NDN’s dangerous dog

[MaroonFlame]

AIBU to think I shouldn’t have to put up with my NDN’s giant and territorial GSD trying to get in my front door and bite my 3yo every time I go out? We have a shared access front gate and path that splits our two patches of garden. They constantly let the dog urinate on my garden and on the steps. It barks for 10 mins at a time all day every day etc. Just the whole bad dog owner package really.

I feel I need to report the dog as dangerous as it is clearly very territorial and isn’t controlled in the slightest. The couple who own it are late 60s too so if my DD ever runs out into my garden and their backs are turned it could get nasty very quickly. Because they have allowed the dog to roam our garden and around the front door for a good 5 years it will go for anything it thinks is threatening, I.e. my excitable screaming DD or a very stressed me! GSDs have been bred to be a certain way and I don’t want that around my child if it cannot be controlled properly. My council doesn’t seem to have a dog warden, what’s my next port of call? I haven’t used my front garden and porch the whole time I’ve lived here because of it. I also think dogs should be on a lead in a shared area surely?

They're really lucky you're the nice sort who won't decide to sort the dog yourself

What exactly are you suggesting?!?!

Anyway, OP if you have no dog warden definitely contact you landlord and the police through the 101 line. You cant enjoy your home and its causing logistical problems with post and visitors.
Id wonder if the owners have this dog as a "status dog" poor thing, i imagine he is obviously quite stressed and if this dog gets taken away he is unlikely to get rehomed due to his behavioural issues :(

They're really lucky you're the nice sort who won't decide to sort the dog yourself
What exactly are you suggesting?!?! confused

I think she means the owners are lucky OP is not the type to leave a bowl of antifreeze/rat poison in the garden!

I try and stay as calm as possible but yesterday’s incident was the worst. I opened my front door, DD was about to walk out and the dog came bounding at her. The dogs face was inside my door within centimetres of my DD snarling and barking at her. She hadn’t even step foot outside. I raised my voice slightly saying ‘can you keep your dog away from my child in her home please’ and mentioned that it should be at least on a leash if not muzzled until in the house. I received no response but a slammed door, not even an apology. Luckily my DD is used to dogs so didn’t squeal or do anything to trigger response. I should be able to at least safely open my front door without worrying a dog will come into my house. It’s ridiculous really as I am a model neighbour, they even commented on how quiet I am! Just wish they would have the same respect for me. I’ve ordered a body-cam type thing so will use it for future incidents and send them to the police and the LL

I think she means the owners are lucky OP is not the type to leave a bowl of antifreeze/rat poison in the garden!

Ah yes I worried thats what the PP meant... i've seen people on MN suggesting things like that before and it sickens me.

Those dogs don't like me, I was almost attacked by one before. I used to have a golden retriever (very docile) but for some reason GSDs would go for him. They are powerful and can be unpredictable.

@TooBusyHavingFun

Those dogs don't like me, I was almost attacked by one before. I used to have a golden retriever (very docile) but for some reason GSDs would go for him. They are powerful and can be unpredictable.

This isnt accurate information to be giving. Firstly, all dogs of a certain breed cant dislike an individual- that ridiculous. Secondly, ANY dog can be unpredictable if not trained properly. Generalisations about breeds makes these issues so much worse and is completely pointless

pengaly is right though.
They ARE lucky.
I think a huge proportion of people would indeed take matters into their own hands...

There’s no way my DH for example, or myself actually, would stand for that, granted he wouldn’t poison it but he wouldn’t be above throwing a slip lead round it, throwing away it’s collar and driving it to the pound as a dangerous stray and although he would never directly hurt it, if it wasn’t microchipped it’s highly unlikely the dog would be coming out alive.

I’m glad your GoPro is on the way.

The scenario you describe with it snarling centimetres away from your daughter trying to gain access is fucking terrifying!

As a safety measure I would also recommend ‘pet corrector’ spray and a walking stick if it tries to barge into your house again.

The spray will temporarily startle it giving you time to shut the door and the walking stick can be used to physically block it from getting in.

Sadly I suspect the neighbours like it’s aggressiveness, they probably (wrongly) think little Fido is protecting them and keeping them safe.

Unfortunately I would be absolutely amazed if this dog ultimately does not lose its life as a result of their terrible training, or lack of but what can you do?
Sooner or later it will succeed in biting you or your daughter if it’s not removed.

Ooh, my bad!
I mean whowants2know is right.
Got confused there.

I have a GSD who is currently curled up watching Cinderella with my 3 year old. Literally in a heap together. If he cries, she's there, concerned and checking him out. I don't buy into all this "dangerous by nature" crap

Personally, I think they do have a point.
Now don’t get me wrong, I LOVE German shepherds, they are one of my favourite breeds but all breeds have different genetic traits.

GSDs were bred as dual purpose sheepdogs and guard dogs.
A ‘properly’ bred GSD should be territorial and naturally protective and in the wrong hands that dog will be a dangerous liability...

As with all popular breeds the GSD has really suffered from poor breeding practices.
Dreadful, nervous, hyperactive, hypersensitive dogs that aggress at nothing are VERY common in that breed and the worst bit is that people misinterpret and glorify it ALL the time!

‘Oh my GSD is so protective, he goes nuts when anyone approaches me’
Um, no, your GSD has poor nerves and is a bad example of the breed.
But they get bred and the pups promoted as ‘ideal guard dogs’ and so the cycle continues.

Breaks my heart.
Von Stephanitz must be turning in his grave at what has happened to his beautiful breed.

I have a GSD who is currently curled up watching Cinderella with my 3 year old. Literally in a heap together. If he cries, she's there, concerned and checking him out.

We grew up with one that was soppy. She would even let the postman come in the back door and leave parcels on the kitchen table when we were out.

She wouldn't let him leave again, though. She lay by the back door and growled at him when he tried to leave, but was quite happy for him to make a cup of tea in our kitchen.

When he was a toddler, my brother used to sleep in her bed with her.

OP's neighbours poor dog is obviously poorly trained and badly socialised though. I'd be buying its love with biscuits if I lived next door to it.

Ah yes I worried thats what the PP meant... i've seen people on MN suggesting things like that before and it sickens me.

I love dogs, I have one, but I would not hesitate to take matters into my own hands if a poorly socialised German Shepherd was next door.

Mind you, I have a golden retriever - I think you'd have to be nuts to have a German Shepherd, but I see the deniers of certain breeds having certain traits are out in full force.

@AlaskanOilBaron honestly you dont sound like you love dogs at all if you would "take matters into your own hands" over contacting the police. Yet again ankther ignorant person making generalisations about breeds.

Golden retrievers are all far too bouncy and hyper. Youd be nuts to own one

nuts to have a German Shepherd, but I see the deniers of certain breeds having certain traits are out in full force

Depends on if your able to manage the traits!
If you aren’t then yes your going to be in trouble, but if you know what you are doing they are great dogs.

Also bear in mind that most of the better bred GSDs for the pet market are very soppy and gentle.
The guardiness and aloofness has largely been bred out.

The not so well bred GSDs for the pet market are challenging, nervous aggressive, hyperactive, hypersensitive.
Unfortunately there are a lot of them about.

It’s only the better bred working lines that retain the ‘true’ GSD temperament.

Also, as an aside, retrievers are notorious for severe resource guarding.
They aren’t necessarily the soft, tolerant, soft mouthed family dogs people think they are.

Very well said @Doggydoggydoggy

I agree that it’s purely down to ownership as I’ve been around most breeds and they’re all lovely, obedient things unless they’re not trained or socialised properly. From what I’ve seen and heard, no small children have ever step foot in NDNs house or near the dog so it’s not used to them in the slightest. What stands out to me is that they don’t discipline the dog, they just let it behave aggressively and bark 24/7 because to them it’s their guard dog so it’s ‘acceptable’. I can’t imagine what it’s like around other dogs! I’m wondering if they have ever had a break in and the dog is suffering from that? Their house is littered with CCTV and warning signs so they’re clearly very scared of something and using the dog to feel safe. I was always under the impression that you can’t have a guard dog unless you can show the authorities that it’s well controlled? Maybe even a license? I’m not sure it’s a bit foggy to me

I see the deniers of certain breeds having certain traits are out in full force

I'll happily tell you that lakeland terriers are clever, naughty, stroppy little fuckers who tend to be aloof with anyone outside their own household, and I doubt if you'd find any lakie owner who disagreed with the naughty and clever bit, but I think people don't realise the huge variation in GSD temperaments depending on the lines they come from.

They all have a guarding instinct, but the ones from working lines will be much more likely to take someone on if they intrude on the dog's territory. A pet- or show-bred GSD is likely to be much more laid back. They're as different as working cockers and show-bred cockers imo.

I think it’s likely just a poorly bred GSD with nervous temperament to start with that has never been given any direction or boundaries in life and this is the result.

I agree their dogs poor behaviour probably makes them feel safe but the laws around guard dogs are quite strict, especially in residential areas.
This isn’t a properly bred, trained and registered security dog, it’s a poorly trained pet, i suspect that will also count against them.

I suspect the police will see this as an offence under the dangerous dog act, especially if they have GoPro footage and act accordingly.
Most likely, sadly, the dog will be destroyed.

I'm wondering what their take on this would be? You claim that postman won't deliver, after five years if a dog was that much of a problem the local office would have refused home delivery and arranged post to be collected, so the fact that they deliver suggests it's not an issue. Post coming through the wrong box can be a temp or trainee or a temp that's just nervous about dogs. You say they're nervous about things as have CCTV but you do too and it sounds as if part of it's trained on their property, which is an invasion of their privacy. You say they don't like noise, so wonder if they've complained about your noise to your landlords so there's an element of getting back at them over this, or you trying to deflect?

Also a five-year-old dog is getting to the point of calming down a lot, so if the dog that size was that much of a problem it would have been an issue years ago. Sounds as if you don't get on and so things have escalated whether that started with them or with you is unclear. As for sending it up and down the stairs barking, just to get at you, then it would have been really well trained in order for them to get the dog to do this, as would need bark command and so on...Something about what you're saying sounds a bit off to me.

I have a GSD and he is just a sweetheart. However, I wouldn’t impose this on a neighbour as the size of them is understandably worrying for anyone who doesn’t like dogs. Nor would I want to live next door to someone who allowed their dog to invade my space.

YNBU. I would talk to them and say he is scaring your child, see how they respond

It isn’t trained on their property at all, and I have it because I’m a DV and stalking victim but that’s another thread! In fact their CCTV is trained on MY property and MY back garden. They invade my privacy with their dog, noise and cameras. No, a large, uncontrollable dog trying to force it’s way into my home where there is a small child is completely out of order and there isn’t ‘more to it’. I get up at 7am, take DD to nursery and work until 5pm, then I come home, DD eats and goes to bed. I also go to bed and go to sleep for 10pm. Most days. I do nothing out of the ordinary to annoy my neighbours or incite such behaviour from them. I’m also going to a cancer clinic today to have a biopsy so it’s not really what I need in life. I have a melanoma that’s spread to my lymph nodes so I may also have non-hodgkins lymphoma, but that’s also another thread! I don’t really want what could be my last days filled with this stress

If the dog was a pitbull, or of similar nature, would the response on here be different? They may be soft wonderful dogs when they’re in the right hands, but that’s like saying an abuser is a nice man because he’s nice to me etc. I’m quite shocked that some people find it acceptable for a dog to enroach on someone’s property constantly, and that I must have an alterior motive for wanting to protect my child’s life and I’m clearly projecting. I’ve spent most of my time in this property in hospital so I’ve not even been here to give the neighbours reason to complain! I also mentioned, if a PP failed to take in, that they have gushed at me a few times about how quiet and wonderful I am compared to other neighbours around us. So no I’ve done nothing other than let my grass grow a bit long because I’m too physically ill to cut it

Sorry to make my extra posts long but I was watching Police Interceptors last night and their GSDs barely bark even when on a chase. But when it did bark and snarl whilst going for a criminal then it was the exact same bark as NDNs dog. It just showed me that those dogs can be extremely obedient and dont bark even when they feel threatened, with the right care and training that is. NDNs dog will always see my garden and my house as it’s territory as it’s been allowed to roam so that can’t be rectified. The only way would be to muzzle the dog or have it in their large back garden where it’s safer. Not being able to have your dog in a shared access area where there’s small children really shouldn’t be the end of the world. They bought a house with shared access after all?

It wouldn’t need to be well trained to run up and down stairs if they were throwing a toy/ball up there over and over. Are you one of my neighbours Dottie it seems like quite a personal post?

Dog laws changed a few years ago - a dog doesn't have to bite to be deemed dangerous any more, making you feel threatened is sufficient cause for complaint.

I'd be very surprised if your local authority didn't have a dog warden. Give them a call and request a call/visit from them and definitely try and get some video footage in the meantime if you can.