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Preventing Dogs From Fence Fighting

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Preventing Fence Fighting Dogs

How to Teach Polite Manners

How to Stop Dogs From FightingFence fighting is frustrating. The first step to preventing fence fights from occurring is by installing a visual barrier along the fence line to prevent further fighting. Visual barriers help keep your dog below threshold, meaning you can teach him polite behaviors, such as “come when called.” Once your visual barrier is up, it’s important to begin teaching your dog polite behaviors immediately.

Associate Sounds with Treats

If your neighbor dog wears an ID tag, just the sound can trigger a fence fight. With repeated practice, your dog learns to follow the sound along the fence, beginning a new type of fence fighting. To nip this in the bud, bring your dog out in the yard on leash with lots of yummy treats. When your dog hears the neighbor dog’s ID tags jingle, give your dog a treat. You’re pairing good things with the jingle sound. Practice for a few days.

Manage

For the first two weeks, after a visual barrier has been set up, it’s important to walk your dog outside on leash. I know, this is not what you wanted to hear, but it’s so important to prevent further fence fighting and it’s much easier to put the time in now instead of starting all over again.

Teach “Come When Called”

Several times a day, while bringing your dog potty on a six-foot leash, practice “come” behaviors. Practice for a week using super yummy treats. If your neighbor’s dog distracts your dog, walk further away from that side of the fence. Now, using a long leash (10-15 feet), practice recalls. Until your dog reliably comes when called, it’s important to practice on leash and use super yummy treats.

RELATED: “Come When Called” Part 1: Intro

Talk to Your Neighbor

If all else fails, talk to your neighbor. I’m sure he or she is aware of the fence fighting situation too. Coordinate backyard times to prevent further issues. If your dog needs to potty and the neighbor dog is outside, bring her on leash.

READ ALSO: Fence Fighting Dogs – How to Stop the Madness

Fence Fighting Dogs: How to Stop the Madness

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How to Stop a Dog From Fence Fighting

Fence Fighting DogsFence fighting is so frustrating for both you and your dog. Yes, your dog too. You probably didn’t see that coming huh? Most pet owners assume dogs love fence fighting. While there may be a select few who do enjoy this type of exercise, for the most part, it’s extremely stressful for your dog.

If this happens in your backyard, I have a few tips that can curb this behavior so you and your dog can enjoy your backyard again.

Why Dogs Fence Fight

When dogs actually engage and fight with another dog through a fence, it’s called fence fighting. Both dogs go back and forth along the fence line and squabble. Usually, dogs are able to see their opponent, which starts a fence fighting session. And if you’ve ever tried to break this up, you know it’s pretty impossible–your dog runs past or around you and it can go on for a long time (sigh).

The cause of fence fighting usually begins with fear and frustration. Your dog learns to really dislike the neighbor dog. Trust me, the more your dog practices fence fighting, the worse it’ll get so it’s important to stop the behavior. Dogs can and will injure themselves too. Most dogs can reach each other and cause harm so it’s important to address it now.

Now, some dogs will run along a fence line when they’re overstimulated by people walking nearby, birds, walking dogs or any other type of distraction. Fence running is different than fence fighting, as they’re dealing with their frustration by running along a fence line.

RELATED: Preventing Dogs From Fence Fighting

Should My Dog Meet the Neighbor Dog?

Nope, they may fight or become friends outside of the fence. When a fence is in between them again and they’ve practiced this behavior for a while, it’ll start right back up.

Visual Barrier

A solid privacy fence is worth its weight in gold! If your dog can’t see a neighbor dog, then fence fighting is less likely to happen. If your privacy fence has holes, I recommend fixing them to prevent further fights. For chain link fences that your dog has learned to peek through the slits of, you’ll need to put up a visual barrier.

About 80 percent to 90 percent of the time, a visual barrier will halt fence fighting in its tracts. In the past, I’ve used and recommended rolled felt or carpet as a visual barrier. You just roll it along the bottom of the fence fight line and zip strip it in place. For larger dogs, I recommend four-foot high felt or outdoor carpet and roll it on the inside of the fence (your side), making sure the carpet touches the ground and not grass to prevent any peepholes. Every two feet, I zip strip it tightly into place.

Now, it’s not the prettiest thing ever, but it wears well and doesn’t smell with repeated exposure to sun and rain. After practicing good fence behaviors, I can remove it after six months or so.

You may also like: Appropriate Puppy Play

Trimming Dog Nails: Clippers Mean Treats (3 of 3)

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Nail Clippers Means Treats

Dog Nail TrimmingBy now, your dog is totally comfortable with you reaching and holding her paw for five seconds. Now, let’s add nail clippers in the mix. We’re still not cutting nails, just touching nail clippers to paw and nail, pretending to trim nails.

Usually, when clippers appear, your dog’s ears flatten against her head and she looks away. By the end of this tutorial, your dog will happily look and allow nail clippers to touch her paw.

Step One

Goal: Dog looks at nail clippers and gets treats.

  • Place nail clippers about three to four feet from your dog, and click and treat when she looks at them.
  • Practice five times in a row, then put clippers in a drawer and end training session.
  • Practice one or two more training sessions, rotating between front and back paws, with plenty of breaks in between.
  • When your dog will look at the nail clippers, it’s time to move forward.

VIDEO: Clipping Dog Nails – Touch the Nail Clippers

Step Two

Goal: Touch nail clippers to paw for a nanosecond.

  • Pick up and reach for your dog’s paw with nail trimmers. Practice five times and end session.
  • Pick up nail trimmers and place next to your dog’s nail just for a nanosecond. Click as trimmers touch your dog’s paw. If she moves her paw, place trimmers about one or two feet away and click/treat a few times.
  • Practice five times in a row, then put clippers in a drawer and end training session.
  • Practice one or two more training sessions, rotating between back and front paws, with plenty of breaks in between.
  • When your dog is comfortable with clippers touching her paw, move to the next step.

Step Three

Goal: Pretend to trim one nail with clippers.

  • Pick up your dog’s paw and place clippers against her nail. Click or say “yes,” as the clipper touches her nail. Release paw and put clippers down, then give her a treat.
  • Practice five times in a row, then put clippers in a drawer and end training session.
  • Practice one or two more training sessions, rotating between front and back paws, with plenty of breaks in between.
  • Once your dog is comfortable with you holding nail clippers against her nail for one second, slowly increase time to five seconds.

VIDEO: Clipping Dog Nails – Pretend to Trim a Nail

REVISIT:
Trimming Dog Nails: Reaching for Paw
Trimming Dog Nails: Restraining Your Dog’s Paw

Trimming Dog Nails: Restraining Your Dog’s Paw (2 of 3)

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Restraining Your Dog’s Paw for Nail Trimming

Dog Nail TrimmingLet’s teach your dog that paw restraint is fun and pays with yummy treats! Plus, restraining your dog’s paw is an important part of nail trimming.

Step One

Goal: Wrap your hand around your dog’s paw for a split second.

  • Lightly wrap your hand around your dog’s paw just for a nanosecond and let go. Click as you’re wrapping your hand around your dog’s paw. Release and give him a treat.
  • If he moves his paw away, try wrapping two fingers around his paw. Click as you’re wrapping, release and give him a treat.
  • Practice five times in a row.
  • End session and take a break.
  • Practice during several training sessions over the next few days. Alternate between front and back paws.

If your dog pulls his paw away:

  • If this happens, release his paw and don’t click or give him a treat. We’re only clicking when he allows you to hold his paw.
  • When reaching for his paw, if he begins pulling his paw back and before you touch him, go back to this article.
  • Taking steps back is normal. Everyone needs to refresh so take the pressure off you and your dog. 🙂

VIDEO: Trimming Dog Nails – Teaching Paw Restraint (Holding Paw)

RELATED: Dog Nail Trimming Tools

Step Two

Goal: Hold your dog’s paw for one second.

  • Wrap your hand around your dog’s paw and lightly say “one Mississippi” and release. Click as you’re saying “Mississippi,” release and give your dog a treat.
  • If your dog tries to pull back his paw, hold his paw for a shorter time, such as when saying “one.” Click as you’re saying “one,” release and give him a treat.
  • Practice five times in a row.
  • End session and take a break.
  • Practice during several training sessions over the next few days. Alternate between front and back paws.

Step Three

Goal: Hold paw for longer periods of time. Try to teach for five to 10 seconds, which should be plenty of time to trim four nails, which comes later.

Following instructions in step two, slowly click when your dog allows longer periods of paw holding.

  • For two to three training sessions, hold paw for two seconds (one Mississippi, two Mississippi).
  • Continue adding one-second intervals during training sessions.

VIDEO: Trimming Dog Nails – Holding Paw Longer

READ ALSO: Why Dogs Dislike Nail Trimming

Trimming Dog Nails: Reaching for Paw (1 of 3)

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Reaching for Dog Paw to Trim Nails

Trimming Dog NailsMost dogs dislike touching or any type of restraint of their paws. We can easily teach your dog to enjoy this part. During this tutorial, you’re going to learn how to teach your dog to allow the touching of her paw. This is an important part of teaching your dog to accept nail trims so take your time.

Goal: Your dog allows (is comfortable) when you reach for and touch her paws and nails. This means your dog doesn’t pull her paw away when you reach, touch or restrain her paw.

Let’s Get Started

Most dogs pull their paws away, freeze, growl or snap when you reach for their paws. This step should reduce their anxiety, but it may take a couple of weeks.

You’ll need several small yummy treats (about 20-30 tiny pieces), a clicker and non-skid area.

Step One

Goal: Dog keeps paw in place while you reach for it. You’re not touching her paw yet.

  • Reach for your dog’s paw. Click as you’re reaching and give her a treat. If your dog moves her paw, as you’re reaching, try making smaller “reach gestures.”
  • Practice five times in a row. Click and treat when she keeps her paw in place. If she moves her paw, don’t click. The behavior is “keep paw still while I reach for it.” You’ll watch her process the situation and soon learn to keep her paw still while you’re reaching for it.
  • End training session and take a break.
  • Practice short sessions, alternating between front and back paws, until your dog keeps her foot still while you reach for it.

Tip: Click lots for “reaching for paw” even if you’re stopping three or four feet away. Reaching is the cue for nail trims so we need to change your dog’s perspective. She will learn “reaching for paws” means super yummy treats instead.

VIDEO: Dog Nail Trims – Reaching for Paw

Step Two

Goal: Reach out and touch her paw with your hand. You’re not holding or restraining her paw yet.

  • Using one finger, reach out and touch your dog’s paw quickly. Click as you touch her paw and give her a treat.
  • If she moves her foot, click and treat when reaching for her paw a few times, then try touching again.
  • Practice five times in a row.
  • End training session and take a break.
  • Continue practice sessions, alternating between front and back paws, until you’re able to touch her paw with your finger.

 VIDEO: Dog Nail Trims – Touch Dog’s Paw

Step Three

Goal: Touch nail with one finger.

  • Reach out and touch your dog’s nail quickly. Click as you’re touching her nail and give her a treat.
  • If she moves her paw away, click and treat when reaching for her paw. Then, try again.
  • Practice five times in a row.
  • End training session and take a break.
  • Continue practice sessions, alternating between front and back nails, until you’re able to touch her nail with a finger.

VIDEO: Dog Nail Trims – Touch Dog’s Nail

READ ALSO:
Dog Nail Trimming Tools
Trimming Dog Nails Part 2

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