My backyard is fenced......3 dogs on one side of fence line.....2 dogs on another side of the fence line....all of them rush the fence and bark like crazy when we come out to train and play etc......my dog was pretty damned dog reactive...so much better today...BUT....my dog will still rush the fence when I release her but will obey me when I call her off and return. So...today I give her the tennis ball inside the house before we go have a session....I release her....all 5 dogs do their usual gig...but my dog never leaves the deck to rush the fence...she's completely at ease......what's up with the "magic" of carrying a tennis ball?
I wonder the same thing. I have the same scenario with my neighbors, barking dogs on all sides. A ball or sometimes a stick will keep her focused on that and ignore all else.
I'm going to try this, Tessa is crazy for her ball. We have a Rott that hangs over their 4 foot high fence at our property line. The rest of their fence is privacy so it's difficult to tell when she is out. So we step out our back door, and 15 feet away this huge black head pops up and begins barking. Tess can't stand it, and it's the only time she'll blow me off. Thank goodness their dog hasn't come over and is seldom out.
Your dog is in "drive". Working with you is more engaging and interesting than the 5 barking dogs or anything else going on. My dogs will do the same thing. It's a nice thing to have.
Yes...would be correct......she loves the tennis ball.
The ball might be a stress reliever but the ball has little value in the house.....because there is minimal interaction associated with the ball inside the house.....primarily outside. So.....and I probably have this wrong.....but what I am thinking is....every time we go outside to the backyard....the procedure is exactly the same...regardless whether we train / play or she just takes care of her business...or we are just out there while I do chores. The ball is used maybe less than half of the times when we are out in the yard.....so there is no "guarantee" we're going to train or play. However...with this new " give the ball to the dog before leaving the door" approach ....the association with the pending interaction must become a "guarantee" in the dog's mind....and as a result....the dog's anticipation and behavior by ignoring everything else makes sense....because it's go time in her mind???
Something else I have done for the majority of my dog's life is .....I don't leave any play objects laying around...no free access for the dog. I always introduce them to the dog...rather than her finding them and petitioning me with them....she also has learned...when I end the session...she carries the object and drops it at the back door before we go inside. I don't know if this is a good practice or not.....but I guess it was my application of some good advice I received regarding a definitive starting and ending point when working with the dog.
I have obnoxious freaking neighbors with constantly barking dogs on both sides of me and my dogs "paid them no mind!" Gunther would on occasion go after them but verbal corrections worked. My dogs don't get "rewarded" for not acting like fools! That is expected but hey that's just me ... I guess???
My mother would not have corrected me for not saying that.........
SuperDoubleNegativeG
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Related Threads
?
?
?
?
?
German Shepherds Forum
2.6M posts
121.9K members
Since 2002
A forum community dedicated to all German Shepherd owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about bloodlines, training, breeding, service dogs, and more!