I have 4 dogs...2 are old and stay inside with me. The younger two are also inside dogs, but get put outside for "playtime". One is a 3 year old shepherd mix, Frankie. One is a 10-11 month old Chow mix, Molly. They are best buddies. They run and play and playfight and chew on each other and have a grand ol time. However Frankie is very territorial. He spends his life barking barking barking. When he is extremely upset at the fenceline....usually because of a neighbor close by or loose dogs, he will run up and down the fenceline barking ferociously. Molly joins in for fun, and if she "gets in the way" he attacks her instead. She generally just hits the ground and waits it out...sometimes she fights back. I am usually nearby and can yell at them to quit (although more often, they quit on their own after a few seconds). Is there any way to control this? It seems to have gotten worse lately.
Our dogs act similarly when I come home. The Shepherd barks and the cattle dog growls and play fights with the shepherd. I guess it is the excitement. They need to obey you when you tell them to stop or come though. You need to be the clear alpha. I suppose if the barking is a big issue then you may need to resort to a bark collar. Some even have a remote that you can make a correction from a distance as needed. Others are set on auto when they bark. They spray collars are pretty dumb and they don't work well. I am not a fan of either of these collars but some say it is a godsend. We are out in the country so barking is not an issue for us. Something that I use for punishment or bad behavior is a super soaker (large squirt gun). It only contains water but the dogs hate to get sprayed. All I need to do is walk out and show the super soaker and the dogs become angels! The only other idea would be to add screening to your fence so that they can't see the neighbors. Hope this helps!
I have the same problem with my dogs, 4 of them! Drives me nuts!! We live on acreage and off leash, they don't behave that well. I know that training is the ultimate answer, but I have alot of sucess with bark collars. When not wearing them, they go nuts and "fence fight" with the neighbors dog. I mean torn fencing, cut faces, etc. When they wear the bark collars, they may run over to the fence, but to them, it's not worth getting shocked over. A few of mine don't even bother running over to the fence line when wearing them. I have one dog that is very dog aggressive, (other dogs) and it really curbs her aggression.
A shock collar, a loud NO, and a zap. Your neighbors will be happier, Molly will be happier (with chow blood as she matures one day she will not put up with his crap), and in the long run you will be happier.
The correction that is being doled out to our Molly is the same that occurs at our home by our Alpha dog (Great Pyr). Oddly enough the dog that often gets corrected is named Molly here too. There must be something with the name. I don't see much wrong with the correction as long as the higher ranked dog is fair about it. Our Molly just doesn't understand the whole barking at the fence sometimes. She gets in the way and tries to play while the other dogs are barking and running the fence. She was worse when she was puppy. As far as I can tell, the Alpha dog is in her right to correct dog that is screwing around when there's a border to protect. Stopping the barking is low on my list of things to do, because that is what keeps the predators away. Jim
I allow initial warning barks and usually let the dogs vent for a few moments....but I don't allow repetitive barking sessions. I had a Great Pyr that seemed to just like to hear herself talk some nights....this I would not tolerate. I like it when the dogs alert me to possible danger, both predator and human alike....but it's like the boy who called wolf if it is just recreational barking. I agree with the previous post about letting the dominant dog sort out the lesser dog....it will soon learn to stay out of his way. But letting him spend his life "barking, barking, barking"?....this is not a desirable trait in a dog. Not only would it drive the neighbors batty but it ruins his credibility if there really IS something out there. Who knows if it is real or Memorex? I'd give him time limits on his barking sessions and nip it in the bud if it is excessive. I normally do this with a verbal command of "SHUT UP and go to your house!" This works at my home....maybe something you will have to train into your dogs.
Beekissed, I agree in regards to the useless barking and we do correct that. But, that kind of barking doesn't lead to the mad dash to the perimeter and the puppy causing a nuiance ... only jogger going by does that. Those dangerous, chicken steeling, joggers Jim
I lost a dog to displaced aggression. There was a stray that approched the fence, my male went for it. During the ensuing fence charging and running, the pup got in the way and the fence runner tripped over him. He promptly attacked the younger dog and killed him. These were not normally violent dogs, they were house pets that always got alog until that one moment. The fence running and charging needs to be stopped. It builds too much frustration in your dog, you, that dog or your other dogs will someday suffer for it. I currently have a fence charger again (not the same one). I use a bark collar on occasion and sometimes an e-collar. I also researched the proper way to use the e-collar so as not to make the situation worse. Used incorrectly, the e-collar will increase aggressive behavior, not correct it. PM me if you would like me to send you some links on training and e-collars, etc.
You need to control the dog - you're supposed to be alpha not the dog. The problem will only escilate until something happens that you'll regret. And any neighbors within ear shot of the dog will also appreciate that you finally shut the dog up. I love dogs, but I cannot stand excessive barking!
