Sorry, another dog one

[YuleTideD0G]

Our neighbour who btw is very lovely, has a massive dog, I'm not a dog hater by any means before I start, I love dogs and am not usually overly nervous, just cautious.

I'm not entirely sure of the breed sort of huskyish but much bigger. Neighbour has said dog weighs 14 stone. It's a nasty dog, again by neighbours own admission.

I never let my dc's in the garden by themselves when the dog is out and even when I'm there it worries me. It's a low fence which the dog could get over if he wanted to (probably 4 foot). He watches and paces when my dcs are in the garden.

Today neighbour was stood by our front gate chatting to dp with dog on the lead (no muzzle) dd was stood closest, this all happened so quickly I didn't have a chance to process to think to move dd iyswim neighbour was sort of passing but stopped to talk whilst I was getting shoes on to take DD out, anyway all of a sudden this dog leapt at dd's face snarling.

This was with no provoking at all dd was just stood there. It was cms away from her face. Luckily neighbour managed to yank it back. However, having seen this makes me far more nervous of the dog than ever before. I didn't think he'd be this bad as they have a gc who plays in the garden with the dog so before now I've thought it's me being paranoid iyswim.

Anyway I think want I want to ask is Aibu to ask him to please muzzle it when he walks it? It really was a very close call. I also want to put a higher fence up between us but don't want there to be bad feeling, he really is a nice man and it's a shame in a way as we often chat over the fence. I can't not though can I? It's rented property but I'm guessing it's probably not my landlords responsibility?

After this incident I think you'd be well within your rights to ask him if he would keep the dog well away from your DD in future. If it is able to get over the fence, then he needs to be taking better precautions and if that means a bigger fence then yes - I'd be asking for that too. If he's a nice man, then I'm sure he'll want to keep your DD safe too. This incident is your warning, heed it because you may not be so lucky next time.

A higher, stronger fence is probably a good idea.

And your DD might not have been doing anyhting, but looking a dog in the eyes is a challenge. Obviously not your DDs fault, but making sure she knows not to look the dog in the eyes might mean it doesn't happen again.

pretty sure she wasn't looking at him, though she may have been, but I think if he is that sensitive he should be muzzled?

Why only when he walks it? Is this your next-door neighbour, and the fence is the back-garden fence?

I imagine the incident has shaken him up a bit too and hopefully he might be more careful in future. I would definitely say something to him though as the dog clearly isn't safe to be near children that it's not familiary with. From your description, it sounds like it might be an Akita btw.

yes is back gareden fence

Yes I think he was shaken. He normally crosses over when he has him on a lead.

Not an akita, this dog doesn't have a long nose, is shorter rounder face, probably fluffier than a husky and very stocky. I think it's got the name of a country in it's name.

Poor dd was very shocked too

Surely you would want it muzzled whenever it is in the back garden? I'm just a bit confused why you said only when he walks it.

I was thinking it sounded like and Akita too by the description. Did the government put these on the list of breeds that should be muzzled in public? Even if not on the list I would ask him to muzzle and broach the subject of a higher fence.

Well possibly (re the challenge) but you don't want to end up with a child who is petrified of dogs do you? And I would say that 'don't look them in the eyes' is the best way to make her really scared.

You have to do what you need to to protect your dd so I think you just have to be as nice as possible when you ask the neighbour but no question that you should. He may not be best pleased. IME people can get weird about this one. :)

Yes ideally I would just not sure if that'd be pheasible. the dc's aren't out much atm as it's so cold but I think if we don't sort a fence we will ask in the summer as they are in and out constantly when it's warm

Alaskan Malamute

Japanese Akita

A Chow? A Norwegian Elkhound? What color eyes, if you know?

possibly an alaskan malumute or ver similar, he seems bigger than that though

Sounds like a Malamute to me, if not an Akita.

Anyway, breed is irrelevent. YANBU to ask him to put the dog on a muzzle in public. To aid your request, you could impress upon him the risk to HIS DOG via the force of the Dangerous Dogs Act. If the dog gives reason for concern there is a very real possibility that he would be put to sleep - this crap piece of hasty legislation is one of the few where the burden of proof is upon the DEFENDANT and not the prosecution.

Yes I was only giving breed type to try and impress his size and strength.

So would it BU to ask him to be muzzled in the gardne also. I mean it's his garden, as for the fence is it his or my responsibilty. I don't want to upset my neighbour but at the same time the dog frightens me and more so now. It's often in the garden, the back door is always open so he often is there with no one with him

Samoyed?

No definitely not Samoyed

Well whatever it is YADNBU

Leonberger?

At 14 stone thats what it sounds like to me.

We had one in the family - he was lovely. :)

hmmm Dp thinks he can't be as big as 14 stone, he is very big though.

Poor DD had nightmares about him last night and said she is scared to walk past their house, she was so rightened she ended up sleeping in our room. I really don't want her to be frightened of all dogs now. Though I wouldn't blame her

I'm fairly sure Akitas are not meant to weigh 14 stone. 10 maybe, but not 14.

The height of fence is irrelevent if the fence is not re-inforced. Akitas are extremely strong and could break thourgh a fence with ease, if they so chose to. Your neighbour should not be allowing it in the garden unsupervised.

<a class="break-all" href="//V#www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=students.cis.uab.edu/djg2007/labs/pictures/akita_inu.jpg&imgrefurl=students.cis.uab.edu/djg2007/labs/profiles.html&usg=__50Tc_LjQPds7UGZxsAwrYgfOyIc=&h=288&w=364&sz=36&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=oYcXZUS-krBh7M:&tbnh=154&tbnw=169&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dakita%2Binu%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Dactive%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26sa%3DX%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-GB:official%26biw%3D1440%26bih%3D788%26tbs%3Disch:1%26prmd%3Div&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=502&vpy=84&dur=1196&hovh=200&hovw=252&tx=164&ty=125&ei=P-8ATfbND4qyhAehw-ztBw&oei=P-8ATfbND4qyhAehw-ztBw&esq=1&page=1&ndsp=27&ved=1t:429,r:2,s:0" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">this is an Akita, not that the breed matters.

YANBU to ask him to muzzle him on walks though and maybe look into training/socialisation classes. An Akita could do a lot of damage very quickly and should always be under firm control.

Although they are normally very friendly, they can be protective of their family. And no they don't have to be muzzled. But it sounds like this one should be.

I love Akitas. I'd have one myself, if my house was bigger, but for now I will have to content myself with caring for my parents Akita.