My pup-to-be will be coming home in a few months--at the age of 10 weeks--and I'm concerned it will feel disturbed/worried by our neighbors' large barking dogs.
I live in a neighborhood where the yards are small and close together. My yard is fenced, but behind us is a family with two dogs that bark whenever they hear us outside-- if they are out. A neighbor to the side has a dog that does the same. These dogs aren't out much now, but perhaps they'll be outdoors a lot more in the summer. They seem to feel the neighborhood is theirs and that my family shouldn't even be talking or walking around in our own back yard. (I thought of getting a silent dog-whistle device to blow every time they bark while I'm out--but perhaps that strategy would even increase their barking.)
Our fences are high and these dogs can't see us and don't know us. We are relatively new in the neighborhood, btw, so I'm hoping these dogs will get used to us and ignore us after a while-- unless they continue to feel that we are wrongly in their territory. The dogs behind us appear to be aggressive breeds.
My pup won't be able to see them behind the fence, but I'm wondering if the big barks from those big dogs will scare her. I'm planning to use my small backyard for her training sessions and light play sessions, as well as for her pottying needs. Should I be concerned?
What can I do to help my puppy not worry about those barkers or join in the barking? I don't want her to be fearful or to become so distracted that I can't use my own yard for training sessions. Thanks for any advice!
I live in a neighborhood where the yards are small and close together. My yard is fenced, but behind us is a family with two dogs that bark whenever they hear us outside-- if they are out. A neighbor to the side has a dog that does the same. These dogs aren't out much now, but perhaps they'll be outdoors a lot more in the summer. They seem to feel the neighborhood is theirs and that my family shouldn't even be talking or walking around in our own back yard. (I thought of getting a silent dog-whistle device to blow every time they bark while I'm out--but perhaps that strategy would even increase their barking.)
Our fences are high and these dogs can't see us and don't know us. We are relatively new in the neighborhood, btw, so I'm hoping these dogs will get used to us and ignore us after a while-- unless they continue to feel that we are wrongly in their territory. The dogs behind us appear to be aggressive breeds.
My pup won't be able to see them behind the fence, but I'm wondering if the big barks from those big dogs will scare her. I'm planning to use my small backyard for her training sessions and light play sessions, as well as for her pottying needs. Should I be concerned?
What can I do to help my puppy not worry about those barkers or join in the barking? I don't want her to be fearful or to become so distracted that I can't use my own yard for training sessions. Thanks for any advice!