Fence aggression(kinda long)

[Zisso]

I was hoping to not have to post here, but I really need some advice on this matter.

After I brought Zisso home I put up a wire fence. It is 5' tall and it serves its purpose. Both dogs stay in it with no problems. I fixed a lower portion of an existing fence to keep them in aslo.

There is an old trail just outside my wire fence on one side where people still occassionally walk thru-it is a short cut, not any kind of offcial trail. We live in the last house at the end of a dead end road. Mostly the ones who use the trail is kids going to and from school, and they are mostly teenagers. During the summer I witnessed a few teens speakly 'rudely' to my dogs and chewed them a new one...I do not like teens telling my dogs to shut up, or threatening them in any way.

However, no matter who it is, the dogs see anyone walking by and they charge the fence and when they do they sound horribly mean. I have tried to discourage the dogs, tried to redirect their attention onto me with various things, mostly their Wubba's because they can hear the squeaks over their own barking. Sometimes it works, sometimes not.

I don't want my dogs to continue charging the fence so aggressively. Any one could, at any time, decide to turn me in for having 'dangerous dogs' I imagine. The kids walking by here are sporadic. Not every day, no given time. I think that depends on if they get a ride to school and on after school events.

The only way to stop this behavior that I can think of, is to take them out in the yard on leash and possibly prong collars and give them the proper corrections when they begin to become fence aggressive. Yet that would be impossible unless I knew there was a set schedule for the kids to come by.

Also, last night a neighbors dog came over by the fence and these two went Ballistic!! It is impossible to get to that part of the yard quickly. The visiting dog wanted to play; my two sounded like they wanted to kill. Because they are afraid of the garden hose, I turned it on them...they had just started to fight between themselves so I managed to break up the 'fight' before it got out of control. The owner of the other dog was coming over (in a casual manner) to get his dog. He did ask if mine were okay which was nice. I explained they were fighting over the presence of his dog.

Anyway, I could use some suggestions as to how to stop this severe fence aggression, especially over strangers walking by!

Sorry this is so long!
Thanks in Advance!

[VectorSketcher]

While I have no great advice to offer to help the situation, I just wanted to let you know your not alone, I have a bit of the same situation at my house going on. Only it is my girl who is doing all the ferocious barking and fence pounding, my other GSD knows better. I have to literally go up to her and either coax with a toy or pull her away from the fence, depending on how focused she is on the subject on the green belt behind us. Hopefully someone will chime in with a solution for you.

[HeidiW]

I to have the same problem with Bella, my yard is big and I have a 4ft fence. This is what I have done so far, might not be right for you but it works for me. My dogs are food motivated. I bought a bag of those tasty smelly bacon bites called canine carry outs. I showed the bag to them and I say Yummy very loud and gave the each one or two. Now after a few times they associated that word to that treat that they love. She runs to the fence I yell Yummy and I crunch the bag shake it a little she comes charging back into the house and she gets a few of them. Basically it does not train to Not bark at the fence it is more of a recall. I can't get her to stop barking but it gets her back to me fast.

[Zisso]

That's basically what I do only with their Wubba because they are toy driven and I have to be so careful to not upset their tummies with treats(the only thing that does not give them puddin poo is venison)

At least I know I am not alone in this situation!! It is sooo stressful to have them charging the fence when kids walk by, and I do fear that eventually, some one is going to claim they are dangerous dogs!

Of course, the easiest answer to this would be to stop the foot traffic passing by the fence altogether...LOL Then there would be nothing to bark at!! On the other hand it does not correct the bahavior.

[Zisso]

That's basically what I do only with their Wubba because they are toy driven and I have to be so careful to not upset their tummies with treats(the only thing that does not give them puddin poo is venison)

At least I know I am not alone in this situation!! It is sooo stressful to have them charging the fence when kids walk by, and I do fear that eventually, some one is going to claim they are dangerous dogs!

Of course, the easiest answer to this would be to stop the foot traffic passing by the fence altogether...LOL Then there would be nothing to bark at!! On the other hand it does not correct the bahavior.

[tuco]

The main thing is that the dog or dogs are secure and confined inside the fence. Having said that, with all the Home Invasions, Predators, Escaped, Violent, Mental Patients etc.
I say, Good Dogs! Very Good Dogs!!

[Liesje]

Here's another "you're not alone!" You should see/hear my dogs rush ME when I'm coming up to our gate, lol. But I just unlatch it and walk in, they back up and shut up, tails start wagging. Like you say it's very difficult to work on because you can't control who walks by when. You can arrange training sessions but there are times the dogs will be out to potty and people come by. I kind of just let it happen, but luckily the fenced area of our yard is in the back and no one but me or my own guests usually get near it. Once in a while, the dogs will stand at the 4' wide gate, the only part of the fence facing the street, and bark at a dog going by but not enough to matter to me. I asked my neighbor and he said he doesn't even hear it and doesn't care about barking dogs anyway.

[Zisso]

I have to say thanks to you all and give you tons of hugsss.

They are doing their jobs, without a doubt.

Last weekend, a family with several kids were walking back along the trail. Some of the kids were fairly small. I did not check first since there are rarely people out there, so let the dogs out. There was a small girl in the very front, and I can only imagine the fear she must have felt. (Had it been me, I prolly woulda wet myself!!) Since then, I do make the dogs 'wait' while I go out to look around. Once they are out I keep a closer eye, but still stuff happens (like the 3 kids riding bikes yesterday, and the neighbors dog visiting.)

Hearing that others with much more experience than myself have the same thing going on makes me MUCH better Many thanks to you Liesje for sharing ..I have always held great respect for you. Tuco...you also set me at ease with your comment. The mother of the passing family said the same thing that evening so I guess I will stop fretting

[Zisso]

I have been working these past couple of days on recall. Especially when they are about to charge the fence. Luckily, they charge it when there is nothing out there too, so on their way out to the fence I call them back, and so far it is working. We have not seen pedestrians walking by in the past few days so have not been able to try the recall with those distractions. However, they are now wearing collars when in the yard, under close supervision, so that if there is an incident with passerbys I can at least get my hands on them and tell them to stop it

Edit: I always work on recall, not only now that this is going on.

[jake]

Just to add-the HOME I pay for also includes the land it stands on.My dog is securely restrained on my house/land by a chain link fence.Many people have no respect for boundaries (have had teens on my property throwing rocks at my dog cause they got a kick out of his barking/aggression.)I have a big problem with second guessing why my dog agresses at people who tease/challenge him on HIS fence line(and he does know what his HOME is).Should I train him against idiots?