Question about dogs in gardens?

[Kipandbud]

We have had an ongoing problem with a neighbour who has aquired what appears to be a rottie x breed dog. The neighbours garden backs onto the sand paddock which is surrounded by high fencing and the front garden faces onto a private lane / public footpath.

We can no longer ride in the sand paddock due to this dog throwing itself against the fencing barking at the horses - now the fencing is approx 6ft high and the dog cant see through it.

The neighbour has fenced the front of his property with similar fencing, although has a wooden five bar gate leading out onto the lane. He has a large dog run which he bought after getting the dog, he used this at first because the dog was aggresive towards anyone/anything walking past. He has since stopped using this and now leaves the dog to roam free in his garden when he is not there.

Whenever we ride our horses past the gate, the dog hurls itself at the gate and barks and snarls at the horses - it does the same when anyone walks past and is getting worse, it looks like its going to break through the gate!

He takes the dog out onto the lane without a lead and it's chased our cars in the past. We have lots of passing walkers and runners and the same dog has been known to chase people up the lane (not sure if its bit anyone yet!)

Now everyday for the past six and a half years, my little JRT has been coming with me up to the stables and is never on a lead. She does have her moments but is generally very well behaved and just does her own thing, before the neighbours got the rottie x they used to encourage my little dog into their garden and would make a fuss of her...to the point where she would climb through their cat flap for a treat!

Since this new dog came along, my little dog generally stays away from the garden where this dog is, however yesterday..... she somehow ended up in the garden. The rottie attacked her and did her some quite serious damage to her shoulder.

Now I know theres nothing I can do about my little dog, because i think she must have either gone in herself....or said rottie picked her up through the gate (she's only a mouthful bless her!)

BUT - when I realised my dog was missing I walked up the lane to look for her and the rottie x hurled itself against the gate towards me, it was frothing at the mouth and really meant it! Luckily I'm already wary of it , but anyone passing would have been terrified!

I then heard my little dog whimpering and saw her lay in some bushes in the dogs garden...... I tried to knock for the owners to get hold of their dog while I got mine, but they ignored me!! So I armed myself with a spade and went in to get my dog.... luckily i found a way to get to mine without having to come face to face with the evil thing!!

My question is ....... what can I do about the dog?

I understand that its in his garden, but there are children at the farm , people walking past and a number of people have very nearly been thrown from their horses as a result! We have previously treid to talk to the owner, but he is completely ignorant and I'm sure he's avoiding me since yesterday!!

Sorry for the long post.....

Any ideas? ......

 

[Booboos]

Well I think you have a variety of issues here that need a different response.

I appreciate you may well find the dog scary in its own garden, but as long as it stays in its garden then I don't think you have much to complain about. Was your JRT injured when it strayed into the garden? I hope not, but for her safety I think you need to keep a closer eye on her and discourage her from visiting the neighbour's garden in the future (she may have frightened herself enough to stay away anyway).

The dog frightening the horses from inside its own garden is unfortunate, but at the end of the day the neighbour has a right to keep a dog in his garden. Is there any way you can get the horses gradually used to the dog? Maybe turn them loose in the sand paddock until they get bored with the dog, or walk them past the lane and reward them everytime the dog barks/jumps up? You can try to ask the neighbour if he would be willing to socialise his dog more with the horses, but if he is unwilling at the end of the day it is his garden and he can keep a dog in it if he wants.

The instances where the dog is loose in the public road and chasing people/cyclists/cars are the only ones you can realistically do something about. The most diplomatic approach would be to talk to the neighbour directly about it to find an amicable solution. From what you say, e.g. he was friendly to your dog, has put up a big fence to contain his dog, he sounds reasonable and perhaps you can find a solution. If that doesn't work you can always report him to the dog warden.

 

[Dobiegirl]

I hope your little dog is ok and wont make the mistake of going into the garden again, please keep him on the lead in future when you go past.

I wouldnt have thought the police would wont to get involved but a word with the dog warden might be helpful. If he could go and see the owners and offer some advice that might be all it needs.

 

[Kipandbud]

Thanks for your responses, my little dog was injured and is in a bit of a mess. The vets initially thought her shoulder was broken, but x-rays didnt show any breaks and they believe its muscle/nerve damage in her shoulder as yesterday she was non weight bearing and dragging her leg. She's managing to put it down a bit today, but she has staples in her shoulder where it bit her...... she's very sore and wont let me out of her sight!


Forgot to mention that the dog has been there for about 12 months now and my little dog tends to stay away from the garden. The neighbour didnt put the fencing up overlooking the paddock - we did because of the problems the dog was causing jumping up at the fence when people were riding and when horse were turned out - it got out one day and chased one of the older horses in the field.

We had broodmares ready to foal in the fields and he was told if his dog worried any of the stock it would be shot - thats when he fenced the front of his property, although the gate remained in a poor state of repair.

I understand that the dog is in its own garden, and that my dog must have gone into the garden...... thats not the problem. Its the fact that someone is going to get hurt and he is completely ignorant to the fact......

 

[CAYLA]

I agree with the others in regard to everybody taking caution and keeping their dogs close and on leads when passing or in the vicinity of this dog.
This is the best part of a guarding breed, and this means they do commonly "guard" like their life depends on it, usually once they are out of the enclosed space they are guarding they are usually fine, however thats besides the by.
He/fella has fenced the property when you alerted him to the "worrying the livestock" and he does sound a little ignorant to allow the dogs to go hell for leather at the fence, (I never understand that) it would drive me crazy!
I would try another tactic and try and befriend the dog, take something to chuck over, don't even give eye contact at first just throw some chicken in (ask the fella if you can feed him) nothing bad just treats.
Chucking a large bone would be handy, he would then chew it when u are ridin by) but its not really on for you to keep doing this, this is the type of thing the owner should be doing, he could stop him displaying this behaviour pretty easily usng varied methods.
Then see if you can actually hand it through to him, this may stop the lunging at you, and to be fair the dog is possibly frustrated to, seeing all this happening and him stuck on the inside, possibly getting no other stimualtion/exercise.
If you where brave enough you could even take it for a walk and make friends but I understand if you are now very warey.
The only other thing you could do is bombard the council with complaints in regard to the noise and pretend u are the neighbours.
And reinforce the fence even more from your side of the arena, double the fence up.

 

[SusieT]

Re:sand paddock-Keep riding-it's ridiculous to say you can't ride in the paddock, the horses will get used to it. A barking dog jumping on a fence is an excellent thing for them to elarn to be desensitised to-lunge them near it if you're not confident to ride. Same re: lane.
As for walking past-if it's secure in the garden (and it sounds like it is) then no reason to avoid walking past.
I don't see the problem with those.
Re: your dog-sorry to hear its injured. However, its your dog and should be kept under control. What if someone driving up the lane had run it over? Keep it in a secure fenced area (fence yard in/part of it) or on a lead/under your supervision.

 

[SusieT]

Re: the dog being loose-report it to the dog warden each and every time. It will either get picked up or the neighbouir will keep it in better. I can appreciate that would be a very scarey situation and one which you would not want to find yourselves in.

 

[hudsonw]

My friend wrote to the council once about a dog that barked non stop 2 doors down from her and they gave her advice on how to take action against them as a nuisance neighbour. The neighbour was threatened with a fine if they didn't control the noise.
It might be worth checking with your council to see if they can help?

 

[gugglebum]

There was a rottie in our local pub like that, it was in a fenced enclosure bordering a cricket pitch so you had to walk past, but it used to take run ups and shoulderbarge the fence; absolutely terrifying especially if the fence doesn't look entirely secure.
Unfortunately it was your little dogs poor look out that it entered rotties territory, but as you say it does sound like an accident waiting to happen.
Could you knock the door and discuss your concerns? As someone else suggested a double fence may be the answer.
Sorry - just read you've tried talking to him. This does seem extremely anti-social - maybe you could ring you r local police station and see if they've dealt with similar scenarios.

 

[CorvusCorax]

You may laugh, but while he obviously isn't keen on your dog, have you met this dog yourself?
My dog looks and sounds like Nick the Devil when he is behind a fence, but if he is properly introduced on a lead with me present, he is fine.
He gets used to people passing by him relatively quickly once he has 'met' them.
As Cayla, if you got to know him, were allowed to feed him he may stop lunging at the fence.
Agree with SusieT that it would be good proofing for the horses. He's just a dog, don't let him have an impact on the way you live your life/go about your daily business! And do ring the warden if he is out loose, might teach the owner to be more responsible.