Much more work with boels in the city

[Marcella Burgess]

As I was saying earlier, to live within an urban area is much more of a task with 4 boerboels than living out in the country. There are a few reasons that immediately come to mind; first their protectiveness is heightened due to the fact that we have just come from 8 years of living in a VERY rural area and never seeing anyone except when out in town.. now even the garbage men come on their property and are trying to take things that belong to their family! ( how dare they ), secondly... the fact that they had free roaming ability out in the bush for their daily activity and excersise outlet whereas now in comparison to both myself and my husband and our two daughters all have jobs and social life.. we are needing to find the time to get them out and mentally tire them out as opposed to being physically tired out... third , we had gone through 1 bay window ( litterally ) while trying to come outside to rake and then destroy the pile of leaves... and finally fourth, the terrible fact that all of my dogs were taught to jump onto/over/and through obstacles while living in the country and now.. we have a larger than norm sized backyard with only 3.5 feet tall fencing at the moment.... so when we are putting all of these things together they amount to an interesting start to our first month of living in the city!

[Lee May]

Glad to hear it Marcella, I must say I have one crazy neighbor who use to leave her dog out 24 7. So my dogs never got any peace with the constant barking from their dogs. Glad you're in much better shape. Good luck and Peace.

[Marcella Burgess]

@ Lee, we are actually just going to be amping up our training with everyone in order to a) give them an outlet for their energy levels, and b) solid obedience in a dog is much more useful to me than anything else in all honesty. As for the neigbours, everyone here has enjoyed meeting our dogs.. the kids in the neighbourhood are looked at sweetly by my guys when they have met, the elderly ladies that live on one side of us do not get a reaction out of any of them, and the gentleman who lives on the other side doesn't mind and in fact looks at them with interest. so far so good!

@ Carrie, we are planning on putting in a slightly taller more stable fencing system in the new year.. but.. honestly I am not so freaked out by the smaller fence as of yet.. mind you we are out with them when they go outside and they are all learning that if they even think about charging the fence line they would get their ars's handed to them.. it is not appropriate to be yelling at the neighbours! lol
@ Jenn... I think that Dora got her lessons in early in life.. she's got an advantage.. she's used to living in a suburb!

[Jennifer Sider]

Ha, ha -- Dora will give her bro. some suggestions; we only have a 4 foot fence around most of the property and she's good.

[Carrie Kruczek]

I'm enjoying reading about your "city adventures!" We live in a very very safe suburban neighborhood, but Gage is still always on guard against the evil garbage men, roller bladers, and people walking their dogs on "his street." The solid six foot wooden fence in the backyard is great....but, when we built the fence, at the request of the neighbors, we had the boards along their side of the yard with a little space in between so that it would feel more open to them. (They first asked us not to put up a fence, and just use "invisible fencing," lol.) What a mistake to have the open spaces! Now Gage can see them through the fence, so when they are in their driveway (which is about 6 inches from the fence) he charges it at top speed on full alert. Darn, I should have just put up the invisible fencing, and the first time they got charged by 150 lbs of growling barking boerboel they would have paid the big bucks for the real fence. Still, it's a pain. Don't let anyone talk you into any spacing in your fencing. He can't see through the solid fence so ignores those three sides. ,

[Lee May]

Marcella, Ouch sorry to hear about the bay window, sounds expensive. Well you already know you need at least a 6 ft. heavy fence to keep those big guys in your yard. How are your neighbors faring? I bet there scared to death. lol Good luck, hope you guys really like surburban living. Peace