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?

[ShambolicUsername]

Well we're talking about a dog treat here, so there's no issues from me in that regard. i don't think anyone is suggesting you serve it a Sunday roast.

With that argument, you could also suggest that they could be giving it medication for an eye irritation, and here you are spraying it in the face with water.

It sort of just sounds like you're trying to justify ONLY using a hose as a deterrent which, to be honest, is up to you but I wouldn't be too surprised if you were reported, or attacked should the dog get the opportunity.

[AmIAWeed]

Shambolic, serious question have you read the whole post? This has been going on over 6 month's. For 6 month's I've been working with my dogs - I haven't just started, but I'm beyond pissed off that I've done as much as I can with mine.
Originally I left them all to it, our shepherd would jump on the hot tub and cry, since her first season she's got braver and barks back. Our spaniel gives as much back as their dog. Leaving them barking and creating is impacting my neighbor the other side and following advice on here I've taught mine to come in when called to avoid mine being the noise nusance.
I'll keep mine out the back this weekend whilst I'm busy out there and see how long it's barking at me before they do something.. if they do something

[Bookworm4]

Wait, so now you admit one of yours is just as bad and if your bitch is unspeyed do you possibly just possibly think the unneutered dog is aware of her 🙄 Drip, drip, drip

[BigButtonsOnMyPhone]

Our neighbours would leave their dog outside for hours at a time and it barked continually. They kicked it out at meal times so we ate every meal to the sound of their dog barking a few feet away from our kitchen.
So we bought a device that emits a high pitch sound when a dog barks - dogs are supposed to hate it and they learn to stop barking. What actually happened was the neighbours hated the noise so much that they stopped putting the dog out.

Of course, it would bother your dogs too, but you could switch it off when they are outside.

[BlindAssassin1]

I don't think you can actually do much more with their dog OP. The arsehole neighbours obviously like it being territorial and probably encourage it, or at least don't discourage it.

I'd be most worried about their dog getting under the fence onto your property, fighting with or attacking your dogs.

You could always call Arsehole neighbours bluff and tell them will in fact be 'fucking suing' him if this happens!

[purpleboy]

Wasn't some of the advice to train your dogs not to bark? I don't see anywhere where you say you have tried that? Apologies if I've missed it.
I understand how frustrating this must be for you, it's your life it's hard work and it's a big issue to you. I do think it's worth trying to readjust your position on this though. Your very against the dog, this comes across clearly and I can absolutely understand why you would feel that way, however I believe there is no such thing as bad dogs, only bad owners. With this in mind I think it would be worth trying the treat idea, of course it's not your job to control their dog or train it, however as they are showing they are not only unreasonable dog owners but unreasonable people too, it's got to be worth giving it a try. It will cost you a few ££s and a small amount of your time, but the results may change your life?
It's very easy to get high and mighty over something because (rightly) it's not your job, but it is your issue, and if we can't control the actions of others then we can control our own actions.
As an added and again I understand completely why you don't feel this is possible considering what idiots they seem, it might help the dog if it was to meet you, and your dogs so he has an association with you. A quick sniff of your dogs might calm things down for neighbours dog. As I said I get why you would be totally adverse to this and I don't blame you for that, but again adjusting your position might just make you life a hell of a lot easier.
If nothing changes at least at this point you have a good case going forward that you are not the unreasonable one. X

[AmIAWeed]

Purple, I have tried to get my dogs not to react, I've not been entirely successful but I have managed to get them back in as soon as I call so I can separate. If I'm in the garden alone their dog still runs up and down the fence barking and pouncing. So yes it is aggressive.
As for the drip drip comment bookworm. We are not going to agree, you think I'm totally in the wrong and this is nothing to do with my neighbors...I disagree. Our shepherd arrived the same time theirs did. If you knew anything about large breed dogs you'd know spaying them early can increase the risk of issues with hips not fusing. She will be spayed when she's two and fully grown.
Additionally I've never said my dogs don't react I've said I've worked with my dogs, I will continue to do so

[Bookworm4]

OP
I've said you are wrong for hosing the dog and you come across as having a thoroughly nasty attitude towards this dog. You do know it's quiet common for dogs to bark at their fences? Stop taking your dislike of your neighbours lifestyle out on an innocent dog.

[Hidingtonothing]

Not much constructive advice to give OP but I'm in a very similar situation. NDN got a husky-type about a year ago and my dogs (and our) enjoyment of the garden has been completely ruined. She (the NDN's dog) attacks the fence every time mine go out to pee, she's destroyed one fence panel completely and the new one is on its way out, she hits it with such force it's splitting the wood over time.

NDN is a violent alcoholic so there's no mediation or cooperation to be had, we've ended up building a second fence which seems to work in terms of my dogs not reacting. I live in fear of the main fence giving way or the dog finally managing to find a way to use the rubbish NDN has piled up her side to get high enough to jump over, it's nearly managed it a few times.

I have reported to the RSPCA (back when it was really cold) as dog is out in all weathers with only a pop up tent (!) for shelter and is left out alone for days sometimes while NDN is on a bender but as far as I'm aware they never attended despite saying they would.

My dogs are scared and defensive in their own garden now and only go out there to toilet. I don't know what the answer is, I just keep hoping my NDN will move out

[Bookworm4]

@hiding
YOur case is entirely different, the dog is neglected. The RSPCA are hopeless, contact your local DW they tend to be more pro active.

[WiddlinDiddlin]

...

Counter condition your dogs to find the neighbours dogs barking a predictor for reward.

So, go out there every time you let your dogs out, neighbours dog barks you rain treats down upon YOUR dogs like its a fucking party.

Neighbour dog barks = TREAT TIME.

To start with you'll need to be out there every time, and you'll need high value rewards, whatever your dogs would sell their grandmas for.

The key is that the neighbours dog barks THEN the treats happen, regardless of what your dogs DO.. sound = treat.

Do not use the treats to distract your dogs, you won't set up a conditioned emotional response in them if you do that.

Do not ask your dogs to be quiet, come in, sit down etc etc, for the same reason.

Over time, your dogs emotional response to the neighbour dog barking will diminish and become a happy, 'wheres our mum, wheres the good stuff' response, and you won't need to reinforce every single time, just reinforce it occasionally.

Eventually, they just won't care.


Hosing or spraying their dogs may not work - it may make them more reactive, it may reward them (some dogs find that fun, highly aroused dogs will likely snap and bark and lunge at water sprays, even if they arent keen, 'a response' is better than no response and this may be reinforcing), and it is likely to further destroy neighbour relations ... if they start lobbing stuff at YOUR dogs that wouldn't be great!

[sprouts21]

I would be concerned that you are actually reinforcing the barking. Your dogs are out, neighbors dog barks, your dogs go in. Win win for neighbors dog, he gets what he wants.

Can you try the council again?

[PleaseFormAQueue]

Are you sure you're an animal lover?

[downbytheseaside]

Give it a jelly baby if it sits nice and quiet 🤫😂

[AmIAWeed]

Bookworm - you don't like me. I get it but im not even paying attention to you and your negative comments. I wont reply to you again.

WiddlinDiddlin I can certainly try that to de-condition my dogs to it, I'll happily give it a go. At least if my dogs don't bark I can start a noise complaint.

Anyone else with the insults - seriously, go away. I really have had enough of these bloody people and by default their dog. I get its bad owners, but bad owners = bad dog and i'm stuck in the bloody middle. This is my home, I do want to enjoy it and if that makes me precious then so be it.

[Singlenotsingle]

I can sympathize with you 100% OP. There's nothing worse than barky, aggressive dogs.

[Singlenotsingle]

Hidingtonothing the answer is to build a 6ft wall, but walls are expensive.

[Bamchic]

You have two options here, ideally do both together:
1 Teach your dogs not to react
or
2 teach their dog you aren’t a threat

[Spiritinabody]

If you sprayed my dog they would love it . They loved me spraying plants with a hose and would leap on it to catch the spray.

I know you have a hedge and wire at the rear but their dog will naturally bark to protect its territory if it can see or get to yours. I would fix up concrete posts and slot in concrete gravel boards so that, in effect, you have a concrete fence.

I think that you should communicate with the neighbour about this and not just dismiss that on the grounds of them having issues with other neighbours. Treat each problem individually. If that fails, try the concrete wall.

I wouldn't spray their dog, even if you spray yours too. You could escalate the situation. I wouldn't be happy with you spraying my dog - I'd probably throw a bucket of water over you every time you did it to my dog.

[makingmammaries]

I have dogs. When they start fighting, a bucket of water chucked over them stops it pretty quickly, and they learn from it. Bucket of water, OP, and to heck with whether your neighbours like it.

[adaline]

If you spray their dog, are you happy for them to turn around and do similar to yours?

[AmIAWeed]

Adaline yes. Although with one condition, If I were out bringing my dog in or dealing with them and they put the hose out I'd be grumpy. If I was inside, or for whatever reason ignoring the situation then I would have no issue.

[Streamside]

It's really just a puppy and it's unfortunate that the dogs couldn't have been socialised. Be very careful of spraying this fog with water, think how it's going to look if they take a photo of you spraying their dog on it's own property. A conversation, difficult as it may be, with your neighbours is what you need to try and have. Could the dogs not be walked together even if it's only on a few occasions to let them get to know each other. They've 1 pup which they don't sound very invested in, you have 2 dogs which you obviously love and they need their garden space.It has to be worth gritting your teeth and trying to get the dogs to at least meet outside the contested back garden.

[AJPTaylor]

Bite the bullet, put up a fence across the field.you could put in concrete posts and gravel boards to minimise rot.