Barking & Growling At The Back Fence

[Spudd]

Hi guys, I have an 8 month old male bull terrier, he got desexed 8 days ago. Since he has been frustrated because he has to wear an E collar at night and while we are not able to keep an eye on him. Also he has been spending more time in his crate then usual, he hasn’t been out for walks and when he does zoomies around the back yard, we turn around and walk away so he stops. He must be confused… the stitches come out on Monday! And every thing will be back to normal (fun active games, walks, jogs, etc). There is one thing I’m concerned about, he never used to be a barker and would hardly ever bark. I don’t know if it’s any thing to do with the operation but he has become very territorial in the last few days, every time he goes outside at night, he starts barking and growling at the fence, every time he walks past the back door, he runs outside and carries on with barking and growling. When we call him back he usually comes back and we ask him to sit and calm down but he starts growling and barking again and bolts to the back fence again. Maybe he can smell the cats over the fence? He has never been socialised with a cat before. I'm not sure how to stop him from doing that? (by the way he only does it at night)

[Maddy]

I doubt it has anything to do with having been desexed.

Our dogs behave the same way when we have possums around (or when the dogs over the back fence start the barking) so we simply fenced off the places they seemed to bark more at and that fixed the problem entirely.

Possums are pretty territorial and they'll move into an uninhabited territory very quickly. We cage-trapped and removed one possum from our yard and within a few days, there was a new possum moved in. They're also much harder to spot than cats so often you'll never actually see them around.

[Spudd]

I doubt it has anything to do with having been desexed.

Our dogs behave the same way when we have possums around (or when the dogs over the back fence start the barking) so we simply fenced off the places they seemed to bark more at and that fixed the problem entirely.

Possums are pretty territorial and they'll move into an uninhabited territory very quickly. We cage-trapped and removed one possum from our yard and within a few days, there was a new possum moved in. They're also much harder to spot than cats so often you'll never actually see them around.

There are dogs in the neighborhood that bark all night and cats that walk around back yards all night but it never used to bother him, we looked to see if there are any possums in the trees but couldn't see any, however the trees are not near the back fence.. It worries me.. We might get another fence and see how he goes.

[W Sibs]

Why can't you walk him with stitches? Not long walks, but a walk around the block or something?

My vet told me I should. As long as I don't get the stitches wet and the walk isn't too hard, it's ok to walk them.

[Maddy]

Why can't you walk him with stitches? Not long walks, but a walk around the block or something?

My vet told me I should. As long as I don't get the stitches wet and the walk isn't too hard, it's ok to walk them.

We've never been told by our vet not to walk them while they still had stitches in.

The usual 24 hours of quiet after the operation and then business as usual (provided the stitches don't get wet).

I could understand perhaps taking it a little easier for a female dog (as the desexing is a bit more involved) but almost every male we've desexed has come out of the surgery very bright and with no sign of discomfort. The first thing they usually want to do when they get back here is run around like idiots because they've spent the day in a small cage at the vet

[shelby-001]

Yep we walked Boof.

He came home a crying whinging mess (BIG sook), didn't really want to move much the next day, was still relatively quiet the second day, I just got him to follow me around the yard, but day 3 and we were off for short walks, did a couple a day to keep him warn out and stimulated his brain.

Lilly we took a little longer with but still only a few days and then just made sure she didn't go nuts with zoomies or jump!

[Fynesse]

OMG, I wish I could have kept my dog on bed rest! I thought he would have come home at least a little dozy the day of the op, but nope, he bounced up our steps and grabbed his ball even while still being a tad wonky on his back legs! we were back to our normal hour long walks the next day with him bouncing next to me the entire time! No reason why your boy cannot resume normal exercise. I would think the barking is boredom.

[Spudd]

When i picked him up the vet said no walks for 10 days, not jumping, no running, no swimming, no playing in the dirt.. Very strict

Our back yard is pretty big so he has been walking around there and the house.. Yesterday i took him out, we walked up and down the street

He was happy with that!

[Spudd]

OMG, I wish I could have kept my dog on bed rest! I thought he would have come home at least a little dozy the day of the op, but nope, he bounced up our steps and grabbed his ball even while still being a tad wonky on his back legs! we were back to our normal hour long walks the next day with him bouncing next to me the entire time! No reason why your boy cannot resume normal exercise. I would think the barking is boredom.

The barking isn't boredom, we play gentle and we do some clicker training and he follows us around the house, he is always busy, there must be something he doesn't like behind that fence!

I think i was a bit strict with no walks at all for a whole week but back to normal exercise the next day isn't right.

[W Sibs]

I could understand perhaps taking it a little easier for a female dog (as the desexing is a bit more involved) but almost every male we've desexed has come out of the surgery very bright and with no sign of discomfort. The first thing they usually want to do when they get back here is run around like idiots because they've spent the day in a small cage at the vet

Emmy ran down the corridor at the vet after getting desexed, then we got her home and was doing zoomies. She forgot she had surgery, I think. even the vets were wishing us luck on getting her calm after the op

When i picked him up the vet said no walks for 10 days, not jumping, no running, no swimming, no playing in the dirt.. Very strict frown.gif

Our back yard is pretty big so he has been walking around there and the house.. Yesterday i took him out, we walked up and down the street

He was happy with that!

Ohh.. that's very strict. was there complication in the op?

Maybe with this operation, his routine is out of whack and barking is an outlet of too much energy and frustration. once his stitches are out and he is back to his normal routine and getting the right amount of exercise, he would bark less and not care about what happens in the back fence?

[Spudd]

When i picked him up the vet said no walks for 10 days, not jumping, no running, no swimming, no playing in the dirt.. Very strict frown.gif

Our back yard is pretty big so he has been walking around there and the house.. Yesterday i took him out, we walked up and down the street

He was happy with that!

Ohh.. that's very strict. was there complication in the op?

Maybe with this operation, his routine is out of whack and barking is an outlet of too much energy and frustration. once his stitches are out and he is back to his normal routine and getting the right amount of exercise, he would bark less and not care about what happens in the back fence?

That's exactly what the obedience trainer said! I hope that you are both right. ;)

I know i was strict but i listened to the vet, he is my first dog and i wanted to do every thing right. :p

I cant wait to take him to nice bush walks with me next week!

oh and there was no complication in the op

Edited April 29, 2011 by Spudd

[W Sibs]

When i picked him up the vet said no walks for 10 days, not jumping, no running, no swimming, no playing in the dirt.. Very strict frown.gif

Our back yard is pretty big so he has been walking around there and the house.. Yesterday i took him out, we walked up and down the street

He was happy with that!

Ohh.. that's very strict. was there complication in the op?

Maybe with this operation, his routine is out of whack and barking is an outlet of too much energy and frustration. once his stitches are out and he is back to his normal routine and getting the right amount of exercise, he would bark less and not care about what happens in the back fence?

That's exactly what the obedience trainer said! I hope that you are both right. ;)

I know i was strict but i listened to the vet, he is my first dog and i wanted to do every thing right. :p

I cant wait to take him to nice bush walks with me next week!

oh and there was no complication in the op

awesome about no complications

He is going to LOVE his bush walk!!!

[Fynesse]

OMG, I wish I could have kept my dog on bed rest! I thought he would have come home at least a little dozy the day of the op, but nope, he bounced up our steps and grabbed his ball even while still being a tad wonky on his back legs! we were back to our normal hour long walks the next day with him bouncing next to me the entire time! No reason why your boy cannot resume normal exercise. I would think the barking is boredom.

The barking isn't boredom, we play gentle and we do some clicker training and he follows us around the house, he is always busy, there must be something he doesn't like behind that fence!

I think i was a bit strict with no walks at all for a whole week but back to normal exercise the next day isn't right.

Why isnt back to exercise the next day right. He was unaware that he had had surgery and to be honest, 2 stitches really shouldnt stop them from going for a walk!

[Bully]

When i picked him up the vet said no walks for 10 days, not jumping, no running, no swimming, no playing in the dirt.. Very strict frown.gif

Our back yard is pretty big so he has been walking around there and the house.. Yesterday i took him out, we walked up and down the street

He was happy with that!

Ohh.. that's very strict. was there complication in the op?

Maybe with this operation, his routine is out of whack and barking is an outlet of too much energy and frustration. once his stitches are out and he is back to his normal routine and getting the right amount of exercise, he would bark less and not care about what happens in the back fence?

That's exactly what the obedience trainer said! I hope that you are both right.

I know i was strict but i listened to the vet, he is my first dog and i wanted to do every thing right.

I cant wait to take him to nice bush walks with me next week!

oh and there was no complication in the op

Leash walks are fine, but no running, jumping, swimming etc. Get Spudd out for walks, he's probably going nuts! (Oh, forgot he hasn't got any Sorry Spudd )