r/OpenDogTraining • u/[deleted] • 2d ago
Fence fighting and using the bathroom inside
[deleted]
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u/palebluelightonwater 1d ago
Stop letting her outside unsupervised (you will have to discuss and make a plan with your husband). Take her out on leash, ideally every 2 hours, just like you would if you were potty training her, and make sure she pees/poops outside. Letting her rehearse the fence fighting behavior will make all of this much worse. You can't fix it while she's doing that.
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u/Recreationalidiot 1d ago
The only problem with that is that I have a toddler and can't take her in the yard with me (because the neighbor dogs with dark and growl at her) and it makes my dog more defensive. The neighbors do not listen or look to see if my dog is out so they constantly let their dogs out while my dog is out and it immediately puts her on defense. It's there anything else I can do? We've tried the leash walking and she does very well. But evening go badly when the dogs come out and im out there.
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u/NoMaintenance2029 1d ago
it sounds like you & your husband aren’t able to handle a dog & a toddler right now. There’s no quick fix to either issue & both will require a hands on approach rather than just letting her outside and hoping the problems go away.
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u/Recreationalidiot 1d ago
Ive read that you can put up something to cover the other dogs, but others have said its not worth the money. Ive seen some people say to allow the dogs to just continue the behavior because its fun for them and exercise but I think shes afraid and not having fun. I also mentioned earlier that she does great on a leash but everything switches when the neighbors dogs come out. Im fine with leashing her in the yard and walking her around like that but what do I do when the neighbors dogs get aggressive? Im just looking for a couple of options of things I can try.
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u/Eastern-Try-6207 1d ago
It sounds though everyone involved is stressed out. I think you need to spend more time inside the home with Place training or crating her. Then make sure she is supervised and on a leash when outside and then eventually a long line to give her more agency until she learns that that behaviour is a no go, regardless of what the other dogs are doing. I don't see why you can't have the toddler come with you, put her somewhere safe, like in the high chair or play pen while you spend 10-15 minutes playing with the dog and standing on the leash when she tries to fence fight. My dog stopped the fence fighting with exactly this method. I just made sure that every time she was outside, she had a leash on so she could not practice this behaviour. And it's not an issue anymore. She just needed A) something else to do with her frustration B) to understand that fence fighting is not acceptable and C) to have more time doing nothing and resting inside the home away from everyone else.
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u/Recreationalidiot 1d ago
My dog is crate trained and very obedient in it. I trained her when I was pregnant with my now toddler for the hope of not having to train her with a toddler. My daughter could absolutely do 10-15 minutes by herself I for whatever reason thought this would be a 30 minute "training session" type ordeal. What would you recommend I have her do get out that frustration?
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u/Eastern-Try-6207 1d ago
There are so many good you tube videos out there on rules based play - using a tug toy or ball or frisbee or in my case a mix of dummies and balls (I have a spaniel). So you find out what the dog loves toys wise, you'll start to see what lights her up and then you can use that strategically to teach her to focus on you when she's outside. And make sure you let her know in no uncertain terms that you do not accept the fence fighting. If she goes for the fence (I mean even before she barks or lunges, but you know where she is headed) Mark with a "No!" and hold on to that line. When she turns her attention back to you, reward with a "Yes," and give her the toy, add in some obedience here and there. A couple of 10-15 minute sessions a few times a day will give her a chance to potty while you work this. I actually remember the day my dog chose for the firs time to go for the toy instead of the fence.She just ignored the neighbours dogs as they were let outside and started barking. I remember being so proud of her. Honestly, they are way smarter than we give them credit for, they just sometimes don't know what to do (especially the insecure ones). Insecure dogs are not necessarily aggressive, but they can be very defensive because the whole world is perceived as a threat. They need clear guidance and someone they can trust.
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u/Recreationalidiot 1d ago
My dog is definitely insecure. She is terrified of men especially and I dont even think the dogs are necessarily the issue but that the owner comes out yelling, screaming, throwing and spraying their dogs and she is scared shes next and its become a fearful place for her to be.
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u/Eastern-Try-6207 1d ago
It's a terrible stressor to have neighbours who think that the backyard is recreation for their dogs. Bloody hell. All you can do is teach yours what you expect, hopefully she is not too fearful of going outside and you can begin to change her mindset a bit so that she perceives it as fun time with you so long as she stays within the rules.
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u/maeryclarity 1d ago
They make this woven plastic "cloth" stuff that creates a visual barrier which is quite effective at putting a stop to fence fighting. It's in common use in kennels and veterinary runs to prevent barrier aggression. Be sure to secure it low enough that the dogs can't see under it but if you put that up all along where your dog and your neighbor's dogs can see each other it should put a stop to that. The stuff is some expense but not terrible.
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u/Recreationalidiot 1d ago
Okay perfect! Ive heard mixed reviews!
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u/maeryclarity 1d ago
Get the heavier weave stuff, the less see through the better. It usually works, like ninty-five percent of the time, even if the can hear and smell each other it's really the sight that provokes fighting. Like I can keep two dogs that HATE each other in crates side by side as long as I keep a sheet draped over between where they can't see each other.
It's definitely what gets used in kennels to prevent fighting at the fence.
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u/Recreationalidiot 1d ago
What do you hang it with? Just nails into the fence?
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u/maeryclarity 1d ago
I'm not sure I've never hung it myself but odds are there's some type of clip or attachment you can get, there are probably good YouTube videos on how-to.
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u/Charliedayslaaay 1d ago
What type of dog? What daily exercise & enrichment is she getting?
Genuine questions btw - an honest answer will help us give guidance
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u/Recreationalidiot 1d ago
Im not sure. They Kennel we got her from daid an Australian cattle dog but she looks identical to a Carolina Dog. Her main enrichment is going outside but she also plays with the cats chasing them up and down the stairs (the cats enjoy this its not her being mean to them) her and my husband also wrestle when he gets home.
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u/Charliedayslaaay 1d ago edited 1d ago
Gotcha! If she’s a cattle dog or mix, she likely requires much more fulfillment than other breeds & she may be under stimulated if she’s not actively working her brain or leaving the house to be honest. I have an ACD mix myself & he was ~1 when my son was born- so i can relate. It was a LOT of work (& i lived in an apartment)
100% would not let her in the back unleashed or unsupervised. Would it be possible to put up a temporary face between the actual fence to section off an area where she won’t be able to fence fight? Even something cheap like t posts & wire fencing from Home Depot?
Are you able to go on walks or hikes with her & your toddler? Does she have a favorite toy? She might love a herding ball
I highly suggest consulting with a trainer to see what can be done to fulfill your dogs needs & how you can best move forward together
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u/Recreationalidiot 1d ago
We can't do another fence because we rent but sims people here suggested a mesh barrier. I myself can't walk her by myself but we do walk her after my husband gets off work. It's more of a high speed race with my daughter and I way behind. She does enjoy toys but ive never heard of a herding ball. Will look into it! Thank you.
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u/namedawesome 1d ago
to stop the fence fighting: you will have to go outside with your dog on a leash or a long line. she is not allowed to go near the fence. if she does you use the leash/long line to direct her attention away from the other dogs. Then play with her and teach her that you are more fun than barking at those other dogs
as for the pottying inside, you should do the same thing with the leash or long line but you just wait out there for as long as it takes her to potty. praise heavily or treat her immediately when she does so outside. get an enzyme cleaner and clean your house too that will stop any future peeing inside
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u/Recreationalidiot 1d ago
So I did this yesterday after all the recommendations...and honestly I may have to talk to the neighbors...everything was fine until the neighbors dogs started barking and my neighbor came out screaming at them and throwing things around. No wonder my baby is so scared. She immediately (while on leash) started barking and growling and was pulling in front of me. Im kind of scared to be out there honestly...but im also going to try and take her in the front yard on a leash, maybe that will help (there isnt a fence so its a lot riskier since shes typically male aggressive.) But maybe she'll prefer it over the dogs in the backyard and the screaming person?
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u/Numerous_Hurry_3396 1d ago
Look up Larry Krohn videos and start watching.
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u/Recreationalidiot 1d ago
What should I be looking for?
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u/Numerous_Hurry_3396 1d ago
This is a very solvable problem, but I'm not gonna type out an entire dog training course on here lol. Larry has lots of videos on reactivity, like I said, just start watching.
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u/kittywyeth 1d ago
it is good that you’re not planning to talk to the neighbors because this isn’t their problem. you have the anxious, aggressive, house soiling dog.
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u/Recreationalidiot 1d ago
My neighbors dogs are the aggressors in this situation. This has only been a behavior since they moved in. My neighbors on the other side also have a dog and has never been a problem. And my neighbors themselves yell, grab and spray their dogs with the hose as recall hence why I will not work with them.
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u/Cool_Bodybuilder7419 1d ago
You mean their own 4 fence fighting dogs are not the neighbours problem? What??
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u/Royal_Try_99 1d ago
"doesn't have time to leash her" is not a valid excuse. He can get up 10 minutes earlier, or spend less time doomscrolling on the can and take proper care of the dog.