dumb? barking question - Page 1

the barking in schutzhund is not indiscrimate barking, it like everything else is under control.  most dogs behind a fence exhibit quite different behavior than they do when they are directly challenged.  We usually think "wow I'm glad that fence is there to protect me."  But we dont often think that the fence protects the dog as well so dogs with somewhat thin nerve (and i dont mean necessarily your dog) sound pretty evil behind a fence, but that may not necessarily be representative of the dog's true nature.  There are times when all trainers tell their dogs to can it and times when they specifically get them into drive and work them up, this is all about control and focus.  I wouldn't worry about telling him to hush at the neighbors, you will not ruin his drive and potential but you might tick your neighbors off if you dont.

If you're worried about the potential for conflict, why don't you bring the dog inside while the neighbor is cutting the grass?  Rather than getting your knickers into a knot over whether or not you're going to "ruin" your dog, this ought to be an issue that is relatively easy to avoid.

Also, if your dog is going ballistic behind the fence, this may not be a good picture for your neighbors in the sense that it could cause them to think your dog is vicious.  If you're like me, and live in a small town where SchH is unheard of, it's wise to think of what an impression your dog's behavior makes.  Some people are always out to ban our sport with the misconception that bite work makes the dog dangerous.  If your dog is charging the fence like a loony while your neighbors are out doing yard work, you might have a difficult time persuading your community that your dog is safe.

Granted, I've made some assumptions for this post, as clearly I have not observed this situation directly.  So, feel free to disagree with any or all of my post.

Yvette