We have 2 male German Shepherds that are both around 4 years old. One of them, Zeus, has an obsession with our 2 horses. We had both dogs for around 6 months prior to the horses. Zeus hasn't been neutered.

Once we got the horses, Zeus, has developed an extreme obsession with them. He paces the pasture fence line constantly. He will do this for hours if we let him. If the horses are in their stalls, he paces in front of the stalls and periodically stands on his hind legs to try and look into the stall. He won't drink water or do anything else except run along the fence line while he is out alone. He doesn't bark at the horses or attempt to nip them through the fence or otherwise show any signs of dangerous aggresion.

We are mostly concerned what this behavior is doing to Zeus mental health. I have tried an e-collar as form of avoidance behavior modification, but this just seems to have a momentary effect and he goes right back to his pacing.

His behavior is relatively normal otherwise. If we take him for walks through the woods or in nearby farm fields he seems like he did before we got the horses. He has no problems with appetite, licking, or any other obsession, just with the horses.

Zeus obedience training is just "so -so". He is good on the recall, sit, down, and kennel commands. He doesn't do "go place" and "stay" very well, especially if the horses are out.

I know he comes from a herding breed. Is this behavior based in that herding instict? If so and this is unstoppable, then I may have to work this from a management standpoint and just keep Zeus kenneled except for walks etc.

We also have a related behavior problem with the other German Shepherd, "Dolittle" or "Do" for short. Dolittle is the dominant dog and I believe he is extremely frustrated with Zeus behavior to the point of some very vicious fights between the 2. This has progressed to the point where we walk and excercise the dogs seperately or put a muzzle on Dolittle.

The dogs,individually, are sweet loving gentle dogs with people of all ages. We love both of them and have no desire to rid ourselves of either. If we can't find a training solution, we will just try and continue this as a management issue.

Any thoughts would be deeply appreciated.

I'd like to ask a couple of questions for clarification. I didn't see where you mentioned how long you have had the horses?

Also, you mention managing the situation by keeping the dog kenneled more often. How are the dogs typically kept on a normal day now? Are these house dogs, outdoor kennel dogs, left in a yard during the day, some combination?

How long are they home alone on a typical day, and where do they stay during that time?

I'm a little confused because you say he paces the fence line (which I'm assuming is between his yard and the horse pasture?) but then you say he paces in front of the stalls if the horses are in the barn. So do the dogs have free access to the barn, or do you mean you take them to the barn with you?

I'm sure others will have more questions, but I'm hoping the above information will help round out the picture of what's going on here.

Thank you Cheri for responding.

We have had the horses for 6 months. Zeus has obsessed with the horses from the beginning. It wasn't too bad at the start and honestly we thought it was a little cute (what was I thinking).

Both dogs are in seperate 10 x 12 kennels and kept outside. They are rarely alone except at night, as my wife and I are retired and at home all day except for trips to the grocery, or other errands. I put them back in there kennels if we are in the house for any extended period of time. We alternate releasing the dogs from the kennel every couple of hours or so trying to give them equal time outside with either myself or my wife.

With regard to pacing the fence line, he (Zeus) does that during his outside the kennel time. I try and keep an eye on him and deter him from pacing. However, that's hard to do when I am engaged in farm activities such as tractor work, etc. The other dog, generally stays at my side or stays in an overwatch position when he is out.

Zeus does have access to the barn when he is outside the kennel. The barn is an open design with a "breezeway" and the stall doors open directly to the outside. This precludes me from locking the barn and denying Zeus access.

Hope this provides a little more insight.

Do both dogs get any regular daily structured exercise with you or your wife? ie: ball fetching, hiking, swimming etc & daily obedience training time. If so how much of each & what is it? Or are they just allowed to run around themselves as their form of exercise.

For starters....I would teach a solid down stay.

Anne, thank you for your response.

Both dogs get walked on a schedule each morning. Howver, I don't have a strucutured exercise time with the activities you list. Both dogs love to play fetch and I use one of the "Chuck it" ball throwers which they love. Given how busy we are with the farm and livestock, maybe I am neglect in that regard. I had thought that just being with us and interacting for hours each day was sufficient. I have started today with making a conscious effort to spend more time directly interacting with Zeus keeping him with me during my chores and when I am working in my shop building.

I don't have a structured obedience training session with them either. However, during the course of daily activities they are given and respond to recall, sit, and down.

I believe you are right about the down stay. I will start with that, but I am sensing that it's going to be a real challenge.

Ben, dogs that are mentally & physically tired don't tend to be less likely to resort to OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder) which GSD are very prone to.

These dogs need more then just a walk in the am. They need to spend a goood amount of their time being mentally challenged as well as very well exercised or they often will resort to the kind of behaviors you are seeing.

I would schedule several training times daily as well as several structured exercise times. OB training makes them use their brain & that tires them out as does the physical exertion.

Chuck it is a good game...but it needs to be at least 20-30 minutes several times daily.

Down stay should be started in a no distraction area with higher & higher distractions added over time..slowly. Don't move on until solid. I don't know what his down is like now but move on from where you are now. starting with adding the time the dog is in the down along with the distance from you. Do not add time & distance at the same time. It is a slow process but well worth the time spent teaching it. The goal is to be able to have the dog in a down at the end of the barn aisle while you are able to do barn chores or down away from the fencing while you tend to the horses. It may take weeks or months to get this. A lot will depend on how often you will work on this & how consistent you are about setting up a regular schedule & sticking to it. I would not expect the dog to stay in a down for very extended times ....a 1/2 hour or maybe even an hour....but you have to be realistic in your expectations & what is fair & kind to the dog. Even out of sight downs can eventually be taught...but you are looking W A Y down the road for that.

I don't live on a farm...but have had a horse for many years & my dogs learned from pups to be around the barn & my horse without chasing them out in the field etc. I would work/train my dogs in the field with the horses & they eventually didn't even bother to look at them even if they took of running.

I know that it is a bit harder when you can't start the dogs from pups with this...but it is still doable. One of my dogs was not a pup when I got him & he still learned the rules.

The dogs hanging out with you while you do chores...should be in addition to their regular scheduled training & exercise.

I would continue to keep these dogs separate to keep them from fighting. It is possible in experienced hands that they could be trained to be together but ignore each other...but without knowing what you are doing...I would not suggest that you do that. It is safer for all concerned to keep them seperate. Once dog have fought, especially multiple times...it is very likely that they will never get along.

You might also consider teaching the dogs to track. That takes a good deal of brain work & makes them tired. Footstep tracking is not hard to teach. Lots here about it if it interests you.

Good luck....hopefully some of this helps.

+1 on everything Anne said. Consistency is key to all of it. So so obedience isn't going to work.
The longer Zeus is allowed access to the horses the worse the behavior will become.
I like the fact that you give individual time to each dog. That's a necessity in good training.

Bob, when you say the behavior will worsen, how bad could it get?

Is it possible that Zeus could literally develop some type of insanity, could he develop new aggresive behaviors towards people etc?

Thanks for your thoughts.

Thanks Anne, I sincerely appreciate your thoughtful response. Lots of great advise there.

He will just get more & more obsessive to the point that he will only be focused on this behavior & not much else. Not insanity, but certainly not normal at all.

It would not be kind to this dog to allow this to go any further then it already has, which is not in any way normal already & is a bit crazy-like.

I don't see how this would lead to developing aggression toward people.