Hi, I'm seeking advice !
I'm an inexperienced mummy of a 14 wk old border collie (he's gorgeous ) but I'm concerned about the effect our nextdoor neighbours' dogs are having on him . They have 2 labs, a male 2 year old and a female 1 year old. Whenever the labs see us or our kids in our back garden they come over to the fence and bark and growl. Now they've spotted our puppy and so they're both growling at him. He was scared in the first few weeks and ran away, but is growing more confident and has started meeting them at the fence (there's wire mesh so they can see through in one place). He's been barking and growling back, hackles raised. We introduced the 3 of them today on a walk in neutral territory and they were fine together, but sadly this evening the labs were back at the fence growling at him again . The labs generally have a good bark at everything they can see from their garden. I'm worried that our pup will become defensive and aggressive if I ignore this, we're still trying to socialise him with other dogs. Any advice please? Thanks so much .

A tricky one, as it's your neighbour's dogs behaviour that needs to be changed. Could you screen the fence so they can't see each other? Those rolls of heather screening are quite good, and some shops like Wilkinsons have them at half price this time of year when they're getting rid of the garden stuff. Is it worth having a word with the people next door? As they seem happy to allow their dogs to bark and growl at your children, it may not be!

I would cover up the fence so they dont see each other. My friend just used some bed sheets and stapled them to the fence. As her dog barks at everything.

Then Id speak to your neighbour and if they are not happy to make any changes. then use a water pistol and shoot the neighbours dogs with water

Seriously though, what if your kid stuck their fingers through the fence, do you think your child would have any fingers left if they are that territorial? Im not saying the dogs are aggressive, they are just garding their property.

I have same problemn my neighbour has 4 lhasa apsos who bark at fresh air day and night soon as anyone of us go into back garden they start ,Bobby started barking and growling bark which i dont want so been teaching him not too ,he now mostly ignores them my neighbour said just let him bark might shut them up i said i dont want dog thats barks day and night

My Dogs can be very terratorial - Zipper will go balistic at dogs he sees from our front window yet play beautifully with the same dogs minutes later in the field.
Sorry don't have a solution other than monitor time in the garden and make the fence solid so they don't wind each other up.

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Hi all,
Thanks so much for your comments, good to know I'm not alone .
I have put some board & plant screening over the gaps in the mesh fence. Yesterday was better, no growling I don't think . So maybe not being able to see each other is the solution.
Thanks again .

good news.

In addition to other peoples good ideas I would like to add I think it's great that you got them together on neutral territory and it would be beneficial to all to keep walking your dog and their's together so they can become friends. If you did this it would reduce stress at home for all dogs and owners

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