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!

The dog shouldn't be barking incessantly anyway regardless of whether someone's there or not. I'm a dog owner and if my dog barks more than 4-5 times he gets brought in. I don't want to hear it so I'm sure my neighbours don't. He's usually barking at squirrels or birds 🤪

@Somewhereinthesky I used to have a Rottie too, he was the sweetest thing. He was absolutely fantastic with kids, dogs, cats, strangers, everyone! I miss him so much.

There are some absolutely ridiculous suggestions on here. Poke some sausages through the hedge at a dog who appears to be barking aggressively at a child? Good grief.
Have you tried shouting at the dog to shut up? Frequently. I hated having to sound like a mad fishwife but it was the only thing that seemed to work for me. It didn't work on the dog, I hasten to add (and I doubt it would for you if your neighbours' dog has been taught commands in Lithuanian) but it made the neighbour aware that the barking was intolerable. It was more that she didn't want her precious dog being shouted at than anything else, so I doubt that will have that effect on your neighbours but it might make them aware that the barking is unacceptable.

OP it sounds really awful for you and your son having to put up with this, would you feel more comfortable putting a note through their door?

They are not good owners, are they? Unfortunate dog. Knowing they would be responsible if he breached their garden doesn't really help.

Would screening help in any way? Maybe if you put up one of those yurt type tents where you can roll up the sides you want. You could leave the one along the hedge down. Held with tent pegs as well. Argos have them.

@Prisonbreak

Teach your child not to fear dogs

Was this a joke?

It's quite a good idea to be scared of large barking dogs. Perhaps you'll find out the hard way.

Put a note through the door of your neighbour asking if their dog and your son could have a play date.
Poor dog must be bored and needs a few hours walk a day.

@Prisonbreak Teach your child not to fear dogs

Looks like there's plenty your parents didn't teach you

@Ohtherewearethen you posted too soon - looks like we've moved on to playdates now

Put a note through the door of your neighbour asking if their dog and your son could have a play date

Why on earth would you want to expose your child, especially one with additional needs, to a dog you know nothing about apart from the fact that it probably doesn't understand English commands, it's huge and it barks aggressively through the fence at your child? Do you know the harm dogs can do? I despair, I really do.

Why don't you have a fence? You should install one.

Unless there’s a backstory between you and the neighbours I highly doubt they are intentionally sending the dog out to antagonise your son.
It’s most likely the sound of your son outdoors is making the dog bark but the dog has just as much right to be in it’s garden as your son has.

Have you a council dog warden? Might be worth a chat for advice.

@JesusInTheCabbageVan - ha ha! 😆

@JoeExoticsPrinceAlbert, me too.

Put a note through the door of your neighbour asking if their dog and your son could have a play date.
Poor dog must be bored and needs a few hours walk a day

Is that a joke?
I can’t handle the level of batshit on this thread.
First feeding sausages now arranging play dates!

You have no idea why this dog is barking and trying to get in the garden.

It could be because the dog is sweet and friendly and wants to play.

It could also be that the dog is massively territorial and angry and given the chance will rip the child to shreds.

You don’t know what the dog’s intention is and to just assume they are all sweet friendly bored little souls is just fucking batshit.

Not to mention the fact the poor child is ASD and frightened of the dog.

I'm a bit confused.
Your child goes to play in the garden and you're assuming your neighbours send their dog out intentionally to intimidate your child. Based on what you've posted, your neighbours can't see your garden so how would they know if your son is outside playing or not? You've said he doesn't make any noise so, unless they have x-ray vision, how do they know he's out? It's far more likely that the dog is asking to go out.
If your son can't see the dog, as you've said, why does he think the dog will get through the hedge and get to him? Could you try to explain to your son that the dog can't get through the hedge because of the fencing that you've put up?
If you're not willing to speak to the neighbours then I'm not sure what you're expecting here to be honest. Obviously neighbours shouldn't allow their dog to intimidate everyone but it doesn't sound like these fears are rational fears (which is obviously not your son's fault because of his age and ASD) so if you don't give them the chance to know or correct the problem then you're being unreasonable.

I would be pointing a hose at any barking, aggressive dog that had managed to stick its head through a hedge into my garden.

but the dog has just as much right to be in it’s garden as your son has

Actually I disagree. The dog doesn't actually have any 'right' to be in a garden if it is causing a nuisance to the neighbours and frightening them by aggressively barking at a child. Do you honestly believe this is acceptable? My dogs bark, of course they do, but any more than three times and they are called in. And we have dogs in every house but one in a row of 14 so it's not like the neighbours would particularly mind but I mind. It's not acceptable, especially when there is a child who is too frightened to play in his own garden because of the antagonistic neighbours.

Op please ignore the people who have told you to feed the dog treats please don’t do that it’s wrong the dog may been on a special diet or anything so ignore that advice. I would suggest talking to your neighbours about it because it’s not fair on your DS he has every right to enjoy the garden and it seems to me that he can’t because of the dog next door. I myself have 2 dogs and if I was your neighbour and my dogs where barking at your DS I wouldn’t mind if you said something so that I could sort it out.

Do you know if they're renting or if they own their home? It could be worth mentioning it to their landlord or housing association, if you know who they are. I'm sure they wouldn't like to hear their dog is being left to bark constantly!

This is really awful for you OP.
We never let our dog into the garden unattended and we take him in if he starts to bark - he just gets lots of walks instead.
You could try to talk to the neighbours and explain the situation, see if they are open to agreed times when the dog is kept in.
If they are unhelpful you could contact your local council regarding noise pollution, or they may have a neighbourhood liaison scheme if you can’t sort things out between yourselves.
Good luck.

If getting the neighbours to help isn't an option, you could try talking to the dog. I managed to defuse the barking dog up the road by talking to it softly when it came out, just a gentle "hello there, , it's only us, how are you today" etc each day as I passed. In time, it got used to me, and now comes out tail wagging when I go by. Don't make eye contact, just keep calmly doing what you are doing. Some pointers here - pethelpful.com/dogs/Dog-Barking-You
I wouldn't try and touch the dog, but maybe you could leave some old clothing in the fence where he tries to get through so he gets used to your scent.
Putting up some form of screening as well so they can't see each other (even a couple of chairs could work) might help.
The poor dog is overreacting because it is bored and pent-up. If the owners give it a bit more stimulation it wouldn't be losing it over some noise and movement.

I have been scared of dogs and particularly jump when they bark all my life. Our neighbours have a dog who jumps on the fence and barks when he sees us in the garden. He is not aggressive at all just says hello I think. Still it makes me jump out of my skin every time.
Dogs should not bark at neighbours and especially not children. The behaviour of certain types of dog owners is why I got my fear of dogs and I have never been able to shake it off.

My partner thinks the dog is a guard dog, the neighbours own a business and have expensive cars. They have CCTV up too. The sad thing is they have a child and he looks so sad and desperate for attention. The dog is around their child but doesn't bark at him just my child.