to Stop Dog Jealousy

Jealousy in dogs can stem from various causes. One reason for feeling neglected is the presence of a new addition to the family or home.

Dogs might also exhibit jealousy due to territorial instincts, viewing new individuals as intruders. Additionally, inadequate socialization during puppyhood can result in fear and jealousy as dogs struggle to navigate unfamiliar situations. Understanding these factors is crucial in addressing and managing dog jealousy effectively.

I’ve seen many clients whose dogs get possessive or jealous over toys when another dog wants to play with them. Many people confuse this with resource guarding. Although they share some similarities, they are different behavior problems.

Regardless, no one wants a dog to act aggressive when another dog has one of its toys. I wanted to share some tips to help the dog learn to share his toys with other dogs using positive reinforcement.

If you have multiple dogs and some jealousy issues, a good dog training tip is to teach your dogs to leave the room, but use different cues for each dog. This way if you see one dog getting stiff or showing other signs of guarding behavior, you can tell the other dog to leave the room.

Since Rex is the dog with the guarding behavior, I recommended the guardian teach Opie how to leave the room on cue and not teach it to Rex. This way, they can easily get Opie to happily move away if Rex starts to guard something.

To prevent dogs from being possessive over toys, use the same approach as you would for stopping resource guarding in dogs. Even though the problems are distinct, the method remains the same. I changed things up a bit.

The other dog had the item. Rex received a reward when the other dog approached the object or took it.

Check out the free positive training video below to learn more on how to stop dog jealousy.

As you can see in the video above, when it comes to stopping jealousy in dogs, it’s best to approach it in a positive way. When working on this lesson, remember to keep training sessions short and consistent. Practicing this with a jealous dog multiple times a week will improve the way they view other dogs sharing their toys.

While reviewing the above video, I noticed that at times Rex wasn’t even looking when Opie approached the object. If this happens with the guardian when she practices this technique to stop dog jealousy, she should wait for Rex to reengage with the dog (looking at it) then treat after that happens.

How to Approach Jealousy in Dogs

It’s important to teach the dog that when the other dog gets the object, Rex will get a treat. This is how to stop dog toy jealousy.

The guardian needs to create situations where she can control both dogs. This will help ensure they stay the right distance apart and receive their treats.

Brooklyn may need to be separated with a treat while other dogs practice a trick to prevent jealousy. The guardian should focus on Opie and Rex when giving treats, especially when Rex is looking at another dog. Timing is important.

We covered a lot in this in home Omaha dog training session. We made a video summarizing all the dog behavior tips, including how to stop dog jealousy, to help the guardian remember. You can watch the video below for a roadmap to success.