Next doors dog being a pain again :( What else can I try?!

I see the OP (and presumably her neighbour) lives in the North East of Scotland which is sheep country.

She should just be patient. In a couple of months or so it will be lambing time and the dog will simply disappear.

Sad but true.
 
Invite me to stay. I will take it back to them for you and have a nice chat with them. I do mean a nice chat too. You cure more with kindness!!! Not easy to do when you have a relationship with them whereas a stranger can have a bit more impact.

They probably don't actually know many of the laws relating to dogs and the fact that owners are more easily able to be prosecuted nowadays.

Direct approaches work best usually, so whilst I joke about inviting me...seriously, do you have a really confident type instructor or friend that can take the dog back for you and nicely give them the facts?
 
annagain said:
I'd write them a note. You express yourself very rationally and calmly on here - write everything you've put on here down and pop it through the letter box. It needn't be officious or formal, just a friendly note explaining why you're so worried (it's much easier to get it all out if it's not a two wayt conversation) and asking them to do something. Sometimes seeing it written down is enough to jolt people into action. If that doesn't work, as others have suggested, enlist the help of a friend to take the dog to the pound or a local vets.
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I really don't think it is fair to lie to a vet or the dog pound in order to solve the problem. This just pushes responsibility on to an completely innocent and unrelated party.
 
Dry Rot said:
I see the OP (and presumably her neighbour) lives in the North East of Scotland which is sheep country.

She should just be patient. In a couple of months or so it will be lambing time and the dog will simply disappear.

Sad but true.
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survived the last 3 years though.
 
ester said:
survived the last 3 years though.
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Nope, behaviour can be changed in a day though.

Had this with four neighbouring dogs when we lived on Bowden hill. It took one day of concerted effort and no more than body language and a few growls and they never walked off the grass and onto my driveway again. That's because the owners were totally beyond discussion.

In OPs case, I do think talking will suffice but either OP or someone on her behalf needs to be firm enough to do it calmly, without causing offense and actually getting it sorted. Tea and cake along with some basic documentation of the facts can work wonders. I'd much rather have a slightly uncomfortable chat with my neighbour than return them a dead dog or a law suit.
 
yup just pointing out that if the local farmer hasn't shot it yet waiting for sheep season this year might seem a bit pointless ;)

reckon you might need a roadtrip :eek:
 
ester said:
yup just pointing out that if the local farmer hasn't shot it yet waiting for sheep season this year might seem a bit pointless ;)

reckon you might need a roadtrip :eek:
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Hahaaa, yeah. I agree with you all round :)

My dogs, 2 collies a JRT and a Lab x Rottie and none of them could care less about livestock. They trundle past like animals are just bigger blades of grass!
 
I had to takes a neighbours boxer back 3 times last year, it was roaming around and peering over the fence at my dogs, one of which is disabled (has IVDD) so a 7.5 stone boxer landing on her would be the end.
We had a chat albeit a firm but friendly chat about reasons her dog was roaming (it being entire, never walked therefore bored etc) and ways she could ensure it didn't get out and I left it at that, till it happened again 2 days later, I took him back and told her I hoped she had very good liability insurance as a car had had to swerve to miss hitting him and if that happened they would be legally responsible and it could add up to a pretty penny. Haven't had a problem since (touch wood hug a tree).
 
Venevidivici said:
Poor dog,sounds as if it's looking for some companionship and something to occupy it and unfortunately for you,there's obviously fun stuff to see and do around your house!
I would hope that these owners do genuinely care for their dog (does it get shown love and affection and training at home,when it's inside,I wonder or do they really just turf it out & forget about it?) but if not (and it seems their disinterest in its day to day wellbeing & whereabouts would suggest otherwise) ending up somewhere where it could be rehomed to someone who might give it the attention it needs may be no bad thing.:(
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Not necessarily. Dogs love to roam. It's what they do (entire dogs particularly). Once they start it's self-rewarding behaviour. They run away, it's fun, they do it again, etc... Doesn't mean they're not happy at home.

You can't punish them for doing it, as this just puts them off coming home. You have to remove opportunity, whilst keeping them well exercised.
 
JingleSmells said:
Hahaaa, yeah. I agree with you all round :)

My dogs, 2 collies a JRT and a Lab x Rottie and none of them could care less about livestock. They trundle past like animals are just bigger blades of grass!
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That wouldn't stop them shooting an unaccompanied dog around here. "Shoot, bury, forget" is the motto.

Even if this dog is safe and surrounding farmers don't have sheep, there is nothing to beat a few white lies and a gentle bit of fertiliser stirring!

A smear of blood on the dog's neck, a wisp of wool tucked into the buckle of the collar…. "Did you hear about that poor dog that was shot last week? I don't like to repeat gossip, but….. Maybe wise to keep Fido locked up as someone obviously has an itchy trigger finger. He's such a lovely dog, I would hate anything to happen to him".
 
I must live in a very tolerant area judging by the responses on this thread. No way would any farmer around here shoot a neighbours dog, or call the Animal Control, or take it to a vet/pound. We'd either take the dog back, ignore it and let it find it's own way back, or phone the neighbour to let them know where the dog is. I often have 'visiting' neighbours dogs come onto my farm. They don't bother me at all, I just leave them to it and they go home eventually.
 
I do think its very sad that a friendly dog straying next door has people suggesting shooting it or taking it to the pound. I know the people suggesting this are perfect owners whose pets would never commit such a sin, but still...

When I was little a local dog used to meet me every day and follow me to the schoolyard. He was my best friend. Some of you guys would have been waiting for poor old Patch with a 12 bore!
 
Dry Rot said:
That wouldn't stop them shooting an unaccompanied dog around here. "Shoot, bury, forget" is the motto.

Even if this dog is safe and surrounding farmers don't have sheep, there is nothing to beat a few white lies and a gentle bit of fertiliser stirring!

A smear of blood on the dog's neck, a wisp of wool tucked into the buckle of the collar…. "Did you hear about that poor dog that was shot last week? I don't like to repeat gossip, but….. Maybe wise to keep Fido locked up as someone obviously has an itchy trigger finger. He's such a lovely dog, I would hate anything to happen to him".
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Surrounded by sensible farmers around here that would never lie. We're all invested in each other. Most of the dog walkers are also horse owners who support the farmers through the purchase of hay and straw, paying for muck heap collections etc. They treat us with respect, we treat them, and their land and livestock with respect. There have been no issues around here that I know of or have ever heard of and it was exactly the same in S. Wales when I was growing up.

We all have common sense. Those of us that walk our dogs in the countryside as opposed to the parks and common fields don't let our dogs out of sight.



Spring Feather said:
I must live in a very tolerant area judging by the responses on this thread. No way would any farmer around here shoot a neighbours dog, or call the Animal Control, or take it to a vet/pound. We'd either take the dog back, ignore it and let it find it's own way back, or phone the neighbour to let them know where the dog is. I often have 'visiting' neighbours dogs come onto my farm. They don't bother me at all, I just leave them to it and they go home eventually.
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Following on from above, completely agree with you. This is obviously a very tolerant area too.
 
I think the fact that you have a toddler is more worrying. Years ago we had a "friendly" family dog who bit the farmer landlord, right through his hand with no warning and refused to let go. That dog had never shown any sign of aggression, knew the farmer well etc. Even the best most well trained friendly dogs still have a mind of their own, as the farmer pointed out to my parents, he wasn;t telling them to have him put down but if that had been my little brother (who was a toddler and used to go up to the dog and cuddle him round the neck) then he wouldn't have had a face left. This dog is only a friendly dog SO FAR. I would be more worried about the safety of my child and myself rather than some hurt neighbour feelings
 
Gosh, some harsh responses on this thread.

We have neighbours that let their dog wander around. It craps on my dad's lawn every morning. We just live with it.

Is there a gate at the end of your drive OP? I'm not quite understanding how it actually gets onto your land to wander around..

I think involving dog wardens and vets is OTT at this point. And as for shooting it!!! Heck I hope your dogs or horses never ever escape! All of the above would come back to you, one way or the other, and would result in a ruined relationship with your neighbours. That would be a shame in this situation. They're not bad neighbours, they just need to control their dog..

Personally I would shut the dog in a stable and ring for the owners to collect it every time. If they say they're out or could you tell drop it round tell them no, it has straw and water so it will be fine til they arrive. Make it so the dog escaping becomes a nuisance to them - they may do more to keep it with them that way.
 
Harsh responses tend to reflect one's experiences.

I returned dogs to some people who lived up the road numerous times over many years. All sorts of different dogs. Each time we were told "Oh it'll never happen again". Eventually her dogs had killed my neighbours ducks, they chased my geese, they killed my hens, they caused near misses on the road, they chased my horses - and those are just the incidents I knew about. I did start ringing the Dog Warden each time but that service was discontinued by the council and in any case once they asked if I knew whose dogs they were they just asked me to return them. Finally she started breeding "wolf dogs" and they escaped and went on a killing spree, with one ending up nearly a mile from their house in my field with my sheep and lambs after it's partner in crime had been caught. Thank god they'd by-passed my heavily pregnant mare who was at home. When I arrived the dog was still on the attack and my arrival, and eventually that of some police did little to deter it. We eventually lost one third of our flock, directly attributable to the actions of one selfish couple who just couldn't be bothered to make sure their dogs were unable to escape.

As we had had to involve the police (I dialled 999 because I was fearful for my own safety, let alone that of the sheep, and two officers attended and felt very threatened by the dog, as did the vet who came to try to help the sheep and lambs) a number of people started to come forward with their own stories of what this person's dogs had been up to. They had been all over the village killing poultry, attacking dogs and dog walkers, running in front of cars, chasing bicycles (and knocking riders off them) but everyone had just taken the dogs back to the owners who'd said "Oh it's never happened before and we'll make sure it doesn't happen again". There were so many complaints about the animals and that the council and the police had not logged the calls made by those who had complained and had failed to act that the whole village was in an uproar. Just taking the dogs back and not upsetting the neighbour meant that the dogs were free to run wild and eventually paid the ultimate price.

Do you wonder that I am harsh about owners letting dogs run free? Good neighbours that don't control their dogs turn into bad neighbours rather quickly when things go wrong. I still feel that the owners should have been shot, rather than the dogs.
 
Yes I can understand Hic, but OP's situation sounds a million miles away from this (as does mine). I still stand by what I said (and I live in sheep country too and have no issue with a dog that is causing hassle to be shot. This dog in question sounds as though its just coming round to play with her dog, it hasn't looked at her stock so far..
 
MiJodsR2BlinkinTite said:
Mmmm, think I'm with "Hic" in fact.

Why TF SHOULD OP have to put up with the menace of other people's badly controlled dogs???
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They absolutely shouldn't... BUT if they want to keep on good terms with their neighbours then they have to approach it delicately. Personally I wouldn't hesitate to contact dog warden/police as appropriate were it a neighbour of mine but then I don't live in a rural area where I'm dependent on good neighbours keeping an eye on things.
 
I would take it back to them looking horrified and say that u have clipped it with your car when it ran out in front of u and that your child was very upset by the whole thing as u nearly crashed trying to avoid it but as u swerved u think it is fine as only clipped. They hopefully will feel awful that your child is upset and dog nearly killed but u don't have to have an argument with them. I think u will have to resort to "white lies" rather than fall out with them... I have come off horse due to loose dog and its not nice, but unless owners see it happen I don't think the point will come across strongly enough, owner of dog who chased my horse causing accident was mortified and looked genuinly upset but if people don't physically see the problem it doesn't register!!
 
Stop enabling them, when walkers turn up with dog simply point them in the neighbours direction. If neighbour tells you to put dog in the house because they are out, say you can't but whoever has dog can (I wouldn't be too happy if strangers had access to my house) if dog is at yours shut him in and say he's in stable with water waiting for them to pick him up. Make it a pita for them to have a loose dog.
 
I think I'd have to have stronger words op, I wouldn't be that bothered about maintaining 'relationships' there your neighbours not blood relatives. They clearly don't have to much respect for you otherwise their dog wouldn't be running about doing his business all over your garden..

No reason at all that dog should be getting out, no excuse.
 
What a frustrating position to be in.

Agree with others saying that making it awkward for them might be a good way around it, like ridefast said shutting it in the stable with water and then giving them a ring.

Could you say you are having problems with vermin so will be putting poision around your house. Then they know there is a direct threat to their dog, perhaps if it still came around you could put some flour on it's nose?

Hope you get to the bottom of it.
 
Holly08 said:
Yes I can understand Hic, but OP's situation sounds a million miles away from this (as does mine). I still stand by what I said (and I live in sheep country too and have no issue with a dog that is causing hassle to be shot. This dog in question sounds as though its just coming round to play with her dog, it hasn't looked at her stock so far..
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So far…..
 
Venevidivici said:
Poor dog,sounds as if it's looking for some companionship and something to occupy it and unfortunately for you,there's obviously fun stuff to see and do around your house!
I would hope that these owners do genuinely care for their dog (does it get shown love and affection and training at home,when it's inside,I wonder or do they really just turf it out & forget about it?) but if not (and it seems their disinterest in its day to day wellbeing & whereabouts would suggest otherwise) ending up somewhere where it could be rehomed to someone who might give it the attention it needs may be no bad thing.:(
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Thats as maybe but i was sent this yesterday, any stray dog on private property is potentially dangerous to other animals.
WISN NEWS :http://www.opposingviews.com/i/soci...bull-attacks-therapy-horses-free-spirit-ranch
 
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I dunno whether this is an intolerant view or not, but I care about my dogs too much to risk them being splatted on the road, shot by a farmer or stolen, or to end up in the care of the dog warden or people I have no idea about, I don't want them scaring people (people can be fearful of dogs because of the way they look) or crapping everywhere, I don't want them to mooch about and entertain themselves and have way more fun away from me than they have with me.

The OP has expressed concern about her child, about her own dog being led astray, about her horse, about hitting it in her car etc etc etc, which I think are all valid points.
 
We have had a couple of serial offending families in our village. One lot owned three Rhodesian Ridgebacks, the owners idea of exercising them was waiting till it was dark and kicking them out! They were not friendly dogs and a neighbours daughter used to come home through our field (in heels through mud!) by initation, as she was frightened of them. The situation was resolved for us when the family moved, however the village they moved to suffered, as the dogs started attacking other dogs.
The second lot have a load of terriers that are always on the roads, have been like this for years, their 'long dogs' took to killing cats, they do seem to have kept them at home since they were witnessed worrying a cat :( Another branch of the same family had a dog which mauled sheep, to that owners credit, he shot the dog immediatly, but it could have been avoided if he had just kept the dog at home.
 
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