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Original poster

My dog is addicted to our fence and it's driving me mad!

87 replies

colourPink · 02/06/2023 16:46

I live on an estate so my garden connects with others. When we first got our dog (who is currently three) both my neighbour to the left and the neighbour opposite had a dog. Marvel (my dog who's a pomsky which is a Pomeranian x husky) used to sniff curiously both fences but once he'd had a sniff he was happy to leave it.

It was lockdown when we first had Marvel so after a year or so our neighbours (opposite) dog sat for a week and everything changed. He went mental! Running up and down the fence, barking, frantically digging to try and get underneath.

Once the other dog left we thought the behaviour would stop but it hasn't. Neither of my neighbours have a dog anymore but he is obsessed (and I mean obsessed) with that back fence. When they did have their dogs he started that behaviour with them - even when this had never been a problem previously!

When we let him out for a wee the first thing he does it run to the fence to check it. He will often spend a lot of time just sniffing/walking the length of it even though there's isn't another dog there. He is truly obsessed with it.

We've had to put wooden planks all along the length of it as he's dug so many holes but not much keeps him at bay.

On a good day: he'll have his sniff at the fence but then ignore it and lie in the sun/ chill in the garden.

Today is a bad day. My neighbours opposite are dog sitting and he's acting feral. I have a second dog now (a chihuahua) and she's starting to mimic the behaviour. He digs frantically, barks etc and it's awful! I'm very lucky that my neighbours are so kind and understanding. It's lovely weather and I haven't been able to sit out today due to his behaviour. I've had to put him on a lead just to make sure he wees (but even then he's too hyper focused on the other dog). I feel like a crazy woman shouting his name etc to try and get him to stop but he won't listen to me, to anyone or anything, when the fence is involved.

Once we're inside he'll settle for an hour before barking at the back door. Thats his signal that he wants to go out but he just goes back to that fence.

It's really getting me down and driving me mad! I don't even know where to begin with training for this. I'm 6 months pregnant and desperately saving for maternity leave so hiring a behaviour specialist isn't in the cards for us right now. Just as a FYI he's not particularly a food motivated dog either.

Does anyone have any training advice?

Should I just put up a second smaller fence to stop him going to the back? I could try it but I'm reluctant as 1) it would make my garden look awful. 2) my garden isn't that big and that's taking a big chunk away. Not something I'm overly keen to do as next summer I'll have a baby playing out there.

Sorry for the long post. I'm pregnant, hormonal and feel at such a loss with this! I appreciate any advice.

Thanks

OP posts:
Successstory82 · 02/06/2023 16:49

Your poor neighbours

You need to see a behaviour dog trainer. Pronto

Successstory82 · 02/06/2023 16:50

Does he get decent and active walks… every single day?

flossypots · 02/06/2023 16:52

There's a really good FB group that might be able to advise. It's called 'Dog training advice and support'.

They've got lots of reading material and if you still can't work out a solution you can post on their page for advice.

Blanketpolicy · 02/06/2023 16:54

Until you work out how to stop it don't allow him to do it as it will just embed the behaviour more making it harder to fix. Even if that means he doesn't get out the back garden or only gets out on a lead.

He should be getting enough stimulation from his daily walks and indoor training to not need to be in the garden.

Original poster
colourPink · 02/06/2023 16:57

Successstory82 · 02/06/2023 16:49

Your poor neighbours

You need to see a behaviour dog trainer. Pronto

Thank for you this very helpful advice.

99% of the time he doesn't bark - only when they have another dog over. I'm just concerned with how obsessed he seems with the fence!

OP posts:
Original poster
colourPink · 02/06/2023 16:58

Successstory82 · 02/06/2023 16:50

Does he get decent and active walks… every single day?

Yes! Walked every day and often had a lick mat/ kong in the evenings.

Like I said - most of the time he'll just sniff or walk it a few times before doing something else. But when they have a dog over it's a write off!

OP posts:
Original poster
colourPink · 02/06/2023 16:59

flossypots · 02/06/2023 16:52

There's a really good FB group that might be able to advise. It's called 'Dog training advice and support'.

They've got lots of reading material and if you still can't work out a solution you can post on their page for advice.

Thank you. I will look into this!

OP posts:
JuneOsborne · 02/06/2023 16:59

You just have to correct the behaviour. Every. Single. Time. Or, as a pp said, not let him at it!

My dbro rescued a lockdown dog and he is obsessed with on side of the garden, but barks. And barks. And barks. So my dbro stops him every time. In the couple of years that he's had the dog, it's got significantly better. He'll have a go occasionally, but as soon as he sees my dbro. He stops.

WhimHoff · 02/06/2023 16:59

I imagine a Pomeranian (lapdog) x Husky (working pack athlete) is probably in need of a hefty dose of therapy. You need an expert involved to help that poor dog.

Undisclosedlocation · 02/06/2023 17:00

The behaviour with the fence is a symptom. Until you find out the ‘why’, you can’t fix it

what is his daily routine, exercise regime, training,age etc etc? This sounds on first glance a classic ‘under exercised and under stimulated’ dog problem

Original poster
colourPink · 02/06/2023 17:00

JuneOsborne · 02/06/2023 16:59

You just have to correct the behaviour. Every. Single. Time. Or, as a pp said, not let him at it!

My dbro rescued a lockdown dog and he is obsessed with on side of the garden, but barks. And barks. And barks. So my dbro stops him every time. In the couple of years that he's had the dog, it's got significantly better. He'll have a go occasionally, but as soon as he sees my dbro. He stops.

How do you recommend I correct it? By making him come inside completely or by putting him on a lead and just taking him away from the fence?

Just want to make sure I do this right! Thanks

OP posts:
Successstory82 · 02/06/2023 17:05

if this has been going on for years oP

then you need to pay for a dog behavioural expert if you want this sorted before your unborn baby is a toddler

Successstory82 · 02/06/2023 17:06

99% of the time he doesn't bark

not quite how you conveyed it in your op

Successstory82 · 02/06/2023 17:07

He digs frantically, barks etc and it's awful! I'm very lucky that my neighbours are so kind and understanding. It's lovely weather and I haven't been able to sit out today due to his behaviour.

Would indicate that it’s more than 1%of the time

Original poster
colourPink · 02/06/2023 17:08

Successstory82 · 02/06/2023 17:06

99% of the time he doesn't bark

not quite how you conveyed it in your op

Isn't it? I said he is obsessed with the fence and spends a lot of time "guarding it". I only mentioned barking when my neighbours have a dog over. That's a rare occasion.

OP posts:
Undisclosedlocation · 02/06/2023 17:09

Obsessive behaviours need to be addressed at root cause. If you correct him without working out why he is behaving like this, he will most likely just find another (probably inappropriate) way to behave.
im afraid that you will have to seek professional help. Without a detailed history take and full overview, plus experienced eyes on the dog no one on the internet can second guess how to help this dog. And yes, he needs help, rather than he is being naughty. Happy, content dogs do not generally act like this.

Successstory82 · 02/06/2023 17:10

Just seen you don’t have the funds for a professional, ok bad advice on my part

Successstory82 · 02/06/2023 17:11

You haven’t answered whether he gets decent length and active walks every day?

what’s his recall like? Ok off lead?

Original poster
colourPink · 02/06/2023 17:11

@Undisclosedlocation thanks for the suggestion. I really wanted to avoid paying out (only due to personal circumstances at the moment) but we might just have to.

Im going to need to talk to my husband when he gets home from work tonight.

OP posts:
Original poster
colourPink · 02/06/2023 17:12

Successstory82 · 02/06/2023 17:07

He digs frantically, barks etc and it's awful! I'm very lucky that my neighbours are so kind and understanding. It's lovely weather and I haven't been able to sit out today due to his behaviour.

Would indicate that it’s more than 1%of the time

This is when they dog sit only. Which is rare. Otherwise he's not too bothered - just oddly obsessed.

OP posts:
RunningFromInsanity · 02/06/2023 17:12

It’s more like a habit now so you need to break it.
I would suggest a temporary fence to stop him having access to the actual fence. When you let him out, keep a lead on so you can move him away from the fence.

Once you’ve broken the habit, you can take the temporary fence away.

Original poster
colourPink · 02/06/2023 17:13

Successstory82 · 02/06/2023 17:11

You haven’t answered whether he gets decent length and active walks every day?

what’s his recall like? Ok off lead?

I have previously?

He's walked every day - often twice a day. His recall is good (just not in the garden 😂).

He often has licky mats/ kongs etc

OP posts:
Original poster
colourPink · 02/06/2023 17:15

RunningFromInsanity · 02/06/2023 17:12

It’s more like a habit now so you need to break it.
I would suggest a temporary fence to stop him having access to the actual fence. When you let him out, keep a lead on so you can move him away from the fence.

Once you’ve broken the habit, you can take the temporary fence away.

I think I'm going to have to try this! Looks like I'll be going to the garden centre tomorrow. 😂

OP posts:
DarkForces · 02/06/2023 17:17

I'd put him on a lead and reward him for not approaching the fence. Gradually move towards the fence and reward as soon as he looks away. Reduce distance and increase the time he needs to ignore it until the obsession ends.
Id also try and teach a quiet and calm instruction. I find shhh works well for this rather than shouting and joining in the noise. Shouting their name just means you're joining in

BeansOnToast32 · 02/06/2023 17:22

I wouldn't be allowing the dog on the garden full stop unless you are out there with him and he's on lead. As soon as he tries obsessing over the fence you take him straight back inside. Repeat over and over.

He's barking to go out every hour because he knows you'll give in and you are basically rewarding him by letting him loose to terrorise the fence again which is what he wants. You need to make it as boring as possible outside, he barks to go out but you only let him out on the lead for 10mins or however long it takes to have his wee or poo and then he goes straight back in.

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