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The doghouse

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Original poster

Anyone got any ideas how I can get my dog to tolerate my neighbour's dog

47 replies

SirChenjins · 26/10/2023 09:08

He hates this dog with a passion - no idea why. Owners are very protective of this dog, he's their child, and they have taken great umbrage to my dog barking at theirs. Last week they angrily confronted DH in the street demanding to know why our dog doesn't like their dog. Whenever we see them I immediately walk in the opposite direction (with ChenDog barking like crazy over his shoulder at this other one) and let him sniff or root for treats to distract him once I've got him far enough away. Have tried 'look at me' but as soon as he sees the dog it's an immediate reaction.

Any ideas on how I can get him to stop reacting to this other dog? Neighbourly relations are non-existent so I wouldn't be inclined to ask them if we could work together, esp after the shouting and swearing at DH.

OP posts:
DogInATent · 26/10/2023 09:13

Our dog never liked the neighbours dog. Probably a combination of adjacent territories and the other dog being a bit in-your-face. With zero neighbourly relations your options are very limited and you won't be able to do controlled encounters.

Blackandwhitemakesgrey · 26/10/2023 09:19

Can you change you walking routes to avoid the other dog?

On one of our local short walks, another dog (a large breed) barks at our dog. We are worried because he seems aggressive. Large dogs of certain breeds can be very intimidating for people as well as other dogs.

When I see dogs on a chain type lead I change direction asap.

Blackandwhitemakesgrey · 26/10/2023 09:21

Our dog never liked the neighbours dog. Probably a combination of adjacent territories and the other dog being a bit in-your-face. With zero neighbourly relations your options are very limited and you won't be able to do controlled encounters.

We and neighbours have small dogs. We tried a meet up in an attempt to stop the barking when both dogs are in their own gardens and outside at the same time. The meet up failed spectacularly. Both dogs went crazy even in their owner’s arms!

Poplolly · 26/10/2023 09:31

I have the same problem so watching for any tips.

next door have a large dog who looks over the fence, my dog sees and they both then start a reaction. I’ve been trying to train mine not to react, though next door aren’t very proactive but have I managed to have a conversation about putting up a higher fence.

so far I’ve tried distraction and reward, it works sometimes but not all the time. It takes time though. I’ve managed to get him to stop reacting when the other dog gets up at the fence. However, the other dog gives a sly woof and jumps down, my dog then reacts by running towards the fence jumping up and barking. I feel your pain

Original poster
SirChenjins · 26/10/2023 11:09

Both dogs are the same smallish size and breed, so I suspect it maybe it a territory thing - they moved in a few months ago, and mine has embarrassed us both at every meeting. I vary our walks and times to minimise our interactions, but as they live just round the corner (we can see their house from ours) we do bump into them. I thought I was safe this morning at 6.30am, but no. There are lots of dogs in our neighbourhood, it's common for some of them to bark at others, and the majority of owners just roll their eyes and smile knowingly, but this couple have taken my dog's barking very much to heart and are Not Happy.

OP posts:
tabulahrasa · 26/10/2023 12:02

Not helpful at all...

but I am laughing quite a lot at someone taking umbrage at a dog disliking theirs... I mean!!!

StrawberryPavlova · 26/10/2023 12:06

Tell them you asked your dog why he doesn't like the neighbour dog and he said it was because he looked at him funny.

Blackandwhitemakesgrey · 26/10/2023 12:09

There isn’t much you can do OP then. If your dog isn’t aggressive, I would just roll my eyes and visibly shorten your dog’s lead so they can see you are in control of your dog. A dog straining towards them is probably worrying them.

Mrsjayy · 26/10/2023 12:11

Sorry I laughed at how offended they are .that your dog doesn't like theirs, that's ridiculous 🙄 I would be tempted to say we'll yours Is a bit of an arsehole 😂

I maybe would walk past them on a walk and try and not stress. Have they had a bum sniff of each other? My dog hates the cockapoo over the road from us, I think jaydog senses it getting a lead on because he ALWAYS knows when it's coming out its house and barks at it.

Mrsjayy · 26/10/2023 12:12

StrawberryPavlova · 26/10/2023 12:06

Tell them you asked your dog why he doesn't like the neighbour dog and he said it was because he looked at him funny.

😂

Ibravedaflood · 26/10/2023 12:12

Just tell them you have had stern words with your ddog. Suggest he has had treats suspended until his attitude changes...

alloalloallo · 26/10/2023 12:25

My dog hates my neighbour’s dog when they’re both in the back gardens, but besties when they’re out the front together.

I think it’s a territorial thing - they can’t see each other when there is a fence between them. We’ve tried lifting them up so they can see each other over the fence but they just don’t seem to get it as they just started to bark at each other again when we put them back down.

Can you get them together? Take them
on a walk together maybe? I don’t know. We’ve never cracked the trying to kill each other thing when they’re in their back gardens but neither us or our neighbour have taken it to heart.

Paperbagsaremine · 26/10/2023 12:30

"I have no idea, I think your dog is LOVELY! I always keep him under tight control to ensure your dog stays safe and am practicing 'look at me' - what's the next thing I should try, what would you recommend?"

One of my dogs was a vociferous and performative barker, but luckily most locals were sympathetic and saw I was trying! But it was a PITA as he was 30kg+ and I couldn't realistically pick him up!

Anonanonanon1 · 26/10/2023 13:06

Feed treats when you see the other dog before yours starts reacting. This will build positive associations. Needs to be done at a Distance to start with and work closer gradually.
Maybe you could arrange a meet up at a field or park?

Trickedbyadoughnut · 26/10/2023 13:19

Tell them he takes an aversion to all dogs owned by twats.

Sorry, nothing helpful from me😉

jlpth · 26/10/2023 13:21

I think it's territory. My dog can't stand the dog that lives over the back fence from us.

NotObligedToArgueWithStrangers · 26/10/2023 13:23

"Last week they angrily confronted DH in the street demanding to know why our dog doesn't like their dog."
I hope he laughed at them 🤣

I'd probably go with treat distraction, works best if you spot the object of his hatred before he does! However they're not your friends and the dogs don't really need to be either, so I wouldn't worry too much and keep avoiding. Good excuse to not have to talk to them 👍

Judashascomeintosomemoney · 26/10/2023 13:29

Whenever we see them I immediately walk in the opposite direction (with ChenDog barking like crazy over his shoulder at this other one)

Well, tbh, you’ve sort of taught him to behave like this. Presumably you mean this happens only outside in the street? He barks (for whatever reason - could be a frustrated greeter, don’t know without more info). You probably tense up (which he will feel down the lead). You turn him away and retreat from the ‘threat’ and he thinks ‘Yay! Job done, I’m so clever we get to avoid that dog my mummy hates. That’ll learn him’ (well he doesn’t think that cos he’s a dog, but you get my meaning). If you genuinely want to do something to ease it, Controlled meets outside of territory. Not face to face. Alongside walks to start with and take it very slowly. Unless of course either one is actively aggressive to the other in which case I personally wouldn’t bother and just live with it. Not meaning to be offensive, but are you confident you can tell the difference between aggressive barking /body language and excitement m/frustration? If not maybe ask someone who does know to observe.

margotrose · 26/10/2023 15:42

Considering how shitty their behaviour is towards you, I would be inclined to just carry on as you are, really.

Our dog was bitten by our neighbours' (now deceased) Jack Russell and hated the very sight of him from that moment on. I'll be honest - I didn't really do anything to prevent the behaviour, just made sure he was securely on a lead (or in the house/garden).

Original poster
SirChenjins · 26/10/2023 15:49

@Judashascomeintosomemoney no, it's definitely not excitement. I know his excited bark, and that ain't it. We did try introducing them for a bum sniff on one of the first walks where we met each other, but mine took one sniff and went ballistic so I apologised profusely and moved on. Since then, he's fuelled their ire by barking loudly and lunging so the very last thing I'm going to do is suggest controlled walks - they made their feelings towards me and my dog very clear when they confronted DH and I'd just get more of the same if I approached them.

Some great suggestions - not always the practical solutions I was looking for if I'm being totally honest, but they've given me a good giggle on a Thursday afternoon Grin

We've got a very reputable trainer booked for next week, so will see what she suggests. In the meantime I think I'll wear a different coat and spray paint him black to disguise us both.

OP posts:
pigsDOfly · 26/10/2023 15:54

Well, frankly your neighbours sound ridiculous.

That apart, as pp said, you need to stop walking him in the opposite direction and work on getting him to pass the other dog without reaction.

Keep on doing 'look at me' and treat him the second you get his attention. Don't expect a quick fix, it could take several months, but you have to keep at it; it might help if you do this with any other dogs you encounter as it will become the norm for him.

I moved into my current home two years ago and my fairly non barky dog suddenly became quite barky in reaction to the large, very barky dog next door.

Over time she has stopped reacting to hearing him barking in his garden and just ignores him. I didn't actually do anything, I think she just can't be bothered about him any more - familiarity breeding contempt - but it has taken quite some time.

Having said that, it was a lot easier as neither of them reacted to the other if they met in the street.

Mrsjayy · 26/10/2023 16:11

By the sounds of it chendog knows what's and the whole lot of them need to be avoided!

Original poster
SirChenjins · 26/10/2023 16:11

We can pass other dogs fine (most of the time, occasionally he'll have a bark at them) but this is on a different scale altogether - the instant he sees the other dog, even from a distance away, all hell breaks loose and I don't even have time to say look at me or feed him the treats or scatter them. This morning, went I met them on a tight corner, ChenDog was off and barking before I'd even clocked who it was so I just turned and walked him away. The man went stomping off and down the side of his house, slamming his garden gate in the process - at 6.30 am! Nice wake-up call for his next door neighbour, I'm sure.

OP posts:
Original poster
SirChenjins · 26/10/2023 16:14

Mrsjayy · 26/10/2023 16:11

By the sounds of it chendog knows what's and the whole lot of them need to be avoided!

Yep, he's cleverer than he looks, is CD! I'm torn between thinking dogs bark and they just need to get over it and feeling quite on edge in case we meet them - I'm sure my dog is picking up on that so it's become a vicious circle.

OP posts:
Mrsjayy · 26/10/2023 16:15

Oh god he sounds a bit precious he will end up the talk of the street if he keeps flouncing about like that.

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