I have 3 German Shepherds one 14 month old male (80lbs), high drive and hard headed, one long hair 3 year old male (120 lbs), who listened very well until our neighbors moved in with 6 small (yippy) dogs and finally I have 5 year old female (fixed) who is a Katrina rescue. Now for the problem, the two adult GSD’s were fine until my neighbors moved in with their 6 small dogs that bark at the fence and go crazy. My female dog started running and fence fighting then the 3 year old male and now the puppy does it. I have tried pinch collars and rewarding when they respond by not fence fighting. I let them out one at a time too. It worked but if I am not standing there they start up. Now they will not respond at all to come commands when the frenzy starts. We have talked to our neighbors and we try not to let them out together. But sometimes they are and we want to stop it before someone gets hurt. My dogs will begin to fight each other when they get going full bore. I have a privacy fence (they have chewed up) and I thought about e collars for each or electric fence as a barrier. Or, a bark inhibitor which would work on the neighbors dogs too. Any suggestions? Need advice please. I have never had this problem before. We have dogs on the other side but my dogs do not fence fight with them. Thanks

Lisa -

I would recommend an E-collar, not a bark collar, and keeping them on a long line when outside. Check if the neighbors dogs are out before you let your dogs out. Maybe work out a system where you have a little flag you can put on the fence when your dogs are out that the neighbors can see so they know to look before letting out their dogs.

If the other dogs are out an your dogs need to go out, take them out on a long line one at a time. I recommend not letting them out together when the other dogs are out - not even with ecollars and/or leashes. Is there any way you can put up a solid barrier? Such as plywood? The privacy slats don't work with dogs as you have found out, they are easy to destroy and rip out of the fencing.

I do not let them out together if I can help it. I do like the idea of a flag on the fence. There are time when I like to just let them run and play for a bit on a nice day so the flag is great. I am going to have to shore up the fence with something. I put a 2x4 in the middle to keep them from pushing through. I may have to do plywood and then vines over it or something so it will be a little more attractive. I tried bushes but they killed them before they became big enough to be a barrier. I am going to get an e collar though for at least one of them. Thanks for the advice.