AIBU to be really pissed off with my neighbourgh right now.

[Shootfirstaskquestionslater]

My neighbourgh has 2 staffies and she told me when I moved in here to keep my 2 cats indoors which I do anyway because her dogs will attack them. Tonight I've just had her 2 dogs leg it in to my house and chase the cats upstairs the cats are fine but are now hiding on top of the wardrobe too frightened to come down. They need to keep control of their dogs they scream and shout at people when their dogs are in the shared garden there are a lot of young kids round here who are frightned of their dogs but they seem to think that its ok to shout at them because their dogs have lived here for 5 years so we should all just put up and shut up. I am fed up of going out in to my garden only to be nearly sent flying by one of her dogs and bitten every time they see me. Has anyone got any advice on what I can do other than just grin and bear it. Really want to put a fence up round the bit of garden that come with my house but I need to speak to easte agents first about that.

So yes - It looks like you are being bitten, I suppose, and if you don't know dogs it could be frightening, but you are only likely to be hurt if you try to pull away (not much consolation if you are uncomfortable with dogs, because obviously your instinctive reaction is to try to pull away).

Another thing many dogs do with frightens people who aren't familiar with dogs, is to "smile" (we had one who did this, too). It's actually a gesture of submission, but is often mistaken for a snarl.

www.vetstreet.com/our-pet-experts/my-dog-smiles-when-she-greets-people-is-this-normal

Thank you happyflappy - I recognise what you describe as what dogs do playfully. I have had dogs and know there is a difference in 'tone' or approach, for want of a better word, but am no expert in dog behaviour. So what if a dog, who is unknown to me, runs barking towards me/my dc in the street and puts their mouth around my trousered leg without cutting skin and drawing blood, for example, then jumps up and around me barking until pulled away? Is there a middle ground where no injury is caused but the intention is to scare off a perceived threat?

Thank you everyone for your help and advice I will be reporting them to the estate agents on Monday they should know who their landlord is so that I can report them to their own landlord and I will be contacting the dog warden as well think those dogs would be better placed with an owner that knows what they are doing. I will come back on Monday and let you all know what's happened.

HappyFlappy we had a Lancashire heeler who use to smile at us when he was excited and happy to see us people use to think he was snarling but he wasn't he was the first dog I had ever seen smile.

we had a Lancashire heeler who use to smile at us when he was excited and happy to see us people use to think he was snarling but he wasn't he was the first dog I had ever seen smile

It's lovely, isn't it Shootfirst? Dog smiles are really cute!

Wellies- I would have to see the dog doing this. TBH "mouthy" dogs tend to get hold of a hand, arm or wrist rather than a leg. If the dog is being your leg, however gently, I wouldn't regard it as being playful - though it may be over-excitement. It sounds like the sort of over-excitement/reaction to a perceived threat that could escalate into real nipping. I would guess that it's a terrier (e.g. yorkie, jack russell, patterdale) doing this, as they tend to be very "nippy" dogs - again.not necessarily aggressive, it's just that they are extremely alert and quick in their reactions, and easily get themselves into a frenzy. (Border collies can, too, if they aren't properly trained - in them it's the herding instinct kicking in, triggered by any moving animal - in this case, you).

I don't believe what I'm reading, here.
Because she either cannot or will not control her mutts. Your cats are cooped up, and She's letting her dangerously out of control hounds run into your home and terrorise your cats. I'd definately report. Heaven forbid but if they'd have got your cats. They'd have ripped them apart, and It could be a child next time.

My best friend has two staffies and two DCs.

They've never 'mouthed' anyone.

They shouldn't be able to get that close in the first place. The lab that went for my DS definitely didn't 'mouth' him, we were just extremely lucky that DS was wrapped up to the nines that day. The coat was the only thing that stopped the dog from breaking my DSs skin. If the same lab would have jumped up a baby/toddler in a pram, (highly likely given it's a school run route and I often pass new mums and childminders) it would have broken their skin 'mouthing' them anyway.

I would agree that there is a distinction between mouthing and actual biting.

Where I disagree, is that a dog needs to be taught that it can never do either of these to a person. Not allowed. Dogs are not stupid, it's easy to teach them this.

No one should have to put up with mouthing from someone else's dog.

No one should have to put up with mouthing from someone else's dog

Totally agree Ledge. I don't think anyone said otherwise - just that it was a common trait in some breeds. Whether you allow it with your own family is up to you, but no - dogs should not attempt to mouth other people and should be kept under control.

But it ISN'T easy to stop with people they love, because it is innate with many dogs. Retrievers of all types in particular are bred to want to pick things up and most then gently - that makes them easy to train to bring something back without damaging it.

And the lab that Pixies mentions was not "mouthing" - it seems it was actually attacking. Aggression isn't confined to breeds covered by the DDA - ANY breed (and more importantly, owner) can produce an aggressive dog - it comes down to a mixture of temperament and training. In the same way any breed can produce dogs that are "bullet-proof" (though you'd still be an idiot to risk leaving them with young children - that's just common sense).

*mouth them, not most then

Definitely report.

as someone who's had a cat killed by a neighbours out of control staffie, please please do the right thing and report.

Also, your cats are indoor cats which is fine, but what if they weren't? Your cats can't go into your garden because of their nasty dogs? That's crazy.

Thanks for the reply, happyflappy. It's a spaniel (english cocker, I think, but not sure). It doesn't 'know' me but I do walk past its house four times a day on the school run. I have noticed that if it is out in the garden it seems to spend its whole time barking (it's a quiet spot so it looks as if it is barking at the sky, birds, leaves, flowers 😄). I don't believe it is blind (because of how accurately it has targeted us on the street) but it might be quite elderly and/or confused. It's a tricky situation because I am guessing the dog has problems (if it is randomly going for a non-threatening woman and preschooler walking past) and therefore would not want to cause the family any distress by reporting it. It is the only pavement in the village and everyone walks it daily to school so I have let other people know it has happened to us and they are aware to be careful. Thanks for explaining mouthing to me. I don't think that's what this is 🙁

She sounds like a really crap owner, those poor dogs.
I hope they're removed and given to someone who knows whst they are doing.
Some people should not have pets!
Why is she keeping two big dogs in flats??
I'm confused yhough, do you live in a flat too?

As a staff owner, other owners with attitudes like this piss me right off. If you cannot or will not control your dogs you shouldn't have them. As for the mouthing and running into your house you'd have been within your rights to call the police. Having a dog out of control in a public or private place is a criminal offences

Offence

Unusual for cockers to be nippy these days Wellies - there used to be a common problem called "rage syndrome" in some breeds, including cockers, but there were deliberate efforts to breed it out by not using aggressive dogs for breeding purposes, and it tends to be uncommon now. Plus, it is different - with rage syndrome the dog will be as nice as ninepence one minute, and then will literally turn in a heartbeat and go for whatever or whoever is next to it. Attacks occur without apparent cause, and the dog will equally suddenly become calm again without appearing to know that it has bitten. As with many behavioural things, there is no universally agreed cause (and there might be many causes).

The dog that is bothering you doesn't sound as though it is ex[eriencing that, though. From what you say it may be elderly with Alzheimer's, or it may be very bored (the barking at anything and everything suggests this) and just looking for something to do. But you are right that this sounds like more than mouthing.

Kali - unfortunately there a lot more staffies and staffie crosses in kennels than could ever be rehired. Thoughtless breeders just see them as cash cows and let them produce litter after litter - and very few people going to look for a rescue dog will consider a staffie because they have a bad reputation due to owners like the ones in this thread.

It is very sad - they are a particularly affectionate breed, eager to please and very loyal, but do need to be properly trained and exercised because they are massively strong for their size, and very boisterous and exuberant. I've never met a breed with more zest for life than the staffie!

And they can be trusted with most other animals if they are taught to respect them - we had staffies with cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, gerbils, hamsters and mice, and they never hurt any of them (though I must admit that we never allowed the very small rodents to run around them unsupervised, but as much as anything that was because we didn't want escaped fancy mice raising families under the floorboards.) With the cats and rabbits they were very affectionate, and would sit cuddled up to them and wash them.

Their dogs are dangerous and need to be reported. I despise staffies and think the world would be a much better place if certain dog breeds, including them, didn't exist. Blah, blah, blah, it's not the dog, it's the owners. Bollocks. IMO.

Totally agree. Do the staffy fans presume it coincidence that every time you hear of a dog mauling death in the news.... it's a staffy?

Gloria I'm really not a particular fan of staffies because I'm shallow and don't like how they look but have always assumed that the high numbers involved in reported attacks are a) because there are LOADS of them, and loads more staffie crosses (you only have to look on any rescue centre website to see the disproportionately high numbers compared to other breeds) and b) because they have a certain reputation, and are tough looking, and are readily available, they attract non-conscientious idiotic owners who don't train them or supervise them properly. (Definitely not saying all staffie owners are like this - just if you're the kind of idiot who wants a tough-looking dog, or decides to get a puppy on a whim with no research, staffies are very easy to come by due to point a.)

Personally the only dog I've known to be pts for attacking was a pedigree miniature schnauzer. All dogs have the potential to be dangerous, and most, if properly trained, cared-for, and supervised, won't cause any problems.

Actually Gloria they're staff types, which people who don't know any better use to refer to anything from a pitty to a mastiff to a bull breed. So it's not always staffs, it's ignorant reporting.

I'm sure it's true that unsavoury characters are drawn to the breed.
Some will say it's because they're loyal and eager to please but there are other loyal breeds that would be nigh on impossible to train as attack dogs.

Have you ever seen an ASBO type with a golden retriever? They're very biddable.

The most popular breed of dog in the UK is the labrador.

Actually Gloria they're staff types, which people who don't know any better use to refer to anything from a pitty to a mastiff to a bull breed. So it's not always staffs, it's ignorant reporting.

Probably so. Much of a muchness as far as I'm concerned.

OP - before you report, write it all down. Don't claim you've been bitten (implies blood drawing) when you've been mouthed. Just say mouthing, because it can also be terrifying and while a sign of interest/affection should only be done to a consenting owner!. I'd be underlining your lack of fear for your safety and your cats, the fact you don't feel you can use the communal garden (which is not cleared of their shit) and you can't have children round. These dogs need another owner, exercise and retraining. Go for it.

I'm sure it's true that unsavoury characters are drawn to the breed.
i think it's very true.
Staffies are powerful dogs, some stupid people have them as a status thing, not as a loyal pet.
It's not a bad dog or breed. Get really fed up seeing this.
Years ago the rottie was the devil dog.
Then it was something else.
Some people should not have pets, they are not capable of looking after them and then unfortunately others get hurt and then the poor dog is killed.

It breaks my heart that so many twats get these lovely dogs and ruin them by not training them properly or exercising them enough.

They are incredibly forgiving, too. A client of mine got a staffie that had been horribly abused by its owner (thrown against walls as a puppy, among other things). The poor thing was traumatised, would wet itself when anyone it didn't know came near and hid, trembling, most of the time in the house. Once her bonded with the client, he got dreadful separation anxiety when she left him . With a bit of advice from me, and lots of patience, 6 months later the dog is sociable, well-socialised and really well cared for. He's happy, calm, affectionate and well behaved.

And the client and partner have LD and MH issues, so well done them.

OP's neighbour needs putting in kennels imo, not the bloody dogs.