Preventing fights between female canine siblings: expert tips

Owning two female siblings from the same litter often increases the likelihood of fights compared to mixed-sex pairs. Even bitches raised together will develop separate personalities and may have occasional disputes. Understanding this can better prepare you to foster peaceful coexistence.

If you are considering finding a female puppy sibling pair, here are expert ways to prevent fighting and promote harmony.

1. Spaying your female dogs

Unspayed bitches experience hormonal fluctuations that can intensify aggression and competition. Spaying reduces the drive to compete, particularly over mates, and often decreases snappiness. However, timing matters—spaying too early or too late can have downsides. Discuss with your vet the ideal age to spay for behaviour benefits without health risks.

2. Manage feeding time to avoid competition

Feeding often triggers rivalry. Avoid feeding female siblings side by side or in the same room simultaneously if tensions arise. Feeding each dog separately—in different rooms or within their own crates—helps prevent growling, guarding, or food stealing. Never allow either dog to intimidate or take another’s food.

3. Avoid enabling competition or territorial disputes

Treats should be given sparingly and only as positive reinforcement, never as pacifiers or to prevent fights. Give treats individually by hand, monitoring carefully to prevent resource guarding or bullying. If necessary, give treats inside separate crates to reduce conflict.

4. Treat your female dogs equally and respect their hierarchy

Showing favouritism towards one dog by punishing the "aggressor" or coddling the "victim" can escalate resentment and rivalry. Dogs naturally establish a pecking order, which helps maintain peace. Allow them to work out their social structure, and avoid interfering in dominance behaviours while keeping control yourself.

5. Recognise early warning signs and redirect

Learn to spot subtle cues such as stiff postures, circling, staring, or showing teeth that indicate tension. Quickly redirect their attention with distractions or tasks to diffuse potential fights before they start. Rewards for calm behaviour reinforce positive interactions.

6. Provide balanced socialisation, exercise, and alone time

Ensuring both dogs get enough individual walks, play, and mental stimulation reduces stress-driven aggression. Avoid hyper-attaching them without enough personal time. Balanced socialisation fosters calm and respectful relationships.

7. Separate unsupervised dogs and use calm, assertive leadership

When you cannot supervise, separate dogs to prevent unmonitored fights. Intervene calmly without yelling or punishment if a fight begins, separating dogs safely. Use obedience commands to enforce calm “time-outs”, showing that aggressive behaviour results in boring consequences.

If fights cause injuries or continue despite training, seek professional help from a qualified trainer or veterinary behaviourist who can tailor behaviour modification or medical options as needed.

By managing resources, respecting social structure, spaying at the right time, recognising early signs, and providing balanced care, you can greatly reduce sibling rivalry. Early and consistent intervention fosters a peaceful home for your female canine siblings.