To ask for your help re next doors dog?!

[Zozo85]

Next door neighbors are a young family, their son is the same age as my ds (4) and they are expecting their second in the new year. They are reasonably quiet although they do come and go at weird times.

Late summer they got a large dog (possibly pitbull/staffy x, mastiff)They have a trampoline on their big garden close ish to the fence dividing our garden from theirs. The dog is kept outside with access to a small conservatory 24/7. They do not allow it in the house. Within the last 3 months it has begun standing on the trampoline looking over our garden and barking every time it sees one of us in the kitchen/utility room/garden. It’s quite aggressive and very intimidating. My ds has developed a fear of dogs and is scared of it. My question is what do I do? It doesn’t really bark frequently enough for me to report it to the council but when it does bark it’s usually when they go out for 6-7 hours at a time. I have reported it previously and they sent me a log form to record each time it barks. This only really happens once every month so if they sent someone out to assess the noise I don’t know if it would even bark! I’m really worried about summer and just not being able to use the garden, we’d never sell the house due to the state of their garden and a big potentially dangerous dog right at eye level! Any advise would be appreciated if anyone has dealt with similar! Sorry for the mega long post!

Extend the height of your fence?

RSPCA will not be bothered if dog is housed and fed unfortunately. Why get a dog and then ignore it, how cruel. I'd focus on solutions which remove dog from your view - higher wall may sadly be the most pragmatic.

I agree, based on your first op you said it's probably once a month the dog is barking so you wont be able to report based on the noise. It sounds like the woman doesnt like the dog so a clam conversation may help her understand. Especially if they have kids the same age as you. If you talk to them and they refuse/react unnecessarily then just make your fence higher so the dog cant see in. It may not help with the footpath barking but dog may bark less at you if they cant see you.

I would increase the height of your fence. Ideally put some trellis and grown something up it.

Good luck with the RSPCA. I phoned about a dog that was chained up in the middle of a field barking.
They weren't interested..

This is tricky really ,as they dont seem like a reasonable pair by the sounds of things! Maybe speak to the woman again and explain your concerns? I dont know if the RSPCA will get involved ,but may be worth a call just to see if they have any suggestions at all.

The RSPCA can only act within the law - It’s not that they aren’t bothered but they are a charity working within a restricted legal system.

Op you’ve been given excellent advice by @Booboostwo - do this

The type of person anti social enough to have this type of dog kept in the conditions it is are not the types you can have a friendly chat with.

Keep reporting to the council.

This is so sad for the dog. He is bored senseless and they are bloody cruel, leaving him out like that, even if he has access to a small conservatory.
They are offering no stimulation and human contact. I despise people like this, he probably isn't aggressive, it's just your window is offering a break from his boredom and it has now become an obsession. I am not sure what anyone can do, if he is healthy enough , then he wont be seized.
I feel bad for you op, but even more so for that poor fog.

Dog

Unfortunately if the dog has access to water and shelter, is fed and in good condition then there is nothing the the RSPCA can do as by law they are meeting the basic welfare needs.

I would politely explain the situation to them and ask if there is any chance they would be willing to move the trampoline over. If this fails you could possibly try asking your local dog warden for advice.

@Veterinari. Nothing appears to be within the law for the RSPCA. There's another thread on here citing so many situations where they have refused help.
When they refused to help the dog I rang about, it was left to a much less wealthy animal charity to go out and rescue what turned out to be a very poorly neglected dog.