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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not want a dog in shared garden?

271 replies

Dotty07 · 25/04/2020 16:16

We have a shared yard at the back of our house that is shared with 2 others neighbours. A new neighbour recently moved in and has a dog. The dog uses the garden space as a toilet, he does now pick up poo after many discussions but the dog pees everywhere and in everything. We can have anything out as he just lets it pee on whatever, including my back door!

AIBU to not want a dog using the back garden at all, it’s very small and the dog is big, is it just me?

OP posts:
Saab9x · 27/01/2021 22:40

@LaserShark

I had the same problem and reported to the dog warden as the dog was aggressive and my toddler couldn’t go in the garden. The police got involved and were going to charge the owners with having a dog out of control but as it was a pit bull and therefore illegal, it was seized and destroyed. The police and dog warden both took it very seriously. It might be a shared space but owners have to have their dogs under control
"Destroyed"?

I bet you were pleased with yourself.

Thewithesarehere · 27/01/2021 22:46

@Saab9x
In all of that post, you picked the word ‘destroyed’? What is wrong with you?
Confused

LaserShark · 28/01/2021 07:56

@Saab9x I wasn’t pleased that a dog had to be destroyed. I was pleased that there wasn’t a powerful, out of control animal snarling aggressively at me and my toddler when we opened our own door and the owner lay inside the house in an alcoholic stupor. That dog didn’t have a good life and it was a danger to everyone around it. And even the most passionate of dog lovers wouldn’t live with yah situation and do nothing. If it wasn’t my child, that dog was going to get out of the garden sometime and attack someone else in the street - not because was a pit bull, because it wasn’t looked after properly and became threatening, like any dog can if it has terrible owners.

Not a day goes by that I am not hugely grateful to have moved me and my family far, far away from that area and those horrific people. But it was the owners who were responsible for that dog’s life and death, not me. And if you think for a moment that anyone should risk their child for a dog, you are insane.

LakieLady · 28/01/2021 08:36

Did you ever get your deeds and check if there are any restrictions regarding animals in the shared courtyard, OP? If there were, the dog-owner's LL would be in breach of those conditions and you would have a legal remedy of some sort.

It's very unfortunate that the dog is a male. They pee to scent mark their territory, so no matter how diligent the owner is about taking the dog out to pee, it would still pee to scent mark the common area.

Tbh, OP, if I were in your shoes and it bothered me as much as it bothers you, I'd move.

freeandfierce · 28/01/2021 08:42

I have this issue in our shared garden, there are three dogs that use it as a toilet. I've given up using it when one of them peed on my neighbours bed sheets she had on the line. None of them pickup it stinks in Summer. We all rent, I'm moving once things settle.

DuchessHastings · 28/01/2021 08:59

@Onjnmoeiejducwoapy

But ultimately it’s a shared garden and there needs to be a bit of give and take on all sides. Personally I’d much rather share with a (non dangeorus!) dog than with kids as I find them irritating, but I wouldn’t try to restrict people letting them free roam either. Likewise people doing exercises or oldies sunbathing in bikinis!
It's amazing how many people on mumsnet dislike children, wish they would band together and create 'Dogsnet'
Scarlettpixie · 28/01/2021 09:01

Did you not consider when you bought a property with a shared garden that you might have to, well, share it? Or that the other household might (one day) have a dog?

It sounds like you don’t like dogs generally if you don’t even like it approaching. Maybe work on getting to know it so it isn’t so barky/bouncy when it sees you? I understand your concern about little ones being knocked over.

It is a bit surprising the LL allowed dogs given the circumstances but unless there is something to say so in the deeds, he is not doing anything wrong.

A dog peeing on plant pots is no big deal but your door isn’t nice, the owner should be discouraging that behaviour. I wonder if there is anything you can put on your door to discourage it.

How would you want the dog owner to clean up the pee? You say hosing it doesn’t work?

Is it possible he does walk the dog but you don’t see him do it?

tenbananasaday · 28/01/2021 09:17

It's unreasonable to say no dog in shared garden full stop as the new neighbour has a right to use that space also. And if his tenancy allows a dog then yes, that right does extend to his dog. That being said, nobody would begrudge you for not wanting your door or garden furniture pissed on.

I think in this situation you should try and meet each other halfway. Perhaps the owner could agree to only allowing the dog out under supervision or on lead to ensure dog does not pee on your door, ect. Obviously all poop should be picked up immediately.

By saying he can't have the dog in the garden it's basically like saying they must either move out, or get rid of dog, which is massively unreasonable. Dogs are a part of our family.

Talk to the owner and come up with a compromise. Good luck.

RedMarauder · 28/01/2021 09:19

@Scarlettpixie someone's dog jumping or running up to you and barking is not on in a shared garden. Especially now the owner is using the dog as a weapon to intimidate the OP.

YAVBU to expect the OP to train the dog not to jump and bark in her. Firstly it is not her dog so why should she have to train it?

Secondly even if she does know techniques for getting dogs not to jump and bark at her not all dogs have the temperament to be trained. While I've managed to train a couple of my neighbours dogs and a few dogs who walk pass my home every day not to jump and bark at me, there are a couple of dogs who can't be trained. One of those who is a husky now has to wear a muzzle. (I suspect because while his owners walk him - very slowly twice a day - they do f all else with him.)

RedMarauder · 28/01/2021 09:22

OP get your deeds out to see what the nuisance clauses are, and in the meantime report the owner to the police as he is now using the dog to harass you.

RandomMess · 28/01/2021 09:24

I would have a camera on the yard for evidence, a ring doorbell would do that on your back door.

Did you get your deeds yet?

tenbananasaday · 28/01/2021 09:44

@Onjnmoeiejducwoapy

What kind of dog is it? I feel like it makes a huge difference if it’s a pug, Labrador or bulldog!

It’s quite hard to tell if you’re overreacting without being there tbh—if it’s a friendly lab then he’s being an asshole to not be more considerate of people who don’t like dogs, but dog pee is not exactly the end of the world (the ground outside is a medley of different animal piss and shits! Bird poo, cat pee, rat piss, etc) and if it massively bothers you then I don’t think there’s anything wrong with suggesting the yard needs to be hosed down weekly. But if he has a large, threatening fighter breed dog that should be muzzled, that is a totally different situation

A 'large threatening fighter breed dog'.

I'm sorry, but what planet are you on? Any dog can be aggressive. You are most likely to be bitten by a lab in this country- google it if you don't believe me.

I have a staffie. My dog is not aggressive, nor has she been trained to fight. I find this attitude really offensive. The dog's breed is completely irrelevant. People who take this attitude really don't understand dogs. Aggressive is not a breed specific behaviour. Breed specific legislation is a shambles, condemned by the RSPCA and Blue Cross, dog attacks have gone up since it was introduced.

Original poster
Dotty07 · 28/01/2021 09:51

I’m not expecting the dog not to be allowed in yard just to be on a lead and perhaps encourage the dog to pee on neighbours own belongings instead of mine, he stands and watches the dog do this, to me this is a deliberate action.

My deeds have been ordered but there is a delay due to Covid and a new system, I called again last week and they should be available in next few months.

I’m sorry but I don’t see why I should take charge of controlling someone’s dog when they have been instructed by LA to have the dog on a lead.

I don’t dislike dogs, my family always had a dog when I was growing up.

OP posts:
SquirtleSquad · 28/01/2021 09:58

How long has the LL owned the property? Have you ever had issues with previous tenants?

ShalomToYouJackie · 28/01/2021 10:00

I'm not sure what the layout is like but is there a way you can separate the garden using plant pots or something so you have your own dog free and piss-free side of the garden?

Charlieiscool · 28/01/2021 10:08

saab yes destroyed, as it should have been if it was aggressive and potentially dangerous, I would be pleased about it. Even without a toddler at risk.
These dog lovers who think a dog pissing and stinking up a shared area is ok are selfish, ignorant and inconsiderate neighbours from hell.

Maves · 28/01/2021 11:00

No way would I put up with this and I have a dog. What does the other neighbour think? If you both complain enough maybe something can be done.

Redruby2020 · 28/01/2021 11:17

I'm with you on this, I don't know how many that are commenting have lived or have had to live in shared accommodation, whereby if they did, if they would be as accommodating!
I don't know if the said person has permission, and what does it say in the tenancy?

RandomMess · 28/01/2021 11:25

Send the owner an invoice for a new door that's been ruined by dog pee!!

Seriously get a ring door so you can record the owners and dogs behaviour.

Is there and agent managing the property? If so start emailing complaints daily about your property being spoiled and the owners aggressive behaviour. In fact email the landlord too.

Original poster
Dotty07 · 28/01/2021 11:26

@Redruby2020

I'm with you on this, I don't know how many that are commenting have lived or have had to live in shared accommodation, whereby if they did, if they would be as accommodating! I don't know if the said person has permission, and what does it say in the tenancy?
If I were to ask LL are they obliged to disclose the info? I have considered asking directly about the neighbours tenancy but wasn’t sure if they would tell me anything? Thanks
OP posts:
Dopo · 28/01/2021 11:34

Putrid.
Letting your dog piss all over a shared yard is bad enough but to let it person people's belongings is disgusting.
People shouldn't have animals without proper space or take them out.
Lazy shit.

RandomMess · 28/01/2021 11:59

If you make yourself a "nuisance" to the LL they may find the easy route is to serve notice. I would be asking LL to reimburse your loses and tell him that his tenant is acting in a threatening way. Make his tenant his problem.

Once you have your deeds there may be a legal route to address.

Yohoheaveho · 28/01/2021 12:02

This is appalling and I agree with others that you need to keep putting pressure on the landlord

TheNorthWind · 28/01/2021 12:07

It sounds awful OP. You have my every sympathy. The bloke is clearly being a complete arsehole and the dog now sounds intimidating. Of course it thinks the garden is its territory - it's literally allowed to piss all over it!

Dog pee all over a small paved area is going to be absolutely disgusting. In summer, it'll bake on the tiles and absolutely reek. And for those who say dogs wee outside, it's like the difference between a layby where one bloke has stopped for a quick slash and a public urinals with a high footfall. You'd only stop to eat your sandwiches in one of those places.

I have dogs. I like dogs. I don't like dog pee. Nor unpleasant owners.

RandomMess · 28/01/2021 12:12

I'm a dog owner too and we can't have enclosed gardens. We supervise her like a hawk so she is only on our bit!!