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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

SHould I report neighbours dog for this?

242 replies

tundrah · 03/09/2015 16:46

On sunday my little boy (2) sneaked in to the neighbours garden. The neighbour let his 5 dogs out and they surrounded my boy barking, snapping and snarling at him. The dogs are not very well trained but usually the neighbour would call them back. This time he made no attempt to call them back, I had to grab my boy who was bawling and shaking like a leaf. The neighbour jsut gave me a foul look.

I am constantly telling my boy not to go in there, he is well aware he shouldn't. THE only good thing is he might not try to get in There again. I am absolutely livid that the neighbour seemed to be letting his dogs scare my child like that!

Should I report it?

there is more to the story, too. We are farmers and our fields surround these neighbours, I have also had 3 sheep killed and 7 aborted since these neighbours moved in. I have reported the worrying to the police (you should always do that) but I don't know for certain it was them. Judging by Sunday I have suspicions now that it was them.

OP posts:
00100001 · 03/09/2015 17:07

Well, I don;t htink your 2 year old will be sneaking into the garden again now.

Original poster
tundrah · 03/09/2015 17:07

backforthis you have to see a dog worryng your sheep at the time if you want to shoot it!

OP posts:
SixtyFootDoll · 03/09/2015 17:07

The dogs didn't bite your son, so weren't dangerously out of control.

Therefore nothing to report him for.

00100001 · 03/09/2015 17:07

he's TWO, how is he alone in the garden long enough for him to "sneak" next door??

zzzzz · 03/09/2015 17:08

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
tundrah · 03/09/2015 17:08

the gaps are not on our side of the fence! Obviously as I have got livestock in there

OP posts:
00100001 · 03/09/2015 17:09

"I have told him countless times not to go in there, I have tried bribery and punishments. "

Well, he's two.... he's gonna forget.

DoctorWoo · 03/09/2015 17:09

Well, yes, I think he SHOULD have called them off, but barking and snarling are not illegal, and do not a dangerous dog make, so there's nothing to report.

It's possible that your neighbour may WANT his dogs to behave this way for security reasons, as he lives in a rural location.

You said he normally calls them back, so clearly they are, in fact, well trained.

Original poster
tundrah · 03/09/2015 17:09

sixty foot check the dangerous dogs act. A dog doesn't have to bite

OP posts:
TenForward82 · 03/09/2015 17:10

tundrah, that would be the sentence with a question mark on the end of it, which you have only just sort of answered in your last post (Where they really "encouraging" him coming into their garden or just trying to be polite? (And now they're fed up with it?))

I am, I confess, a little amazed that you were watching your son (presumably telling him to come back), the bull, the person you were talking to, AND the neighbour's back door to be able to tell exactly what was happening.

Anyway, you have to suck it up, consensus is YABU.

Chattymummyhere · 03/09/2015 17:10

His two you should be watching him better.

Not sure what your going to report for? Your child who you where not watching entered another persons garden without permission then got scared when dogs barked and growled at him.

The dogs where secure in their garden protecting their garden.

If the dogs have been bothering the sheep as in out in the fields chasing and barking then sure report that but if all these issues have happened from the dogs being in their own garden I don't see what there is to report.

StillStayingClassySanDiego · 03/09/2015 17:10

Go around to your neighbour and tell him you want to prevent your lad from getting in his garden and would like to prevent access, you'll pay for the cost of sorting it out.

londonrach · 03/09/2015 17:10

Your dc shouldnt have been there! You should prevent him but blocking any holes in the garden. He is only 2. Yabu.

Original poster
tundrah · 03/09/2015 17:11

www.nawt.org.uk/advice/changes-dangerous-dogs-act-advice-owners

"A dog doesn't have to bite to be deemed dangerous in the eyes of the law

the Act also covers incidents on private property in addition to public spaces. This includes your own house and both front and back gardens."

What matters here is the intent. This guy used a pack of 5 dogs to scare a 2 year old. He can control them (a bit) but made no attempt to. they were out of control

OP posts:
TenForward82 · 03/09/2015 17:12
Hmm
specialsubject · 03/09/2015 17:12

the child is two and doesn't have much brain power. Until he does, create a secure area for him to play in when you aren't watching.

a 2 year old wandering about on a farm....non-ideal, wouldn't you say?

and no, I'm not a townie.

nicestrongtea · 03/09/2015 17:12

Good grief Your child is 2
2 year old s need constant supervision if you cant fence off the area.
What if he got near a pond or a road??
Honestly stop blaming your neighbour and supervise your child properly!

LilRedWG · 03/09/2015 17:14

Secure your garden. It'll stop your son going through and the dogs coming into you. Keep reporting any worrying and mention this incident to the named officer, if you have one.

StillStayingClassySanDiego · 03/09/2015 17:14

You're ignoring the fact that your boy is your responsibility, you saw him head to a gap in the fence so should have prevented it there and then.

You know he has form for this and you know there are 5 dogs next door who may react to protect their territory.

Chattymummyhere · 03/09/2015 17:14

Now the owner is the bad guy who used dogs to scare a toddler?? Seriously?

How about this..

Dog owner lets his dogs out into his garden, dogs bark, owner walks back to garden by which point child has been removed.. Or child is in part of the garden which makes it look like the dogs are barking at the fence?

I would be more concerned with actually parenting my child than trying to lay the blame on someone else.

TenForward82 · 03/09/2015 17:16

chatty Sadly the opposite is much easier for some people. Deflect and deny.

Seriouslyffs · 03/09/2015 17:18

The sheep behaviour is 100% and reportable and wrong.
Your son's is 100% your responsibility. At 2 you have to ensure he can't access bleach, fall out windows, run into traffic, reach boiling water, swallow magnets or get into the neighbours' gardens. Amongst other things.

WeirdCatLadySaysFuckOffJeffrey · 03/09/2015 17:18

Jeez OP, keep an eye on your own child ffs.

Letting a 2 yr old wander off unsupervised is appalling behaviour, and then you have the gall to blame your neighbour for his dogs barking at someone coming uninvited and unwanted into their garden??

If the dogs had been 'out of control' your son would have been bitten. Stop trying to blame him for your lax parenting.

Gruntfuttock · 03/09/2015 17:20

I agree with previous posters. YABVVVU and irresponsible. Anyway, the dogs didn't "attack", your DS is unharmed and it's up to you to safeguard him. He's TWO.

ceyes03 · 03/09/2015 17:20

How the hell are you letting your 2-year-old child out of your sight for long enough for him to "get into" the neighbour's garden? You sound like a shit parent. Learn how to control your children before you pass the blame to your neighbour.