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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Next doors window cleaners leaning over my 6ft fence

46 replies

Swirlyceiling · 10/07/2020 12:14

Ddog was outside sunbathing and I went out there to sit with him and enjoy 5 minutes peace. 3 window cleaners next door.

One of them says 'look at that dog next door he looks like Bradley's dog' or something.

All 3 window cleaners then pop up over the fence whilst I'm sat here.
It's a 6ft fence (ours), on top of a 2ft wall, so about 8ft tall from my floor but neighbours garden is raised so maybe 5ft from hers.
One of the window cleaners leaned over the fence putting all his weight on it to stroke ddog. Fortunately, ddog reacted calmly. Usually he would bark if it looked like somebody was coming over our fence.

He was really leaning in to my garden so I said can you not in case my fence gives way (old fence) but I didn't know what else to say, I was amazed that 3 fully grown men would think it acceptable to do this. I have children who normally play outside.

Do I say something to my neighbour or leave it? They come once a month and this has never happened before.

I am now toying with adding cat spikes (or whatever they are called) to my fences but as ndn actually has a cat I don't want to risk any discomfort to it.

For voting:
YABU (let it go)
YANBU your neighbour should be aware that they were weird

OP posts:

Apolloanddaphne · 10/07/2020 12:19

I would think they are friendly window cleaners who like a cute dog and wanted to pat it. I think would have passed the time of day with them and not thought about it again. I think mentioning the old fence was fine as yo didn't want it broken. I am not sure what the issue with your children is? Surely the window cleaners will see into your garden anyway when they are up and down the ladders. What threat do they pose your children?

flooredbored · 10/07/2020 12:26

No harm done really. It’s unlikely to happen again. I can’t see the point of telling your neighbour.

Original poster

Swirlyceiling · 10/07/2020 12:30

A lot of dogs would react badly to people seemingly climbing in to their garden (not ddog) which could result in injury to the person and legal action against the dog/owner so general advice to the window cleaner - don't lean in to private gardens to say hi to dogs.

I'm not really comfortable with people leaning in to garden when I have my kids out there in paddling pools sometimes, it's just a bit weird. None of them said a word to me and may as well have not been there. Didn't reply to me when I said about the fence.

OP posts:

Aquamarine1029 · 10/07/2020 12:30

You're being a bit hysterical, honestly.

BackforGood · 10/07/2020 12:32

What Apollo said.
Not weird at all. Not anything I'd have worried about. I think I would like people admiring Ddog. Not sure why this would be anything to be in the slightest bit concerned about.

Strawberrycreamsundae · 10/07/2020 12:33

It’s 5’ high her side, 8’ high your side and he managed to reach a dog on the ground your side? How long were his arms fgs?!

Original poster

Swirlyceiling · 10/07/2020 12:34

You're being a bit hysterical, honestly.

Maybe but that's why I posted to check. Dog thieves are rife around here at the moment and dogs have been stolen from people's secure gardens so I'm a bit wary for that reason.

OP posts:

Original poster

Swirlyceiling · 10/07/2020 12:36

It’s 5’ high her side, 8’ high your side and he managed to reach a dog on the ground your side? How long were his arms fgs?!

All gardens are tiered on our road, so whilst my fence is 8ft high from our floor, her garden is higher up than ours, so the fence is shorter on her side. His torso was balanced on the top of my fence (legs were off the floor on the otherside, I could just about see) which is why I asked him to get off. Ddog is a medium sized dog and the window cleaner did not quite reach him.

OP posts:

slashlover · 10/07/2020 12:37

Sounds like something I would have done because CUTE DOG! If your dog had looked unhappy or barked then I would have stopped.

I have children who normally play outside.
I'm not really comfortable with people leaning in to garden when I have my kids out there in paddling pools sometimes, it's just a bit weird.

Wanting to pet a cute dog has nothing to do with your kids.

Original poster

Swirlyceiling · 10/07/2020 12:41

If I'm being OTT I accept it, but it's a bit odd to go really leaning in to gardens over tall fences, to pet dogs, when the residents of the garden are also sat there.

Wanting to pet a cute dog has nothing to do with your kids.

No but effectively trespassing in to a garden is slightly relevant, surely?

OP posts:

recklessruby · 10/07/2020 12:50

I understand them admiring and wanting to pet the cute dog but think it was really weird they didnt say anything to you.
Most people would say hello to the human and ask if it was ok to pet the dog surely?

Original poster

Swirlyceiling · 10/07/2020 12:51

Most people would say hello to the human and ask if it was ok to pet the dog surely?

My thoughts exactly!

OP posts:

SlothMama · 10/07/2020 12:54

I do see your issue tbh, I have a reactive rescue dog that if someone tried that with him he would have bitten them. Cute dog or not you should always ask for permission to stroke a dog you don't know.

WorraLiberty · 10/07/2020 12:59

Massive overreaction imo

You spoke to them, so just leave it.

I couldn't bring myself to do any more than roll my eyes and think 'Cheeky bastards', before instantly forgetting it.

JamesArthursEyelashes · 10/07/2020 12:59

I think you need to let it go. They were being nice about your dog. It’s completely OTT to say they were trespassing. Move on.

longwayoff · 10/07/2020 13:06

Hmm. Not big deal but he's lucky he's still got all his fingers🐕

SionnachRua · 10/07/2020 13:07

You are massively overreacting here. They were being nice about the dog, you asked them not to lean over, they presumably did. Problem solved itself, wanting spikes on the fence is batshit.

BigBadVoodooHat · 10/07/2020 13:14

No but effectively trespassing in to a garden is slightly relevant, surely?

Reaching an arm into a garden to stroke a dog is "effectively trespassing"?! This is the silliest thing I've heard in a long time

slashlover · 10/07/2020 13:16

Maybe but that's why I posted to check. Dog thieves are rife around here at the moment and dogs have been stolen from people's secure gardens so I'm a bit wary for that reason.

You were there the whole time though. Do you think they're pretending to be window cleaners to steal dogs?

Judethe0bscure · 10/07/2020 13:19

I'm not really comfortable with people leaning in to garden when I have my kids out there in paddling pools sometimes

How many times has this happened then?

Grobagsforever · 10/07/2020 13:26

Cat spikes???

Have you been drinking OP?

TheOrigBrave · 10/07/2020 13:29

His torso was balanced on the top of my fence (legs were off the floor on the otherside

WHAT? I cannot picture this. Can you draw a picture. And I also can't understand how he can then reach down 8' on your side of the fence.

3 window cleaners to do a single house seems a lot.

Sunnydayshereatlast · 10/07/2020 13:36

Attach a beware of the dog sign on your fence. If they were to get bitten they won't be so bloody cocky then!
They would have been missing limbs if this had been my garden and fence if we still had our rottweiler..

SionnachRua · 10/07/2020 13:36

This is the silliest thing I've heard in a long time

Have you been introduced to the Sea Monkey thread yet? www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/3962381-is-it-cruel-to-throw-sea-monkeys-away?pg=1

Potionqueen · 10/07/2020 13:36

YABU because you haven’t supplied a dog picture.

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