Our dog tried to bite a neighbour - advice appreciated.

[LittlePearl]

2 yr old Border Terrier, had him since 5 months old - he came with issues but we've done lots of training and have seen good results.

The biggest problem remaining is that he's very territorial, so we keep our front gate bolted and manage visitor entries carefully - he's always fine when people are actually in the house, but he barks aggressively in the garden.

We have a trellis fence on the boundary with our neighbour and our dog will run to the fence and bark when they appear. Today my husband went to bring our dog back indoors and as he got close the neighbour reached down his hand and our dog tried to bite him through the trellis. Neighbour whipped his hand away quickly and said 'I didn't expect that!' - husband was mortified and apologised.

This has never happened before, I've always thought it was 'bark but no bite' - although we don't take chances, hence the locked gate.

I feel so disappointed. My previous BT loved everyone and I can't get my head round having a dog that might actually bite somebody.

Your dog was protecting his home,your neighbour should have been advised the dog was territorial and to not put his hand through.

I have an aggressive dog it is hard work to manage. I am not sure I understand the fence did the neighbour put a hand through to pet the dog? If so you are going to have to say sorry and can they not pet under any circumstances, my dog is fine as long as nobody invades his space the garden and fence is your dogs space.

Sorry did the neighbour put his hand through the trellis or did your neighbour put his hand down in his own garden and the dog popped his head through the trellis onto the neighbours side and bite him?

Well now your neighbour knows what to expect he can keep his hands out of your garden!! Seriously I wouldn't worry about it. The dog probably got a fright and reacted accordingly!!

Sorry if I wasn't very clear..... our dog was right up at the trellis, barking at the neighbour and the chap went to touch / stroke him.

I'm not sure if our dog had his snout through the trellis or whether the neighbour began to put his hand through the trellis (I was in the house, my husband was just going to get our dog - we always bring him in if he's barking on the boundaries). He didn't make contact with his hand but dh said he snapped / went to bite him and the neighbour jerked his hand away.

Dh said to me he was surprised the neighbour tried to touch him, but he's got a big soft lab and I wonder if he fancies himself as a dog whisperer type .

Could you get some of that chicken wire and put it up your side of the fence.

I don’t agree with people keeping aggressive dogs regardless of their size but...it was your neighbours fault on this one.

Your neighbour when to touch a barking dog who is displaying territorial aggression? He is a fool.
Your poor pup does sound very anxious. Have you tried a thunder vest for when you have visitors etc? I used it for my stressful though non aggressive Labrador and it is wonderful.

What do you suggest Euthanising all dogs who are territorial or fear aggressive ? You say the word aggressive and people jump to conclusions that they are slavering hellhounds.

You need to put up something blocking the trellis like chicken wire. If the dog had his snot through the trellis you could run into trouble technically if he bit your neighbour as your neighbour could claim he was picking a weed etc and the dog bite him.

MrsJayy - yes, chicken wire was dh's idea too.

I've been meaning to invite the neighbours in for supper for ages and the strange thing is I bet the dog would be absolutely fine with him once they're in and settled. We put him in the utility room as he goes bonkers when people arrive but he quickly calms down and then is allowed out to greet them. He has never been anything other than friendly and chilled once people are actually in the house, but he gets very stressed at anyone on the boundary of the property.

The other day I didn't notice the window cleaner approaching. The gate was bolted and the young guy jumped over the fence to come to the front door. Luckily the dog was indoors but in the light of today's incident I really wonder what would have happened if he'd been loose in the garden, which he often is - big garden, lovely place to play and snooze. You try to be careful but I'm so aware things can go wrong despite your best intentions

Forgive my ignorance..... how does a thunder vest work?

You need proper solid fencing.
You mustn't let the dog out unsupervised where members of the public can reach.
Look for a decent behaviourist.
Your neighbour is an idiot. Your dog was barking to get them go back off so they stick their hand out at the dog?

Follow all the advice about keeping the dog and humans safe (chicken wire etc). but it might also be worth doing some work to counter conditioning (change from hating to liking) the dog to people passing/putting hands through the fence. I don't know whether I'd ever fully trust the dog not to bite if someone did it again but it would help tip the odds in your favour if somehow your safety measures failed.

Basically you very slowly work up to the dog expecting nice things when hands are put through the fence rather than fearing an attack. You do that by breaking it down into stages (getting used to you putting your hands near the fence then on the fence then through the fence, then a friend putting hands near, on, through, then a stranger putting hands near, on, through. Each stage is paired with lots of tasty treats so that it becomes a sign something nice is going to happen.

This video uses a different scenario but the method would be the same:

Definitely block the trellis fencing in, and consider a smaller 'garden' within the garden so that if someone does enter suddenly you and they have more time to react.
I do think you should speak to a behaviourist. This is right up their street, and while it may always be something you have to supervise, you should be able to take the 'uncontrollable' out of it. If your dog responds well, you will be surprised.
My first experience with a behaviourist was when my golden pup began to guard my 3 yr old. Following the behaviourist advice, it was cured within a weekend and has never returned (12 yrs). I had to convince the dog by my behaviour that the child was my property and therefore under my protection, so he was 'off duty'.
The second was with my incredibly barky terrier, who at the first sign of someone outside would bark crazily and jump up at the front door. She now gives a low bark and as soon as I say 'dogs to the kitchen' she goes to the kitchen and sits quietly. It only took about 500 mini sausages and a friend willing to spend a lot of time walking up and down my front path.
There are lots of strategies that will help.

Thanks so much for the replies.

Wolfie - our house is at the end of a long private drive shared with the neighbours so fortunately we're well away from pedestrians. Our gardens are separated by solid fencing except for a small area where the neighbours park their car which is beech hedge and trellis. We also have a high, solid and bolted gate

We tried getting the neighbours to chuck dog treats over, hoping that our dog would learn to associate their coming and going with good things happening, but it was only making him bark more and more excitedly so we had to stop. Usually they just ignore him but for some reason - possibly because the neighbour saw my husband approaching and was stopping for a chat - he bent down and put out his hand.

Just looked at thunder shirts and I might try one. He's bomb proof with loud noises and all the stuff that often makes dogs anxious EXCEPT for the territorial thing.

Cross posted with the last couple of replies - thanks, I will check out all the suggestions.

Feeling a bit more cheerful. Good old Doghouse!

My dog is a barky wreck. She’s fine once she knows people but she makes life very hard!

If you only have the one neighbour I would be making great efforts to invite them over until he is fine with them in the house. Then I imagine he won’t be territorial with them in the garden either.

As Woldiefan said, a good behaviourist will be able to reduce the dog's aggression and work with it to make it a calmer and less anxious animal in its daily life. Getting it neutered will also help.

I think I read somewhere that you shouldn’t have caution dog or beware of the dog signs as that is admitting that there is something to beware of! Plenty of dog running loose in garden signs seem reasonable I reckon.

Hopefully lesson learned for the neighbour.