Bleu, 2 Year Old Male Bull Mastiff / St Bernard Wants to Attack Neighbor

[NahlaBleu]

Hello, I am new to the forum and am so glad I have found it. I am the proud owner of two Mastiff / St mixes. The youngest has progressively become more aggressive towards my next door neighbor in the backyard. Thankfully there is a 6 foot fence between us, but he is now jumping and can see over the fence and I have found paw marks on the center rung. I am concerned he will get over the fence one of these days and cannot imagine the outcome. We have done training and he is obedient to a tee until he is in the backyard. The trainer wants me to walk with Bleu and the neighbor and pass the leash off, but I don't dare as he goes into the red when he just sees him. He is a bit fearful of people and especially children. Our walks are in the evening as we live in a neighborhood full of children. There is a 3 year old female EM / ST B mix also in the house who couldn't be kinder or gentler. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!!

 

[neomama]

Is your dog like this with everyone or just the neighbor? Has the neighbor teased the dog?

 

[PuppyPaws]

Is your dog like this with everyone or just the neighbor? Has the neighbor teased the dog?

Good question. I was wondering the same thing. I was also wondering if you have ever witnessed this behavior??? If so, how do you typically handle it? Might need to implement a specific strategy for responding to and redirecting this behavior when it happens.

As mastiffs are gaurding breeds, this could also be a territorial thing. I don't know that I would start off with a quick walk and passing off of the leash. It sounds like this may take some desensitization training. Are you friends with your neighbor? Would he/she be willing to help you work on this with your dog? Might also want to double check your fence and see if it needs any reinforcing ;-)

 

[Caleb]

I put a hot wire around my fence, and my dog will hardly go near it. If he hears something, he will often stand in the middle of the yard and bark. I dont even have to plug it in anymore....works like a charm. As far as getting the dog to be cool with the neighbor, thats a whole other issue.

 

[NahlaBleu]

This is the most aggressive I have seen, and the neighbor is willing to work with me and I don't believe he has antagonized him in the past. However strange children set him off. I am confused because he would let children sit on the floor and pet him at the vet's office without issue.
I know without question he needs socializing but my concern is managing the red zone while we are out. Because of potential joint issues I have refrained from running with the dogs but am considering it now. Any thoughts?

---------- Post added at 09:28 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:20 PM ----------

When he does this, I call him and he looks at me, starts to come my way and turns around and goes back to the fence. I have to go and grab him to pull him back. Today I was able to put him on his side after a short struggle and had him lay on his side in submission while I spoke with the neighbor. After about five minutes I released him with an "OK" and he went right back to attacking the fence.

 

[NahlaBleu]

When he does this, I call him and he looks at me, starts to come my way and turns around and goes back to the fence. I have to go and grab him to pull him back. Today I was able to put him on his side after a short struggle and had him lay on his side in submission while I spoke with the neighbor. After about five minutes I released him with an "OK" and he went right back to attacking the fence.

 

[Dogue]

Caleb, You have a hotwire! Too cool! Too cool! Oh, how I want one!

 

[neomama]

My neo's act like this when they are in the fence around my house, but if i have them out of the fence or anyplace else they are fine with everyone, with my girls it is a terriatoral thing, they were breed to guard there house and thay is what they are doing.

 

[Cody]

Ya, our dogs are VERY "guardy" in the house and yard.
We have a low window at our front door, is about 2 feet off the ground and the wall under it has tears in the drywall from the dogs hitting it when someone comes.
Is our alarm system . I have had more then one sales/religious person turn and run back down the stairs

I would consult a behaviorist, who will come to your home (who also has exp with large breeds) and have them, you and your neighbor try to work together to get the situation resolved, same with trying to get the dog more comfortable around kids.
Good luck and let us know.

 

[Caleb]

Caleb, You have a hotwire! Too cool! Too cool! Oh, how I want one!

Its not the invisible buried kind...its just a simple above ground wire that I ran about 6 inches from the ground, all the way around the yard. I think everything costs about $30-$40 at Lowes. It was an easy install. My dog doesnt challenge the boundaries of the yard but the privacy fence on one side is weak and they have a dog on the other side, and I dont like to risk it. Luckily during the summer he stays in the house except for his training time everyday, but in the winter he spends a lot of time outdoors.

 

[PuppyPaws]

This is the most aggressive I have seen, and the neighbor is willing to work with me and I don't believe he has antagonized him in the past. However strange children set him off. I am confused because he would let children sit on the floor and pet him at the vet's office without issue.
I know without question he needs socializing but my concern is managing the red zone while we are out. Because of potential joint issues I have refrained from running with the dogs but am considering it now. Any thoughts?

---------- Post added at 09:28 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:20 PM ----------

When he does this, I call him and he looks at me, starts to come my way and turns around and goes back to the fence. I have to go and grab him to pull him back. Today I was able to put him on his side after a short struggle and had him lay on his side in submission while I spoke with the neighbor. After about five minutes I released him with an "OK" and he went right back to attacking the fence.

Sounds like a territorial / gaurding thing to me. It's what they were/are bred to do. I would try to avoid getting into too much of a physical confrontation with the dog, if at all possible. I agree with Cody. I think this is the sort of thing that requires an experienced trainer or behaviorist to supervise and give you specific guidance on how to deal with it in the most effective way. For aggression or territorial issues, a forum is a difficult place to get or give advice. Something you could do to assist with the issue until you can get someone out there to observe and help you with that specific issue, is... really crack down on the obedience training. The more he/she learns to listen to you and obey you on the basic everyday stuff the more likely you be able to have better control over him when he is in a heightened state. But, regarding the specific issue of the aggression at the fence, I think it is best that you seek out a professional and have them help you at home. Good Luck and please keep us updated.

 

[STEVSH]

Not sure if you have the same issue, just sharing my similar story:

My golden retriever and my catahoula did the same exact thing when we lived in our old house. We had a 6ft fence surrounding the entire backyard, and they would go ballistic at our neighbors or anyone walking on the sidewalk just outside the fence. And my golden was the most people loving sweetheart ever. It was strictly a fence issue. They were guarding it like heck. Drove me crazy because people just out on an evening walk thought our dogs were vicious. But the dogs just couldn't see what was on the other side, so they freaked out on everything. We have a 3/4 fenced in yard with a full enclosed invisible fence now and have no issues. And I swear it's just because the dogs can see. My catahoula is still alive and doesn't bark at all anymore. And she was probably the worst offender at our old house with the attacking the fence issue.