I have a swale that runs through my backyard that I can not alter or block. Unfortunately this allows my dogs and my neighbors dogs to consort with each other.

My husband lets our Sibe free in the backyard without supervision and the dogs spends hours chasing each other up and down the fence line.

Now when the neighbor's dogs see my pup they snarl at him as if they would like to attack him. He is never out unsupervised. I would like to be able to drop his leash sometimes when we are outside. This is difficult with those doggies being such a distraction.

Here is a picture of the situation:
http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww190/ksalinas_bucket/Xenapics001.jpg

I was thinking of using an electric collar to help condition the pup to stay away from the fence before he becomes addicted to the entertainment there. It is too late for the Sibe but I would like to fix the problem that has already started. Otherwise, eventually she will teach my pup her habit.

Is there a spray or something that works well and long term that I could use as a deterent? Would an electric cattle fence work in an area where there is occasionally flowing water? Can I do anything about the other dogs to condition them to stay away from the other fence (like pepper spray)?

My neighbor is a typical dog owner. He barely polices his dogs and feels it is just them being typical dogs( His way of telling me that I am too uptight and he doesn't need to do anything about his animals.)

Oh, yes, and my neighbor's children like to call my dogs to the fence and stick their hands through to pet them. How stupid! But I don't know what else to do about it (the electic cattle fence sounds good to me, though). I have told them to stop but they don't understand I guess.

I have a very similar situation. When I first brought my doberman home he ignored the neighbors dogs, but after about a week of getting settled in he began to become quite fixated on their obnoxiousness. He began to develop a deeper more intense growl and would switch on quicker and quicker. I first put up a wooden fence much like yours to limit the visual factor. So, you could add some fencing underneath to block the visual cue. Also, I have heard recommendations of putting up a couple of temporary fence segments that would in essence run perpendicular to your fence. Like "jetties" so to speak. A couple of these will likely inhibit the running up and down the fence line. I have not tried this yet, so cannot speak to how well it will work, the rationale just seems right.

What I have basically done is put up the solid wood fence to block the visual and then just admitted to myself that maybe I don't have total control of my dog; as he would still engage the neighbors dog's when I asked of his attention. So, I accepted the fact that one, my neighbor has several dogs with high strung, unexercised, and ridiculous amounts of pent up energy. Then secondly, that I can and now use them as a distraction training excercise. I don't think you can expect your dog to totally ignore them, especially not right away. For one, this is your fence, and he is doing a job for you. But, you can work on a couple of things. And secondly, you have to either become more interesting to your dog than the distraction or ask/demand of his obedience.

Do you play with your dog and engage him in activities? I only ask because I have had success with using drive building activities (see building drive and focus with Bernhard Flinks) to refocus him back on me. If I as so much as pull out his tug or ball, he will switch right on to me and begin ignoring the chaos next door. It did not happen overnight, but he is getting better. He may always acknowledge the neighbors dogs, but I am getting more control over when it has to stop. The dogs really work to frustrate him and especially because he can never get them; ie get success. He knows that he will have to work his butt off the get the tug from me, but he will always get it eventually. Success does come. So, he will usually choose this and engage in playing the game with me.

Also, try working with him on the other side of the yard when your neighbors dogs are out. For him to listen to you right next to them may be a little too much too soon. Start with distance from the distraction. Maybe some obedience work with positive reward. Then slowly flirt with his border of reactivity. Move closer and closer, but make sure he is succeeding. If he breaks focus, back away a little. Just work his boundary of comfort.

I personally have not used an e collar yet, but I think that positive reinforcement and obedience work can get you a long way towards how you want your dog to act under most circumstances.

I am with you though and admit 100% that it is a total pain in the a@# to have to deal with crazy neighbor dogs arousing you own, (especially late at night, or in the rain) but I have surrendered to the reality and now use it as a test to their focus on me. It is easy to get frustrated and want to start dishing out corrections, but I truly have to say that they have come a long way by showing my dogs that I am way more fun to play with than the neighboring dogs. Again, I use positive obedience training and the Flinks game of drive and focus building, and some corrections with the prong collar.

an invisible fence for your dog will solve the issue. Just run the fence line two or three feet back from your fence opening and bury the rest along the fence line through the rest of the yard. Not only will it help your wood fence stay unchewed but it will keep your dog away from the kids and the crazy neighbor dog.

 Quote: kevin bouvy

So, you could add some fencing underneath to block the visual cue. Also, I have heard recommendations of putting up a couple of temporary fence segments that would in essence run perpendicular to your fence. Like "jetties" so to speak. A couple of these will likely inhibit the running up and down the fence line.

Hmmm, excellent, I have the wood already. This wouldn't be hard at all.

 Quote: kevin bouvy

I can and now use them as a distraction training excercise. I don't think you can expect your dog to totally ignore them, especially not right away. For one, this is your fence, and he is doing a job for you. But, you can work on a couple of things. And secondly, you have to either become more interesting to your dog than the distraction or ask/demand of his obedience.

So true.

 Quote: kevin bouvy

Do you play with your dog and engage him in activities? I only ask because I have had success with using drive building activities (see building drive and focus with Bernhard Flinks) to refocus him back on me. If I as so much as pull out his tug or ball, he will switch right on to me and begin ignoring the chaos next door.

Yes, actually he totally disses the other dogs when we play tug. I do have the Bernard Flicks video and you're right, the work does help a lot. Sometimes I am boring, though (or at least not as interesting). Sometimes I am multitasking doing yardwork while giving him time outside with me. I am not sure that multitasking is such a good idea...but I am a working mother of three and this is what I do!

 Quote: kevin bouvy

Also, try working with him on the other side of the yard when your neighbors dogs are out. For him to listen to you right next to them may be a little too much too soon. Start with distance from the distraction. Maybe some obedience work with positive reward. Then slowly flirt with his border of reactivity. Move closer and closer, but make sure he is succeeding. If he breaks focus, back away a little. Just work his boundary of comfort.

I see your point.

 Quote: kevin bouvy

I personally have not used an e collar yet, but I think that positive reinforcement and obedience work can get you a long way towards how you want your dog to act under most circumstances.

I AM hestitant to use the e-collar on a 5 month-old dog. I was thinking of using it more for the Sibe.

 Quote: kevin bouvy

I am with you though and admit 100% that it is a total pain in the a@# to have to deal with crazy neighbor dogs arousing you own

No kidding! I can barely walk my dogs in the neighborhood for all the unleashed yappy dogs and kids not to mention the larger charging dogs behind fences and on leash. And on top of it all you don't even get peace in your own back yard. But, you are right. This can be used in a positive way to help my dogs and I if I just keep working at it and applying all the great information I get from Ed's videos and e-topics not to mention the other positive training books that I have. Thanks!

Thanks Melissa. I will have to run this by my husband. He is just about done with all my spending on the dogs!

I have two fences in my back yard too. My yard backs onto a city park where people constantly walk their dogs off leash, and they come right up to the fence. Grr!!!

if it were me, I would fence off that area of your yard. I don't know how big your yard is, but you could at least make a 10-foot berth around that space. Use wood for the sides and then chain link or something similar on the end so that the water can flow through (I assume that's what it's for?)

Kristi,
I was thinking of this post today when I was covered in mud from turning and seeding a section of my yard. Of course it has something to do with my dogs vs the neighbors dogs. All hell seems to break loose at the most inopportune times! Yes, I did even try to hit him with a mudball, but that didn't even get his attention. Not a fastball, I would never hurt him no matter how much he jumps up and down and thrashes my nerves at times. They were exiled to the crates for a good while, then we all hit the beach to clean up...

I dream of the day, hopefully in the near future, of having the land I need in the country. I have the vision, now I just have to get there... The day I get there is probably when my dogs will be actually finally under control.

 Quote: Kevin Bouvy

I dream of the day, hopefully in the near future, of having the land I need in the country. I have the vision, now I just have to get there... The day I get there is probably when my dogs will be actually finally under control.

Land out in the country WOULD be awesome. However, judging from the posts of others in more rural areas you would only trade the distractions of the neighbor's dogs for the distraction of deer!

This afternoon I was in MY yard covered in mud from a nondog related project (excavating parts of the yard to set up platforms for rainbarrels) when I decided that what I am going to do at this point is design a sort of bridge over the problem area that sits right next to the fence. Then I will duplicate the bars at the open end. They will still be able to see each other somewhat but there will be distance. It will probably uncover other problems...

I noticed my Sibe has been in the process of digging holes next to the fence. I guess I had better plan for this, too. It might increase if I make the barred area less interesting. I am thinking of the idea from another thread of lining the bottom of the fence with patio stone. I don't think it will be too aesthetically displeasing. (How bad can it be compared to dog holes?)

I have never done any of this before but I think I will be OK once I get over the intimidation of being a girl using power tools and once I draw up some designs.

In this way my nondog project has become a dog project. I will build platforms for my rainbarrels and a platform for my dog bridge.