What to do if dogs bark at each other through the gate

“Fence fights” of dogs can be one of the most annoying problems of suburban life. What could be worse than moving into your dream home, which ends up in an incessant noise as a result of constant fights between dogs.

No one wants their pets to be at enmity, but such situations happen very often. How to wean a dog from barking at a neighbor’s dog? And what if the dogs are at enmity with each other?

What is a “fence fight” between dogs

“Fence fights” are more often associated with the possessive instincts of pets than with a tendency to aggression. So if a dog barks at the neighbor’s dog, it’s nothing special.

Often the territorial behavior of an animal is a consequence of fear or anticipation of a possible threat. In other words, by barking at the neighbor’s dog, the dog is asserting its rights to the land. However, he is also alarmed that the neighbor’s dog is trying to enter his territory, and this is where it is important to beware of aggression.

If the situation is not resolved, one or both dogs may begin to show aggression, breaking out of their territory.

Dogs bark through gates: play or quarrel?

If a pet gets along well with the neighbor’s dog when they are around, you might think that barking from behind the fence is another form of play.

Most likely, it is not. If a dog wants to cross the border to play with his friend, he may yelp or howl, but there is a significant difference between whining for company and barking to protect the territory.

How to stop a dog from barking over a fence

“Fortunately for most owners, fence wars are just a matter of habit that can be weaned from and even prevented with proper training,” says Nicole Ellis, a certified professional dog trainer, in her article for American Kennel Club.

Can do obedience training. There are many useful commands that will come in handy during fence battles. For example, the commands “sit” and “stand” can help if the pet starts sneaking up the fence to start a fight. If the neighbor’s dog went outside when the pet is walking around the perimeter of the yard, you can call him to you with the command “to me” or “to the leg”.

The ASPCA suggests that “this high level of motivation [to defend its territory] means that when a dog barks for territorial reasons, it may ignore displeased reactions or attempts to punish it from you, such as swearing or yelling.”

So what will motivate a dog? This can be a variety of activities, such as walks away from home, games of throwing a ball, or obstacle course for pets. In addition, a four-legged friend may respond better to training if he is rewarded treats for good behavior.

Ask neighbors for help

If the barking of two dogs separated by a fence constantly becomes the soundtrack to the whole day, you should not solve this problem alone. You need to talk with neighbors about how you can help each other to curb pets.

In some cases, it may be enough to change the walk schedule of both dogs so that they do not end up outside at the same time. You can try letting your pets socialize more often and see if they stop their “fence fights” when they become more comfortable together.

In the case of more serious battles at the fence, you can pool money to pay for the services of a professional dog trainer. He will be able to work with both dogs at the same time on the border of the territory. It may come to the point that you will have to install an additional internal fence in the yard so that four-legged friends cannot come close to each other. So, you can put them on a leash or build an aviary where the pets will walk, going outside.

It is especially important to take action if there is damage on the fence as a result of such “quarrels”. Attacking the fence, one or both dogs further increase aggression. Damage can mean that the pet is trying to break free to attack the enemy or, as it seems to him, to protect his space.

See also:/ P>

• Common Dog Behaviors
• Why is the puppy barking?
• Why do dogs howl
• Your dog’s strange behavior