Dear all

I am hoping you may be able to give me some fresh ideas as to how to tackle a problem I have been struggling with for some time now.

I rent a field and stables for my horses. I love spending time up there and my 3 terriers also enjoy being there. Unfortunately we have a public footpath that runs through the fields which is very popular with local walkers, joggers and dog-walkers.

When we first took it on I had a middle aged GSD and one young terrier. The GSD's recall was excellent, and the terrier used to follow her lead and so walkers coming through only ever met calm dogs that were well behaved.

2 years ago we got a second small breed terrier that was a rescue - it had spent it's whole first six months of its life in a crate and was extremely timid. The timing co-incided with the other terrier whelping her first litter and therefore being moved into the kitchen to sleep rather than the utility room. We were worried the GSD would think she was being excluded so thought getting her a friend was a good idea. All was fine for the first few weeks as the second terrier also followed the GSD lead. Unfortunately two weeks after the litter all went to their new homes, one of the buyers (who at interview when she cam to see the pups came across as an experienced dog owner - she had had several dogs before) rang me to say she needed to bring the puppy back as it 'kept biting the baby'. I was horrified as when she had come to see the pups she had a fifteen year old very well built boy with her, and made no mention of other children. Within the litter there were three sharper pups that I had decided would not be allowed to go with small children, and this pup was one of them. To cut a long story short, having discussed the methods she was using to tackle the problem (I tell the children not to let her do it but the 6 year old with learning disabilities doesn't understand, I took her to the vet who said there is nothing wrong with her I just have to train her so when she does it I put her outside for an hour but when she comes back in she does it again, the three year old just screams and runs away ) I realised these were not the kind of people I wanted to have one of my pups, so took her back, and she remains with us.

Sadly the GSD aged quickly and was not up to spending hours at the horses, so I began to leave her at home and just take the three smaller dogs. If I take them individually they are reasonably well behaved, but when all three are together, if someone walks through on the footpath they rush at the walkers, barking madly, and behaving in an intimidating manner. Unfortunately because walkers are on a footpath, the behaviour is rewarded because the walkers obviously go away, leaving the terriers believing that barking and chasing is a job well done.

The GSD had to be PTS four weeks ago, and I now have a new GSD pup, currently 9 weeks old. GSDs are my passion; my husband is the one who loves the terriers - TBH they have never really been my thing. However when it comes to training he is as much use as a chocolate teapot - his version of teaching a dog to stay is holding them and then letting them go, his version of getting them to come to call is to run after them and pick them up! This means all the training falls to me, and they do all know how to come, sit, down, wait, paw, leave it, in your bed. However even these basic commands go to pot when they are running together as a pack. I do find the terriers incredibly difficult to train in comparison to the GSD - my current pup is my fourth.

I have tried taking them individually and as I said they all behave well alone. I have tried tying them up on a long line soo that when they rush to the walkers they get pulled up short, but they chew through the line whilst I am seeing to the horses. 

My question is, how do I break through the pack mentality and teach them they do not need to bark as the walkers will go away anyway? I am concerned that the GSD pup will learn the behaviour too, which is the last thing I want. It also is spoiling my enjoyment of my time with my horses as I'm constantly on edge watching out for people coming through before the dogs spot them. My sister thinks I should try spray collars on them - does anyone have any experience of using this method in these circumstances?

All suggestions gratefully received.

For the next 2-3 years you need to do separate training if you are to have a chance in having 4 well behaved dogs here, they will continue to act like a pack the GSD will also join in with the terriers behaviour and you will have a heap of territorial guarding and pushy behaviours going on.

It's not great to have to train 4 dogs at the same time, but it is not the dogs fault, you have brought all these dogs together at the same time, you have to train them all separately, you will have to take them in turns with you and as they progress with praise and reward training they can slowly be brought together two at a time with the better trained becoming role model for those lagging, eventually when all listen to your commands they can be brought together outdoors, or they will continue with this behaviour.  Due to the fact that hubby is not helping with training, I feel you should bring in a dog trainer/behaviourist to help you get started and then both of you can and must continue.

I turned down so many properties due to a public footpath, pain in the bum aren't they? But you need to get these dogs under control before they are reported or worse one decides to go in for a nip.

I think you know what needs to be done, it is going to be very hard and time consuming with 4, you could have the dogs your not training on a long line attached to a peg away from the footpath, if you need to occasionally have all 4 out together, I suppose.

You can buy tie out lines that have a metal core and are coated plastic.

My question is, how do I break through the pack mentality and teach them they do not need to bark as the walkers will go away anyway?

Really tough one that as, in their eyes, what they do WORKS. They bark and the people walk away! I have the same with my little dogs (joined by one Malinois) each time a car goes past their garden -which is only a few times a day. They bark and chase it on the other side of the fence (they cannot get out but the fence is wire so see through) and each time they do it, in their minds they chased it away as of course the car drove off, so next time they are even more inclined to do it.

I'd imagine what would work would be to line up lots of people to appear and as soon as the dogs bark STOP and not continue walking again until the dogs are quiet. The trouble is getting enough different people willing to do it.

> I'd imagine what would work would be to line up lots of people to appear and as soon as the dogs bark STOP and not continue walking again until the dogs are quiet. The trouble is getting enough different people willing to do it.

That would not work unless you could stop the other people walking through the field as well. The dogs will still be rewarded by the other people going on their way.
You really need to stop the dogs doing the chasing altogether by keeping them on leads/tethers and also working on a good strong recall for them individually. Train each dog on its own to ignore the walkers. then train two dogs together, and then train all 3.

That would not work unless you could stop the other people walking through the field as well. The dogs will still be rewarded by the other people going on their way.

That's one reason for why it would be difficult to train but in the long run you could cure the problem, just like you could with anything else -if the dogs realise barking and chasing is pointless but not doing it is rewarding, it will stop.

Something to consider is that the land owner might end up receiving complaints if footpath users feel threatened by your dogs...

If it were me (I have a livestock chaser who will also bound up to people and other dogs looking for playmates) I'd make sure the dogs were walked before arriving or on site before getting started with the horses so that they can shake off excess energy.  Then, whilst you are distracted I'd suggest keep them leashed or tethered.  Perhaps you could allow one off lead at a time if you are able to recall one with success.  I wouldn't allow them the full run of the field/s unless they were with me and I was 100% focussed on them and approaching 'hazards'.

You will need to remain vigilant and recall them every time you see someone approaching.  No matter how much training you do it will all be undone if even once they are allowed to chase off after a walker.

I'd also put a notice at either end of the field to alert users to the fact that you are training your dogs and say it will help if they could stand still whilst you recall.  Not a perfect solution but quite effective!!

Train recall with a whistle - always keep it round your neck - and take a special box of treats like liver cake, ham, hot dog sausage, cheese etc that is only given at the stables and only given for recall.  The more exciting the better.  Terriers might also react well to a squeaky toy which can be used alongside the whistle to encourage recall.  If you have a spare stable I'd suggest recall to there then shut yourself and them in for a few minutes and reward their arrival with fab food and a play party session.  You'll be surprised how much fun this can be for them and it will really help them to come back.  YOU have to make yourself much much more exciting than the walker!!   ...oh and if you have mice in the stable so much the better - only let them hunt in there  when recalled.  Good luck :)

Squeaky air kong tennis balls!! Sausage,cheese and separate time with all the dogs. It's the only way. You need to make sure they have good straight recalls and then progress onto chase recalls. Air kongs are only to be used at the field and I would be training in the field after a few weeks to cement rules apply in there too.

Most important bit is to separate and train individuals only way to go!! Got 4 myself and one of mine I feel constantly needs 1-2-1 attention weekly to maintain the bond between us, the others are fab, and perform beautifully for me but these I have had from under 20 weeks each of them. Hard boy I didn't have till he was 6/7 months and had had 5 homes by that stage. He was a naughty monkey!! Ican understand why people rehomed him he's not easy but I can always tell when I've spent extra time with him. The bond is tighter between us, he looks back more,he looks for how to please me more throughout the day without prompting.

Divide and conquer!! ; )

> Hard boy I didn't have till he was 6/7 months and had had 5 homes by that stage. He was a naughty monkey!! Ican understand why people rehomed him he's not easy

Snap - our terrier must be his brother. He is the hardest to own dog I have ever had .......... but we love him warts and all :-)

Definitely something in getting a dog at that age I think. Something to do with fear phases and hormonal development. That said he is mister socialable a little too much at times!!