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

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MagicMelon

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I've posted about this before but now that I've moved two of my horses in a few days ago, I feel this is really going to become a problem now.

We live rurally and have one neighbour about 1/4 mile away, the neighbours are really nice and we get on well with them and of course I'd like to keep it that way (especially as we are the only ones visible to each other so we sort of keep an eye on each others houses etc.). But their free range dog has been pretty annoying since we moved in by coming over visiting whenever it feels like it and running about on the road. A friend and my other half has nearly hit it on their motorbikes, it frequently comes over and poos on my front lawn, has jumped into our back garden and encouraged our young dog to escape with it - to the point we have now paid £300 to fence in our back patio so it can't interfere with ours, and it is often out in the evening which scares the life out of me (and my toddler son) when I get out of my car in the dark as this dog is huge yet somehow silent on approach, and we've frequently had passers by stop at our house holding her asking if she's ours.

They say they can't fence it in because its a huge dog and can jump any fence, but surely an electric fence would? Their garden isn't fenced at all, they do walk it twice a day but when they let it out for a pee it often just wonders off and can be gone hours! We're surrounded by fields with sheep in currently but this dog doesn't seem to go into the fields that I've seen so the farmers don't seem bothered by it.

Last night I went out to bring my horses in, in the dark, and who comes bounding up the track by my field but the dog - scared the life out of me and the horses. I've said numerous times to the neighbours about the dog causing problems but they just keep saying it cant be fenced in and they'll try to keep a closer eye on it but that clearly doesn't work. I'm going to be backing one of the horses soon and I don't want the worry of the dog rushing up and down the fenceline just as I get on or something! It wouldn't be so bad if you could hear it coming but it genuinely is some sort of stealth dog, you turn round and its there. Any ideas? I've tried shouting at the dog so it knows its not welcome here but it doesn't work and I can't report it or that'd cause upset to the neighbours :( Help?!
 
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I would echo calling the dog warden. We had a similar thing here with two dogs getting out. It was reported to the dog warden who had strong words with the owner - never happened again. It is very irresponsible of your neighbours, the dog could cause a bad road accident; why don't people realise.
 
Agree, catch it and take it to the police station and tell them you found it running about in the road. They will have to pay for the overnight kennelling. When you drop it off you could tell the police who it belongs to and get them to take the dog back and have a word with the owner.
 
Agree with contacting the dog warden. We had a similar problem locally and one of our neighbours contacted the dog warden and the problem was sorted.
 
The problem with reporting to the police and/or the dog warden (there is no longer a dog warden round here) is that they ask if you know whose dog it is. If you say yes they ask you to return it to the owners. If you say no it would become pretty obvious when the owners are found to be your nearest neighbour that you were lying.
 
Matt and Jack said:
Ditto dog warden, they won't give a name to your neighbours and if it goes missIng for hours then it could have been anyone
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Oh yes they will. Worse than that they will turn up with the neighbour in tow right into the middle of your yard to collect the dog. Been there, done that.
 
just pick up the dog take it to the nearest vets surgery-you don't need to give a name, they will contact the dog warden-take it to a vets further away if that puts your mind at rest-tell all the people that stop and ask the dog is nothing to do with you and could they contact the dog warden and report it as you too are concerned for the dogs safety, or better still suggest if they have hold of the dog that they contact the dog warden
 
As the owner of a setter who in her youth would regularly clear 8' fences, I have some sympathy with the dog owner. Finding out that your dog is roaming and bothering neighbours is a nightmare, and not always as easy as putting up a fence. I did lots of research on shock collars / fences at one point and would not use them myself. The dog runs through the fence at speed on the way out, but skulks back on return - therefore they get shocked too late first time, and every time they approach home on the way back, hence they become afraid to come home.

Our domestic situation is similar to yours, and I would be very reluctant to do anything which would upset or annoy the neighbour. Your relationship with them is too precious, and a deterioration will affect your piece of mind.

Perhaps an electric fence at dog height around your property would be a relatively cheap way of persuading the dog that your property is out of bounds. On the other hand, it's no bad thing to have a doggie burglar alarm patrolling the grounds.
 
Given that nearly ran dog over, is there any mileage in the approach of for the dog's safety rather than that it is annoying, so perhaps that a horse nearly stood on it/kicked it something along those lines and that you are concerned about the dog getting hurt.
 
pennyturner said:
As the owner of a setter who in her youth would regularly clear 8' fences, I have some sympathy with the dog owner. Finding out that your dog is roaming and bothering neighbours is a nightmare, and not always as easy as putting up a fence. I did lots of research on shock collars / fences at one point and would not use them myself. The dog runs through the fence at speed on the way out, but skulks back on return - therefore they get shocked too late first time, and every time they approach home on the way back, hence they become afraid to come home.

Our domestic situation is similar to yours, and I would be very reluctant to do anything which would upset or annoy the neighbour. Your relationship with them is too precious, and a deterioration will affect your piece of mind.

Perhaps an electric fence at dog height around your property would be a relatively cheap way of persuading the dog that your property is out of bounds. On the other hand, it's no bad thing to have a doggie burglar alarm patrolling the grounds.
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you cannot just put a fence shock collar on a dog and expect it to solve the problem, you need to train and introduce the dog to the idea that there is now an electric boudary, I think being hit by a shock is better than being hit by a car but electric collars have to be used with extreme caution and only when all others avenues have been exhausted.
 
pennyturner said:
As the owner of a setter who in her youth would regularly clear 8' fences, I have some sympathy with the dog owner. Finding out that your dog is roaming and bothering neighbours is a nightmare, and not always as easy as putting up a fence. I did lots of research on shock collars / fences at one point and would not use them myself. The dog runs through the fence at speed on the way out, but skulks back on return - therefore they get shocked too late first time, and every time they approach home on the way back, hence they become afraid to come home.

Our domestic situation is similar to yours, and I would be very reluctant to do anything which would upset or annoy the neighbour. Your relationship with them is too precious, and a deterioration will affect your piece of mind.

Perhaps an electric fence at dog height around your property would be a relatively cheap way of persuading the dog that your property is out of bounds. On the other hand, it's no bad thing to have a doggie burglar alarm patrolling the grounds.
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Seriously? Why the hell should someone else have to either put up with or solve your problem...ie YOUR dog that you cannot contain.
Chain the ******.
Its not fair to expect others to tolerate it, if it causes an accident and injures/kills someone its YOUR fault.
 
could you explain the situation about backing the young horse and the risk with the dog, and say it's absolutely not something you can risk, and unless the dog is tethered/kept in a run, then they need to pay for electric fencing or some kind of deterrent around your place (since they won't do their own property). I'd research an option you think would be best and present it to them as either a 'do this' or 'tether it/make a proper run'

i think your 100% right to be worried when backing, you could easily get a serious injury if the dog jumped in at the wrong time.
 
I'm very sorry to say that i would bend the truth a little and say that the dog is snapping at the horses or something. Not really good form i have to admit but unless they think there really is a problem they arent going to take things seriously

I would not involve the dog warden but would speak with your neighbours directly

Resist the temptation to rattle of a list of minor problems and concentrate on the biggest problems only
 
We have had problems with neighbour's "pack" of dogs for years now: so sympathise entirely with you OP.

Agree that various suggestions re. dog wardens etc might work in a situation like this............ IME there's no point in trying to talk to irresponsible dog owner/neighours like this as they'll just smile sweetly and say "sorry" and still allow the situation to continue :( - so if you CAN figure out a way to use the dog warden - anonymously - then you could try that.

Alternatively............ shame you're in NE Scotland which is as far away from us here in Devon as anyone could be, but if you lived round here I'd have lent you my Welsh D mare for a day; she's an excellent deterrent for anything "strange" in her field and is fine with our dogs but anybody else's dares to venture in there and she'll show them teeth and hooves, and by god she means it. A little treasure.
 
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Hippona said:
Seriously? Why the hell should someone else have to either put up with or solve your problem...ie YOUR dog that you cannot contain.
Chain the ******.
Its not fair to expect others to tolerate it, if it causes an accident and injures/kills someone its YOUR fault.
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It's not fair - but it's a pragmatic approach. You may be happy to antagonise a neighbour over a problem with a dog that they're probably trying very hard to fix themselves (it'll be very embarassing for them). I wouldn't. Speak to them, by all means, and be blunt, but dog wardens and police - that's cowardly and mean, and will ruin your relations with the neighbour forever.

I'd rather have a friendly neighbour with an PITA dog than the other way around.
 
It doesn't seen that they have been trying hard to fix it themselves if they have no fencing (rather than fencing the dog can hop over. If they want it outside for long periods of time it should be in a run with a roof so it cannot jump over surely?
 
pennyturner said:
It's not fair - but it's a pragmatic approach. You may be happy to antagonise a neighbour over a problem with a dog that they're probably trying very hard to fix themselves (it'll be very embarassing for them). I wouldn't. Speak to them, by all means, and be blunt, but dog wardens and police - that's cowardly and mean, and will ruin your relations with the neighbour forever.

I'd rather have a friendly neighbour with an PITA dog than the other way around.
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Well Im afraid if you were the neighbour with a PITA dog, then I wouldnt be very friendly.... If I can manage to keep my two big dogs safely contained then I don't see how its hard for anyone else.
 
it doesn't sound like they think they have a problem, as they clearly don't care if their dog roams, as it doesn't cause them any problems and they obviously are willing to risk it running on roads. if they were really worried about roaming they would at least attempt to fence him, or when not walking him or watching him, he could surely be in a run with kennel if he is an outdoor dog.
may be a stupid idea- but could you ask for him to have a light on him at night so you can spot him coming?
 
ester said:
It doesn't seen that they have been trying hard to fix it themselves if they have no fencing (rather than fencing the dog can hop over. If they want it outside for long periods of time it should be in a run with a roof so it cannot jump over surely?
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This may be the case. Equally, they may be trying to train it to the boundaries, or keep it in the house with limited success. I'd try to keep them friendly in any event. It's horrible to have tension between neighbours, and a roaming dog (so long as it isn't vicious or killing livestock) doesn't seem worth aggro to me.

You may be able to work with them. For example, if you shut it in an outbuilding every time it turns up at your place, and text the neighbour, this would train the dog not to come to yours (dog works out it gets deprived of liberty), and provides an incentive to the neighbour to do whatever's in their power to prevent the embarassment and inconvenience. Combined with a coffee and a chat when they come over, this could be civilised.

Incidentally, my setter still 'auto-punishes' herself by going and sitting in the downstairs toilet when she thinks she's done wrong :)
 
Hippona said:
Well Im afraid if you were the neighbour with a PITA dog, then I wouldnt be very friendly.... If I can manage to keep my two big dogs safely contained then I don't see how its hard for anyone else.
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Sitting here with 3 well behaved dogs (including the setter), it's easy to agree. However when I first got her (rescue at 8 months) we were living in a house with a very well fenced garden - 6' fence panels - which she flew like they weren't there. It was a real challenge, and I'm a little slower to judge off the back of the experience.

It's the same with horses. I've seen the most competent, consciencious horse owner in the area totally foxed by one particular ISH who jumped out of everything - including the stable. She was mortified.
 
pennyturner said:
This may be the case. Equally, they may be trying to train it to the boundaries, or keep it in the house with limited success. I'd try to keep them friendly in any event. It's horrible to have tension between neighbours, and a roaming dog (so long as it isn't vicious or killing livestock) doesn't seem worth aggro to me.

You may be able to work with them. For example, if you shut it in an outbuilding every time it turns up at your place, and text the neighbour, this would train the dog not to come to yours (dog works out it gets deprived of liberty), and provides an incentive to the neighbour to do whatever's in their power to prevent the embarassment and inconvenience. Combined with a coffee and a chat when they come over, this could be civilised.
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Or teach it not to allow itself to be caught by you ;)

I have a couple of friends with free roaming dogs - but they don't go off 'their patch' - if they did they would be contained for their own safety let alone everyone else's.
 
Gingerwitch said:
Put it in the car - drive approx 30 miles away and take it to the rspca, vets or police.
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This is theft. And the police do not accept dogs. Neither will the vet, as you do not own the dog and it is not injured. Or the charity of choice - they will be full, does not matter when or where you go, they will be full.

The dog hasn't actually done anything aside from wander about, be friendly, and poo. Fence in your own animals securely OP, and drive carefully. That way, there is less chance of an accident. Then tell your neighbour that they need to keep an eye on their dog so that they can clean up after it when it poos.

Sit down and have an actual conversation with them - not a polite hint, or a quick word, an actual formal meeting where you explain your concerns and try to find some way of resolving them. Maybe they find it hard to exercise it - are they unwell? Do they need help, but are embarrassed to ask?

Fouling in a public place, or on someone else's property is the only thing you can really complain about here, as it isn't technically straying if they know where it is.
 
Arizahn said:
This is theft. And the police do not accept dogs. Neither will the vet, as you do not own the dog and it is not injured. Or the charity of choice - they will be full, does not matter when or where you go, they will be full.

The dog hasn't actually done anything aside from wander about, be friendly, and poo. Fence in your own animals securely OP, and drive carefully. That way, there is less chance of an accident. Then tell your neighbour that they need to keep an eye on their dog so that they can clean up after it when it poos.

Sit down and have an actual conversation with them - not a polite hint, or a quick word, an actual formal meeting where you explain your concerns and try to find some way of resolving them. Maybe they find it hard to exercise it - are they unwell? Do they need help, but are embarrassed to ask?

Fouling in a public place, or on someone else's property is the only thing you can really complain about here, as it isn't technically straying if they know where it is.
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Well if thats theft the dog on her land is tresspass !

lock it in a stable, phone the police and stuff the ignorant neighbours whom obviously dont give a stuff about upsetting you, letting harm come to you whilst leading your horses, or your toddler child for that matter. As a last resort get a few hens and then you can shoot the thing and say it was bothering your animals. If you want to be nice the police will come and take the dog if you phone them and say it has been bothering your horses
 
Gingerwitch said:
Well if thats theft the dog on her land is tresspass !

lock it in a stable, phone the police and stuff the ignorant neighbours whom obviously dont give a stuff about upsetting you, letting harm come to you whilst leading your horses, or your toddler child for that matter. As a last resort get a few hens and then you can shoot the thing and say it was bothering your animals. If you want to be nice the police will come and take the dog if you phone them and say it has been bothering your horses
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Please stop inciting the OP to harm animals and upset her neighbours. Removing a dog whose owner is known to you is theft, as dogs are legally property. This is why they cannot themselves be charged with trespass.

I am reporting this thread as it is frankly getting out of hand, and should be in AAD anyhow.
 
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