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Harley literally freaks if he sees another dog in the yard!! If it comes near the fence he lunges at it! Is this b/c he is growing up or what?? My females don't do it, so it has to be a male thing. I am afraid that if he ever gets loose, he will be hurt!!! :confused: Any suggestions friends??

Thor does that too. And I am also worried that he is going to get beat up by another bigger dog! I wish I had anwser to that! I would love to know what suggestions people have for you.

Yeah these little guys think they can take on the world. They dont think twice about how big these other dogs are. Mine are the same way. I really have to watch them. They dont know they are just little itty bitty things. lol

Quote:

Originally Posted by She-ra's Mama

That sounds a lot like frustration barking, not dominance agression. Often called "fence barking", it's the result of frustration of not being able to play with, or properly interact with these strange dogs. He has associated the dissapointment of seing these dogs pass over and over again, so that whenever he sees them now, he gets really frustrated and angry.

Here are some resources on the subject:

Quote:

What often happens when a dog is behind a fence barking at animals and people on the other side is called barrier frustration. The adrenaline builds, the attitude builds, and one day when that dog gets a chance at a person or animal like those barked at in this situation, there may be a serious bite. Dogs act on instinct, and allowing this instinct to develop to this degree is dangerous.

http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Con...=1&SourceID=47

Quote:

Fence-line barking

Many dogs will bark through the fence at people and other dogs passing by. This often starts out as a friendly greeting, when a young puppy is eager to greet those that he sees. This is a strong instinct that dogs have - to investigate strangers and greet them. Over time, however, he learns that his every effort to get the attention of those walking by fails. He begins to associate the view of strangers walking past with the acute frustration he feels. This feeling of frustration is so strong that it acts as a strong aversive, and the dog begins to feel that "strangers walking past" means "pain". The barking often changes in tone, and becomes a furious attempt to drive away what the dog now sees as a cause of his own discomfort.

It's best to stop this sort of barking before it starts. Make sure that your dog cannot see strangers going past your property: keep the curtains closed or move furniture away from the window so they can't view out, and if possible put in a solid fence or cover your fence with something the dog cannot see through. Be sure to allow your dog ample opportunities to meet, greet, and play with other dogs at appropriate times.

http://www.wagntrain.com/barking.htm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hamoth

Well, thaqt may be, but he doesnt bark at people walking down the road, or other animals, only when they get near the fence, and it is way far from the road!. He has LOTS of play dates with other dogs, it is only big dogs he does that too!!! I have tried to let him play with my mother in laws dog, but he attacks her as soon as he sees her, and then you have to immediatly separate them. It is very frustrating to me, I know!

He may be wanting to protect the girls.
Yorkies have no idea how small they are.
They may be small, but they have really big hearts. :)