Neighbours send rottweiler out when my asd child plays!

[cookiesandmilk]

I really have to encourage my child to go outside. But just recently he has been going out more. Just it concerns me that nearly everytime I hear the neighbours open their back door they send the dog out which constantly barks at my child. They make no attempt to stop it and my child gets scared. I don't know why they do it as my son isn't particularly loud outside, possibly quieter than the average child. He just does do a lot of stimming with his arms. When I go outside on my own they don't send the dog out. What could I do to stop my son being scared. I also daren't approach the neighbours as they aren't the approachable type!

Are you sure they're 'sending' the dog out? Perhaps the dog hears your child and scratches at the door to go out?

Either way, they should really train their dog to stop barking at people.

I would just call them every time and say “could you get your dog to stop barking at him please”. Keep doing it every time so that it becomes very inconvenient for them to have a barking dog. If they ignore you or refuse or become aggressive then don’t engage with them further but film the dog barking at your son every time and report to environmental health- they should have a noise complaints department.

Teach your child not to fear dogs

Teach your child not to fear dogs

1. her child has ASD. It’s not as simple as teaching him not to be afraid.

2. her child isn’t the problem. The dog is the problem.

To send the dog out... they’d need to be sat watching for your DS, surely?

I’d suspect it’s probably the dog asking to get out tbh.

You’d probably be best going round asking them to stop him barking.

I think they send it out on purpose as they don't tell it to stop barking they are quite anti social people. My son has ear defenders often as he doesn't like loud noises, just it's too hot for them at the moment. The dog is big and barks loudly I doubt he will get used to it. I am not scared so I try and reassure him. My son is scared when it goes up to the hedge as he thinks it is going to get through (it pokes it's head through a bit).

They sound like nasty neighbours so may not stop, but maybe ask nicely? Don't expect much change though. It sounds deliberate to me.

The dog probably hears your boy going out and asks to go out. Could you get your son some noise cancelling headphones to cancel out the barking.

Sorry didn’t see your second post.

Record a lion roar and play it loudly back at the dog?

Not sure what you want if you won’t speak to them about it?

Might be on purpose and might not, but they won’t stop if you don’t at least ask.

Just like parents shouldn’t be shouted down for allowing their DCs to shout and screech in their gardens whilst playing, dog owners should be able to also let their dogs out to play which might involve some barking. Both activities, if done with a little consideration and not something which happens continuously or at anti social hours, are okay.

Both activities, if done with a little consideration and not something which happens continuously or at anti social hours, are okay.

It sounds like the dog barking at the child is a pattern though? A rottweiler barking isn't like a child screeching, it is a noise that would be frightening for lots of people

OP I think the first step is to raise that you've noticed the dog is appearing to bark at your son and that this is causing distress.

A bit of playful barking is normal and acceptable. If he’s poking his head through the hedge and barking at the child every time he is out that’s not acceptable. We wouldn’t accept a child poking his head through the fence and shouting at his neighbour.

^Teach your child not to fear dogs^

If only every fear was this easy! Teach yourself a bit of empathy. Then maybe a bit of depth to your answers??

I will try and approach them but they don't speak with me or any of the other neighbours and when I used to say hi they ignored me. They are Lithuanian I think and the lady possibly doesn't speak English.

Get some dog treats or bonio biscuits and teach your son to throw them over the fence. . Fun for boy and dog.

Really?! People shouldn't feed other people's dogs without permission.

replace the hedge with a fence, you can't expect a dog to stay in the house just as much as you can't expect a boy to stay in either.

Teach your child not to fear dogs

Nasty spiteful post. Did you feel good posting that?

Buy a dog whistle. Blow it (not too hard) every time the dog barks. The dog will soon learn not to bark.
This is what I would if I was in your situation.

You said your child stims with his arms. Does that mean he waves his arms about a lot? That can appear intimidating to a dog.

Fence, a bloody big one. Honestly, talk to them, the worst they can do is refuse to keep the dog in.

I’m concerned my neighbours are getting a dog soon, I hope it doesn’t yap all the time, mine are brought in if they start.

“Get some dog treats or bonio biscuits and teach your son to throw them over the fence. . Fun for boy and dog.”

:) I like this!

The dog has a right to be outside, but only an arsehole has a dog that barks at the neighbours and doesn't try to do something about it.