Neighbour’s aggressive dogs

[Tsc2011]

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!

Livestock/horses are kept in fields often with electric fencing... might be a cheaper option.... but kids will need to stay away from it also

hope this loads - ours is like this

@eagerlywaitingfor

he's since said that the vet refused to neuter them because they were too aggressive to have in the vets!

That sounds like an absolute load of cobblers to me. Vets have ways and means of dealing with aggressive animals.

yup this, my old dog was lovely with everyone except at the vets and at the vets he was seriously dangerous. The vets were amazing about it and we worked together to keep everyone including my dog, safe. They have the local contract to deal with security firm dogs....who are not out of control but who are certainly not your average cuddley pet.

The fence trimtops posted looks promising, I would then plant your hedge in front of it . The dogs would then need to get through two fences and a hedge. I don’t think your neighbour is likely to help with any cost and doesn’t sound like he will get rid of the dogs . Unfortunately you will have to take it upon yourself to make your property secure from these dogs

@Arren12 I'm so sorry for your situation. I have been in exactly the same situation though and the police seized and destroyed the dog for being both a banned breed and dangerously out of control. The law does enable this to be done but clearly it depends on your local police force. In our case, it was dealt with pretty swiftly and the dog didn't get a chance to cause serious harm or to kill a child - it was absolutely a matter of time until it did though and I am still traumatised by the memory of the terror of living next to it. We moved away as fast as we could - people who deliberately abuse their dogs to make them dangerous are awful people in so many ways. It's very sad that it's the animals that pay the price.

Is there anyway by accidentally (on purpose) leaving gates from your field/ garden open the dogs could escape on to the road. The owner might be more careful then.

@Flossflower

Is there anyway by accidentally (on purpose) leaving gates from your field/ garden open the dogs could escape on to the road. The owner might be more careful then.

Please don't do this, the dogs could attack any passers-by or drivers who may stop to catch them.

Hi I have a GSDX and a recently acquired GSD puppy- having done a fair bit of work in rescue with other breeds I will tell you nothing prepared me for how GSD's are as a breed. They have a high chase/ prey drive and are very wilful when smaller - they will push the button as much as they can - they need absolute daily training and every issue needs to be ironed out. I love my boy but I think it will be 12 months at least before I would consider him socialsed - that said I'd never have him or my other dog with any child or free in my garden or land.
His dogs are past the point of training/ fixing. You should take the angle that they restrict your freedom and enjoyment of your house & garden. DO NOT leave your kids out if you have only a 4ft fence - I am not being alarmist - my GSD is 4 months and can nearly jump that.
You need to get them put to sleep. Make a case with local dog warden & police. Do not try fencing, hedging etc. GSD's in the right hands with great training are super dogs but owners like him give the breed an awful name.

If you think GSD's can be kept in by hedgig & a 4ft fence think again - not showing this (below) to you to frighten you but you cannot risk your kids in the garden if those dogs are out. The fact that they are tracking the kids and that there are two dogs would make me not leave kids out at all.

@Flossflower

Is there anyway by accidentally (on purpose) leaving gates from your field/ garden open the dogs could escape on to the road. The owner might be more careful then.

Please don't ever consider this. These are dangerous dogs that have bitten. They are not safe to be loose in public around walkers, cyclists and drivers who may stop to try and catch them. I had a loose labrador have a half hearted pop at me when I stopped to try and get him off the road. They could easily kill someone.

Can you sue him for the your dp received?
Through a no win no fee solicitor. You probably won’t end up with much money but will cause him plenty of grief.

Report him to the RSPCA for hitting them and pulling their tails? These poor dogs have been abused since they were puppies.

@Tsc2011 I've got German Shepherds and I 100% guarantee that 4ft stock fencing is no barrier to any of them. A decent gorse hedge will keep all but the most determined GSD out but that is not a quick fix and doesn't allow you to use your garden in the meantime. if you can't do close board panels could you do 6ft posts on your land and use mesh? We've We've wite mesh round our perimeter but that is quite costly so you could use chicken mesh? You'd need to make sure it was taut though.

Generally speaking I'm quite defending of GSDs as they often get labelled as aggressive when they are doing nothing of the sort but given they have been badly treated and have a serious bite history I would be very concerned about them getting into your land.

The Police are wrong about the DDA and you should certainly be pressuring them about that and I would consider a complaint.

lazy journos about again OP, youve made the mirror

@contactornotthatisthequestion

lazy journos about again OP, youve made the mirror

In this woman's position, I'd actually be inclined to CALL the Mirror news desk with an exclusive.

Make them do something useful for a change.

@KloppsTeeth

Go back to the police to report them as dangerous dogs. As above, you only need to feel threatened by them for them to be dangerous. List the issues, including that they have bitten and a vet won’t see them.

If the police refuse to act, check to see if you have legal cover on your house insurance. If so, contact them for advice. This is so dangerous for your girls and family.

The man being hostile is up to him, but I would rather live with a hostile neighbour than the risk of my family being attacked by two aggressive dogs.

The above but also by email and request confirmation from the police that they are refusing to take action on the complaint.

Despite your husband being bitten and yourself and your children being terrified of how aggressive they are at the dogs snarling and hanging their heads over onto your property.

Spell it out that they are refusing to take action.

Don't use chicken mesh with dog's. The wire gauge is too light. If there is any slack, they can grab it and worry at it until it snaps and push right through it.

@Flossflower

Is there anyway by accidentally (on purpose) leaving gates from your field/ garden open the dogs could escape on to the road. The owner might be more careful then.

Do you also advocate letting the lions out of the zoo for a roam of the neighbourhood?

What could possibly go wrong 🤔

Bit of a long shot, get a dog expert in or a dog trainer, dogs are loyal and honestly sometimes all they need is abit of love. feed them dog food give them something they like so they dont look at you as the enemy. if you can do that then these dogs wil go from showing you agression to possibly being nice because you feed them. personally its what i would try first an then if all else fails for the safety of my family i would do what i could to get rid of these dogs by using any means neccesary

Contact Debbie Connoly. You can find her with a quick Google search. She's a dog law expert.

Magic steaks. Bye psychos.

@brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Magic steaks. Bye psychos.

Bit unfair on the dogs - it's the owner that needs locking away and banned from ever having a pet when he comes back out.

I can't believe that a dog could attack someone to the extent that someone is scarred for life and the dog not be pts - not sure where Arren12 lives but their police force need to change their policy!

Sorry if you have already answered this , but did you report it to the police when your husband was bitten?

Just to add - if you're likely to be spending money putting up fencing etc, it would be worth writing to your neighbour recording that you've notified him about the danger, he's refused to erect fencing and so you will be doing it to ensure the safety of your family and you reserve the right to reclaim the cost from him.

Further down the line you may be able to pursue him through the small claim court (you don't necessarily need a solicitor and costs are fairly minimal).

He might not care about his dogs or the safety of others - but he might care about losing money.

I'm utterly stunned by the way that the police have failed to remove the dogs. Do continue to contact your MP.

Get the RSPCA out to check on the dogs, they have the power (apply for court order) to remove them if they're being abused in any way!

Record by video if possible or photograph and report everything, also keep a diary of events as this would be admissible in court.