Your first challenge will be to find a way through the haze in his brain so he can even recognize your existence. With Dubhy, I discovered that standing right in his course didn't work. He just darted around me and continued on his assignment. I know better than to try the lunge and catch strategy, which would only make him cautious of me. Throwing something like a treat or a ball to try and break his focus was equally unsuccessful.
I started a two-pronged training program, one to counter-state him to the existence of the arousal-causing stimulation, and another to enhance his recall response, even in the face of high distractions.
Remember Training and Counter conditioning
The recall training was simplest to execute, as I could do it any place, any time. Dubhy already had a rock solid and fast recall in the training center, but it was somewhat less dependable in the backyard, as well as less so in wide open spaces.
Particularly since Dubhy favors outside to inside the first dog I've ever had who displayed this weird inclination I didn't need his recall to be a predictor of outside is around by bringing him inside every time I called him.
I might also phone him to the rear deck and cue him to do several of his tricks for high value benefits, since he likes to do tricks. And I called him and had him do several pieces of agility gear; he adores his agility things. Slowly his recall replies enhanced.
He'st missed dinner call since.
We currently take the opportunity on our five acres and sometimes let him off-leash to exercise recalls outside the lawn. Most of that time period, he comes when called.
I also did counter conditioning work with him. In the beginning he'd catch a treat and go right back to his running and barking. If the neighbor dogs seemed to be merely passing through, Dubhy would remain more careful in my experience as they moved away.
A Treatment for Canine Fence Aggression?
What I've carried through with Dubhy is a compromise, not a remedy. He still goes off when neighbor dogs pass by; its simply easier for me to interrupt his conduct and call him into the home. If I were to leave him in the backyard unattended he'd continue his arousal behaviour and the COCD nature of his activities, particularly the spinning, would likely worsen.
Im still coping with the collateral damage of his fence behaviours; particularly, his aggression toward some dogs, particularly black Labs. When we're outside on earth and he sees another dog he'll go on attentive tail up, ears pricked, eyes glowing, leaning forwards. Subsequently, unless its a Lab, hell swivel his head toward me to request his treat the favorable effect of tons of counter conditioning. With Labs, I still must bring his attention to me; he doesn't offer it on his own. I am able to judge how aroused or relaxed he's by the number of pressure from his teeth when he gets the treat from my fingers. With Labs, his teeth undoubtedly hurt.
It'd be an incredibly big challenge to counter-state a dogs fence-running or -fighting conducts to the point the behaviour goes away. Even if you triumph in habituating your dog to the existence of the arousal-causing stimulation, the likelihood of spontaneous recovery have become high; the conduct will probably resurrect itself with added vulnerabilities to the stimulation.
Prevention is the best strategy, by not placing your dog in a situation to acquire the behaviours in the first place not leaving him fenced and unattended. If its too late for prevention, direction can be your next best bet putting up a strong fence and/or not leaving in him the lawn alone.
If at any time you believe you and your dog aren't making progress, or your dog is showing signs of a serious COCD, contact a great favorable behaviour advisor or veterinary behavorist. She can assess your training and allow you to investigate the chance for using behavior modification drugs to control obsessional behaviours which will be interfering with the success of your plan.
The property we're expecting to buy in Maryland is at the center of 80 rural acres, and the backyard is fenced with a strong wooden fence. Seems like an excellent direction strategy in my experience!
