my neighbour's dogs - does this sound right?

[Lexilicious]

my neighbour has a couple of big shepherd dogs, maybe three (at least a breeding pair) and jack russells bought from "the gypsies". I am not a dog owner, would love to be, but for now admit ignorance. Please tell me whether I'm right to be at best slightly 'yuck' and at worst quite concerned...

1. dogs live all in one kennel. rarely seem to be indoors.
   
2. spend the daytime in a paved yard 6m by 8m.
   
3. I have never seen them taken out for a walk (I work during the day, but so does the bloke next door and it would definitely be him that would do the walking)
   
4. what exercise they do get appears to be tug and play-fight games with their owner. He's obviously very affectionate to them but in a "come here ya big bastard" sort of way.
   
5. barking, any time I go out in my back garden. lots of barking and growling. fence is high and solid, if that makes a difference.
   
6. our houses back onto a wood. leading from next door's back gate is a sort of mound along the side of the path which is a metre across and at least 10m long. At a couple of points it is evident that this mound is made up of shovelled-out dog shit. This is a health hazard, right?

[smoggii]

Your instincts are right, particularly if they are breeding from these dogs.
I quiet word with the RSPCA might be in order. You may also want to have a word with Environmental health about the poopile so get on to your local Council.

[Lexilicious]

oh good (well, not good, but glad I'm not being unkind)

DH is quite sanguine about the way they choose to bring up their dogs (and their children) but the open cess pit tipped him over to 'cal someone' territory too.

[Lexilicious]

or even 'call'