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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Advise please neighbor issues

69 replies

Catvsworld · 05/06/2016 14:54

Hi our neighbors next door have a dog fair enough however the fence has a massive hole in it 4 weeks ago dd 3 was playing in the garden and the dog jumped up a poked it's head and paws through and nearly made it over it to our garden was barking dd was so frightened she wet herself she was screaming never see her so scared

Every time we even step foot outside it comes to the hole pokes it's head a paws through and barks wildly dos to frightened to go in the garden now

So last week dh said enough is enough asked nicely if they
Can fix there fence tbh the whole lot is rotton and could come down at any time they said yes

Then Monday's just gone said it would be fixed by the end of the week just gone out today to hand the washing up more barking however they have simply tacked a old trelance to the hole witch means the bloody dog is still baking at my daughter or who ever goes into our garden but cannot poke it's head right though

I going to give them till next week as the trelance maybe temporary however it still means dd won't go into the garden

What can be done if they don't sort it it may seem trivial to dog people but my dd should be able to play in her own garden with out being barked at for the duration she is out there

Have
A photo this was taken today as soon as I open my door to hang the washing out it started

Advise please neighbor issues
OP posts:
BornFreeButinEUchains · 05/06/2016 15:20

I just want to add for people saying things like " they cant afford new fence panels"

If you want a dog from say battersea or any reputable rescue center the FIRST thing they will do is a full inspection of your property and FENCES.

Its crucial! If you cant afford fences, and yet you have a great ruddy rottie, then your irresponsible, and perhaps need to think about re homing the dog. You cant own a dog like that and not be able to fence the bloody thing in !

They also could have accepted ops offer to do something to their fence but they said NO. Its disgraceful really.

sepa · 05/06/2016 15:20

I would put the fence up. Please don't use a water pistol on the dog (and I say this as someone who tells people to use one on my cats if they don't want them in their garden) as the dog is in its own garden so should not be told off for doing what he is doing in his own garden

SoupDragon · 05/06/2016 15:22

They have stopped the dog coming through the fence. That's all they need to do unfortunately.

I'm it sure what "environmental health" is going to do Confused

BornFreeButinEUchains · 05/06/2016 15:23

Ha! Its in its own garden but terrifying op and her child in theirs.
Disgraceful.

BornFreeButinEUchains · 05/06/2016 15:24

EH can give the OP proper professional advice,

Many times on here I see ops told "you cant do anything I am afraid" in some situations where I have been able to do things.

Soup are you an EH officer> and if so how long in the role?

Op please get proper advice tomorrow, do some calling round, even CAB, and see what can be done. You have just as much right to enjoy your garden in safety as that dog has in his.

SoupDragon · 05/06/2016 15:25

The neighbours have stopped the dog coming through.

The OP needs to sort out her DD's needs.

AddictedToCoYo · 05/06/2016 15:25

Definitely don't antagonise it by spraying it with a water pistol, that is terrible advice.

DumbDailyMail · 05/06/2016 15:26

I wouldn't put a fence up. What if they then take there's down. Having two boundry features can cause problems. I'd just put up some temporary screening. Use a couple of buckets filled with rapid setting concrete with some posts in to which you can attach some screening (fence panel or willow screen or whatever). Stand it next to the fence and see what happens with the dog.

DumbDailyMail · 05/06/2016 15:26

Theirs not there's

BornFreeButinEUchains · 05/06/2016 15:26

Soup, its a trellis, on a rickety old fence.

Her dds needs are to be safer in her own garden which means making sure the can put up a properly secure fence.

If this was my dog, and we had such a complaint we wouldnt put up a flimsey trellis on what looks like rotten fence boards and probably rotten fence posts.

DrWhooves · 05/06/2016 15:27

EH does deal with dog barking as a noise nuisance, I know someone who is being investigated for it after complaints from neighbours, but I don't know how long the barking has to go on for to be classed as unreasonable.

BornFreeButinEUchains · 05/06/2016 15:28

How many more dog attacks do we need before people realise they can be lethal.

Op if it was me I couldn't care less about boundary issues, I see any action you take as literally protecting your childs life.

BornFreeButinEUchains · 05/06/2016 15:29

A barking wild rottie being held back by a flimsey fence....

PaulDacreCuntyMcCuntFace · 05/06/2016 15:29

Put your own fence up. You are well within your rights to put your own fence up on your side, on your side of the boundary.

If you can't afford to put fence panels of your own up, then go and have a look at some bamboo. Put it in big pots (as it will spread like wildfire otherwise) and put it in front of the fence to screen it off. As PP have said, the dog is protecting his area and is responding to what he sees as a security threat. He should be better if he can't see you.

GahBuggerit · 05/06/2016 15:31

a dog barking does not equal an attack ffs.

jesus this fucking place is getting worse

BornFreeButinEUchains · 05/06/2016 15:31

I would do a proper fence op, with concrete base panels and wire into the ground.

AddictedToCoYo · 05/06/2016 15:36

Gah I am a dog lover and I know that even ferocious sounding barking doesn't necessarily equal danger but it is intimidating and stressful to have this going on with the dog lunging over the fence and sounding menacing. The dog is probably quite stressed by it as well, thinking it needs to ward off danger and protect the boundary.

It would be more pleasant and less stressful for everyone if the owners would just put up a taller stronger fence, but as they clearly won't or can't for financial reasons then the OP is going to have to do it.

OP do they own their house or rent, and what about you?

GahBuggerit · 05/06/2016 15:42

oh i do agree it can be intimidating, i just dont think massive exaggerations are helpful in this situation and serve no purpose

agree with all your post :)

MaddyHatter · 05/06/2016 15:43

i would make a complaint about the dog to the council personally.

My neighbours dogs barked horrendously every time we went in our garden, i got sick of it.. went through asking her to get them to shut up, to shouting SHUT THE FUCK UP over the fence at them.. then complained to the council.

That worked!

MrTiddlestheFatCat · 05/06/2016 15:47

I would put my own fence up if it was bothering me.

However, just because he is barking doesn't mean he is vicious or going to attack. The sound of your DD playing might be agitating him or exciting him. If he's out for long periods of time, it really isn't fair of the owners to keep him out when they know he is getting stressed. He will probably bark even with fence up, you just won't be able to see him.

I personally would probably put a fence up, and I would also ask my neighbours (depending on how close we were) if DD could meet the dog, even on a lead at the front door in a calm situation, so she knows that they're not something to be frightened of and teaching a mutual relationship of respect. I know thats nothing to do with the fence problem, but your DD is obviously scared.

Flumplet · 05/06/2016 16:19

I can totally relate to your situation OP. Unfortunately I have no advice to offer because in our situation the fence is ours and is continually destroyed by ndn's dogs - we've paid over £100 for new panels and every time we do, they rip a new hole to bark at us or our dog or our ds, so we just can't use the garden anymore.

milliemolliemou · 05/06/2016 16:29

How big is the neighbour's dog? I have a small terrier and its barking does frighten the next door neighbours' kids and once (despite fenced garden) it got over and got excited by the screams of terror though it was simply trying to play - but it still frightened the children. Clearly any dog can nip and do damage. I've also helped other neighbours recapture two big dogs (nicely intentioned but still very big to a toddler) who simply burst through larch lap fencing.

Clearly the neighbours should deal with its barking otherwise your DC is always going to be frightened. Is it ever walked? Could you agree for your daughter to meet it with all of you there? If it's aggressive and could do damage they should deal with the fence, and you could go to CAB or your local authority to ask for advice. The problem is whether you or they can afford the easy option which is fencing your side as everyone's suggested, which should be wire and not just wood.

Janecc · 05/06/2016 17:10

Flumpet that's criminal damage. Can't you take them to small claims? It's your fence on your land.

Agree with the other posters about erecting as sturdy fence alongside theirs.

MidniteScribbler · 05/06/2016 23:36

Get a water pistol. Teach your daughter to fire it at the dog. We have dogs that bark and have tried expensive training to get them to stop but for one it didn't work. Cold water works.

My dogs think that is the best game ever.

Mishmashpotatoes · 05/06/2016 23:52

Rottweilers tend to be incredibly obedient dogs, have you tried telling it to bugger off?

Just say "No, down" every time it starts and toss a treat when it does, if the neighbours take offence to you commanding their dog tell them you gave them a chance to put it right.

I own one and he's a pretty fast learner.