Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi all,

My friend has three small dogs - a Pom, and two terrier mixes. One is a likely Chihuahua/JRT mix named Farina. Farina is a momma's boy to be sure, and he was the second dog to enter the household. The Pom was first. So Farina is quite accepting and comfortable with the Pom, and now with the newest dog, another terrier mix (female).

The problem is other dogs outside the family. He has finally gotten to the point of accepting my dog when I bring him over to visit, but that took a while. The real issue for my friend is when she lets her dogs out into her backyard, and one of the neighbors also happens to let their dogs out. The yards are all fenced, so the dogs can't be in direct contact. But Farina, as soon as he sees the other dog, will run up to the fence, and... I'll let my friend's words tell the story:
"started screaming like he was being ripped apart. He and the retriever were running back and forth along the fence, Farina screaming at him and he was wheezing at Farina. I was chasing Farina back and forth, and just as I’d get ready to grab him, he’d run back the other way, followed by the retriever. He was still screaming when I finally picked him up. I was actually holding him in front of my face and he was screaming! I had to shake him to get him to stop!!!"

She really doesn't know what to do. My impression, from knowing Farina for a while, and from what she has told me, is that in this instance, he's not really fearful, so much, as some combination of "defensive/offensive/get mom's attention". In the past, his fear of other dogs caused him to run to her to be picked up, which she used to do, or caused him to run back home. She stopped picking him up at some point, but he would still then run back to the "safety" of the building (they used to live in an apartment, now she owns a house). Now he runs *toward* the other dogs, but still screams (literally, it sounds like screaming more than barking), and she has to chase him until she can catch him. Luckily she has a very small yard.

So I'm trying to get some help or ideas for her. I suggested a behaviorist, but I'm not sure she'll go that route. My other suggestion would be to only take him out on the leash and as soon as he starts in with the obnoxious screaming, she should haul his butt back inside without a word. I *know* he thrives on her attention. So I think that even scolding him is considered "good attention" in his mind.

Does anyone have any thoughts/ideas?

TIA,

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Pituophis

I agree with your assessment that any attention only reinforces bad behavior.

The leash could be the answer, though that would take her always being outside with him on the leash.

Have you thought about one of the citronella spray collars?

Or since it is a small yard, perhaps a privacy fence on that side. A bit cheaper than a behavorist.

Because this seems to be just triggered in this specific instance of fence running, you might get results without re-training the dog.

As you implied, though, he has issues, so a whole regimen of training would be neccessary to really extinguish this behavior. Best wishes

>>The leash could be the answer, though that would take her always being outside with him on the leash.

She said she is going to try the water bottle method first. She has used this in the house when the dogs are doing something they aren't supposed to. At this point, she doesn't really even have to spray the water. She just picks up the bottle and looks at them, and they stop whatever it is they are doing. I'm not sure this is going to work for her outside though. I think the dog is smart enough to know he can run faster than she can, and has more room to avoid her. For some reason, she really doesn't like walking her dogs on leashes, unless she absolutely has to.

>>Have you thought about one of the citronella spray collars?

I have heard of them, but don't really know much about them.

>>Or since it is a small yard, perhaps a privacy fence on that side. A bit cheaper than a behavorist.

Now THAT is an obvious solution I hadn't thought of. I know she won't go for a "stockade" type fence, because she told me once she doesn't like those. But for the dog, it wouldn't really take a full human-size stockade - after all he's only 8 inches high. So I'll suggest that and see what she thinks.

>>As you implied, though, he has issues, so a whole regimen of training would be neccessary to really extinguish this behavior.

You have NO idea.
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Pituophis

>>Hi all,
>>
>>My friend has three small dogs - a Pom, and two terrier mixes. One is a likely Chihuahua/JRT mix named Farina. Farina is a momma's boy to be sure, and he was the second dog to enter the household. The Pom was first. So Farina is quite accepting and comfortable with the Pom, and now with the newest dog, another terrier mix (female).
>>
>>The problem is other dogs outside the family. He has finally gotten to the point of accepting my dog when I bring him over to visit, but that took a while. The real issue for my friend is when she lets her dogs out into her backyard, and one of the neighbors also happens to let their dogs out. The yards are all fenced, so the dogs can't be in direct contact. But Farina, as soon as he sees the other dog, will run up to the fence, and... I'll let my friend's words tell the story:
>>"started screaming like he was being ripped apart. He and the retriever were running back and forth along the fence, Farina screaming at him and he was wheezing at Farina. I was chasing Farina back and forth, and just as I’d get ready to grab him, he’d run back the other way, followed by the retriever. He was still screaming when I finally picked him up. I was actually holding him in front of my face and he was screaming! I had to shake him to get him to stop!!!"
>>
>>She really doesn't know what to do. My impression, from knowing Farina for a while, and from what she has told me, is that in this instance, he's not really fearful, so much, as some combination of "defensive/offensive/get mom's attention". In the past, his fear of other dogs caused him to run to her to be picked up, which she used to do, or caused him to run back home. She stopped picking him up at some point, but he would still then run back to the "safety" of the building (they used to live in an apartment, now she owns a house). Now he runs *toward* the other dogs, but still screams (literally, it sounds like screaming more than barking), and she has to chase him until she can catch him. Luckily she has a very small yard.
>>
>>So I'm trying to get some help or ideas for her. I suggested a behaviorist, but I'm not sure she'll go that route. My other suggestion would be to only take him out on the leash and as soon as he starts in with the obnoxious screaming, she should haul his butt back inside without a word. I *know* he thrives on her attention. So I think that even scolding him is considered "good attention" in his mind.
>>
>>Does anyone have any thoughts/ideas?
>>
>>TIA,
>>
>>
>>-----
>>Pituophis

>>>>>>>>>>>>

I have a double fence to prevent fence-running or fence-fighting. It's just so darn dangerous, I don't want my dogs having any opportunities to do it.
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Kathy Diamond Davis, author, "Therapy Dogs: Training Your Dog to Reach Others," 2nd edition, and the free Canine Behavior Series at www.veterinaryforum.com