To think this is out of order?

[Farontothemaddingcrowd]

The children next door play football all day with their dad. A few times they have knocked on our door to ask for their ball when it has come into our garden. We have chucked it back over, but really they shouldn't be knocking on anyway! We have noticed our garden gate off the latch a couple of times and one time one of our dogs got out! Luckily we noticed in time. We have a husky and a shitzhu who like to play out there.

Today the ball came over when we were sitting in the garden. Before we could chuck it over, the boy next door opened our gate! On seeing us, he ran off, leaving the gate wide open. AIBU in being quite annoyed now? They should not be coming into our garden under normal circumstances and there is also the risk to our dogs!

Is there a lock on the gate?

Bolt it shut

There is, it is a bit stiff though so I will have to oil it. I think that is the best option.

I would have a word with the parents as no child should be entering a garden that is not their own with dogs there!
I would say that the child could spook your dogs and you wouldn’t want any injuries!
If this doesn’t work a lock may be needed for gate.

Lock your gate, sorted.

Yes I will lock it. The lock is really stiff so it is a bit of a pain, but sure we can sort it. But yes absolutely, our dogs are great with kids - but they don't know that and it is really unwise to just let yourself into a garden with dogs.

You could talk to the parents but I bet it won’t matter

Bolting the gate makes the most sense

Solved! Shortest thread ever 😁

Stop returning the balls otherwise it'll just keep happening. Offer them to your husky to have a good chew on.
This would drive me mad if it was constant.
I teach my 2 that if it goes over the fence it's gone unless the neighbour deigns to return it.

Ha yes, there is a v simple solution! I was just . The parents know, because they were out there with the kids. So probably not worth speaking to them.

The husky does eat balls if they are left out there

If the locks a pain, a padlock does the job just as well.

That is a good idea. It is slightly annoying as it is so easy to get to the outside bins from the garden and adding the bolt/padlock makes it a bit less easy, but it is worth it to protect the doggos. I am just lazy

I’m a bit baffled that you think they shouldn’t be knocking on your door to ask for their ball back, @Farontothemaddingcrowd. They are very restricted in where they can go to play, and even if they are careful, balls are going to go over the fence from time to time - so if they aren’t supposed to knock on your door to get the ball back, and they aren’t supposed to just come in and get it, what are they supposed to do, if you aren’t out in the garden?

Our previous neighbours had a boy, whose footballs ended up in our garden from time to time. He used to knock on the door to ask (politely) if he could go round and collect it, and in the end I said he was welcome to come in and retrieve his ball without needing to ask - as long as he bolted the gate shut behind him, because we had dogs (we only have one now ).

Could you do the same? Tell them they can nip in for the ball, if you aren’t in the garden, as long as they don’t wreck your flowerbeds or leave the door open - might that be less stressful for you than getting upset by him knocking or coming in without permission?

They were knocking on two or three times a day though. Once or twice is fine but it was becoming a nuisance.

Could do, but I don't want the risk of them leaving the gate open. I am not sure I would trust them and I don't want children in the garden if I am not there. The husky is fast and could get out in no time if they were a bit forgetful.

I just throw balls back over the fence when I see them. If the child has to go without the ball for a little while then so be it. Same as back in the good ole days when we weren’t home all of the time!

Very cheeky just to open the gate and think he can walk in!! Yes obviously you can bolt it but it whether you do or not is up to you. It shouldn't mean if it's not bolted your garden is fair game to go into

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius no one should be knocking at your door and standing close to you if they’re not within the same household. Whole point of the lockdown🤷🏼‍♀️

I certainly wouldn’t answer the door to my neighbours kids when I can’t even see my own family without being metres away! Fuck their footballs. Could potentially be contaminated with the virus also, or you could be passing it on when giving them back

I message my neighbour on messenger if my sons ball sometimes goes over so they can throw it at their convenience.Id never knock on or go into their garden though.

Off at a tangent but if you routinely leave the dogs out when you arent there you should have a very strong lockable gate. It's not exactly uncommon for dogs to be stolen from gardens

We do not leave the dogs out when we are not there. We are at home all the time at the moment, so the kitchen door is open to let the dogs have free run of the house and garden, while we potter about.

The shitzu would not tolerate being locked out in the garden.

@starrysimon - I completely forgot the virus! What a prat I am.

Yes that is what I meant by them not knocking on. It is an unnecessary risk.

I wouldn’t answer the door either.
Bolt the gate.

They shouldn’t be at your door or touching the metal catches on your gates due to the virus being able to live on those for a while. I’d actually be pissed at having a possibly contaminated ball regularly coming over my fence. Although there is no evidence that anyone has actually caught it of contaminated surfaces, there’s none to prove that they haven’t! Suggest to the family that they get one of these. Or buy it for them for a gift.