Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Neighbours not walking dogs

32 replies

Bupbupbup · 22/03/2016 11:15

What would you do?
We moved in 3 months ago, ndn have two boxers, we share a wire fence with them.
They have said they walk the dogs for ten mins only twice a week, I'm a sahm so I'm often out in the back garden where I see the dogs.
They seem so depressed, garden is small, they don't even play with each other or get excited when they're called. Neighbours have two kids who mostly ignore dogs.

Would you do/say something? I feel so sorry for them, they just lay around all day.

I was thinking of asking if my daughter and I could bring them for a walk, my sister is adamant I should report them and the dogs need to be walked at least once a day, I'm leaning that way too the more I see them.

They are clean and well fed

OP posts:
Princesspeach1980 · 22/03/2016 11:49

Hate seeing dogs this way, but don't think it's something you can report them for unless there are other issues. The minimum standards by law are so low, dogs have to be tended to once every 24 hours, and have space to stand up and turn around, food, water and adequate shleter. Walking isn't covered by animal welfare laws so the rspca can't do anything. If you would enjoy walking them then you could offer, but check first what their behaviour is like. They might be hard work to start with if they aren't used to getting out. Someone I knew used to walk a neighbours Rottweiler who he felt sorry for, and the dog bit someone while he was in charge of it!

I will never understand why people get dogs, then treat them like this. Even my tiny chihuahua gets 2-3 miles walking every day!

Km06 · 22/03/2016 11:50

Do they get attention are they allowed in the house or left outside all day

WorraLiberty · 22/03/2016 11:53

Doubt reporting them will do any good, as long as they're in a healthy condition and well fed.

Some people are just shit animal owners, but that's often not a cause for prosecution.

Original poster
Bupbupbup · 22/03/2016 12:08

they're not allowed in the house, they get attention but v little and it often seems like they're frustrated with them 'shut up xxxx' when they bark.

I promise I'm not a nosey neighbour but the dogs seem so depressed, we used to have a small dog and if she wasn't walked would get agitated but they don't seem to have any energy, just lie there all day. My kids often call to them and they lift their heads then back down again 😥

I saw the husband taking the dog out late one evening and thought that's when they walk them and I just don't see it but when we were chatting I mentioned it and he kinda laughed and said 'no those poor dogs are lucky if they get walked twice a week'

Thanks for the helpful answers, seems like in rspca standards they couldn't do anything anyway, I feel sad for them

OP posts:
insan1tyscartching · 22/03/2016 12:09

There are 8 dogs living on our cul de sac,only three of them are walked daily.I think it is really sad and they must have miserable lives.Our dog would be a nightmare without two good walks a day so pretty sure some unwalked dogs must display difficult behaviours. I'm not sure that reporting them would get any action tbh. If you would like to walk them you could offer but I'd want to know how they behaved on leads first.

JapaneseSlipper · 22/03/2016 12:14

I think given the husband's answer, and the fact that it has come up in conversation, you could definitely offer to walk them with your daughter. It does sound like you can't report them, so this is probably the best way you can help the dogs.

Neighbours sound reasonably friendly (?) but if you did go down this route I would a) build up to it - drop into conversation how much your kids love seeing the dogs b) make it sound like your neighbours would be doing you and your daughter a massive favour if they'd agree to walks, and c) be sure the dogs are safe around your daughter, start with quick walks, make sure you can handle them both on lead (boxers are strong) etc.

Good luck, really kind of you to worry about them x

Original poster
Bupbupbup · 22/03/2016 12:15

Ok I appreciate maybe I was ott with thinking of reporting them.

I'm from a rural area, grew up with all our neighbours having dogs and all would get exercised a lot - never knew it was so common that dogs didn't get walked!

OP posts:
fourage · 22/03/2016 12:18

Not sure you can do anything.

My niece has 4 very large dogs who rarely leave the house and small garden. The dogs are well cared for in other respects, well fed, regular vet trips, etc.
They are walked perhaps twice a month.

A couple of the dogs have bitten/snapped, they dig in the garden, chew furniture and paintwork. I bite my tongue however. To my mind they are frustrated, but like others have said I don't think reporting them would do any good.
My niece showers them with love and affection, they sleep in her bed, she feels they are happy. It's not a subject I could broach with her.

AdrenalineFudge · 22/03/2016 12:22

It's sadly common ime. I'm not a dog person tbh but if you have the time and inclination then do offer to walk them. I also think that reporting them wouldn't lead to any significant improvement unless they're badly neglected.

CatThiefKeith · 22/03/2016 12:25

I'm sure my neighbours think this about me. My dog gets a 2 hour walk at 5am each morning, as well as a couple of short ones during the day. Nobody is ever around to see the morning one though.

DiseasesOfTheSheep · 22/03/2016 12:26

I would say that you should be careful about making any snap judgements on how often dogs are walked. I walk one of mine under cover of darkness (around midnight) because he's fear aggressive and finds walking in a busy park very stressful. As such, my neighbours may well think he (and my other dog who accompanies him but would happily go out at any time) do not get walked. This isn't an uncommon solution - I know many owners of similar dogs who walk them in the middle of the night or very early mornings.

However, since he admitted it, I presume that isn't the case here :(

EssentialHummus · 22/03/2016 12:27

OP, If you offer to get involved with walking (I think I'd be minded to do the same), just start local and with a good harness. Boxers are great but very strong and, er, strong-willed.

JapaneseSlipper · 30/03/2016 20:06

"My niece has 4 very large dogs who rarely leave the house and small garden...
They are walked perhaps twice a month."

That is awful. What is she thinking?

It's a shame you don't feel you can mention it. I thought everybody knew that dogs have to be walked at least once a day.

YourBubzYourRulzHun · 30/03/2016 20:18

When I was younger my NDN bought a Doberman and then paid me to walk him as no one in the house wanted to. Except he only paid me once but I still used to walk him after work as I felt sorry for him. He rehomed the dog before it was a year old. Think he realised he'd taken on more than he could handle.
That is so sad about your neighbour's dogs. I'm sure they would love a walk and it's really nice of you to think of them.
I used to take my dogs with me on the school run in the mornings but have a new job now so take them early and everyone says 'where's your dogs?'
I'm always quick to say I've walked them already that morning as I'd hate people to think I was neglecting them!

Iliveinalighthousewiththeghost · 30/03/2016 20:23

They're shut out in a small garden all day. That to me is animal neglect. Locked up like that. It could only be a matter of time before. There are dire consequences,

TooOldForGlitter · 30/03/2016 20:27

It's not classed as neglect. I really wish it was. My neighbours keep one of their five dogs locked in the conservatory 24/7. They turn him out into the garden twice a day to be fed and to toilet. RSPCA have no interest as dog is fed and has shelter.

VodkaJelly · 30/03/2016 21:26

Hmmm, I hope my neighbours don't think this of me, I rarely walk my dog, but he is 14 and has arthritis, just a 10 min walk round the block leaves him so stiff he struggles to walk the next day. He has a large garden to walk/plod round and it does seem to be enough for him. We do walk him more in the summer as the wet and cold seem to affect his joints more, whereas the warmth seems to loosen them. We only get a few yards from the house and he trying to turn round and come home. In his prime he was walked every day.

Birdsgottafly · 30/03/2016 21:33

The danger with walking them is,

How is their recall? How are they on a lead?

How well are they socialised?

Are they neutered?

You'd have to know that you've got the body strength to hold them, if they were to get into an altercation.

I've just had to rehome my GS, because of my illness, it's cruel to not walk a breed that needs exercising. It took me a few months to find a good enough home and it killed me to look at her, knowing I couldn't look after her properly.

The issue with a breed such as a boxer, is that when not walked etc, they can behave very erratically.

You could be taking on a whole load of problems and would have to get to know the dogs before you walk them.

JustBeingJuliet · 30/03/2016 21:40

Sadly my neighbours are the same and I can count on one hand the amount of times their dogs have been out since I've lived next door. I also have a friend who has gone from someone who walks her dogs 3 times a day, rain or shine, to someone who walks them once a month if they're lucky. I just don't get what changed in her head to think "oh they'll be fine in the garden". There have been odd days when my dog hasn't been walked - when my backs been so bad I can't walk, or when I had chronic d&v - but on those occasions I've felt hugely guilty, despite her not really caring too much!

Iliveinalighthousewiththeghost · 30/03/2016 21:46

"It's not classed as neglect"
Well it should be. If it were a child. It would be neglectful.
The RSPCA sound a load of my arse. Caring for an animal. Goes deeper than food and shelter, but Im sure I'm singing to the choir in saying that.

Catvsworld · 30/03/2016 22:00

Oh god op I feel your pain we moved into our home 2 years ago our neighbour has 3 massive dogs and a tiny garden he's at work all day so there locked in god knows we're they poo or wee and he never walks them never in the 2 years we have lived here neither me ,oh or my teenage son have seen him walk any of the dogs

We often here then barking or running round the house awful

I really think dogs are not for people with times houses or timely gardens

Reminds me of that family off goggle box they have 3 massive dogs there front room barely has enough room for Somone to stand very crule

ouryve · 30/03/2016 22:01

I can never get my head around people who have animals in their homes that they're not willing to look after properly. Walks for dogs aren't just about exercise. It's stimulation, as well - and for some, socialisation as they get to remember how to behave around other people and dogs.

Amongst other animals, we adopted a middle aged Irish setter and then a toy poodle, when I was a child. Both got taken out for long, long walks, almost every day. If the weather was bad, we still had a trot around the block, even when the setter was old and past her healthiest. Both of them went bonkers without those walks.

Catvsworld · 30/03/2016 22:02

My friend who is very into dogs says the reason why they bark so much is because they are copped up all day every day next time I buy a house I will be making sure my neighbours don't own dogs

I just don't understand they chave children ffs

JoffreyBaratheon · 30/03/2016 22:18

Our neighbours from hell had a labrador that never got walked in over 2 1/2 years - not once. Whenever they went out they left it alone in the house and it didn't bark - it howled. For hours. I was told there was nothing anyone could do - it's not technically a cruelty case.

But it turned out this neglect was suptomatic of something far worse after a few months back, I looked out of the window after hearing the female neighbour screaming "Get out of the fucking car, now!" and saw the female neighbour lift the dog out of the car boot (the one time we ever saw it in the car); she lobbed it onto the drive and the male neighbour kicked the shit out of it whilst their child and the woman watched - totally unmoved.

I was on the phone to the RSPCA within minutes. Sadly nothig they could do as when they came out the neighbours weren't in so they left a calling card - enough notice for them to get the dog to the vet's. Turned out it had advanced cancer, they'd not bothered to get treated. By the time the RSPCA came out, not a ark on the dog, and the woman denied it all and said she ust be a good owner as the dog had been 'backwards and forwards to the vet'.

A few days later it was PTS.

RSPCA seemed to believe me but nothing they could do as I hadn't filmed it and the other neighbours had seen nothing.

The dog was generally skinny (but not skeletal) and unwalked. I think that kind of neglect may be the precursor to far more sinister stuff but the RSPCA don't give a toss.

We're just waiting for them to turn up with a new puppy which will also become a punchbag no doubt. Now I have my phone charged and on the windowsill at all times.

MidniteScribbler · 30/03/2016 23:56

If you asked my neighbours, my dogs never get walked. For many dogs, a daily walk is pretty boring. My dogs do however swim daily in warmer weather, train agility daily, and get taken to dog training classes several times per week, and competitions most weekends.

There is more types of exercise for dogs than just walking around the block, which is actually very low in stimulation. Dogs enjoy it because it gets them out of the backyard if they are not getting adequate stimulation at home.