What to do about neighbours dog

[Stormyisland]

We've recently moved to a rural farmhouse. We've just got one family as neighbours and they are really really lovely. We've got a bit of a problem with their dog though.. the dog is doing poos absolutely everywhere in our garden. He sneaks in our garden when we're not around and just poos everywhere. There's loads of it. The neighbours have seen a couple of areas and have been to clean it straight away and have been really apologetic. They don't know of all the other areas though. They've said he's only started doing it since we've moved and are a bit puzzled by it.

Also I love dogs and my husband hates them. This dog totally loves my husband and hates me. When I come home his barking by the gate, bearing his teeth and growling at me. He's tried to bite me once. I've looked out of the window when my husband and kids are out and he rushes to them with his tail wagging and is kissing them and really excited. I've never been scared of a dog but now I am. What can I do to get him to like me and to stop using our garden as his toilet?

[Aprilmightmemynewname]

Hose him ever time.
Dog lover but not a dog shit lover!!

[Dushenka]

Can you fence off your garden to stop him coming in? The 'dog not liking you' problem might be historical and nothing to do with you--maybe in the past he has been mistreated by a woman but well treated by a man. If you remind the dog of the evil woman, then he may be prejudiced against you.
Howeverpsychology apartif the dog has tried to bite you then he counts as a dangerous dog and the neighbours have to keep him restrained (fence or keeping him indoors except when he goes out on a leash) or muzzle him.
In the light of his aggression, it is emphatically not up to you to 'make him like you' but up to the neighbours to control him. Imagine what could happen if he transfers his aggression shown against you, to an unsuspecting child.

[AvocadosBeforeMortgages]

What's the fencing situation and why are the owners not keeping him on their land?

[NoSquirrels]

Yes - how does he get on your land?

If the neighbours are a bit oblivious, and their dog is regularly left to its own devices such that they aren’t with it when it’s taking a dump, then “he’s only just started doing it” may not be true. How would they know? If my dog suddenly stopped pooping - I wasn’t seeing any to pick up in my garden or when on walks - then I’d be worried. If they’re not, I suspect it’s not out of the ordinary for the dog...

For the aggression, you can try throwing treats (get owners permission) every time you’re out there/seethe dog, if it associates you with good stuff the aggression will go.

[herishere]

Carry treats and throw them to the dog to stop the aggression

How is the dog getting into your garden? The owners have apologised and cleaned up when you have asked but if you have no fencing then I'm sorry but that's on you, what do you expect?

[AvocadosBeforeMortgages]

How is the dog getting into your garden? The owners have apologised and cleaned up when you have asked but if you have no fencing then I'm sorry but that's on you, what do you expect?

Why is it the OP's job to contain her neighbours animals?

I have holes in my garden fence that can't be fixed (landlord...) so my dog isn't allowed in the back garden off lead because he considers next door's garden to be an excellent adventure (he has good recall in the park)

At no point would I consider telling next door that it was their responsibility to fix the fence to contain my dog

[TheCrowFromBelow]

Your neighbours need to control their dog, and ensure he is kept in his own garden.
If he can’t/won’t be contained then he shouldn’t be out unattended.
I’m willing to bet this isn’t just since you’ve moved in and they just do not control him
properly. It isn’t up to you to control their dog.

[Stormyisland]

Thanks everyone. Our garden is completely surrounded by fairly tall fencing. The gate is left open so we don't have to open and close it every time we drive in and out and this is where the dog comes through. He has to actually run all the way around all their outbuildings to get to our gate so he must be pretty determined to get to our garden. I've spoken to the neighbours about the aggression. They seem really upset and embarrassed about it and said they'd understand if I never wanted to see the dog again. They said they don't think he would have ever been badly treated and have never seen him behave like this with anyone. I'm going to get some treats and start by throwing some to him over the fence when I see him. Hopefully I'll be him over eventually.

[OhWotIsItThisTime]

Shut the gate or get one you control with a button. If the dog is aggressive to you, it might be to your kids. Also, what if it bites you in front of your kids?

Why isn’t it secure on the neighbour’s land?

[TheHodgeoftheHedge]

I think you need to follow MN rules - diagram please!

[mouseistrapped]

It is their responsibility legally to ensure the dog can not
Get Out of their grounds. You'll need to be polite but direct with them I'm afraid. What you are asking is totally reasonable

[RemainOptimistic]

What on earth? Why would you nod and smile while neighbours let their dog shit on your garden? That's just crazy. And why would you be happy for an aggressive dog to come up to your children? You do realise it could wound your child at any time?

I say this as a dog owner. I'd be mortified!

Your neighbours are grade A CF.

[unintentionalthreadkiller]

Close the gate!

[Nesssie]

Could you ask one of your neighbours to hold the dog on a lead, whilst you walk up and meet the other neighbour, nice and friendly, so that the dog sees you are friends. Then try giving some treats etc.

In terms of the pooing, it is their responsibility to ensure their dog cant get off of their property, but you could try a automatic gate aswell? Maybe it is a dominance thing, he is marking 'his' territory even though it is not his.

[DeepfriedPizza]

Why is the dog running about loose anyway? Dogs should be under control at all times whether it's with iron clad recall or on a lead. I would threaten with the dog warden.

Coming from a dog owner, I would be horrified.

[FluffyWhiteTowels]

Op can you put a cattle grid in this should deter the dog and any other dogs/animals. If you’re rural muntjacs can be a pain eating axhriba amd trees. Then you can continue to leave gate open.

[retirednow]

It's their responsibility to keep their dog off your property, it sounds a bit erratic to me, I would ask them to ensure it doesn't come near me, my family or my garden again.

[Dushenka]

Clearly closing your gate is the way forward. You just have to build in the extra few seconds it takes to do this, into your daily routine.

[TeeBee]

Tell them you're putting poison down for rats/slug pellets and they need to keep their dog off your land otherwise risk him eating it.

[knockknockknock]

Its probably quicker to open and close a gate than it is to pick dog poo up.

I'm guessing the PP who suggested a cattle grid has never owned a dog or has only ever owned a dachshund- my spaniel could clear a cattle grid with ease (well one small jump really)

[NoSquirrels]

Yes, the solution to this problem is to close your gate.