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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be getting sick of my next door neighbour?

272 replies

lineylane · 21/08/2018 13:34

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 Hmm

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 Hmm 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?

OP posts:
JamPasty · 21/08/2018 19:42

YABU... to post about rotties without pictures! I luffs rotties.

Greyhorses · 21/08/2018 19:43

I also got asked why I had three ‘fighting’ dogs last week.

I have german shepherds, just shows how clueless about dogs lots of society is really Wink

Just ignore!

FairfaxAikman · 21/08/2018 19:46

The thing is you can argue until the cows come home about which dogs are more likely to bite, but if a Rottie bites you it’s going to be much more serious than a Yorkshire terrier.

IME the owners of small dogs allow them to get away with aggressive behaviour because its "cute" but if mine (mushy but large and muscular Labradors) behaved the same way all hell would break loose. For that reason most owners of large breeds nip that kind of behaviour in the bud.

Honeyroar · 21/08/2018 19:48

Id definitely speak to the police. It would be a good idea to also speak to the dog warden and letting agents that manage her property. Whoever said go to a training school for your dogs to be assessed by a trainer, NOT to have training, had a good idea. I also liked the idea of writing to your neighbour's saying you've spoken to the police, dog warden and local dog trainer, none of whom think your dogs are out of control (assuming they all say that!).

Finally I'd get a solicitors letter for the annoying neighbour, telling her that you have spoken to X,Y and Z regarding your dogs and they have been assessed as harmless and under control. Say that you want the neighbour to desist from bothering you and any further harassment from this neighbour will result in legal action. My mother had a simple lar neighbour, and the solicitors letter really backed her off with her hassle..

MrsMozart · 21/08/2018 19:51

keyboardkate I do take other people's fears into account. I'd be embarrassed and so annoyed with myself if my dogs ran up to anyone who didn't want them. The Rotties are young and on the lead if I so much as spy a person in the distance as they're friendly and expect people to want to say hello, as 99% of people have since they were tiny. The GSD has excellent recall and tend to stay away from people. They all stop what they're doing if I "Oi!". None of them jump up as they're too blinking heavy for that shit, although they are trained to jump jic I need them up on something.

I'm rambling for sure. Just wanted you to know most of us do want our dogs to behave in public.

YeTalkShiteHen · 21/08/2018 19:53

I have german shepherds, just shows how clueless about dogs lots of society is really

Oh god with GSDs the clue is in the breed name Grin some folk eh?

My dad has the most neurotic, weirdy GSD I’ve ever met! She’s timid to the point of jumpy (no idea why!) and the most pampered pooch I’ve ever met!

ImAIdoot · 21/08/2018 19:53

Other people's irrational fears are just that.

I'm sure we all have them, but they're not something the general public has to adapt to.

Cakeorchocolate · 21/08/2018 19:58

I'm not a dog person but NDN is being ridiculous!

Be wary though. Many years ago, talking over 25yrs, our NDN poisoned and killed our dog by throwing a poisoned bone over the then very high fence. Unfortunately without proof they got away with it.

LyndorCake · 21/08/2018 20:07

Definitely get this logged. Once she brings you her pathetic petition, ask her who she intends to present it to other than you, what legal backing she thinks she will get. She sounds unhinged

AllDayBreakfast · 21/08/2018 20:14

I'm well aware that there are plenty of nutters about, but was her first interaction with you literally her wailing hysterically about your dogs being a threat whilst safely in your garden?

It seems like very odd behaviour!

Louislovesmud · 21/08/2018 20:15

@FairfaxAikman I couldn't agree more.

Shocking how many people are like your neighbour and think that Rotties and Staffies are fighting dogs. She sounds unhinged.

Hopefully a call to 101 means someone can come out for a chat and then have a word with her to nip it in the bud

AnneElliott · 21/08/2018 20:20

I'm a cat person but I agree with you. NDN needs to make sure her cats are safe. One of mine went next door and they had 2 lurchers. Cat was cornered but scratched them both quite badly (and she's tiny).

I knew it was her fault for going in there (she learnt her lesson) and I made sure it didn't happen again.

auditqueen · 21/08/2018 20:43

My NDN has the cutest little Cavalier King Charles. Always brings a smile to my eyes. Doesn't jump up on you, is well trained, doesn't bark all day and all night, doesn't want to dominate your space, is small and not at all intimidating and just looks so cute

The only dog who has even bitten me was a cute cavalier King Charles. Most of the most vicious, snappy dogs I've met have been small dogs.

My golden retriever and the two rotties we are currently fostering apparently, in truth they will be with us for years are well trained, well behaved, don't jump up on people and are not intimidating at all - unless you are a dog hating wanker who just judges on appearance,of course.

Cheeseislife · 21/08/2018 21:46

Was there an update from the call to 101 OP?

StrangeLookingParasite · 21/08/2018 23:04

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.

It's one thing to be a ninny; quite another to tell the whole world.
Suzanne, they were bred for herding and pulling carts actually; even a rudimentary search would tell you that.
And the absolute biggest sook of a dog I have ever met was a Rottweiler. She would get up on the couch with you then fall sideways so her head was in your lap. You sook, Angel.
I'm not even particularly a dog person, I quite like other people's dogs - despite having been bitten in the face by a relatives fox terrier when I was a child - but I don't want one myself. Still not especially find of foxies though.

Guacamole2506 · 21/08/2018 23:14

I’d contact her landlord about it. If she is planning on getting a cat, it may turn out that her landlord doesn’t even allow animals in the property anyway!

Twombly · 21/08/2018 23:43

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.

Now that is ridiculous. And cruel.

Jux · 22/08/2018 00:23

I wouldn't much like living next door to someone who had 2 kittens. They're dangerous buggers. All teeth and claw and cuteness. You'd have no hope.

NO HOPE I TELLS'EE

Grin
SheGotBetteDavisEyes · 22/08/2018 00:29

Shocking how many people are like your neighbour and think that Rotties and Staffies are fighting dogs. She sounds unhinged

I think it's slightly disingenuous though, to ignore the fact that both breeds have had years of bad press. If you don't 'know' dogs, and get your dog info from the popular press, then it's not such a stretch to understand why people think this.

iamkahleesi · 22/08/2018 01:11

A neighbor opposite me once got a rottie. My (stupid) cat would wind it up by sitting on the fence just out of reach. If the dog had harmed my cat it would have been my responsibility not the dog owners. Your Ben is ridiculous. Keep a log of all interactions.

SalemBlackCat · 22/08/2018 03:57

@Twombly "Now that is ridiculous. And cruel."
Maybe, but it is in Australia where we have a lot of wildlife.

Raindancer411 · 22/08/2018 04:36

Oh yes i remember something about that on a wildlife rescue programme. The cats were killing too much of the wildlife and it was at what, so they put a ban on cats going out

MooseBeTimeForSummer · 22/08/2018 05:24

Lots of cats are indoor cats here too. Mind you, it’s often -20 or below for 4 months or more during winter and a large majority of our local wildlife is wolves, coyotes, cougar and lynx. Sadly, lots of “missing cat” posters.

WeightorWhite · 22/08/2018 05:43

She's barking mad! (😂 sorry!)

As PP who is she going to present the petition too? I revoking she'll present it too you, with a great see all these people three agree with me.

I'd confront her and say you know what's going on, people like her need to be kept in line!

Dogs sound fab by the way!

GooseFartingInTheFog · 22/08/2018 05:55

I’d report it because from your post she sounds unhinged and a bit of a weirdo.
If you report your problems with her now and down the line she decides to report your dogs for an incident (real/ perceived or fabricated) you’ll be in much better standing.

I’d speak to the landlord of her property to an consider complaining about her harassing you. You might find she isn’t there long