Maddie's fence aggression is getting worse

[karabracht]

I need some advice with Maddie's fence aggression with my neighbors. This is the side of the house that they don't walk around very much but when they do, Maddie goes ballistic and tries to climb the 6 foot chain-linked fence to get at them. I have tried just about everything. I scold her, make her lie down and take her inside, I've tried a spray bottle to snap her out of it. She just keeps doing it. My neighbors have been really sympathetic about it but they've just about had it. Short of keeping maddie on a leash everytime she wants to play in the backyard, I don't know how to make her stop. By the time I catch up to her at the back fence my poor neighbor is traumatized. I'm frustrated and embarrassed. I've had her now for about a month (she is almost three) and she obeys basic commands (except with the fence thing) she's great with people and kids outside the yard, and at the dog park. I'm really getting worn out with this. (she is a little leash aggressive with other dogs, but, we've been working on this too. Maybe I'm expecting too much of her in the short amount of time I've had her. But, I would really apprieciate some of your advice on this. Thanks

 

[Poetic_thing]

Sorry to say but you are expecting WAY too much out of Maddie is a month. It took me a good solid year of daily training to turn Kirra's leash aggression around. You need to find one method and stick to that consistently, each and every time. You may not see any progress for a while but one day you will a small difference and you need to carry on from there. Probably one of the best way to work with this behaviour is to find something for Maddie that she has a high prey drive towards, be it food, a ball, toy, tug, etc. Then you need to get her attention and reward her with lots of praise. This must be done ALWAYS in order to work. It may very well takes months and months but there is no quick fix for something like this. Also, have you tried to have your neighbour come into the yard and actually let Maddie meet her? Your neighbour could give her some treats and let Maddie get to know her. As well, your neighbour needs to ignore Maddie when she is behaving badly. But most importantly you need to be consistent and ready until this is under control. It is a LOT of hard work but it can be worked through. Good luck.

 

[karabracht]

thanks! I'll keep at it and try to lower my expectations a bit.

 

[totallyhip]

Our neighbours just got 2 little yorkies and sometimes they are in the yard. Leia was going aggressively at the fence for a few weeks too. We have been working hard at getting her away from it. Then one day, DH picked her up so she could peak over top the fence at them. And she stopped whining and growling and wagged her tail. She just wanted to see what it was on the other side. Now she doesn't bother with them anymore So having your neighbour treat her might work
But yes hang in there, it will take some time. Esp. since she has just moved to her new home. It takes a while for them to adjust.

Good luck!

 

[ELubas]

I too would enlist the help of the neighbors. Could you arrange to meet out in the yard, your girl on lead, and the neighbors armed with cookies? It turns bad things into good things for them. Keep at it for awhile and you will see her going to that fence looking for those folks (and thier cookies)