to spray the neighbours dog?

[AmIAWeed]

So...long long ongoing issues with neighbours.
I have 2 dogs, they have a dog.
Their garden backs onto ours on the side and the rear. Well their garden to the side, their field to the rear.
I have fenced their boundary because they wouldn't and as a dog owner it's my responsibility to keep my dog in...I have also replaced the chain link at the bottom of our garden, in front is a hedge so no point having a wooden fence there - additionally the field floods regularly so it would rot.

Their dog is NOT socialised, any time I am in the garden it runs at the wooden fence and the chain link/hedge, literally pacing up and down barking. The owners do not call it in.
If I let my dogs out and it appears I bring mine in because it barks, mine bark back and frankly the other neighbours don't deserve to hear dogs barking. One of my dogs runs away, the other stands wagging his tail and barking, hes desperate to play and has never before picked up a dogs warning signs to leave it alone.
Today mine we're out, theirs was let out and the barking started, by the time I got out the bark there was full on snarling, growling - one of my dogs and theirs going for it. I grabbed my dog and bought him in, since he's been curled up on my lap terrified.

The owners have no intention of bringing the dog in or stopping the behaviour and im fed up of calling mine in everytime their dog is out, which can be for hours at a time.

So my AIBU
I want to have a water gun so every time their dog comes to the fence and starts barking I can spray it? I'll spray mine as well if hes out to deter them, but have every intention of spraying both dogs, theirs and mine until the damn thing learns not to run and bark at dogs/people. If their dog is there barking at me through the fence and my boy is inside i'll still spray the damn thing.
Is there an alternative?

[AmIAWeed]

Midnight, I'm really hoping the hedge at the front will resolve that issue by creating a double barrier.
A second fence may be a good idea - my only regret with that is I've spent 2 years fighting the stinging nettles, brambles and ivy from their side to allow my hedge to recover and actually grow, It's been strangled for years before we bought the place so lots of hedge plants have been planted to replace the dead ones. If I fence it, I can't keep my side weed free...although as the alternative is not letting my dogs into the garden perhaps I'll simply have to do that.

I appreciate it's controversial but I am going to keep spraying their dog, only when it's leaping at the fence and snarling, growling if it's just minding its own business I certainly wouldn't, it does have 7 acres to roam!!
If that doesn't work then perhaps a second fence will be necessary to maintain a good metre barrier between us all.

[AmIAWeed]

Getofftheroof I cannot speak to the neighbours.
For a start I can't get near the house as their dog runs freely around the whole property. Large signs on gates saying beware of dog. I will not enter.
Our local council are already in talks to them due to them damaging a grade 2 listed property and doing works without permission. These are not reasonable people. Even after enforcement came out, he continued and his response was 'its my land, i'll do what the fuck I like, so sue me'
The council, since then have done nothing
If I make a formal complaint, that needs declaring if we sell - right now, we are open to the idea of moving if the right home comes up elsewhere in the village

[Grumpelstilskin]

I have dogs and I would certainly spray a nuisance dog in your situation.

[Bookworm4]

The ignorance is strong here, hosing the dog will only make it more fearful and anxious and certainly will antagonise it further, so those advocating this are happy to abuse a dog? Good luck when the police turn up; Id certainly call them if I caught a crazy neighbour doing this.
The dog is in his own garden he can do what he wants, as previously mentioned I think the free range chickens might be the attraction at the front. It doesn't take a genius to secure a garden.

[Gottalovesummer]

Does the dog ever get walked? I feel a bit sorry for it.

Your neighbours sound hideous, but, and I know this may sound bonkers, but is there any chance you could offer to walk the dog?

[GetOffTheRoof]

Carry on with the water then, but more fool you. If that dog gets through the fence, it's already told you in as many ways as possible that it WILL attack you.

Continuing to antagonise and upset it so only make this situation worse, not better.

You'd probably have more luck throwing it trests every day and speaking gently to it - it doesn't sound like it gets that.

The owner might not be reasonable with the council, but has he given you any reason to think he's similarly unreasonable to people in the community? Could you put a note in the post box? I'm guessing their list isn't delivered to the door of the house every day.

[Grumpelstilskin]

In what world do some people live that the police would bother with an out of control dog being hosed with water?! The dog may be allowed to be anti-social but OP can water her own garden. Tough shit if a dog is constantly leaping at the fence snarling and thus making it impossible for OP to enjoy her own garden. It has 7 fecking acres to roam around!

[Bookworm4]

A dog is not of control if he's secured in his own garden. The OP is antagonising the situation, has she tried being nice? Offering a treat? No, she's moaning about having cleared the hedge and now it's not thick enough, ffs stop being so precious, befriend the poor dog or build a fence but please stop abusing the dog and stop whining.

[AmIAWeed]

No!
I have my own dogs and pets - why would I look after someone elses?! We're dealing with nightmare neighbours who ride quad bikes continually, dump rubble or so insanely off the level of what is socially acceptable I sure as hell wont walk their dog.

I have plenty of videos of the dog, the dirt bike, including the skids so mud flies over my side.

In this specific instance my issue is the dog. They will still be nightmare neighbours even if the dog problem is solved.
I followed advice in terms of my own dogs, bringing them away, rewarding for coming away when I call - yet I still can't let them in the garden without an awful lot of barking from both sides when it approaches.
The dog still creates. Yes it's likely scared, it has had no socialisation , is only 1 year old and a full male.

As for my free roaming chickens - thy have a fox proof run and are let out into the front garden, fully fenced and secured. If their dog digs under the solid fence only when my dogs are out the front I think I can safely say my chickens are not the issue and even if they are, it's their responsibility to keep their dog retrained not mine

[anniehm]

If you feel threatened contact the dog warden at the council, if it's noise then it's the noise section - unfortunately having a dog loose on their property all day isn't an issue in its self and it sounds like it has loads of space so exercise isn't an issue.

[AmIAWeed]

ok....so when I have a cup of tea and a ginger biscuit my dog runs and sits by my lap looking up at me for a bit. I give him a bit - so every single time he sees the kettle on and the biscuits he repeats that behaviour, its taught.
So what makes you people think giving the neighbours dog a treat when it approaches will actually work, it will simply approach more!

Secondly IF the dog gets poorly and i'm known for throwing it treats who do you think they'll blame?!

[Bookworm4]

Dear God you're beyond daft, the dog will associate the treat as a pleasant thing and probably stop barking, he will associate you/your dogs with something nice- it's not rocket science.
TBH you sound as if you'd moan about anything, how dare mud splash over,they obviously want to use their land.

[AmIAWeed]

anniehm I think i'll see how a full weekend in the garden goes, keeping my dogs inside and away. I'll contact the dog warden on Monday if the high level of aggression continues.

[MrMeSeeks]

Yep carry on spraying an anxious aggressive dog because that will certainly help ( dont bother with any of the advice from people who actually know)
When the neighbours catch you you’ll be the one who looks bad.

[SlightlyPsychotic]

TheOxymoron People are giving suggestions what works for them. that's what the OP is looking for. Instead of telling people its a terrible idea or 'lacks knowledge', why not give some ideas of what is 'correct' then?

[Bookworm4]

@slightly
Suggestions have been made but she's only interested in people agreeing with her to abuse a dog.

[Nesssie]

I'd contact the dog warden. The dog shouldn't be jumping up at you on the other side of the fence. however, I'm not exactly what they can do apart from warn them of the consequences if the dog dog get through.

Although you shouldn't have to, the idea of a second fence is probably your best bet- either a full wooden fence or a thick row of hedges.

And honestly, those suggesting throwing treats are delusional.

[Notwiththeseknees]

I would absolutely spray it. Dogs aren't stupid. It'll soon learn to avoid your side of its territory. FWIW a neighbours dog - absolutely massive labradoodle they have no control over always used to drag the owners over to me & leap up at me. One day I pulled out the Dogstop asked if they minded (the owners, not the dog) and pressed. Dog hid behind them, terrified. It won't come near me now. Result.

[Metheven]

One of my neighbours had a large dog that used to scare the life out of me when I went into the garden. Barking and running around whenever I went out, because it could see me through the fence.

My solution was to give it something to eat every time it saw me. Ham, chicken, dog biscuits. Eventually it stopped barking and its mouth started watering every time it saw me.

If the neighbour had been a decent dog owner I wouldn't have had to do that, but he wasn't, so that was a solution that worked for me.

[thesnapandfartisinfallible]

Compressed air does work. One of mine hates it to the point that even when I don't have it, I only have to make a Chht noise between my teeth and she stops pulling.

[Bookworm4]

Obviously the Neanderthals here havent heard aversive training is outdated, terrifying a dog is plain nasty and unnecessary.

[MrMeSeeks]

People are giving suggestions what works for them. that's what the OP is looking for. Instead of telling people its a terrible idea or 'lacks knowledge', why not give some ideas of what is 'correct' then?

She’s been given ideas, she doesn't want them, Instead she’s agreeing with the cruel idea that spraying an already frightened dog is going to work
Its going to make the dog more scared and aggressive towards the op ( not suprisingly) and if the neighbours catch her she’s going to look like the aggressive one tormenting the dog.

[ShambolicUsername]

There really are some thick people in this work.

" You know, I could try and befriend this dog so it isn't so aggressive/excitable when it sees me and my dog. I could even feed it a treat when I'm out there so it knows I'm not a threat to it or its territory"

"No no, I think I better find a way to further antagonize the situation and rile the thing up!! "

And that's ignoring the fact you've now actually become the unreasonable nuisance neighbor by spraying someone elses dog on its own property. You're easily the problem in this situation, not them. No wonder they don't want to talk to you about it.

[AmIAWeed]

Ok, serious questions.
You have no issue with someone feeding your dog without your permission?
I have no idea if the dog is raw fed, on a particular diet or has medical conditions...but feeding it is ok?

[NutElla5x]

Sounds like next doors dog is just highly territorial,as a lot of dogs are. Do you rush to intervene everytime a bit of barking starts op? If so don't. Leave your door open so your dogs can come in if they get scared,but otherwise leave them to it for as long as you can stand.Let next doors dog get used to your dogs being around and it should eventually calm down and become more accepting of them.