Dog Hates New Neighbours :(

[megan_]

Get in some professional help. There are many things you could try to desentise him to their presence, and even make them a good thing. Have you tried the "look at that" game when they're in their yard?

How much mental stimulation does he get every day? Mine only really like their puzzles when I interact with them too. When you take him on his daily walk, how much "work" does he have to do? Does he have to use his brain (ie you throw in commands randomly)? Does he have a strong prey drive? If so, do you use that at all? Does he play fetch? Does he do free shaping with a clicker?

People often think "lots of place to run" is a solution to a bored/problem dog. However, dogs rarely just "run and run and run" on their own.

[MavericksMission]

Okay so we are getting someone around on the weekend and we are going to fix the fences and change them to stop him going under & or over.

We have also been recommended to try a citronella collar for the morning barking that he is apparently doing.

I'm not sure how effective these are but I am happy to try anything at this stage.

For the three days I am working this week I am going to take him to work with me.

I am also in the middle of organising a professional trainer to come in and suss out the situation.

I really appreciate everyones feedback.

This will all be done with the best interest of Hector in mind.

[Monah]

;) :D

[persephone]

:D

[Dog_Horse_Girl]

Wait just a second.. what kind of fence is he scaling? What has happened when he did jump the fence- did you go and get him, did the neighbours bring him back?

I have 5 dogs (2 working dog breeds, one of which worked the first 2 years of her life on a farm) in suburbia with an average size backyard. I wouldn't be using his breed as the reason for scaling the fence- particularly if he copes well with all other aspects of life with you.

It is an approx 6 - 7ft wood fence.

I heard him barking and growling and went outside and realised he was on the other side of the fence.

I went around and knocked on the door and they let me through to get him.

They are scared of dogs so I found out this morning.

I would be trying a camera to work out what is going on. Dogs usually don't take a dislike to anyone without good reason. They are either doing something that upsets him or he just knows something about them that you don't yet. Dogs are very good judges of character.

The fence jumping can be stopped if you can attach some uprights about 60cm high to the top of the fence and run lightweight bird wire netting along the top of the fence, making it a little slack. He won't be able to jump clear over the fence and with no solid top there is nothing to grab to get over. The lightweight netting also makes it very hard for the dog to gauge the fence height so after one jump, they usually give up.

The alternative is a double fence to keep him away from the fence on that side.

Okay, so the neighbours are scared of dogs and I would think that Hector is picking up on that fear. Dogs are very sensitive to things like that and they will use opportunities to "tell" people when the game is up.

Try putting an anti-climb bias at the top of your fence on that side, OR build a fence within a fence to stop his access in the first place. This can help enormously.

I also agree that your dog is at the age where things change and before they truly settle into mature adults. It can be quite a challenge keeping up with a dog going through this adolescent stage.

Anti-bark collars can be hugely successful for lots of dogs...I hope Hector is one of them. :D

Talk to your neighbours. Explain that perhaps Hector is sensing they are frightened of dogs and ask them if they're willing to work with you and the professional trainer to find a solution.

Good luck, what a horrible situation for you all.

[DobieMum]

Mavericks Mission I agree with DancinBCS. Why now? From the way I'm reading what your writing, he was alright before and now you have new neighbours, your having a lot of issues. WHY? I'd be trying to set up the camera to see if you can film whats going on and I'd be asking your neighbour on the other side if they've ever had any issues with your dogs when your not there, it may have been happening for a long while and you didn't know about it and if so somethings got to be done about it quick smart and you've had some excellent suggestions or something news happening and this is why he's reacting like this.

[dandybrush]

so sorry you are dealing with this mavmission

my only suggestions are:

1. can you maybe put chicken wire across the top of the fence on an angle into your side of the yard? dogs can't go over that from what i've been told

2. can you section off that part of the yard so hector can't see/get to that fence and over it?

3. have you tried a behaviourist/trainer to help you to train him out of it

4. what about an electric fence in your yard right beside that fence (raz started jumping our fence one day, so i set up an electric fence for about a month and he doesnt jump now) or one of those shock collars that stop them going past a point?

I really hope you dont have to rehome him and can get this sorted quick smart

Edited March 7, 2011 by dandybrush

[MavericksMission]

so sorry you are dealing with this mavmission

my only suggestions are:

1. can you maybe put chicken wire across the top of the fence on an angle into your side of the yard? dogs can go over that from what i've been told

2. can you section off that part of the yard so hector can't see/get to that fence and over it?

3. have you tried a behaviourist/trainer to help you to train him out of it

4. what about an electric fence in your yard right beside that fence (raz started jumping our fence one day, so i set up an electric fence for about a month and he doesnt jump now) or one of those shock collars that stop them going past a point?

I really hope you dont have to rehome him and can get this sorted quick smart

Thanks for the tips Dandy.

We are getting mesh/wire stuff dug down into the ground and attached to the fence to stop the digging under and then a pit of ping? wire at the top..

I think it is ping wire (some stuff that is low voltage?) I'm not sure but it is all been organised by a good friend of ours.

Then we are getting a dog trainer/behaviourist out to see what they can do.

[Bilbo Baggins]

It has been said the dog knows something.

Story. We rehomed a white shepherd who we knew had had issues but had been worked through.

In his new home he had an issue with someone, do not know to what degree. Owners had a person come and do a few things and they followed through all good.

Turns out the person he had the issues with was a kitchen person and the owners are still trying to sort out the problems. Good on Samson he knew she was dodgy. :D :D

[Danois]

Can he see through the fence to the neighbours?

[MavericksMission]

Can he see through the fence to the neighbours?

No he can't.

[lilli_star]

Oh MM, I'm sorry to hear that Hector is having an unsettled time at the moment. It sounds like you have taken all the advice offered on board, and I really hope it works out for you and Hector. Filming sounds like an interesting option too- call me cynical, but I wonder if the neighbours have done something to stir him up

[megan_]

It has been said the dog knows something.

Story. We rehomed a white shepherd who we knew had had issues but had been worked through.

In his new home he had an issue with someone, do not know to what degree. Owners had a person come and do a few things and they followed through all good.

Turns out the person he had the issues with was a kitchen person and the owners are still trying to sort out the problems. Good on Samson he knew she was dodgy. :D :D

Befoe we condemn the neighbours, the dog might not like them because they look different, smell different, speak differently etc. Don't forget Hector is from an unknown background and may have been poorly socialized as a puppy.

Fwiw, my very happy, social boy doesn't like people with cleft palates (and only when they speak). Dorsnt mean they're bad :-)

Edited March 7, 2011 by megan_

[MavericksMission]

It has been said the dog knows something.

Story. We rehomed a white shepherd who we knew had had issues but had been worked through.

In his new home he had an issue with someone, do not know to what degree. Owners had a person come and do a few things and they followed through all good.

Turns out the person he had the issues with was a kitchen person and the owners are still trying to sort out the problems. Good on Samson he knew she was dodgy. :D :D

Befoe we condemn the neighbors, the dog might not like them because they look different, smell different, speak differently etc. Don't forget Hector is from an unknown background and may have been poorly socialized as a puppy.

Fwiw, my very happy, social boy doesn't like people with cleft pallets (and only when they speak). Dorsnt mean they're bad :-)

Hector was very well socialised with people & dogs from a very, very young age. And soon as he was fully vacc'd he was attending the monthly DOL meets

[NZVizsla]

Can you contain him within the yard, without using a dog run?

Sectioning an area where he can be loose but can't get upset by the people and noises he hears from next door?

I'd also consider an outdoor radio, to relax him and muffle strange outdoor noises.

[MavericksMission]

Can you contain him within the yard, without using a dog run?

Sectioning an area where he can be loose but can't get upset by the people and noises he hears from next door?

I'd also consider an outdoor radio, to relax him and muffle strange outdoor noises.

Oh good idea, might try an outdoor radio.

I have got the area of fence sectioned off now with a puppy play pen spread out.

He has been inside with me today and just going out for supervised toilet breaks.

[chiara]

Maybe he knows they are not good people, my in laws had a fox terrier when they had workmen come to the house they would take them at the back to see the dog's reaction, without fail if the dog didn't like them they would later find out they were dodgy... without fail I tell you it was quite amazing really!

Just my two cents... maybe you pup can sense this person is not right.

[OSoSwift]

I would video when you are not there just to be sure.

They may be doing nothing more than telling him to shut up if he barks or something but in my experience dogs don't do things like he is for no reason what so ever. Even if it is only some small thing and something we would not deem wrong - he may see it as so.