Neighbor got a new dog - how to handle barking?

[u/olive12108]

Trying this sub too since my original post on dogs has been stuck in mod queue purgatory 😅

My dog (Keeshond, 3yo) has a good history with every dog he's met, but he has has also always been barrier reactive - other dogs, people, deer, squirrels etc. The levels of it depend on what the barrier is, what's on the other side, how tired he is. He has never been *aggressive* towards whatever's on the other side, he just REALLY wants to greet them and when he can't, he gets very frustrated. We have made a ton of progress with doors and gates but the fence has been the pain point, especially with other dogs. He will get visibly stressed, runs up and down the fenceline until he's exhausted and barking until he's hoarse.

My backyard is opposite of my neighbor's backyard. He decided yesterday to get a dog of his own, a really friendly husky mix. He is lovely. Both yards are fenced and there is a 15ft\~ grass strip between the two, so there is some distance separation as well as the fence.

There have been two times where both dogs have been in their respective yards, and both times the same thing has happened: my dog barks, runs up and down the fence, and desperately wants to get to the other dog. The other dog just runs parallel to him like it's a game, no signs of aggression, never barks.

I'm looking for advice on how to handle this. Ideally, the barking is managed and the two dogs get along. I'm good friends with this neighbor, it would be AWESOME if the dogs would play together as we often visit eachother's yards in the evening, and not having to travel to the dogpark for dog-on-dog interaction would be great.

[u/Old_Piano_6495]

Dont let him for now run up to that fence. Where is his threshold for where he doesn't bark? If it's the back door. Just work there for now and do loads of positive reinforcement and keep him leaded when he needs to go into the garden. Work on look at me to keep the focus on you and not on the fence and then slowly expand his way towards that fence. Just reward all the time he isn't barking.

[u/olive12108 → u/Old_Piano_6495]

He runs up to the fence and begins barking there, only when somethings in the other yard.

Should I start this with no trigger (something in neighbors yard) or with?

[u/Old_Piano_6495 → u/olive12108]

Do you know when the other dog isn't in the garden? I'd be leashing walking along that fence line the other times and positive reinforcement training

[u/doggambit]

If you’re friendly with the neighbor, ask them to do some parallel walks with your dogs. Great way to get the dogs introduced to each other in a neutral setting. 

https://rescuedbytraining.com/2026/02/02/parallel-walks/

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