In other words, just like children of the two-legged variety, your fur-kids might feel a little sibling rivalry because of perceived additional attention given to another.Ĭats might choose to “miss” the litter box. In that case, a baby Frenchie may still feel left out due to their lower care needs and act out for attention.” Suppose you adopt an adult Belgian Malinois that requires lots of exercise and training. However, there are many factors to consider in pets other than just age. Many psychologists argue that ‘middle child syndrome’ seems to result from parents’ actions, and I would argue that the same can occur in pets. She says, “Just like human children, pet behaviors are impacted by the parents’ behavior and treatment of them. Kimberly Archer is a Pet Behavior Technician at Courteous Canine Inc. I don’t think sibling dogs would need to be from the same litter for this to happen, because once they become part of your family, that becomes their new pack.” Age Isn’t the Only Factor A dog that receives unequal attention can sometimes act out in jealousy or boredom. This leaves the middle dog with the smallest section of the pie chart. Often, when a family has three dogs, the attention is primarily divided between the eldest dog, who may be a senior and need extra care, and the younger puppy-like dog, which also requires additional attention. We love, interact, and provide attention to our pets as we do to our children, so in theory, many of the same psychological principles and syndromes can apply. She says, “These days, dogs are part of the family. Rover’s Nicole Ellis is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA) and former celebrity trainer on Amazon Prime’s The Pack,” spending thousands of hours studying feline and canine personality and behavior. Now you might be thinking that’s all well and good for people, but do your dogs and cats really feel the same way?ĭo your middle-of-the-pack pets feel overlooked and misunderstood? To find out more, we got input from two pet specialists and dog trainers. As a result, the middle kids are often characterized as people-pleasers – they can be the peacekeepers in the family. They’re not confident overachievers like first-born kids, and they’re not doted on like the baby. There’s a good chance that your other dogs will feel jealous, but will the middle child feel especially forlorn? How do you know if it’s “middle child syndrome”? Do they have to be true siblings to feel isolated from the pack? What Is Middle Child Syndrome?Īccording to, middle children often feel overlooked. You might even have a nagging feeling that you have limited time with your oldest, most senior pup, leading to more one-on-one time. This added attention may lead to added affection, which will be noted by your younger dogs. Maybe your older dog has eye problems, and you have to give them drops twice a day. For example, do you have a pet who’s bossier than another? Do you have one who seems needier? What would happen if you were to introduce a new pet into your home?Ī new personality can throw off the household balance for a few weeks as everyone figures out their place in the new pack. Your pet won’t sign up for talk therapy, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a hint of sibling rivalry going on in your multi-pet household.
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