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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think my dog is doing his job....

56 replies

Notjustamam · 15/05/2018 20:06

So I’m going to try and cover everything. Moved into a new house a year ago. Was an emergency move due to escaping violent ex.
House was/is a complete state. Inside and outside require thousands to make it ‘home’
Anyway.... house is local authority. Both ndns own their property. Ndn1 (joined to my semi detached) is a lovely old woman. Completely understanding of the fact we have 5dc and a lot of work to do.
Ndn2 is a complete dick. Since the day we moved in he has complained to the council about EVERYTHING. The hedge is too high (was when we took the property) we cut the hedge, he complained about bin bags with the cuttings in. Back garden is all weeds (was when we moved in) council advised him we have a lot of work to do inside so outside is last on the list.
We share a walkway to the rear gardens. My garden is fenced, his isn’t. About 3 months after we moved in dd1 left her bike on the walkway. It disappeared within 10 mins (cannot be seen from the street) police spoke to him. He claimed no knowledge but council have, basically, stopped acknowledging his complaints.
Fast forward to last month. We went on holiday and left a family friend pet sitting. We got home and ended up with police at the door. Ndn2 has made a complaint that our dog jumped up at the gate and barked at him as he was entering his property therefore he is a dangerous dog.
I am livid! Firstly, the dog is there to protect the property/family. He always barks if someone comes to front door or comes down the walkway.
Secondly, how is a dog that is fenced in dangerous?
Thirdly, I think if ndn2 has an issue he should have raised it with us rather than getting police involved.
Ndn1 btw, is totally on our side and says ndn2 caused issues for previous tenants who were elderly, disabled and, eventually widowed to the day the property was vacated.
My aibu is: police agree that it was a waste of resources, ndn2 is known for causing issues but they want us to sign a statement saying dog will only be out in public with dp or my supervision just to appease ndn2. I want to refuse as dog is not dangerous, my older dcs love walking him, and ndn1 has agreed to back us up.
Dp wants to sign to stop the whole thing.
Advice please....

OP posts:
Original poster
Notjustamam · 15/05/2018 20:06

Omg I apologise. Such a long rant.....

OP posts:
picklemepopcorn · 15/05/2018 20:08

Breathe! Take a bit of time to think. Talk to local doggy friends.

nervousnails · 15/05/2018 20:16

Barking is fine, but did he jump? Did he threaten the neighbour? Unfortunately, it also depends on your dog's breed (which is COMPLETELY wrong, in My opinion!). Don't sign until you get proper advice.

abbsisspartacus · 15/05/2018 20:20

From behind your gate? Ie nowhere near him?

Original poster
Notjustamam · 15/05/2018 20:23

He jumped up at the gate and barked. He is a beagle springer cross. Totally harmless. Ndn2 even told police dog hadn’t touched him but he was ‘concerned for safety of my children’

OP posts:
mustbemad17 · 15/05/2018 20:25

Unfortunately rules have changed. Even within your own garden, if your dog jumps at the fence in what can be deemed an aggressive manner, it can classed as out of control. It is total bullshit but sadly that is where we are at. I found this out the hard way.

What happens if you refuse to sign it, did they say?
Can you poison the NDN??

InDubiousBattle · 15/05/2018 20:26

How old are your dc?

Wolfiefan · 15/05/2018 20:27

You need to stop your dog jumping up at people. Stop access to this gate.
And no. It's not the job of your dog to protect your property. Or bark and make a noise nuisance.
By law you have to have your dog under control.

Original poster
Notjustamam · 15/05/2018 20:37

@mustbemad nothing other than they’ll tell ndn2 that we aren’t acknowledging the complaint but if he makes another one dog may be marked dangerous

@indubious range from 4 to 12

@wolfiefan the gate is to my property. I can’t stop access without stopping my dog going out into our garden. Dog is completely under control, as acknowledged by police officer who came. And, yes, his job is to protect the property and children. No other neighbours have complained or have a problem

OP posts:
ICantCopeAnymore · 15/05/2018 20:46

Don't be so ridiculous, Wolfie. The dog is in its own garden. Most dogs have the odd bark at something. The dog isn't out of control.

lemonmerangue · 15/05/2018 21:19

Leave the dog's behaviour and other matters to one side for the moment and focus on the general pattern of behaviour exhibited by your unpleasant neighbour because it sounds as if you might be in for a long haul.
Do not react, fight back, swear, be violent or indulge in a fire fight however appealing that may appear to be.
Do your best to behave in a generally reasonable and neighbourly manner. Hard we know.
Make honest, contemporaneous notes about each and every incident.
Keep any notes that may get pushed through your door.
Keep copies of any correspondence you may have cause to have with you neighbour. At all times be polite because at some time in the future these notes will form your dossier of evidence and will be read by a third party.
Do not try and canvas support from your other neighbours - all that does is start a range war.
Be patient!
We were for five years! it came close to breaking us. We are convinced that our NDN's aim was to harass us out of our recently acquired house.
The resolution came when our NDN entered our property, verbally harassed one of us (wife) and stood staring at her through a window while she was in the house on her own.
She felt threatened and rang the police.
Their response was sympathetic swift and decisive - we live in a comparatively isolated rural area - and both we and NDN were interviewed (not together!).
The upshot was that NDN was given a verbal warning and left in no doubt that if the behaviour continued NDN would be prosecuted under the Harassment Act 1997.
We have had no more trouble since.
We act with NDN as if that person is invisible.
I agree that all the onus is put on the aggrieved party but that is just the way things are.
You have our sympathy.

Original poster
Notjustamam · 15/05/2018 21:29

@lemonmerangue Thank you. We have never confronted ndn2 or even spoken to him. We are aware he has a wife who we have never seen so we assume she maybe has an issue with leaving the house (agrophobic possibly)
Our main concern is police saying dog may be destroyed if another complaint is made despite them agreeing he isn’t a danger.
How is that even legal, never mind fair?

OP posts:
fourpawswhite · 15/05/2018 21:33

Wolfie and mustbe are entirely correct. The law has changed and the dog must be under control both in a public place and in a private garden. This applies to England and Scotland via different legislation. This includes jumping at garden fence and barking at passers by.

I only deal with Scottish law but have seen a dog control notice issued for two instances of a dog jumping at the garden fence. No risk of escape, no contact, just jumping at the fence. In that instance the dog had to be tethered, attend training class and be walked only on a lead.

Very harsh penalties for breach of either act in either country.

Wolfiefan · 15/05/2018 21:34

A dog jumping up is not under control.
A dog that makes a person even feel intimidated is by law considered a dangerous dog.
You need to control the dog or there could be serious consequences for your pet. (Even though the rules are stupid and the dog poses no actual threat at all.)

tabulahrasa · 15/05/2018 21:35

Um, unless he’s actually a trained guard dog, no, no he wasn’t doing his job...

Jumping at people also isn’t under control.

To be considered a dangerous dog, someone needs to have a reasonable fear that they could be bitten - that includes on your own property.

Yes, I totally appreciate that it’s not ridiculous dog behaviour, but, technically your neighbour is right, a dog that size jumping and barking at a gate could leave someone thinking they’re in danger of getting bitten.

fourpawswhite · 15/05/2018 21:36

The legislation in England is anti social behaviour, crime and policing act 2014 and in Scotland the control of dogs Scotland act 2010 for anyone interested and there is a guide on the kennel club website and plenty examples and discussion online.

I'm not saying I agree entirely with it and the case I gave as example was certainly a harsh punishment but that is the law which is in force.

Juiceylucy09 · 15/05/2018 21:45

He is bonkers, some people have nothing better to do.

Congratulations on getting away from a violent ex. Ignore him if you can, I understand it can be hard when he is determined tof pester you.

If you can afford a recording camera I would have some fitted.

InDubiousBattle · 15/05/2018 21:55

What do you think your dog is protecting you from? I could be wrong but when I hear 'dog is protecting is' I imagine a threatening dog. Such a dog being around such young children would bother me too tbh. Separating what you have heard about this neighbour I don't think he is necessarily being unreasonable about this. A dog jumping up to the fence by your garden and barking must be annoying at best and threatening at worst. Could his wife be particularly afraid/nervous?

Original poster
Notjustamam · 15/05/2018 22:00

So are dogs just to be silent doormats who allow anyone access to property and children now?
I apologise if I was under the assumption they had a use.
My traumatised children sleep so much better knowing ‘dog’ will bark if anyone comes near. He’d lick a knife-wielding killer to death before he bit but kids appreciate the threat.

OP posts:
Loopyloopy · 15/05/2018 22:03

What a crap piece of law - the dog is displaying normal canine behaviour. I'd get advice, OP, this ndn appears to be out to get you and will use this to get to you.

Original poster
Notjustamam · 15/05/2018 22:04

@indubios he’s protecting us from my abusive ex who beat me senseless in front of dc and caused all of them to need counselling

OP posts:
InDubiousBattle · 15/05/2018 22:05

I do understand that op but is it possible your dog might seem more dangerous than he actually is? To an outsider I mean? Tbh, with the other things you've mentioned (fence, black bags etc ) he does sound like a pita. Are your houses close together? If he is in the un attached semi next to you can he hear the dog a lot?

tabulahrasa · 15/05/2018 22:06

“So are dogs just to be silent doormats who allow anyone access to property and children now?”

Unless they’re there to commit a criminal act, then yes...

InDubiousBattle · 15/05/2018 22:06

I apologise op, I missed the initial section of your op.

Wolfiefan · 15/05/2018 22:08

Unless your abusive ex is the only one he barks at then that's not true. He isn't defending you. He's making a noise at the gate. You perceive that as protection. Your neighbour perceives it as a threat.
Pay heed.
Need protection? Get a panic alarm. A burglar alarm. Ensure you have a court order to keep him away.
Dogs are pets. Barking isn't protecting. It's a nuisance and him being out of control could land you in trouble.