🤺 Love thy neighbor—unless there’s a fence. (+ new recall)

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Training when you need it, where you need it!

One-on-one dog training is the most effective means to address severe behavioral problems like anxiety, house training, and leash reactivity

However, in-home training with a professional dog trainer can be expensive, and finding a time that works for everyone can be difficult. Virtual Leash offers the same benefits as in-home dog training with a lower price tag and more flexibility.

Fence fighting, or barrier aggression, is a common problem. Protection is a dog’s love language, and they view snarling, barking, and lunging against the fence (or door, window, etc.) as protecting their territory and the people in it.

As you’ll notice in the video from today’s Smile Section, oftentimes if you remove the fence, the aggression disappears with it. But that’s not always a practical solution. Instead, it’s up to you to communicate that Fido from next door and the Amazon delivery guy aren’t actually trying to take over the world.

Keep reading for expert tips on how to fight fence fighting.

Sit & Stay Pro Tip — The Best Defense is a Good Defense

There are three main ways to curb your dog’s barrier aggression.

1. Distraction. Try having purposeful playtime with your dog. Throw a ball or fill up a Kong, and offer treats when they choose a distraction over trying to nab their arch-nemesis. If you make it clear (a firm “No” and/or redirection) that you don’t want them by the barrier and reinforce preferred behavior, your dog will get the hint.

2. Blocking. If your pup can’t see the object of their ire, they’re going to have a hard time attacking it. Try full-coverage blinds or curtains in the home, and consider upgrading to a privacy fence (expensive) or installing a privacy screen (less expensive).

3. Training. This can be a new command (“Leave it”), but it’s impossible to implement new training ideas if your dog doesn’t listen to you. Taking time out to practice sit, stay, heel, etc., reinforces existing commands and your dog’s ability to focus. Once your dog’s basic obedience is up to snuff, you should be able to stop them from approaching the fence with a “sit” command and recall.

Dog Food and Supplement Recalls

Here are the recalls and advisories announced so far in May 2024:

• Pedigree - Adult Complete Nutrition Grilled Steak & Vegetable Flavor Dry Dog Food

The Smile Section

If you have a photo and/or story that can make us smile, send it to [email protected].

Vet Recommendation — Are anti-bark collars helpful or harmful?

There are several different kinds of anti-bark collars on the market, but are any worth purchasing? This article from Everyday Health examines the pros and cons.

Read the full article here.

Treats

• ✍️ Woman + Dog: A timeless abstract drawing of a woman and a dog by Christina Malman in 1935.

• 🐕 Stray dog runs 77 miles in ultra marathon: During a 155-mile ultra marathon in the Gobi desert a stray dog, joined Dion Leonard for 77 miles of his race. He later went to great lengths to be sure that she no longer wandered the desert and could come home with him.

Want your dog to be featured?

We’d love to!

Think your dog can make us smile? Submit a pic to [email protected] for a chance to see your pet in our Smile Section!