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My PitSenji mix (Nakai) just won't leave the Sheltie next door (Bob) alone! We have a privacy fence, but Nakai is constantly snarling, and trying to dig under the fence whenever Bob is outside.

Things I have tried: laying hardware cloth along parts of the fence where Nakai has already dug (works at that place only). Exchanging "doggie rags" between myself and the family next door, to give each dog a familiarity with the other's scent (at least Nakai likes to play with the rag, he doesn't snarl at it!). Showing Nakai the hose and saying "I'll squirt you!" (he hates water [must be the Basenji!]). That one seems to work the best, but I have to always be outside with him for that one to work, to keep an eye on him.

Any other suggestions?

Thanx!

Best solution I know, and I wish every yard had this, is an interior fenced area for the dog. At my house it's right out the back door, surrounded by steel t-posts, heavy-duty welded wire, and a chain link gate put in without cement. With one repainting of posts and 2 changing of wire, we've had this fence for 20 years. It is GREAT.

We started with a problem between dogs in side-by-side yards, and built a simple fence a few feet in from the property line fence that solved that. You could do that, too. But eventually we found it was just terrific to have our dogs back from ALL the property line fences.

If I want to take them out to the larger fenced yard, I go out there with them. But for the umpteen potty outings they get every day, they use the inner yard. And I pick up poop from it every day. It is so quick in this area. It's also situated to where we can see the entire area from the back door. It is just so much more secure for the dogs than the whole back yard.
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Kathy Diamond Davis, author, "Therapy Dogs: Training Your Dog to Reach Others," 2nd edition, and the free Canine Behavior Series articles at http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=SRC&S=1&SourceID=47

Fence fighting is not allowed in my yard. When my dogs start, they get put inside immediately. I can't control the neighbor dogs unfortunately. So, overall, it's just a zero tolerance policy. The nasty talk starts, I jsut dont' even let it escalate. I just go get my dogs and go inside with them. It's jsut like redirecting children. They certainly would not stop just because I tell them to. After enough repetitions of this, my dogs just ignore the neighbor dogs at this point. There's nothing it it for them to even try to interact with those dogs. Better just to ignore them.
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Chelle and the rest of the crew including, but not limited to Kita and Taiko (the shiba inu wrestle maniacs), Adi (reserved and dignified tabby cat), and all 28 reptiles