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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be concerned about this dog?

38 replies

Daisyfrumps · 08/01/2017 18:08

Next door neighbours have a staffie. I've never seen it walked and I'm home most times. If they go out (they both work PT) it's put out into the garden where it cries at the door.

I know someone complained to some authority once before as they wrote a pa message on our local area facebook page, saying that the dog is well cared for thank you very much.

So do staffies need walking? Or are they happy indoors? I'm not a dog person, and presumably this isn't enough maltreatment for whoever they were reported to to have done anything?

OP posts:
LumelaMme · 08/01/2017 18:12

Staffies need walking. They're bright, active, loyal dogs.

If it was the RSPCA who received the report, they will have done sweet FA.

You could try your council dog warden, say it's a welfare issue if the dog is left out in all weathers with no shelter.

Original poster
Daisyfrumps · 08/01/2017 18:14

Ah, he has a garden shed that I think he can access, so at least he can hopefully get out of the weather!

OP posts:
harderandharder2breathe · 08/01/2017 18:19

It's a shit way to keep a dog, all dogs need walking. Sadly as long as he's fed and watered and has shelter, I doubt anyone could do anything

DontTouchTheMoustache · 08/01/2017 18:21

In fairness unless you are constantly watching their house how do you know it's never walked? My dog pulls too much on the lead for me to walk him.with the pram so I always drive him somewhere we can walk off for lead but neighbours might assume the same about me if they don't see me get him in and out of the car. I'm home most of the time as on mat leave and have no idea of neighbours dog walking schedule so I think you might be making unfair assumptions.

Original poster
Daisyfrumps · 08/01/2017 18:23

That's what I thought harder. It's a shame he's not walked (or at least not that I know of and we practically live on top of one another so I'd notice).

Maybe if it's been like this since he was a puppy it's less stressful for him?

It's not a concern from a safety perspective is it? Two lively young girls often in the home as well.

OP posts:
Original poster
Daisyfrumps · 08/01/2017 18:24

In fairness unless you are constantly watching their house how do you know it's never walked?

They park their car in front of my window most of the time. In two years of living here (I work from home) I've not once seen them put the dog in the car. Am a bit of a nosy neighbour.

OP posts:
Ceaser1981 · 08/01/2017 18:25

My dog is a staffie and he is between 9 and 11 yrs old (fot him from dogs trust so not 100% sure on age). He has so much energy and needs a good 1 and half hour walk a day, well i say walk but he runs about 3 times the length of the walk with his doggy friends. However without knowing your neighbours is hard to comment. We have another staffie in our street who suffers severe anxiety so doesnt go for walks but gets lots of exercise running and playing in her big back garden. I wouldnt lime to leave my boy outside, they dont have much hair to keep them warm and if he isnt running he would get cold quickly, wears a coat on really cold days.

Flumplet · 08/01/2017 18:28

Yes I've been reported for "not walking" my dog before now. Turns out not many people are up to nose out the window at 6.30am. My dog hates other dogs so we are up and about early in the morning for a drama free half hour.

Original poster
Daisyfrumps · 08/01/2017 18:29

Flumplet Ah - hadn't thought of that. DH is up and outside at that time. Will ask him.

OP posts:
Original poster
Daisyfrumps · 08/01/2017 18:35

Nope, DH has never seen them walking their dog / putting it in the car / playing with him in the garden either. Even at early doors.

OP posts:
Scooby20 · 08/01/2017 18:36

And if they walk him earlier than that?

Zaphodsotherhead · 08/01/2017 18:38

ALL dogs need walking - am slightly baffled that even someone who doesn't know much about dogs would think there are dogs that don't need it! There are some that don't want to be walked, for whatever reasons. but even they need exercise.

Even those dreadful 'teacup' dogs revert to proper little doggy savages given half a chance...

Original poster
Daisyfrumps · 08/01/2017 18:39

It's a possibility. Given that they're both usually in the garden having a fag and banging about with their door at 2am I don't think they're early risers. Can't say 100% though. The earliest we see / hear of them is after 9am.

OP posts:
Original poster
Daisyfrumps · 08/01/2017 18:41

am slightly baffled that even someone who doesn't know much about dogs would think there are dogs that don't need it!

Hands up. Complete ignoramus where dogs are concerned. Hence the thread.

OP posts:
altiara · 08/01/2017 18:53

Do they have a dog walker? Who doesn't turn up in a car.

BewtySkoolDropowt · 08/01/2017 18:58

You don't know it isn't walked. My house faces on to a neighbours and they have a dog. My son once said to me it's awful how they don't walk their dog more often. The reality is he is walked twice a day, and I often see them out. Clearly they walk the dog at times that my son isn't around.

Original poster
Daisyfrumps · 08/01/2017 18:59

Neither of us have ever seen the dog walked by anyone, altiara, no.

OP posts:
Original poster
Daisyfrumps · 08/01/2017 19:02

You don't know it isn't walked

Not 100%, no, but neither of us have ever seen it walked in 2 years and one of us works from home, one of us is up and about at the crack of arse.

This combined with seeing their response to some kind of previous complaint makes me think that, on the balance of probabilities, it's not being walked.

Even if I had concrete proof there's apparently nothing I can do anyway so that's that.

OP posts:
ThymeLord · 08/01/2017 19:06

There isn't anything you can do but it's very sad for the dog. Neither of me neighbours walk their dogs either and I feel so sorry for them.

Original poster
Daisyfrumps · 08/01/2017 19:09

Could the dog actually be happy? Is it stimulated enough by being around its two masters and their young children?

OP posts:
ThymeLord · 08/01/2017 19:11

I don't think a dog can be happy without exercise no.

Branleuse · 08/01/2017 19:12

all dogs need walking, but youre not legaly obliged to walk them. Just give them food and shelter and i suppose medical treatment when necessary.

I found a very neglected, never walked, non toilet trained, mange ridden bassett hound once, and the RSPCA just took her back to the owner, as apparently none of those things were requirements to having a dog. I wouldnt expect the RSPCA to do a damn thing.

Original poster
Daisyfrumps · 08/01/2017 19:14

:(

OP posts:
dollydaydream114 · 08/01/2017 19:15

ALL dogs need walking, regardless of breed. Even tiny breeds need to get out and about regularly.

It's not just about the exercise - it's also that they need to get out and see/smell new things etc. Otherwise they're bored and fed up.

Unfortunately, however, it's not actually illegal to keep a dog and fail to exercise it. Angry

If they leave it outside with no shelter for several hours at a time, that could be an animal welfare issue - although the dog warden or the RSPCA would need proof that this was happening, of course. Does it have a kennel with bedding where it can go if it's cold or wet? Do they leave it plenty of fresh water?

I would assume that the reason they chuck it out when they leave the house is because it causes damage indoors by chewing things - which suggests that the poor thing is bored witless and probably very anxious about being left.

dollydaydream114 · 08/01/2017 19:17

Could the dog actually be happy? Is it stimulated enough by being around its two masters and their young children?

No, absolutely not. A dog needs more from life than that. A staffie needs more physical exercise than it can get from a garden and any dog needs to see and smell new things regularly.

Moreover, if it's crying at the back door every time it's left outside while they're at work, it's distressed at being left in the garden alone.

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