Help me - over excited doggo

[OhJanet]

Hi all,

After some tips please. Our DDog is a lovely, friendly big bear. She loves people and kids but does get overstimulated very easily. We've got an inclosed garden but the fencing is chain link so you can see through both sides. Both NDN have young kids and they're lovely but they will not leave the dog alone when they're in the garden. Constantly calling her over and throwing bloody sticks into the garden, getting her worked up. We've set up a little cool area for DDog with a dog pool so was hoping to be able to have her out with us for short periods to relax but so far we have to keep putting her inside because she just can't settle with the constant high pitched squealing from the kids.

Any ideas on how to get her to block it out? I really want to enjoy my dog in my garden without constant interruption and chaos.

Tell the kids you are training the dog to ignore people and ask if they could help train her by ignoring her when they are in their garden and she is in yours.

Put her on a lead and sit with her. My dog has frozen marrow bones for in the shade, her something high value like a frozen kong then put her on the lead. Every time she stands or looks at the kids next door, stand - give her 'down' command.

It takes training. Our dog completely blanks all but his favourite people now 🤣

Thank you, one of the kids is just too young to understand and I've been wanting to keep the peace with the neighbours so far. But I think you're right, I'll probably have to have a word with the parents and the older kids.

I'd really love to know any tips to help DDog to block things out though. She's pretty good on walks as we do the 'look at me' bit. The gardens a different story though

Thanks that's really helpful. I didn't even think to put her on the lead to restrict movement.

Get a wooden fence so they can't see through?

Ask the parents in a nice way

nothing to lose

Can you put up something obstructive along the fence on the inside? Trellis / wooden fence / bamboo in pots etc? If the kids can't see the dog that might help.

This would be ideal but we're not allowed to put a fence up unfortunately.

You could always put a windbreak or something up in your garden between the kids and where you're asking the dog to lie down. Then she would get less stimulation and if the dc are small they'll probably forget she's there if she's not being exciting - which in turn will help you teach the dog to ignore the dc.

As a quick fix can you tie them sheets of thin bamboo canes to the fence so there is a physical block in the eye line , then ass pp said a very high value treat toy peanut butter ( frozen in this weather ) in a Kong

Is the fence actually secure? Sounds like the dog shouldn’t be out there alone.

Yes but it could be jumpable if she put her mind to it. She's never left alone outside, more due to the frequency of dog thefts in this area.

It’s not secure then. Why can’t you put up a proper fence?
In the meantime it needs to be on a lead. Longline on a harness?

As I said above we are not allowed to put up a fence.

I would cover the fence with something - temporary fencing or a windbreak.

I am surprised you’re allowed a dog then. It’s not safe and secure.

Allowed a dog by who? DDog has never tried to jump over the fence and she would need a substantially greater run up to be able to actually clear it even if she wanted to. respectfully, You're patronising comments are not helpful so I will be passing over them from now on

Thanks, yes that probably a good idea.

An arrangement of windbreaks sounds ideal. You could always go around to the neighbours and preempt any But where is Doggy?!! questions by explaining that while it’s lovely they want to play with her, you need to move on to this bit of training now, because not all children want her running up to them.

It's normally visual stimulus that winds them up in the garden - I find if my dog can't see the child/noise/cat/squirrel then he's less likely to react, even if he can still hear it and smell it.

A windbreak or even a sheet clipped over the fence should help massively. Just explain to the neighbours that you're trying to train the dog and could they ask the DC not to engage with her while she's in the garden 😊

Absolutely. I know many kids are scared of dogs and that's why DDog is always on a lead on walks. We're very careful about that, take a wide berth of families and kids if we approach on a walk. I think she doesn't realise how big she is sometimes.

Covering up the fence seems like the best and most recommended option so I'm going to look into that. Thanks

No worries, fingers crossed it works!

Me too! Nothing worse when you're trying to enjoy a rare British sunny day and there's mayhem going on in your oasis 😂