in thinking its not quite right that I need to be keeping DD safe from next door's dog - in our own private back garden?

[LifeIsButtercream]

We haven't been in our house long, and are the only renters in a small road of owners. As a renter I'm not allowed to make changes to the garden, other than pruning and maintenance.

Our next door neighbours have a large dog - I'm not a dog person, and don't know breeds, but it looks like a golden retriever type, only with very short and slightly darker fur and a HUGE head. They also own the fence between our properties.

Recently they had the 6ft tall wooden fence panels replaced with more decorative ones, but they are not restrained so can be slid up and down.

It being a nice day, me and DD were out in the garden for one of the first times this year, she is nearly 2 and loves exploring outside so was in her element, giggling and shrieking her discoveries.

We hear a scrabbling noise, then one of the fence panels is shoved up by a nose, and then the rest of the dog follows the nose underneath and into our garden. DD isn't dog-savvy (we don't know anyone who has one well) so I lead her away (as I know she will probably try and approach it - she is merrily shrieking 'doggy!'). A voice from over the fence advises me: "You probably want to keep your child inside when our dog is in your garden as he doesn't like children."

I take DD in through the patio doors and close them, doorbell goes and neighbour has come round, retrieves the dog and takes him (though our house!) back out the front door. I stop him to ask (nicely) whether he could do anything to prevent a dog invasion in future - he says that his dog spends most of the summer in his garden as he likes it, and he can't restrain the new fence as "there are no holes in the concrete posts to wire the panels shut", and he won't be replacing the posts, but he will plant some stuff in front of the face to put the dog off. He again recommends that I keep DD inside when his dog gets loose. I might also want to keep her quiet, as the dog will be attracted by the noise she makes, and (he proudly grins and bestows pats on the dog) his dog is a 'natural predator'

I love our little garden, and I had been looking forward to letting DD run around out there as she gets older (I've bought her a sandpit and some garden toys) - I will usually be out there with her but could also watch her from the kitchen while cooking/washing up etc etc. But now I guess I will be out with DD the whole time, and ready to dash her back indoors at any given moment. And I also guess thats the end of my plans for DD's early summer back-garden birthday party, I can't afford a venue and my indoor space is just too small. Not a massive, life-altering problem, but saddening none the less .

We went back out for a play later in the afternoon, and I tried to keep my excitable toddler quiet, and we didn't have any further break ins, but I could hear the dog pacing the fence and I was on the alert to dash back in at any moment!

Maybe a what would you do, or maybe an AIBU in thinking he needs to manage his own dog under control so we can enjoy our own garden in peace?

He's a nutter. Does he not understand he doesn't own your garden?

I would contact your landlord, you have a right to use the garden, ask them to sort it out with the neighbour.

if they dog keeps coming in you could probably phone the dog warden (if such a thing exists). I would imagine there is some law about keeping dogs under control?

Fuck him. Get a camera with sound and mount it to film your garden.

Tell him it's to log the number of times he fails to control his dog from getting onto someone else's property and behaving in a threatening manner, and that your garden is space you've hired for your use, not his.

Tell him you won't live your life round his dogs needs as they're not your look out.

I'd have the party there. Fuck him.

Absolutely intolerable, they need to let you enjoy your (paid for) garden! They need to secure their side properly. The man sounds quite aggressive, and walking through the house with the dog is just not on. They don't seem to have appropriate boundaries and this has made you doubt yours, when of course you are free to use your OWN garden and not keep your child indoors or not have parties. If the dogs come through again, be clearer with them: this is your property (well, your landlords) and you don't expect either the dog or them to be coming through. You can also let your toddler shriek as much as you like, don't make her be quiet to please a totally irrational man.

he is a twat

No that is really not fair at all.

I'm not sure what to suggest. Can you speak to your landlord and see if they've had trouble with this before?

I am a dog lover and have2 myself but this is outrageous. I would wait until dog tries it again take DD into house and then tell your neighbour he needs to restrain the dog, rented or not it's your garden. I don't know who you can report him to but I would find out. It is his responsibility to keep his dog on his land not you to keep DD in house all the time.

Report to the local dog warden or community police? I certainly be doing so if his dangerous dog got into our garden. Tenant or no, you have a right to enjoy your garden without being pestered by a large hound of uncertain temperament.

I don't see why his fence panels cannot be secured.

Hope other MNers, including responsible dog owners, have got some good advice for you.

He needs to realise he can't let his dog invade other peoples gardens if it is preventable. Sounds like he can stop the dog if he wants but is just too lazy! You should not have to worry about your daughter in your own garden!

i would inform him that if the dog comes into your garden again you will be calling the police, as he has already warned you the dog is dangerous.

in fact, i'd be tempted to call them now on a non-emergency number and tell them what has happened and what the man said.
they may be able to advise, and it will help if you need to call again as they can see that you've already raised the issue.

this might help you. i think it's highly unlikely that it's legal for him to allow his dog to stray into your garden, and if he knows the dog is dangerous to children then he would be liable if anything happened. it doesn't sound to me as though he is fit to have control of a dog. i hope you can resolve this.

My dog escaped out of our garden and into the house that backs onto ours and was returned by builders, we did everything we could to stop him so I am appalled at this blokes attitude I would just call the police and find out the rules on this as I am sure that by stating his dog is not safe and that he isn't really going to try and do anything about keeping his dog under control he must be breaking some doggy law.

Thanks for the advice everyone, its nice to know I'm not being 'touchy'! I will 'google' the local police non-emergency number and see whether there are any dog-related-services.

I've been a little tentative since moving in as I don't want to tread on any toes especially as I am the only parent of a young one in this road and I know my DD (bless her) has a tendancy for early-rising and ear-piercing shrieks (that previously won me no friends in our previous flat!)

Not being a dog-owner I'm not terribly hot on what boundaries etc it is possible/humane to put on an animal - but I guess keeping the dog in his own garden is well within reasonable grounds.

Neighbour was very friendly and personable about it, and did say that they had just paid out for the fence to be replaced and didn't have funds available for any further alterations "so, what could he do?" shrug.

Christ! Of course you are not being unreasonable. I am astonished by the cheek of the man.

Totally unreasonable of him.

Keep a record then contact the dog warden.

He has a responsibility to look after his animal. You should be able to use your own garden freely.

I would tell him that if his dog trespasses into your garden again you will call the police/dog warden and have him removed, he has told you his dog is dangerous around children and that is cause enough to have it kept away from YOUR garden.

I would also speak with your landlord, explain the situation and see if he would agree to you erecting something to keep the dog out, maybe just a low level re-inforcement of the fence, I know you shouldn't have to but your neighbour sounds like a twat.

Personally, I would be erecting electric fencing and see if his dog still fins my garden tempting!

Well, I would be tempted to ensure the dog WAS tempted to enter the garden, then walk it through the house and onto the street.

If the neighbour complained I would say something like "oh, what a shame, as I had both the garden and front door open. You really should get those fence panels secured"

Not fair on the dog perhaps..... So ignore me.

Neighbour was very friendly and personable about it, and did say that they had just paid out for the fence to be replaced and didn't have funds available for any further alterations "so, what could he do?" shrug.

That's not your fault. They should have put up a secure fence.

Either they keep the dog inside or when outside tie on a long leash. Long enough to roam around their garden but will stop it reaching the fence.

hahah QS, that's genius!

My slightly evil mind just coughed up the possibility of warning the neighbour that I also am a natural predator, and I know some excellent recipes for barbequed dog........

my first thought was that just because you rent your property doesnt mean you dont have the same rights as a homeowner. Your rent presumably includes the right to use your garden. He's not to know that you rent the property so why would he presume that its okay for his dog to invade others private property?

Secondly, i would be a bit wary about the dog leaving dirt in your garden should it get into the garden again - children and dog dirt is a bad combination.

your neighbour IBU. You are not! I read your post to DP; he asked why he took his dog through your house? Maybe to enforce his total lack of respect for your space? I think the fact he's friendly confuses the issue. My (v. noisy) neighbour is also friendly, I think it's their way of manipulating others into accepting their selfish behaviour. Contact the council, & good luck with a lovely garden party for your dd.

i would get on to your landlord and the rspca,its not on and i am a dog lover,i would go nuts if my dog got into nextdoors garden,ours loves kids but isnt the point,he knows his dog is dangerous.

It is his responsibility to keep his dog under control. If the dog is in your garden then its not under its owner's control and you have every right to call the dog warden.

If I were you I would speak to your LL, maybe he would pay for some proper fencing at your side (I know its your neighbours responsibility really, but if the dog isnt good around children then for safety's sake you should do what you can to make sure your dd okay).

I am the owner of a houdini-type dog but I know its up to me to keep the garden as secure as possible so he isnt bothering anyone else - your neighbours attitude is appalling. Maybe a visit from your local PCSO would buck is ideas up a bit.