Trouble Brewing

[MyPemCharlie]

It has been our habit to go out in the back yard for an hour or two every morning for Charlie to pee, poop, eat and play with toys, play a round or two of soccer, go on leash to get the paper. We used to end up with me reading the paper on the patio with Charlie lieing out in the grass chewing on his toys.

This last week, the dog-aggressive pit bull in the back yard next door (shared fence dividing the yards) and Charlie have started to challenge each other through the fence. This dog charges the fence and slams against it, shaking the whole fence, barks and growls aggressively. His pack-mate, a boxer, just sits close by him, but does not offer aggression. Prior to this week, when Charlie got close to the fence and the pit bull charged at him, Charlie ran away.

This week Charlie has decided to return the challenge, stands inches from the fence and barks incessantly back at the dog, fueling the pit's aggression. I've watched closely, and the pit always starts the trouble but Charlie is egging him on. This is spoiling our morning routine, as Charlie is now more interested in "protecting his fence" than in playing with me and his toys.

I keep a stash of extra fence pickets for repairs, because the pit bull used to charge the fence at my rottweiler when he was alive and would occassionally break a picket off the rails or break a picket in half. The difference is that my rottweiller never offered to bark or growl in return. He peed really high up on the fence to "mark it" as his, then sat down by the fence with his back to it, quietly ignoring the charging pit bull until the pit gave up and quit. Then he'd just calmly walk away. This dog also charges at me when I mow the yard or garden close to the fence line.

When Charlie gets into this challenge, he won't come to me when I call him. I have not been able to distract him away with favorite toys or with treats. Most days I have gone to him, picked him up moved him away from the fence and tried to distract him in play. He goes right back to the fence. I end up bringing him back into the house, cutting our exercise/play time down to about 20% of normal. One day this week I sat and watched without trying to call him back or distract him just to see how long they would go on before quitting. After almost 30 minutes I went a picked up Charlie and brought him inside. I don't know how long it would have gone on, but they never did stop.

Obviously my first concern is Charlie's safety. It only takes one guess who would win if the pit were to successfully break through the fence. Secondly, Charlie's play and exercise time gets cut to almost nothing now so he can't peacefully enjoy his own back yard. After sleeping 8 hours in his kennel, he needs to stretch out and exercise. After our (used to be) long morning playtime, we generally take outside play/potty/training breaks every couple of hours the remainder of the day for about 15-20 minutes each...which are now also cut short. Third, I'm afraid the pit bull may be "teaching" Charlie that dog aggression is a normal canine behavior.

Any ideas on how to get Charlie to IGNORE the unfriendly pit bull and walk away from the fence? Should I keep carrying him away with a stern "No!"? (As soon as I put him down, he runs right back and I go get him again...until I give up and take him inside.) I need to be able to refocus him on healthy exercise, training and play.

[ColColt]

My first thoughts would be that I'd talk with his owner about his behavior and what he's doing when you're out in the year cutting grass. I wouldn't stand for that. I know he's in his own yard but so are you and Charlie and it's reeking havoc with you guys and I'd rectify the situation by going to the owner and speaking with them first. If they ignore you or refuse to correct him, then it's up to you to solve the problem. I think this is a good answer from lessons learned from your Rotty...

The difference is that my rottweiller never offered to bark or growl in return. He peed really high up on the fence to "mark it" as his, then sat down by the fence with his back to it, quietly ignoring the charging pit bull until the pit gave up and quit

You may try walking Charlie up to the fence(on leash) a few feet away, both of you turning your back of the Pit and sit there quietly for a minute or so. If Charlie insist on turning around to vocalize his disdain for the pit, correct him with the leash by turning his head around the other direction. The Pit has to know you and Charlie are not going to succumb to his bluffing and threatening in your own yard and intimidation is not in the quotient. Just a suggestion. I wouldn't make eye contact with the pit and not allow Charlie either. Basically, ignore him and don't talk to him to try and appease him as that won't work.

[ColColt]

Just another suggestion if all else fails. If it's financially feasible and the fence on that side is not yours, I'd consider coming out about a foot from theirs on your property line and having a wooden fence put up where he can't see you or Charlie and have it tall enough, codes permitting, he couldn't you see at a distance if he backed up.

[MyPemCharlie]

Originally Posted by ColColt

My first thoughts would be that I'd talk with his owner about his behavior and what he's doing when you're out in the year cutting grass. I wouldn't stand for that. I know he's in his own yard but so are you and Charlie and it's reeking havoc with you guys and I'd rectify the situation by going to the owner and speaking with them first. If they ignore you or refuse to correct him, then it's up to you to solve the problem. I think this is a good answer from lessons learned from your Rotty.

Unfortunately, it is up to me to train Charlie. The pit bull's owner will be of no help, although I will mention the problem to him. I've replaced about 10 pickets in 5 years (about 2 per year) that his dog has broken through. On every repair, I have had to go next door and let the guy know his dog had broken the fence again by charging at me or my rottie, and would he please take his dogs inside for 15 minutes so I could repair the fence.

The owner also takes his dogs out in the front yard to poop...in my front yard. Early this summer I asked him to please clean up after his dogs because I was stepping in their poop in my yard when I mowed. He said his dogs were not pooping in my yard (liar). I told him I had seen them in the act and I'd appreciate him watching the closer and cleaning up. That helped for about one week. Since then I scoop his dogs' poop off my front yard and toss it onto his front yard.

Originally Posted by ColColt

You may try walking Charlie up to the fence(on leash) a few feet away, both of you turning your back of the Pit and sit there quietly for a minute or so. If Charlie insist on turning around to vocalize his disdain for the pit, correct him with the leash by turning his head around the other direction. The Pit has to know you and Charlie are not going to succumb to his bluffing and threatening in your own yard and intimidation is not in the quotient. Just a suggestion. I wouldn't make eye contact with the pit and not allow Charlie either. Basically, ignore him and don't talk to him to try and appease him as that won't work.

I tried your suggestion on our mid-morning outside break today. At least on a first try, it seemed to be very helpful so we'll keep trying it. Charlie ran out to the fence and the pit bull started with barking, growling and banging into the fence. I walked over and Charlie quieted down as soon as I snapped the leash on him. I put him in sit with his back to the fence and told him what a good boy he was. Everytime Charlie tried to turn around to look a the pit bull (who was standing face pushing the fence trying to make eye contact for a stare-down and fight), I quietly told Charlie "No!", turned him back around for "Sit. Wait." and praise. We stayed quietly for about 5 minutes with our backs to the pit bull. The pit did quit barking/charging but never did walk away. Charlie and I walked away first, but quietly...just like a well trained and socialized human-dog team. Thank you so much for the suggestion. We will continue on that path.

Interestingly, the pit bull's pack mate (boxer), also just laid down on the other side of the fence with his back to us. That boxer has never been a problem. Wish his pit bull "roommate" would get a clue.

[ColColt]

Good work!! I'd continue that on a daily basis if necessary and let him know you're not intimidated by his growling/barking and if you can remain cool, calm and collected during this and pass those feelings and energy on to Charlie, he may stop this type of behavior. Like the old saying, "It takes two...". I'd ignore him and continue like he wasn't there. Charlie will look to you for guidance, so to speak, and your reactions to the situation will either rub off on Charlie or aggravate it-depending on your reaction. I didn't use to go for that line of reasoning but have applied it myself and it works rather nicely.

[MyPemCharlie]

Yes, and thank you again. You are my Dog Whisperer for today. I'm sure we will have to do this daily. The pit bull will jump on the fence every day at me and at Charlie (just like he did with me and my rottie). If I can teach Charlie to be calm and not bark back, eventually by himself (without me showing him), it will be worth us sitting at the fence together for as many days as it takes for him to do it on his own.

For two of the days (of about five) I made the mistake of yelling "Come" when Charlie was obviously not going to listen. That probably undid a lot of our recall training where Charlie had become pretty reliable. I should know better than that! The other mistake I made was going to pick him up and carry him away, when he was clearly having more fun barking back at the pit bull. To him, I was taking him away from something interesting toward something comparably boring (toys and treats), and with no leash to keep him from running back to the fence.

Your solution is progressive and proactive. Both dogs seemed to calm down, though the pit bull was still staring through the fence looking for a fight. I think we can manage the situation now, even without the neighbor or his dog's cooperation. Thanks again! I'm looking forward to see how this goes.

[Michael Romanos]

Your Corgi knows how far to go in telling this upstart of a Pit Bull to go and get lost from the supposed safety of the fence. However, the first thing I'd do is strengthend the fence because a savage/enraged strong dog may eventually break through or create a hole. Go and speak to the owners of the dogs next door and see if they can rein their dog/s in. Otherwise, it is training your Corgi not to react and that would be one of the most difficult of assignments.

[MyPemCharlie]

It may be a difficult assignment, but Charlie acting like "a big dog" to a big dog-aggressive pit bull is not the appropriate response for a puppy (or adult) dog. I do need to train him to ignore aggressive dogs and trust me to protect him.

The fence is a strong 6ft tall wood privacy fence. As I mentioned I've only replaced about 10 pickets in 5 years from the pit bull breaking them out...that is along about 160 feet of fence line. Their dog slams into it every day, but has only broken a few pieces. I look every morning at the fence to see if it needs repair and keep materials on-hand.

No real value in speaking to the dog's owner although I am planning to mention the problem. The two guys next door are irresponsible. No responsible man would let their dog destroy property, then allow the skinny little woman next door (me) to go pay for materials and do the labor to fix their dog's damage. They have never once offered to pay for materials or help me hammer up a replacement picket. Nice of them though, to take their dogs into their house while I work. You just can't make irresponsible people change...I'd might as well talk to the fence.

[ColColt]

Not reacting is going to be the simplest solution, Michael. It takes two to start a fight and if they both make eye contact that's an invitation to fight. It's considered confrontational by dogs just like when two boxers get into a ring and stare at each other...same invitation. The Pit Bull is obviously not a balanced dog nor trained not to be aggressive-the owners fault, and the only solution to me is to ignore and not react to his threats. To do the contrary is just to fuel his aggression by yelling at him or allowing your dog to stare and bark back. It's like being in a name calling contest when you were 10 years old. Nothing but tension will ever exist in an environment like that and that tension will escalate to some serious damage if not brought under control.

BTW-Chris, I think I'd be hitting up the owner for some cash to repair my fence. Maybe take some picture of it and a video of the Pit charging it. It could come in handy down the road.

[Michael Romanos]

If this next door neighbour's dog is behaving badly then it could be a civil case for you to take up - breaking a fence or parts of it; acting aggressively and belting out loud and long winded intimidating sounds, making your pup's and you and your family members life a misery etc.

[Louwants]

We're lucky. We have a pit bull beside us that is without a doubt, the sweetest, loving pit I have ever seen. She doesn't bark or carried on or anything. I would almost let her in the yard with Duncan, but he has a fear of big dogs, plus Chloe, our corgi/chow rescue will not tolerate another dog on her "territory". I do give her treats and such (with the owners permission, of course). She loves it when I give her a bully stick.