New neighbors moved in & our dogs hate each other, ugh!

[Anonymous]

Our dog, a male hound mix, has never had any issues with other dogs. He goes to doggy daycare 3 days per week and has never had an issue there nor has he had any issues with other neighbor dogs. The new neighbors say the same about their dog, a male shepherd mix, and I believe them, but there is something about these two dogs. They just absolutely hate each other. As soon as they see each other, it's snarling, growling and lunging.

I work from home 2 days per week and I used to be able to let him play out back in our fenced yard by himself because my office faces the backyard and my desk looks out into the yard. Their yard is also fenced and they leave their dog out most of the day (the mom SAH w/ two little kids). Of course now they just congregate to the shared fence line and growl and bark at each other. I won't let mine out by himself off leash if the neighbor's dog is out because there's so much jumping and growling, plus paws and snouts definitely fit through the shared fence (it's black metal bar type fencing, not wooden slats).

It's gotten to the point that mine is pretty much never in the backyard off leash unless it's very late at night when the other dog is taken in. I've also started to have to run him to doggy daycare if I have an important conference call and I'm working from home because we have very strict rules about teleworking (no kids can be at home, no pets can be heard).

Is it unreasonable to ask the new neighbors if during a specific time when I have a conference call that they take their dog in so mine can be out in the yard? It's never more than 90 minutes. I don't think that's unreasonable but my partner doesn't want to make waves with the new neighbors. Her solution is to get an estimate to put a solid fence inside the shared fence on our side to block the dog's views. That's great, too, but in the meantime it's an extra $50 per week when I have to run him to daycare on the days I'm off.

[Anonymous]

As the owner of two sweet but barky dogs who I'm constantly apologizing for, I would not be bothered at all if you asked me to keep the dogs in for a certain amount of time. I'd feel like it was the least I could do.

[Anonymous]

Yes it is unreasonable, I'd tell you to pound sand if you wanted me to arrange my schedule around your's. Fence won't help, they will still smell and hear each other.

[Anonymous]

Can you ask the neighbor if you can try something to get the dogs to like each other. Maybe go for a walk together a few times?

I have a dog who can be a jerk and my friend got a dog also a jerk. ( we both also have 2 non jerk dogs) so we just kept walking and kept them on short leashes, gradually they started ignoring each other. Now they can walk next to each other and there is no growling or snarling.
Might be worth a try.

[Anonymous]

Would desexing help? Sounds like one of them needs to be told it’s not the dominant one.

Or a bark collar?

Thinking of your poor other random neighbors here... what if they want quiet in their home for rest or work? I don’t think you can let the dogs out together if they’re like that, even when you don’t have a call yourself.

[Anonymous]

Go over with a plate of cookies and just explain that it would be very helpful if they could keep their dog inside on occasion when you have a conference call. The vast majority of people would be happy to help out. The remainder are obnoxious lawyers who hang out on dcum.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can you ask the neighbor if you can try something to get the dogs to like each other. Maybe go for a walk together a few times?

I have a dog who can be a jerk and my friend got a dog also a jerk. ( we both also have 2 non jerk dogs) so we just kept walking and kept them on short leashes, gradually they started ignoring each other. Now they can walk next to each other and there is no growling or snarling.
Might be worth a try.

We've tried this and letting them meet in a neutral area, but no dice. As soon as they see each other the growling starts. When they get close, lunging starts. We have a fenced in dog park in our neighborhood and we tried letting them meet there again. We both kept them on short leashes but as soon as they were close enough, they were lunging and trying to bite each other. I 100% believe that these two would fight to the death.

I doubt she'd be up for walks together as when she walks her dog, she has one kid in a stroller and one kid on a balance bike.

It's very frustrating that they hate each other. And not something I've dealt with before.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Would desexing help? Sounds like one of them needs to be told it’s not the dominant one.

Or a bark collar?

Thinking of your poor other random neighbors here... what if they want quiet in their home for rest or work? I don’t think you can let the dogs out together if they’re like that, even when you don’t have a call yourself.

Both are neutered. I found this bark collar on Amazon that I've ordered. It gives a tone that increases in volume and vibrates (also increases) when the dog barks. It's supposed to be able to differentiate between barks, so we'll see.

The only good thing about the situation is that we live in a very dog populated neighborhood. There's always a bark here or there, but no constant barking. What's crazy is that mine will sit at the door or window when the neighbor dog is out and not make a peep. Maybe a whine to go out every so often, but that's it. It's just nonstop barking when they're both out together.

[Anonymous]

There are lots of local trainers who will make house calls. We used one not that long ago (he retired of I'd post his info) and he charged $199. per hour. He always stayed longer and never charged more. It might be worth finding someone to come out and work to try to diffuse the situation. If you and the neighbor split the cost, in my opinion, it would be well worth it--especially when you consider the cost (vet bills, etc.) if you leave it alone and the two can ever get to each other.

[Anonymous]

You can certainly try asking your neighbor to accommodate your calls a bit. But they can also say no. I'd definitely use it as a short term solution while working towards a bigger solution of getting the dogs to stop trying to kill each other.

Maybe a good dog trainer could help you all figure something out.

[Anonymous]

Would your dog bark if you shut him in a different part of your house (where he couldn't see the other dog--like front bedroom or something) during your meeting?

[Anonymous]

Can you crate him during conference calls?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Go over with a plate of cookies and just explain that it would be very helpful if they could keep their dog inside on occasion when you have a conference call. The vast majority of people would be happy to help out. The remainder are obnoxious lawyers who hang out on dcum.

I think this, ask if you can text when you have a conference call. Tell them that you usually put your dog out for those calls and you wondered if they would mind switching off with you for that time.

If they don't do it, you've lost nothing.

[Anonymous]

Can you expedite building the new fence? Get an estimate and build it the next day. If they can't see each other, they probably won't bark as much, and once they start, at least you'll know there won't be an injuries.

Crating is probably a good option once the barking starts.

[Anonymous]

What about hiring a dog trainer to see if they can help?
Doesn’t the barking annoy your neighbor? I think it’s fair to try to fix it but otherwise suggest some kind of schedule so your dog gets his fair share of outdoor time. If she doesn’t agree, I’d start letting my dog out anyway and hope that the two dogs eventually get used to each other and settle down. I would NOT continue to keep my dog inside most of the time.