Beagle Carlos, five years old hated the dog next door.
He can’t see Cockapoo Sheldon. An 8-foot fence separates the two dogs.
But that doesn’t matter. The first thing Carlos does when left outside to do his business is run up to the fence and brush the base of it with his nose, looking for Sheldon.
SO, let the barking begin.
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How the Carlos/Sheldon feud started is a mystery. Carlos’ owners first moved into the neighborhood. When Sheldon’s family arrived, it appeared that Carlos had claimed the fence. Sheldon was an intruder due to his proximity.
Carlos’ owners installed their fence because they wanted:
→Keep Carlos from fleegetting lost, stolen or hit by a car;
→Prevent deer, other dogs and children do not enter the yard;
→Block the view of their neighbors’ yards and provide confidentiality.
But for Carlos, the closure:
←Prevents him from playing appropriate dog presentations;
← Allows him to hear and feel all kinds of stimulating distractions from
A frustrating distance.
Here are some ideas for promote friendship for dogs like Sheldon and Carlos:
1. Start with introduce the two dogs to each other, on a leash, on neutral ground (away from the backyard war zone).
2. Take a walk together – the owners with their respective dogs – to expend some energy and enthusiasm and start the relationship on a positive note.
3. If the meeting goes well, bring a dog into each other’s yards for a brief session, supervised play date.
4. Calendar meet up to play in each other’s backyards whenever possible.
5. If the barking at the fence continues, try to get both dogs to sit calmly and accept treats and compliments from their respective owners while being within hearing and smelling distance of the other dog.
If good fences make good neighbors, then the fence needs a grid make good friends.