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Why is my dog jealous of the new dog? How can I stop the fighting?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Border Collie | Female | spayed | 8 years and 11 months old | 45 lbs

Emma was my mom's dog but my mom is now in the hospital and doing very bad so Emma lives with me now and .you two dogs. One of my dogs is happy to have a new friend but . Her and my other dog are not getting along very well. My dog, Zoe, seems to be very jealous and even growled at Emma this morning. They have met many times when. I visited my mom and never had problems at my mom's house, only at my house.

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Jessica Desrosiers

Veterinary Technician

Published on December 27th, 2016

Your house is a lot different, and your own dog may be feeling like there is a bit of an "intruder" situation going on. it may take some time for your dogs to all get along, especially if the change was recent. Until they get along better, the dogs should only be together when able to be supervised by you. You may also want to pick up items of contention such as beds, toys, treats, etc that may be fought over if your dogs feel threatened. If a fight breaks out, immediately separate the dogs for a "time out"/cooldown, and then reintroduce when all dogs are calm and relaxed. When you are not at home, the dogs should be separated or crated in separate crates to avoid a potential fight. If the issue persists, speaking with a trainer or behaviorist may also help as they can often observe what is going on in the home, and can make suggestions based on your specific needs.

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1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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    Answered By Jessica Desrosiers

    Veterinary Technician

    Published on June 20th, 2017

    It would be best to talk with a trainer or behaviorist in your area that can observe the situation in person. When you aren't home, keeping the dogs separated in different rooms or in separate crates is best as even the nicest dog can accidentally injure another without supervision. If the fighting starts when you are there, separating both dogs and allowing them to calm down before reintroducing can help. Also, removing items of contention such as bones, toys, treats, etc can help reduce competition over these resources.

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    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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