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

[colourPink]

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

We had success in a similar situation with ours. We had just a corner where a neighbour’s dog and ours were barking at each other. By putting some old metal chairs under the tree in the corner we made a barrier and the dogs just aren’t interested any more, even though we’ve just moved them back by about 4ft.

I've never walked my dog three times a day and barely know anyone who does.

That said, I don't have a husky

I totally get that you're saving for mat leave but this is going to drive you even more potty when you've got a baby or toddler to worry about too. Honestly I would invest in the behavioural trainer now to save your future mental health.

This

with bells on

your love for him will diminish when every time you put your any down for a nap, he or she is woken by mad barking

That said, I don't have a husky

No I didn't either.

I just always thought morning, afternoon, evening!

I do think it's impossible to generalise as there are so many factors at play - how long the dogs are left, breed, age, health conditions, garden access (and whether they'll toilet there), how much company they get, how long the walks are and the locations you can offer etc.

Mine would think I was insane if I tried to walk him three times a day, but the walks he does get are out in the countryside or at the beach, and they all involve some kind of training or scent-work so he gets "worked" everyday (he's a beagle). He also has company through the day and gets lots of scent training and brain work then too.

Who on earth gave you a chihuahua as a gift knowing you already had a husky! Did they spring this “gift” on you?!

Beagles, unless a “reason” ie elderly, puppy, ill …. should have circa 1.5 hours. Every day.

I understand that dealing with your dog's obsession with the fence can be frustrating and overwhelming, especially considering your current circumstances.

Providing your dog with plenty of mental and physical stimulation can help redirect their focus and energy. Gradually desensitize your dog to the fence by associating it with positive experiences. Offer treats, praise, and rewards when your dog is calm and not reacting to the fence. Over time, they may start to develop a more positive attitude towards that area.

Consider using visual barriers, such as bamboo blinds, solid panels, or plants, to obstruct your dog's view of the fence. This can help reduce their stimulation and prevent the obsessive behavior.

Continue working on obedience training with your dog, reinforcing commands like "leave it" or "focus" to divert their attention away from the fence. Consistent training and positive reinforcement can help establish boundaries and control their behavior.

Christ almighty. Getting a lockdown dog, accepting a SECOND dog as a "gift" (yes, the person who gave it to you was an idiot, but you could have said no and rehomed it), and all this while planning to start a family.

This thread pretty much sums up why so many of us are fed up with a lot of dogs and dog owners right now!

I bet this is absolutely doing your neighbours head in, we had a neighbouring yappy fence obsessed dog and we all hated it. You probably should keep it inside until you can resolve this

Hi OP @colourPink did you resolve the problem? Am facing similar and wondering what to do. Thank you!