To own an indoor only dog in one bed flat?

[JusWunderin]

I’ve noticed a couple over the road have a dog, at first I wasn’t sure if it was actually theirs as I never saw it come or go so assume it was a visitor.

But since I’ve had a doorbell camera that picks up movement from their front door opposite my house I’ve never once seen them take it out, not once. I work from home and my office faces their front door too so I’ve become a bit of a nosey neighbour if I’m honest. But I feel sad for the dog, it never goes outside, they occasionally open their ‘patio’ doors (barred in doors with no balcony on upper level flat) and the dog just stands there with its nose poking through the bars.

It looks healthy, it’s a relatively young dog/puppy, large breed and doesn’t look uncared for but I would have thought it doesn’t have much room to get much exercise in a one bedroom flat?

and I know what you’re going to ask.. what about toileting? No idea.. I’ve literally never once seen them take it out on a walk, or just outside for the toilet. I’ve seen them come and go.. just never with the dog.

Is it cruel? Should it be reported? I don’t want to be ‘that’ neighbour but?

That was a quick read, nope it’s not illegal.

Instead of making assumptions why don’t you speak to them about your concerns because you know nothing about the dog or their personal situation and just straight up reporting them is unfair. You might be able to help them out and make some friends. I’d also suggest getting a hobby.

@SillySausage53 because I’ve already said I’m not going to report them. I was just concerned by the lack of outside time the dog seemingly gets. Plus, from all the midnight screaming shouting and profanities I actually don’t want to associate with the couple at all 😂

I have two toddlers and a full time job I don’t have time for hobbies. Plus, being a nosey neighbour is much more fun.

At my old house when I was working in different schools as a peri teacher and some home based work too, our dog got walked at 6am, mid afternoon and then before bed. They were out in the garden at other times. It was a good 6 months before I bumped into my next door neighbour when the dog was with me. Because he was quiet, and we were in and out at different times to her, she had no idea we had a dog.
Maybe your neighbour is the same? They are out with the dog at times when you aren't gazing out the window?

There's only one way out of mine too

Sounds like you need to get a life and stop stalking your neighbours!

Why?

I have a small dog, I live in a flat. He goes on multiple walks, he sits on the balcony when he feels like it. Suppose I shouldn't have children in a flat either 🙄

We have essentially an indoor dog in a flat. That's because he's a tiny breed and very fear reactive. As in he will attack / properly bite any dogs he comes across. At the recommendation of our vet and multiple behaviourists (the proper kind!!) we keep him indoors unless we go on a very supervised (by me) walk to a very specific place that doesn't have other dogs. It can happen.

Maybe the dog is fear reactive and needs early mornings/ late night walks.

Also I should have said, we do obstacle courses for him inside and he gets plenty of running around with my toddler. Plus it's a big flat.

MN is obsessed with privacy and “minding your own business”. Honestly, I reckon if you posted “I just looked out of my window at the neighbours back garden, and watched the parents murder their children” , some posters would tell you to mind your own business, and that you shouldn’t be looking into other people’s gardens. Oh and cut them some slack as you don’t know what’s going on in their lives!

Dogs can legally be bought at 8 weeks, often have their first vaccination already. 11 days later, 2nd vaccine, then a week or so later, they can go out. We took ours to loads of places before their second vaccs, had to change vets to get the right one so we didn’t have to re-start the course, they were out within a fortnight.

Yes! And I'd much rather have neighbours who aren't oblivious to a dog being mistreated or an old neighbour lying in the street after a slip.

Report it

You absolutely should report them. The rspca may not remove the dog if it's healthy, but they will check on it and speak to the owners. My neighbour was reported for the same reason and they did come. Ignore the comments on here, from reading them it sounds like commentators are getting their information from the daily mail, not the actual real world. Well done for caring.

Agree. Stop spying on your neighbours. Very creepy

An 'indoor' dog? I have never heard of one.

"Video and audio contain personal data, so any footage detected outside of your property is likely to breach UK General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) laws.
Positioning your smart doorbell so that it includes neighbouring property in the detection zone could easily identify a person's car registration, appearance or individual attributes which they do not consent to being recorded and stored as footage.
Always position your Ring doorbell so that it detects the front of your own property where intruders or visitors can be identified - but avoid including neighbouring homes, driveways or gardens in the scope of your motion detection zone.
Close enough to record conversations of neighbours
This breaks GDPR as with video footage which can record and store a neighbour's personal conversations.
In the case of Fairhurst V Woodward, the ring doorbell was positioned so that it could pick up audio and video activity on the shared and private property of the claimant, Doctor Fairhurst.
The issue with this is that the owner of the doorbell has the footage at their disposal to use unlawfully without the knowledge of the neighbour.
You are legally bound to comply with data protection law if you are aware of your doorbell posing a threat to a neighbour's privacy on their private property."

You are far too nosy as you have admitted. This is none of your business. How do you know if they haven't taken it out in a bag or something else?
My puppy was teeny I used to put him in a bag or pouch, you'd never know I had him.

So OP are you always on the camera footage 24/7? It's a bit unhealthy isn't it?

There is no such thing as an indoor dog. All dogs (without exception) need to be exercised outside.

As for what you can do about it though I'm not really sure- I guess your options are to (a) report them to the rspca (b) confront them directly (c) talk to them in a non-confrontational way and/or offer to walk said dog (d) do nothing

What would you report? The dog across the road that looks fine?

You'd be reporting that you haven't seen it taken for a walk, rather than that it isn't taken for walks. You'll look a loon.

You shouldnt have your camera aimed in any way where it picks up or views/records other people's private property, thats what people are saying to you. Thats not legal The road is a different matter as that is public property

If you cant angle or have the camera in situ without it viewing their front door/private property then you'll have to change it, if you care about the legalities of it.

Most of these doorbells just send an alert when theres been movement, so such as when the postman comes to the door/leaflets etc.

You dont have to sit there glued to it

However many a time we have had deliveries and the camera hasnt identified movement so we didnt get an alert and it doesnt show on the camera, they'r not foolproof at all.

Ours is a ring doorbell

No such thing as an indoor dog.

The woman across the road from me has a dog. I have never seen the dog apart from on FB. I know it goes outside because I've seen the pics but as I said, have never actually seen the dog. Unless you are staring out of the window 24/7 who knows when they walk it.

I am partial to a bit of nosiness myself so totally not berating you for wondering!

In a word no, it's cruel to keep a dog indoors.