Fence fighting - obedience training is NOT enough! - Page 1

You can try all the obedience training in the world.  While it may eliminate some of the behavior, chances are it won't eliminate all of it...  If you are the owner of the smaller of the two (or more) dogs fence fighting you MUST put in a second fence in front of the dividing fence.  Our little guy was leaning against a 6'wood fence when one of his teeny fingers barely protruded through 1/4" gap between the wood slats. I tried to grab my dog to bring him inside (as I always do when I know the other dog is out) and I couldn't grab my little guy fast enough. The "well trained" German Shepherd on the other side (who was 2' from his owner managed to grasp my little guys finger, pull his whole arm through and bite it off.  It took the owner what seemed like forever to get her dog to release what was left of our dog's arm.  $1200 unrecoverable dollars later, our dog has 3 legs.  The trauma for our family was the worst we have ever been through.  The $ is not recoverable because our dog "invaded" the other dog's yard.  PROTECT YOURSELF.  Even if you are less than 1' away from your dog this can happen!!

I like how you are so unbiased in your account. Your "little guy was leaning against a 6'wood fence when one of his teeny fingers barely protruded through 1/4" gap between the wood slats."  He wasn't just leaning. He was fence fighting. So your "poorly train" or "not trained" dog got the worst of it. I say untrained becuase you do not have a recall on your dog. You have to "grab him and take him in as you always do." So you've just made fence fighting that much more enticing to your dog. Sure it's a shame but it's your fault as well. I have neighbors with uncontrolled little yappers that they can't control, that run my privacy fence line. My dogs are under my control when I'm out and will not fence fight because I won't allow it.No secondary fence needed. When I'm not out to supervise my dogs are kenneled.

I have two German shepherds and neighbors dogs endlessly run the fence barking while we are outside.  Very Obnoxious if you ask me.  My dogs wouldn't dream of going near that fence with me in the yard. and yes my dogs are obedience trained. As above poster states if I can't supervise my dogs they aren't out, because I know my neighbor can't control their yappy little dogs.

well you guys just said it , you either have control of your dogs or you dont have control, i dont even have a fence with no problems, its all about control.

Darc,

At what point do you take responsibility for your dog loosing the leg?


I must have missed something...

I have two German Shepherds and my neighbor has three small dogs.  The small dogs will run and fence fight with my dogs.  I can call my dogs from the fence easily and they will not fence fight when I'm out in the yard with them.  The neighbors Jack Russell and Min Pin have poked their noses under the fence to get to my dogs.  Given the opportunity my dogs would pull them through the fence.  The first thing I did when I moved in was secure my six foot solid privacy fence with turkey wire.  I ran turkey wire 3' feet up my fence and 1' along the ground.  This prevents either set of dogs from digging under my fence and my dogs from eating their way through the fence.  My neighbor with the small dogs has done nothing to prevent his dogs from coming through the fence.  I took it upon myself to keep his dogs out of my yard.  My dogs are never left out in my yard unattended and when the fence fighting starts my dogs stop immediately when told. 

I'm sorry your dog was hurt.  To prevent it from happening in the future I'd suggest you secure your fence so your dogs can not get their legs through again. 


I also do Obedience training and recently worked with an Akita that fence fought all the time.  The dog no longer fence fights with the neighbors small dogs.  It took just a few sessions and absolutely worked.   

Can fence fighting lead to dog aggression or is it just fence fighting?

darcithompson
I am really sorry to hear about your dog loosing the leg but the statement that “The $ is not recoverable because our dog "invaded" the other dog's yard “ tells you exactly what happened. I do agree that in your case extra fence is necessary. The fact that your dog is small doesn’t change the fact that he ‘invaded’ the other dog’s territory. Would you feel responsible for neighbors GSD losing his nose if he ‘invaded’ into your yard though a hole and your dog bit it off? Size of the dog is not what matters – dog manners, do.
troublelinx,
Yes, we ARE responsible for well being of our own dog. GSD didn’t jump the fence and attack the “little guy” in his yard. If I had a little guy that likes “fence fighting” I would make sure that he is well separated from neighbor’s bigger dog. Small dogs don’t have ‘immunity’ in a dog’s world. If there is a hole in a fence and one dog puts his nose (or a leg in this situation) in it – he invites the dog on the other side to take a bite of it…
 Small dogs require the same training, discipline and consequences as bigger dogs. Small dog’s bad behaviors are only ‘cute’ to their owners.
Slamdunc,
I see that you were the ‘more responsible’ dog owner. It is rare to see a ‘small dog’ owner think of it first.
At the same time you are right about the training. It works! It took me 3 years but now I can tell that my girl will not turn back on the small dog that attacks her (even if the small dog bites). You can teach your dog that fence fighting or ‘small dogs’ are off limits.
 

I cant stand fence fighting but I agree that its the owner who dictates the behavior of the dog (s). The neighbor behind me has 5 little dogs. Ugh! and when I say Ugh I mean it. They bark and run the fence. One had gotten into my yard and actually tried to bite me. Thats when I called AC. I too had to rebuild my fence to keep the dogs out because as I stated to the owners "It only takes one bite from my dogs" And the owner actually had the balls to ask me why I called AC on him. People like him shouldnt own dogs.

Im sorry for your loss (or should I say the loss of your dog's leg) As hard as I might, I still cant picture how the shepherd actually was able to do this and bite the leg off. Maybe I'm in dumb mode tonight. Am I missing something?

Bhaugh,
I am glad you called AC on the neighbor. I am considering doing it on one of the owners in a dog park (and I think I’ll do it next time). He’s got an intact teacup Yorki male – the most obnoxious thing on the planet. When he is in the dog park he starts all the dog fights by biting other dogs and then hiding on his owner laps screaming bloody murder. My girl (intact female minding her own business) has been head on attacked and bitten by him several times. My shoes and pants have been attacked and bitten by this dog, too.  He didn’t draw blood on me only because of his tiny teeth not being able to penetrate my boots. This dog doesn’t direct it only towards us, other people and other dogs are treated exactly the same way. Any complaint to the owner ends up with his frontal attack “How dare we attack my dog. He is such a tiny creature, so delicate, etc.” This dog is a perfect imitation of his owner…
I’m yet to see any good size dog that would jump on a bench in a dog park and snap at humans to get out. In comparison I saw quite a few Shih Tzus and other toy breeds doing it.