To be getting sick of my next door neighbour?

[lineylane]

NDN moved in 6 weeks ago. We have only been here approx 4 months ourselves.

We have three dogs- 2 Rottweilers (honestly the softest, most dopey dogs you will meet- all the children on our close adore them and will come up and pet them etc) and a very old, feeble staffie who couldn’t even catch a fly if he tried.

Rotties are walked three times a day- once by DH in the morning, dog walker in the afternoon and me of an evening. Our staffie cannot walk long distances so either both me and DH go on a walk and one of us turns back with our staffie or he doesn’t come out with us.

Aside from this, they get let out in the garden for a play/pee a couple times a day by me (work from home) fully supervised as it’s my time to enjoy a smoke and a quick brew.

Approx a week after NDN moved in, we got a knock on the door at 8am- hysterically screaming at us that are “dogs are out of control” and are dangerous and may attack their DC if they are playing in the garden.

I insisted they were all incredibly friendly, well trained and while like rough and tumble with each other- are impeccably behaved around humans and suggested NDN brought her DC round to meet them which made her even more hysterical. I ended up shutting the door in her face, resulting her banging on the door for 20 minutes screaming through the letterbox while I was on a conference call. I will admit, I ended up losing my temper and ended up opening the front room window and asking her what the fuck she thought she was doing and to get off my property. Looked very taken aback and sulked off.

Anyway- two weeks ago, NDN brought two kittens. Got a knock on the door saying we would have to either keep the dogs indoors, or get rid “because no doubt our dogs would choose to savage them”. Of course no dog can be 100% trusted, but I can say with 95% confidence that if said cats came in the garden the dogs would come to me if recalled.

This wasn’t good enough for said neighbour. I suggested my DH put barbed wire on top of our shared fence so cats wouldn’t be able to jump over. Apparently we are now cruel to animals

Anyway things have come to a head this morning. Another neighbour has come and knocked to say NDN has started a petition for us to get rid of our dogs because they are all of “dangerous breed”. Most people have told her to fuck off, one or two others have sided with her.

I’m close to ringing the police for harassment.

AIBU?

I have a dog next door that actually eats the wooden fence in an attempt to get to me. I'm terrified to go out in my own back garden as the whole fence shakes when it launches itself at it to get me. The fence has chunks eaten out of it and it is only a matter of time before it gets to me and my wee jack russell.

My neighbour was there before me and says his dog is just playing.

It's not. Is it possible you don't realise quite how your dogs come across?

She is barking (sorry, I blame the heat).

I have two Rotties. Soft as old mush. They play fight in the garden and it does sounds dramatic, but a word from us and they stop. We have two cats who the Rotties have yet to show an interest in mauling. There's a GSD as well who spends 95% of her life asleep.

Our Rotties got out once. The tiler, who'd never met them, turned up at the front door, to give a quote, with a Rottie either side asking for head rubs. We were embarrassed and stressed that they'd managed to push the fence enough to get out (definitely can't do it now), but tiler and NDNs all totally chilled.

OP definitely log it. And ditto PP to get to training classes so you have 'professional proof' of your dogs' temperaments. Sadly, I would suggest muzzling on walks simply because if the woman is that batshit I'd not put it past her to invent an incident.

@Collaborate Tue 21-Aug-18 15:52:39
She could cause problems because under the dangerous dogs act, someone only has to feel that they are in danger or your dogs are out of control to report you.

That would only work if you have a reason to feel threatened. Getting anxious because you've read in some rag of a newspaper that Rotties are dangerous and you've seen one over your garden fence, or passed one in the street, won't cut it. It doesn't work like that.

What I'm saying is that someone can report you with no real basis to do so.

If the NDN went in the street when the dogs were being walked and passed them, she could say she felt threatened by them.

People only have to report that they FELT threatened by a dog and the claims will be followed up.

I can't imagine letting someone shout through the letterbox for twenty minutes isn't that where you call the police?

Screaming through the mail slot shows she is unhinged with obvious mental issues.

However, if she saw/heard your dogs 'play fighting' each other (and it often sounds very alarming and vicious) I don't blame her for feeling truly frightened. Tbh I would not want to live next door 2 someone who had 2 Rotweilers who play fight in such a way. A good dog owner would have nipped that behaviour in the bud long ago. Especially considering the breed. It sounds like you do need to train your dogs not to play fight like that. Because you just never know. One day, one of them could be distracted or just that inch more boisterous with each other and there could be a serious injury to one of them. Throw a bucket of water over them might be a start, but you really need to train them out of that.

She is harassing you, and now she is starting a campaign of harassment in your neighbourhood. Call the police.

You might even consider consulting a lawyer and sending a strongly worded letter about her harassment.

I'm a dog-lover and owner, but I'd be nervous about 2 Rottweilers and a staff in the garden next door. They're all intimidating dogs.

Forgot to add that cats should not be roaming anyway, and should not be going onto neighbour's properties. There is a push on (where I live) to have cats as indoors only and owners fined if cats leave the property. So if your dogs don't escape, but her cats do, she is the one at fault.

People only have to report that they FELT threatened by a dog and the claims will be followed up.

I'm not sure you're fully aware of the state of the police and public services generally. They are overworked, under resourced, and not likely to pander to the hysterical over reaction of OP's neighbour.

If someone reports that they felt threatened just because a dog walked past them, they would be told to go and see their GP for anxiety tablets. It would take something like a dog snarling at and lunging for someone for the authorities to start to listen to people's anxieties. Even then, they are unlikely to do anything unless someone is injured. In my park very recently a dog attacked another dog and in so doing injured the victim dog's owner. The police are interested in that, but it is important to note that:

1. The dog could have died.
2. The owner wasn't bitten but was pushed over.
3. It wasn't a rottweiler.

I am just wondering why on earth you would feel the need to have 3 fighting dogs? I wonder if it was your husband's idea?

I don't for one minute buy all this 'they are the softest, dopiest dogs' talk.

Despite what you might think, your dogs were specifically bred for fighting - aggression is in their nature.

I would never trust them around anyone, let alone children, so your neighbour has my sympathy.

Tbh I would not want to live next door 2 someone who had 2 Rotweilers who play fight in such a way. A good dog owner would have nipped that behaviour in the bud long ago.

A cruel owner would consider doing that. How do you expect dogs to sound? Singing like a 3 year old? They either bark or growl. None of it need be threatening. As a responsible dog owner I love to see my dog play fight with other dogs.

Defo get police notified ASAP. She is indeed starting a campaign and this could end with more issues for you than you realise.

YANBU
I’d be a little wary of your dogs to be honest but as described, I’d have no issue at all with having you and them as neighbours.

I am just wondering why on earth you would feel the need to have 3 fighting dogs?

You've displayed staggering ignorance by calling them fighting dogs.

From wikipedia : the Rottweiler is good natured, placid in basic disposition, very devoted, obedient, biddable and eager to work. Their appearance is natural and rustic, their behaviour self-assured, steady and fearless. They react to their surroundings with great alertness and at the same time even-tempered.

Re Staffies: Due to its breeding and history, common traits exist throughout; the Staffordshire Bull Terrier is known for its character of fearlessness and toughness. This, coupled with its affectionate nature, its off-duty quietness and trustworthy stability, make it a foremost all-purpose dog.The breed is naturally muscular and may appear intimidating. Staffordshire Bull Terrier puppies are very easy to house train.They are friendly, enthusiastic and usually extremely affectionate. Staffordshires are notably adaptable in terms of changing home or even owners; this may make them vulnerable to dognapping. RSPCA chief vet Mark Evans said: "Staffies have had a terrible press, but this is not of their own making–in fact they're wonderful dogs. If people think that Staffies have problems, they're looking at the wrong end of the dog lead! When well cared for and properly trained they can make brilliant companions. Our experience suggests that problems occur when bad owners exploit the Staffie's desire to please by training them to show aggression."

If you are genuinely worried about things being put over the fence I would look into cctv for your garden for the dogs safety.

I also think you should contact the authorities [who, I don't know ; police RSPCA?] and explain she has started a campaign against you as dog owners because of their breed.

Get in there first.

Those saying why didn’t I call the police when she was knocking:

I couldn’t, I was on a conference call from work. If I hung up my boss would of fired me or at the very least stopped me working from home- neither of which I want or can afford right now. As soon as I got off the call was when I confronted her, and from her reaction I thought she was going to back off.

Those saying you wouldn’t want to live next to my 3 dogs:
I understand that- they have a bad rep. But that’s not the point. If NDN came over and explained she was afraid of dogs and could I please keep them on lead around them and avoid putting them in the garden when they were outside as much as possible- I would of been very understanding and accommodating as possible. But she didn’t- she immediately went on the attack.

Waiting for DH to get back at 5 and going to call 101.

Despite what you might think, your dogs were specifically bred for fighting - aggression is in their nature.

Actually, this is not the case. Rottweilers were bred as cattle herding and driving dogs. The breed is used for guarding but it has never been specifically bred as a fighting dog unlike something like a Tosa. Yes, they can be aggressive and they are quite territorial but to say they are a fighting breed is incorrect.

If she rents and you tell her agent she might have to get rid of her cats anyway - she got them after she moved in so unless she checked with the landlord she might be breaking her contract anyway.

Get a fake camera put it up in the garden
Your neighbour sounds like the cUnt to throw over poison to the dog
Tell neighbour that you have CTtv to protect your dogs in case the cats come in 😂

I can understand her feeling annoyed that you have 3 dogs, and that she was living next door, but really she should be annoyed with herself, she should have checked out who was living next door before she moved in!!
As a dog lover myself i think as dog lovers we can forget that not everyone likes dogs, and thats fine everyone to themselves. But if she doesn't like dogs she should have checked who she was living next door to, now shes moved in she has no right to complain. I suspect her anger is more about herself. She trying to make a point in buying kittens, let her crack on. Make sure you record her behaviour though and inform the local dog warden just so they are aware.

She sounds unhinged, your dogs sound like they are well looked after. If your dogs are safely enclosed in your garden (more for their safety from your NDN now it seems...) and on a lead and supervised closely when off lead she has no leg to stand on

Luckily my neighbors have no issues with my dogs. One crazy neighbor did start a petition to have me evicted due to me not opening my bedroom curtains though?! My landlord laughed in her face and told her to stop being a peeping Tom 😂

Report and ignore would be my advice.

@Collaborate Tue 21-Aug-18 16:11:28
People only have to report that they FELT threatened by a dog and the claims will be followed up.

I'm not sure you're fully aware of the state of the police and public services generally. They are overworked, under resourced, and not likely to pander to the hysterical over reaction of OP's neighbour.

If someone reports that they felt threatened just because a dog walked past them, they would be told to go and see their GP for anxiety tablets. It would take something like a dog snarling at and lunging for someone for the authorities to start to listen to people's anxieties. Even then, they are unlikely to do anything unless someone is injured. In my park very recently a dog attacked another dog and in so doing injured the victim dog's owner. The police are interested in that, but it is important to note that:
1. The dog could have died.
2. The owner wasn't bitten but was pushed over.
3. It wasn't a rottweiler.

I'm very awere of the state of the police service atm, there are multiple stabbings & shootings daily in my old area. There's a very big status dog (and gang) problem so they do follow up reports of threatening behaviour.

Me, my mum and our own dogs were attacked by two staffies in a park and my mums bichon was nearly killed. My cane corso had a little cut on her leg but my mum was bitten and we had our knees ripped to shreds from wrestling the dogs away on the concrete path.

We reported the woman who obviously wasn't in control of her dogs but they were deemed to be fine to be left in her care if she walked them with muzzles on so there isn't much that will be done to two trained dogs but people can still report you if they only FEEL threatened by a dog.