Neighbour and small dog

[superdeeduper]

I am being unreasonable to expect his terrier not to go for my dog every time we are out? He just cant seem to see what the problem is. I've tried explaining that if this was reversed and my dog (three times the size of his) were to do this he would be livid and would probably phone the dog warden.

Had a run in with him this morning and again, he cannot see how this is unacceptable. To be honest, I have met a few other owners of small dogs who think it is perfectly ok for their dog to be aggressive etc just because of its size.

I'm raging as my neighbour actually swore at me this morning. He is a complete moron of a man who has not trained his dog in any aspect.

Phew I was worried this would be about my small dog but she's so submissive it's unreal. She just barks
If he won't act on it maybe you could tell your local community police and they could have a quiet word as that's not on.

Speak to the dog warden. YANBU. This is a huge bugbear of mine, if my large dog behaved in the same way as some anklebiters we'd be reported tot he police as a dangerous dog.

I get this a lot with small dogs , their owners stand gormlesly observing . When rabid terriers aproach me and my dog aggresiveley i shout for them to come and get it because mines not freindly , it ususally works as theyre ok with their dog attatcking others but dont want their own hurt . Doesnt always work as my big dog is so afraid of these little dogs that she lies down quivering.

Where is this happening with your neighbours dog , out on walks ?

It's happening out at our local park. It has a huge wooded area where dogs are not generally on leads as it's so far away from the playpark. I have a very passive labrador who actively tries to walk round his little terrier. Every time his terrier will run after my dog trying to nip him and generally being aggressive. It's infuriating. Glad it's not just me too who has experienced this with other small dog owners.

At home, his dog barks at anything who walks past. The owners reaction then is to shout at the dog, completely unaware that this is in fact just encouraging it to bark even louder. Once this starts, my dog (and the rest of the street!) will go into the house to get away from all the shouting and barking. It's quite unpleasant and an all round pain in the arse.

This morning when I suggested his dog be on a lead, he said no it was my dog who should be on a lead. He is truly bonkers this man. I think part of it stems from jealousy too as we have a very well behaved dog.

super, next time, say loudly, 'YOUR dog is being aggressive, you need to call it off NOW or I will report you to the dog warden'.

Don't get involved in 'your dog should be on a lead', 'No, yours should', 'No yours' etc. Unproductive. Just keep repeating your dog is being aggressive, control it NOW.

My mum has this issue: she runs a business whereby clients come to her house and next door's dog (NDs also run a business from home) rushes out and nips at people's ankles and growls. I love dogs but it is SO tempting to just swing my foot 'accidentally'....

I know you shouldnt have to , but could you put your dog on a lead until youve passed this horrible man ? If you yell at the dog will it go away ? Do you know any of the other dog walkers , or is there someone else who could accompany you on these walks ? He sounds like a horrible bully .

Noise wise you could complain to enviromental health , its anonymous so he wont know its you .

I have a very large well behaved dog who is a gentle charecter and i get this regularly , and it infuriates me . Last week i took my dog to a local wooded area for a walk . As we were getting out of the car , i noticed another car parked up containing two little yapping ferocious dogs barking aggressiveley at mine through the window . I KNEW what was going to happen and decided to put her back in the car .

Too late . The owners , despite sitting in the car and clearly seeing this ferocious display , actually got out , opened the car door for these dogs where they immediateley came running over to us snapping and snarling and circling . Mine was on a lead . The owners stayed by the car observing this grinning like idiots and i had to yell at them to come and get their dogs away .Of course they tootled over casually scooping up their mad dogs commenting how little Jack actually thinks hes a rotweiler whilst hooting with laughter . How funny .

This happens to me at least once a week and it leaves my dog a quivering wreck . It is ALWAYS small dogs who are not on the lead and i find older people the worst . One old lady actually yelled at me the other week because her ferocious unleashed rat sized dog was trying to attack my leashed dog . It puts me off taking her out to be honest .

So no solutions im afraid . I have started stating loudly as these mad dogs run over that my dog isnt freindly , they usually laugh it off while the dog snaps and snarls and i state clearly that unless they want a vet bill they need to get their dog now. I also speak to my dog like shes really ferocious and hold the lead so it looks like it takes a lot to control her . Its not fair and im not sure what the answer is really .

Two words: water pistol.

I've FINALLY managed to get the owner of Devil Jack Russell (why oh why is it always Jack Russells that think they're fucking Rambo round here) to accept that his dog is a vicious little bugger where my dog's concerned (and my dog is as calm and placid as you'd ever hope to meet where other dogs, humans, cats, children are concerned - he'd probably defer to a mouse's authority) and that I DO NOT FUCKING WANT the little shit anywhere near my dog.

It's taken about three weeks of me pointedly putting the lead back on my dog and briskly walking him in the opposite direction to little Lucifer for him to get the hint - and now he very reluctantly puts the darling on a lead to get him past mine - rather than inspecting his navel while Rambo tries to rip my dog a pierced ear and dog dangling from it earring.

My dog's gentle, laid back, not stressed about other dogs - and he's damn well fucking going to stay that way!

Ive considered that myself Ab , but some owners are very aggressive and while its ok for there dog to hurt yours you mustnt shout or soak or do anything to upset their little darling . Mine has actually been attacked by a little dog wearing a skirt . I felt like stamping on it. Its horrible when each walk is so stressfull and theres constant confrontation with other dog owners.

Saying that , i met a man the other week who carried with him a walking stick and said he uses it to fend off other dogs as he too gets the same and is sick of it .

Are you sure the dog is being aggressive? I ask because we have a terrier and a larger dog, and the behaviour you describe is what Terrier does when he wants Bigdog to play with him - barking, ankle-nipping etc. We didn't understand this at first, and Terrier was nearly sent back whence he came, but Bigdog cottoned on before we did and they are the best of mates now. Their fights are terrifying to behold, but it's all pretend and no one gets hurt.

The water pistol is a great idea!

I know I will now bring on the wrath of dog owners but in my humble opinion all blinking dogs should be on a lead whenever they leave the house, and all dog owners should get it in theirheads that not everyone likes dogs and saying 'oh but he's really gentle' when their dog is barking and jumping up at your child is NOT HELPFUL - clearly they are not gentle, clearly my child is terrified and actually it is not a mortal sin to not like dogs.... bring it on!