Fence fighting

TEXT: RHIANNON CECIL

HOW TO MINIMISE IT IN YOUR HOME

There's nothing more upsetting than the growling, snarling and spitting sounds of fence fighting. It doesn't seem to matter how many times you call your dogs away from the fence; they insist on going back and waging new wars with your neighbour's dogs as often as they can.

WHAT IS FENCE FIGHTING?

Fence fighting is literally when dogs on two opposite sides of the fence are triggered and end up fighting as if there is no fence between them. It's quite a common problem in neighbourhoods with a high dog population, and fence fighting can certainly raise one's anxiety levels.

WHY DO DOGS FENCE FIGHT?

The first thing we have to understand here is that the fence is a totally arbitrary thing for a dog. We know that a fence creates a boundary between our property and someone else's, but I'm sure you'll agree that property ownership is quite a complex concept for a dog. Instead, dogs understand their territory to extend as far as they can see, and of course, dogs on the other side of the fence that they can see are in their territory.

But why the aggression? It's not uncommon for the most brutal of fence fighters to become meek and mild if the fence is removed, and they end up in the same garden as their sworn enemies. Fence fighting starts off as posturing and protecting the dog's perceived territory but quickly turns into a habit, which is good news, as you can refocus most habits with training.

WHAT TRIGGERS FENCE FIGHTING?

To untrain this habit, we need to understand a bit more about what triggers the behaviour in the first place: • Movement. When your dog can see the dogs on the other side of the fence milling around, and he can't get to them, he will quickly become frustrated. This trigger, especially in herding dogs, leads to displaced aggression aimed at the fence. • Sound is just as likely to trigger a fence fight as your dog can hear the other dogs barking or playing, and again, he can't get to them, so your poor fence bears the brunt of his pent-up frustration. • Staking a territorial claim. Because your dog doesn't understand that the fence is where his dominion ends, he sees other dogs coming into his territory, and he wants to tell them, as loudly as he can, that they've come to the wrong place. A lot of this noise is simply that, noise. Still, it's always better to err on the side of caution. • The fact that there is a fence there at all can be triggering to dogs. They're angry because a fence is blocking them from where they want to go, and when other dogs come close, they take out that frustration on the neighbours.

HOW TO STOP FENCE FIGHTING

The longer dogs have been engaging in fence-fighting behaviour, the more difficult the habit is to break. Still, there are things you can do to calm the impulse and claim back your neighbourhood's peaceful Sunday afternoons. 1. Back to basic obedience If your dog is well versed in the 'leave it' and 'come' commands, you can start replacing the fence fighting with other commands and providing positive reinforcement when those commands are obeyed. If you can stay focused and keep reinforcing the desired behaviour over the undesired one, your dog should soon start seeking out the replacement behaviour as a more rewarding alternative.

2. Walkies If it's safe and appropriate to do so, consider asking your neighbour if you can take your dogs for a walk together. When you take the fence out of the equation, the aggression often disappears as well, and walking together in a neutral zone can cement fast friendships between our canine companions. If you try this, please make sure all dogs are trained to walk on leads and well socialised. 3. Create a visual barrier Fence fighting is always worse if the dogs on either side can actually see each other moving around. If this is the case in your home, consider making the neighbour's dogs a bit tougher to spot. Attaching some heavy-duty shade cloth to your current fence could well do the trick. 4. The sprinkler trick – the last resort for safety purposes Most fence-fighting dogs have a couple of hot spots - places at the fence they return to over and over again. Set up a sprinkler facing the fence in one of these areas and run a hose pipe into your house. Every time the dogs get together at the hot spot, and you feel concerned that things are escalating or someone might get hurt, turn the water on. It should break up the momentum and leave your dog reluctant to return to the area. This should only be used in extreme circumstances but is a reliable way of keeping all dogs involved safe.

STILL STRUGGLING?

The more ingrained the behaviour, the more difficult it is to extinguish. Every incidence of fence fighting has an element of context that can create further challenges. If you've tried everything possible, it may be time to call in the big guns. Don't hesitate to speak to a qualified dog trainer or behaviourist who can observe the process firsthand and make specific recommendations based on your situation. This is not an easy behaviour to fix, so don't be scared to ask for help if you need it. It will be well worth it for some peace and quiet in the long run!