Scared of my neighbors dogs

5335 Views 9 Replies 6 Participants Last post by VegasResident, Nov 21, 2010

Smoktya

Discussion Starter · Nov 19, 2010

I have had GSD's in the past and we purchased an 8 week old female with a nice working blood-line of SchH1,2 and 3. This is my first GSD as an actual owner (parent's dogs before) and i have a question about her behavior. She is almost 5 months old now and i can see her protective instincts coming out, but when it comes to my neighbors dogs, she is scared. They are a female pit-bull and a Chow/Akita Mix and come out very aggressively towards our fences when they see my dog out. The fences are both chain-link and have a good 12 ft between them, so they are not touching. I have shown her that i am not scared of them and my JRT (aggressive male) doesn't put up with their crap at all (i don't think he would be scared of a Lion to be honest with you). She will stand her ground at first, but once they start barking and carrying-on she heads for the hills. I have shown her repeatedly that i am not afraid of them and she is reluctant to come back out with me when she knows they are there. I am hoping that this is just a phase she is going through since she is so young, but i just want any information i can get about what to do if i am doing something wrong. My neighbor is an a$$ and won't let them actually meet in a nice environment, i have already asked.

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gsdraven

· #2 · Nov 19, 2010

Can you put weaving through the chain link fence so she can't see them? Not sure where you see protective instincts coming out but at this age, she's too young to be protective, it's fear.

I would do my best to stop her interactions with these dogs so she doesn't become dog reactive. Can you block their view? Set up a system with your neighbor so they aren't out at the same time?

Are you socializing her a ton to nice people and dogs?

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AgileGSD

· #3 · Nov 19, 2010

At 5 months old, she is a baby. It is smart for a puppy to be afraid of two adult dogs who are threatening her. That isn't a fight she would ever be able to win and she knows it. She doesn't understand that the fences are keeping them apart and sees them as a real threat. Likely you are making her fear worse by trying to convince her it's no big deal and to wanting her to "stand her ground" (which makes it a bigger deal). With those mixes, I absolutely would not suggest trying to change the owner's mind about them meeting. Both breeds were selectively bred for fighting/animal and dog aggression. Not all dogs want to be doggy friends.

For now, when they come out I would just go to the farthest part of your yard away from the neighbors dogs and go about normal stuff (and most important act normally). If your GSD comes up to you, give her a treat. If your JRT wants a treat or to play with toys do so with him. make it obvious that you go about your normal routine no matter what those neighbor dogs are doing. If the first few times you do this, she doesn't participate that is fine. Just interact with the JRT. Soon the GSD should start to feel more confident and like she is missing out on fun with you. Play and rewards for coming to you while the scary dogs will be your best bet in getting her confidence up about them.

I would probably put up a privacy fence on that side or plant some sort of view blocking hedges or vines between the two fences. I wouldn't want to deal with that sort of behavior from the neighbor dogs on a daily basis and it is stressful for your dogs to deal with it, even the GSD.

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Smoktya

Discussion Starter · #4 · Nov 19, 2010

gsdraven said:
Can you put weaving through the chain link fence so she can't see them? Not sure where you see protective instincts coming out but at this age, she's too young to be protective, it's fear.

I would do my best to stop her interactions with these dogs so she doesn't become dog reactive. Can you block their view? Set up a system with your neighbor so they aren't out at the same time?

Are you socializing her a ton to nice people and dogs?

She has been socialized to the bone. Ever since we had her she has gone to both my son's football practices that are just full of people and other animals. 4 times a week for 2 hours. It even included some GSD's from a Schutzhund Club that were just as nice and obedient as could be. foot-ball is now over and we just go for walks. She does love other people and dogs, it is just these two. And to make matters worse, my neighbors dogs got out this morning and were chasing a lady who was jogging with her Doberman. Dobie didn't like that they were charging and reacted to protect his master. The pit-bull ran off and the Akita mix is now going to the hospital. I couldn't believe my eyes. Scary stuff.

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Smoktya

Discussion Starter · #5 · Nov 19, 2010

AgileGSD said:
At 5 months old, she is a baby. It is smart for a puppy to be afraid of two adult dogs who are threatening her. That isn't a fight she would ever be able to win and she knows it. She doesn't understand that the fences are keeping them apart and sees them as a real threat. Likely you are making her fear worse by trying to convince her it's no big deal and to wanting her to "stand her ground" (which makes it a bigger deal). With those mixes, I absolutely would not suggest trying to change the owner's mind about them meeting. Both breeds were selectively bred for fighting/animal and dog aggression. Not all dogs want to be doggy friends.

For now, when they come out I would just go to the farthest part of your yard away from the neighbors dogs and go about normal stuff (and most important act normally). If your GSD comes up to you, give her a treat. If your JRT wants a treat or to play with toys do so with him. make it obvious that you go about your normal routine no matter what those neighbor dogs are doing. If the first few times you do this, she doesn't participate that is fine. Just interact with the JRT. Soon the GSD should start to feel more confident and like she is missing out on fun with you. Play and rewards for coming to you while the scary dogs will be your best bet in getting her confidence up about them.

I would probably put up a privacy fence on that side or plant some sort of view blocking hedges or vines between the two fences. I wouldn't want to deal with that sort of behavior from the neighbor dogs on a daily basis and it is stressful for your dogs to deal with it, even the GSD.

I used to have hedges there and ripped them out about 3 years ago. I might go with those colored strips that go in between the fencing. Maybe the wifey will even let me get one of those PVC fences. I'll tell her it's my christmas present. Thanks for the tips, that is what i am going to do, or try and do

I will admit that my JRT can't stand those dogs and when he even hears them he gets pissed off. That dog would protect me from anything

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Stogey

· #6 · Nov 19, 2010

Yep, she's just a just a Baby attempting to protect herself from the overgrown bullies ! Give her a year, you'll probably see a big change in her disposition !

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VegasResident

· #7 · Nov 19, 2010 (Edited)

I agree with everyone. First at her age protective instincts do not come out.

You should not try to encourage her to stand ground at her age with two crazy aggressive barking dogs. There is no purpose to her being that close

It would be better if she learned to just ignore them and work across the yard with you.

When I wlak my 5 month old, there are two dogs that always rush their fence and bark and my boy wants to stop, etc.

I keep walking confidently along our walk helping him to understand that this is not something that he nor I need to address.

As far as meet their dogs in a nice environment? Why? They would probably just attack your dog. There are some dogs not worth trying to socialize to

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Smoktya

Discussion Starter · #8 · Nov 20, 2010

I was told by my local schutzhund club that she has promising signs and is showing her protective instincts. They did some testing to look for that at a young age and i was told that she will be a good guardian. That is the only reason i mentioned that. She definitely lets you know if someone is around. Thanks for all the info and i will definitely set-up some sort of privacy fencing to keep those bullies out of sight, at least.

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selzer

· #9 · Nov 21, 2010

I know dogs have been domesticated for thousands of years, but they are still animals. In the wild, a pup would be very insecure around adult dogs from a different pack. Pit mix and akita mix, I know we are not supposed to be breed-specific, but both of these breeds can tend to be dog-aggressive.

Good for the Doberman. If you asked me whether a Doberman or a pit/mix and akita/mix, who would win, I would pick the duo.

Your neighbor should be more careful with his dogs. No one should get chased by dogs. They will be lucky to get by with just a warning. I agree with blocking the view and not allowing the fence fighting. Your JRT has no chance at all against the other two dogs. Your GSD is intelligent and knows that.

Protect your puppy from your crazy neighbor's dogs. Continue to train and socialized. Five months old is not done with either.

Good luck.

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VegasResident

· #10 · Nov 21, 2010

Smoktya said:
I was told by my local schutzhund club that she has promising signs and is showing her protective instincts. They did some testing to look for that at a young age and i was told that she will be a good guardian. That is the only reason i mentioned that. She definitely lets you know if someone is around. Thanks for all the info and i will definitely set-up some sort of privacy fencing to keep those bullies out of sight, at least.

I guess we define differently. The potential your dog has currently is not "protection" and whomever said it may be mixing terms. Schutzhund is about drive..prey drive, etc., not really "protection" which comes later in the training. Even though you hear defensive and protection, it is more of a targeted prey drive initially. Prey drive can be tested at a very young age. Protection defense is something that comes later and is not in a 5 month old pup

More detailed....prey drive is something that is inborn. When something moves, they have an overwhelming urge to chase it, catch it, and eat it. This something that dogs do naturally. This drive is used in Schutzhund training to teach the dogs to view the sacks, tubes and sleeves as their prey. When the dog sees these things it knows things are about to get exciting.

Dogs are not born with defensive drive. Some dogs are not very happy when they're in this drive, and should be taught with great care. If not, it could lead to avoidance. This is something that is not wanted in training.

Schutzhund training begins as a fun way for dogs to play (prey drive), but that play leads to the next step which is defensive.

Your pups current potential is on prey drive.

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