Our new dog is constantly sticking its head under the back yard fence and barking at the neighbor’s dog. Any ideas of what we can do?

Question

My female GSD has a problem with the male Australian Shepherd next door. If she is in the yard they both try and stick their noses under the 8 foot privacy fence and go nuts barking. I go out and get immediately and she is mainly an inside dog and so is he, so it doesn't happen often. I know that she needs work and I have purchased your Basic Dog Obedience video. She will pay attention when on the leash and if is corrected, but off is another story. I am guessing I need to have a long lead and correct her from a distance when she goes after the fence. My male dog has no problem with the whole situation. I have had him from a pup and he minds explicitly. I recently adopted the female from the pound (she was turned in for testing positive for heart worms, the previous owners didn't want to pay for treatment). She gets along fine with my male and is submissive with me and my husband (more so with me, but I think she follows our male dogs lead). It just seems to be the goofy dog next door that she doesn't like. It may be that it barks non-stop at every thing all day. The owners are never home. It charged their chain link fence, before we put ours up, whenever we came near it, doing yard work and such. Do you think my dog is just telling the other dog to stay away? I have let her go on occasion to see how long it continues and she loses interest after a little while. Thank you so much for this web page. I have learned so much about GSD's. The service you provide can save lives, especially the 'preventing dog bites' section. I read the wolf hybrid pages with interest and have long agreed with your point of view. What to you think of Australian Cattle Dogs with their diluted Dingo blood? My male is one that we got while stationed in Hawaii and he has never been a day of trouble. Smart as a whip too. Well, I realize this is a lengthy letter and if you haven't got the time to answer it, not to worry. I think I may be able to find the answer with a little more time with the video training. You helped me once before with advice on a dog that came after us while walking. Our problem was solved by your advice, but sadly the same dog ended up biting a little girl and was rightly put down. We warned the owners, but they didn't want to hear it. Sad. Take care, Katie

Accepted Answer

The solution is two fold:

You have not followed the Basic Obedience video. More than using a long line, you have failed to be consistent. Yes a long line can be a step in this process. But if you tell your dog No or Quiet - and it does not respond (and it knows what you mean) then it must get a correction, even if you go to it and it is then quiet, it must still be corrected. So, let it wear a long line, say QUIET, when it continues to bark, you calmly walk to the dogs, pick up the long line and jerk her head off saying "QUIET, QUIET, QUIET" This happens "every time" the dog does not mind. Even when it shuts up after it sees you coming down the steps. It must be corrected. New trainers often have a problem understanding how important consistency is, in some cases they don't understand what it is.
You can solve the issue with a Tri Tronics No Bark Collar. This will stop the barking right now.