Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Neighbour’s aggressive dogs

176 replies

Tsc2011 · 12/01/2022 08:48

Hi, I wondered if anyone had any advice.

We own a small field at the back of our house which our children (4 and 6) use to play in. It’s alongside a neighbour’s field which also runs along the back of our garden so we’re pretty much surrounded by his land. We got on really well with him (although the constant peering in to our back garden was getting quite annoying) but then in lockdown he got two German shepherd puppies.
They’re not socialised and he disciplined them by hitting them and pulling their tails (awful to see). It’s resulted in the dogs being VERY aggressive!
Whenever we go out on to our land they go crazy, running at the 4ft stock fence, barking and growling. They track our girls as if hunting them and they stick their heads through the wire on to our land trying to bite us. It’s terrifying.
He reassured us he was going to get behaviour training for them and get them neutered but he’s since said that the vet refused to neuter them because they were too aggressive to have in the vets!
He’s said he likes them aggressive so he’s not going to do anything about it.
They’ve bitten him twice to the point he’s needed stitches and they bit my partner really badly, breaking the skin and causing swelling and bruising.
Since then someone (not us) has contacted the police about them. He’s decided it must have been us so he’s being very hostile with us now.
He admitted to the police he should have done something about their behaviour and he said they’re now jumping our fence. He told the police he’d replace the fence with something bigger but has since told us he won’t and we have to do it (the quote was £10,000!!).
We’re now not sure what to do. Does anyone know if thick hedging would keep them out (gorse/ hawthorn etc). The 4ft stock fence has to stay (he won’t let us replace it) so the hedge (would eventually grow to around 2m) would be in front of that.
Any advice about fences/hedging and how to deal with our terrible neighbour welcome!

OP posts:
Hellodarknessmyoldpal · 12/01/2022 08:54

Since he is being hostile towards you anyway I would perhaps report to the police again (even though it wasn't you first time). Did you not report to anyone when your husband was bitten? This sounds awful OP Sad

Qwertykeys · 12/01/2022 08:58

can put a fence on your own land ?

Iluvfriends · 12/01/2022 08:59

At the very least these dogs should be muzzled, they could easily jump that fence.

I would be reporting to the police, animal warden if you have one and RSPCA as they are being mistreated.

One of your dc are going to end up seriously hurt or worse if nothing is done.

Hoppinggreen · 12/01/2022 08:59

Yes, fence your land yourself on your side.
You shouldn’t need to but unfortunately it seems you do
Also, did you report the bite to your H?

Moneypennysfreedomfund · 12/01/2022 09:00

I’m a dog lover but this is completely unacceptable.

Report, report, report. You have nothing to lose because he has already said nothing will change and he ‘likes’ having aggressive dogs! He is abusing them and is happy for a horrible situation to occur. This is so wrong it beggars belief.

You, your children, visitors, the public are in danger. I hope the authorities throw the book at him, take the dogs and are able to nurture them. GSD’s are wonderful dogs, but he has turned them into lethal weapons. Your children must be terrified.

You have no choice in order to prevent a possible death. Those poor dogs, your poor kids….

Good luck

Original poster
Tsc2011 · 12/01/2022 09:01

We can put a fence on our land but the quote was £10,000. We’re in the middle of doing work on our house so the money’s not readily available for an extra fence. Hedging is a fraction of the price (plus a lot more attractive, more wind proof (it gets very windy up here!) and fits in with our plans for the field to encourage more wildlife).

OP posts:
Bananajuice · 12/01/2022 09:01

just build a taller fence on your own land... Surely he cant stop you doing that?

SituationCritical · 12/01/2022 09:02

I would have phoned the police when your DH was bitten Shock. They will no doubt scale the fence at some point, 4ft is absolutely nothing. Neighbour is an absolute dickhead. I would also put in a big prickly hedge but please please don't rely on it to keep these dogs out and your kids safe. You need to report every single time the dogs are on your land (you can get advice on this at gov.uk) and every single time you see them mistreated. Makes me so angry that he has made these dogs this way Angry. Does he walk them at all?

mumda · 12/01/2022 09:03

When your partner was bitten it should have been reported to the police.

The owner of a dog that bites or threatens to injure someone, could be found guilty of a criminal offence.

Any incidents which occur in a public or private place should be reported to the police on 101.

JustcameoutGC · 12/01/2022 09:03

A hedge will take a long time to grow and will always be vulnerable to being barged through or dug under. If you ever want to be able to let your kids play out there, you probably need a sturdy fence, minimum 6ft high that you check for security regularly. Or you keep your kids indoors. The alternative doesnt bear thinking about

Original poster
Tsc2011 · 12/01/2022 09:04

Thanks for your comments. Unfortunately, the police response has been that because they’re on private land (albeit their heads aren’t!), there’s nothing they can do. The law actually says that it’s an offence if a dog makes someone feel threatened but they’re disputing that with us and said it’s unenforceable - they’ve been utterly useless!

OP posts:
SituationCritical · 12/01/2022 09:06

It’s against the law to let a dog be dangerously out of control anywhere, such as:

in a public placein a private place, for example a neighbour’s house or gardenin the owner’s home

The law applies to all dogs.

SilverHairedCat · 12/01/2022 09:08

Assuming his land doesn't surround your field, can you just fence in the bit that his is in line with? Or start the gorse planting there?

And tell him why you're starting the planting there.

How did your DP end up bitten?

Watchingpeppa12 · 12/01/2022 09:09

Yabu to not do anything! You need to do something before your kids get seriously hurt. Are they littermates? That could explain it. Report to the police, the dog warden and rspca and keep doing it. I love German shepherds and he has let these dogs down

TooMuchPaper · 12/01/2022 09:09

Does your local council have a dog warden? And why did you not report it when your husband was bitten?

Blanketpolicy · 12/01/2022 09:10

@Tsc2011

We can put a fence on our land but the quote was £10,000. We’re in the middle of doing work on our house so the money’s not readily available for an extra fence. Hedging is a fraction of the price (plus a lot more attractive, more wind proof (it gets very windy up here!) and fits in with our plans for the field to encourage more wildlife).
How long is it going to take for hedging to grow though and you will need fencing too if there are any gaps in the hedge? I would worry about a dog getting through/under the hedge. You need whatever is the quickest and safest solution.

Report the bite your dh had to the police now. Video the dogs growling and snarling at the children and trying to bite through the fence and report to police/dog warden/everyone possible and keep reporting every incident.

Do not let the children out if they are not safe. Falling out with the neighbour is the least of your problems.

Greydogs123 · 12/01/2022 09:10

A cherry laurel is a fast growing hedge plant. It is toxic, but I grew up with one in the garden and never came to harm, so I wouldn’t worry about that too much.
The benefit of a hedge on your side is that it will hide the dog’s view of your field and may stop some of the behaviour.
I think you need to keep reporting any time the dogs are threatening or do harm.

Newyearnewyearnew · 12/01/2022 09:17

Hedging will take a few years to get established, and won't stop a determined dog unfortunately. To be properly dog proof you would need a high fence as well.

lotsofdogshere · 12/01/2022 09:19

As others have said, the law is clear. Dogs can be dangerously out of control if that’s how you feel. John Roberson and Robert Alleyn, we’ll known dog trainers stress this in their training groups. Is it worth paying a reputable trainer to asses the dogs from your field then reporting again to the dog warden police etc?
Sounds absolutely awful

Iamnotamermaid · 12/01/2022 09:20

Fencing or hedges not the answer - GSDs are very athletic (& clever) and can get over most things. I assume they don't get much exercise or walked often.

This should have you very worried - 'They track our girls as if hunting them and they stick their heads through the wire on to our land trying to bite us. It’s terrifying. '

Video the dogs doing this and speak to the RSPCA for advice or perhaps a vet if the police are not prepared to help. Clearly others are also concerned.

Oneearringlost · 12/01/2022 09:23

Your MP?
Did you have photos of the bite? Was he seen by a doctor? If it broke the skin, EVERY dig bite needs a course of antibiotics.
Don't give up on the police, record each and every encounter of aggression.
Don't give up. Dogs can kill people. And these dogs are being mistreated and abused. Of course they will be a danger.

Qwertykeys · 12/01/2022 09:24

If you don’t want a fence or can’t afford one plant a hedge , you will need to mesh it too as a determined dog will go through hedges

Newfluff · 12/01/2022 09:26

I don't think you are taking this seriously enough.

No you can't grow a dog proof hedge and a 6ft fence wouldn't necessarily contain them. You need to speak to anyone that will listen and not allow your children into the garden until something is done about these dogs.

MsAgnesDiPesto · 12/01/2022 09:27

Keeping your children safe is the most important thing, surely - not the other reasons you’d like a hedge (which will take years to be tall and dense enough to keep dogs out!) Divert some of the money you are using on the house to put up a 6’ fence (see if you have a local handyman who can put it up if you order the parts, it’ll be waaaay cheaper than a fencing company) - or get friends to help you do it yourselves.

Also report your husband’s bite. If you want to recover some of the money for the fence you could sue your neighbour for your husband’s injury, but that’s not the important thing now.

Withnailandyou · 12/01/2022 09:27

Rspca will be limited in their response as they have no special power and rely on the police to enforce warrants. They'll only be able to ask the police to act if the current animal welfare laws are being broken which is very basic in its requirements so dogs with access to food and a bit of shelter are seen as ok in law

Swipe left for the next trending thread