I disagree with @jagger on this one. It doesn't seem like its the family's noise that's the issue, more the child egging the dog on. There is definitely things I expect of my neighbors, not barking or yelling at my dog is definitely one of them. Hopefully they catch the child doing it and can curb that behavior, and I'd just continue calmly and consistently letting them know that her barking will settle down, but not until the child lets her be.
Reactivity to new neighbors.
Hi everyone! I joined this forum a year ago when we first adopted our rescue dog (lab/hound mix), Kinzie. She came to us very anxious, nervous and reactive to other dogs and people. As I mentioned in previous posts, it was completely overwhelming at first and I wasn't sure I could do it. A year's worth of patience, consistency and love has paid off as she is much more calm and obedient now. We still have issues with reactivity, but much improved. She can ignore other neighborhood dogs now and is only reactive maybe 30% of the time (versus 100% before!)
That was, until last week when new neighbors moved in. Our old neighbor was a single guy who was super quiet. The new ones are a family with three young (noisy!) kids. Now her reactivity is almost like it was a year ago. She is on high alert in the backyard, barks loudly whenever they talk or move in their backyard. To make matters worse, one of the kids likes to yell back at Kinzie when she barks and will mock howl or yell back to her...which makes her bark MORE! I spoke to the family and let them know she is reactive and it will calm down in time, but to not yell back at her. The parents seemed so understanding and were really nice, but the kid still does it.
Im just frustrated. It feels like Im back at square one. I need some words of wisdom!
That was, until last week when new neighbors moved in. Our old neighbor was a single guy who was super quiet. The new ones are a family with three young (noisy!) kids. Now her reactivity is almost like it was a year ago. She is on high alert in the backyard, barks loudly whenever they talk or move in their backyard. To make matters worse, one of the kids likes to yell back at Kinzie when she barks and will mock howl or yell back to her...which makes her bark MORE! I spoke to the family and let them know she is reactive and it will calm down in time, but to not yell back at her. The parents seemed so understanding and were really nice, but the kid still does it.
Im just frustrated. It feels like Im back at square one. I need some words of wisdom!
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If we need to be responsible with our dogs then parents need to be responsible with their children. From what the OP told us the parents said nothing about their child being afraid of dogs and seemed amicable to curbing the child's behavior.
This is a reactive dog, that is working on that reactivity, we know that the noise will be an adjustment, but the dog deserves to not be barked at in its own yard.
This is a reactive dog, that is working on that reactivity, we know that the noise will be an adjustment, but the dog deserves to not be barked at in its own yard.
No one is giving the dog a pass, she's down to 30% reactivity from what seems to be a very difficult starting point, I'd say the OP and their dog are doing a ton of work. The OP already stated that she's explained to the neighbors the barking will calm down over time and they were agreeable to that.The neighbors don't deserve to be barked at either. I've lived next door with neighbors with loud dogs - it's not so fun on the other side of the fence.
I ask again, what do you think will happen if that child ends up in the OP's back yard one day when nobody is paying attention?
This is where I firmly believe in socialization. I find it interesting that people give the dog a pass.
And I am again not answering that question, because I find it unhelpful to the OP's issue, rude and inflammatory to an owner who is clearly ALREADY working on their dogs reactivity. This isn't an issue of a neglectful owner and even though my dog personally isn't reactive, I'd throw a fit if a child wandered into my yard.
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