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!

Just after I posted the above update we had a run in with the dogs. Since this has all kicked of the owner has started walking his dogs around the perimeter of our property in an apparent attempt to show us that he can. I returned from the school run with my children yesterday and as we were approaching our entrance he appeared with the dogs (on leads) down the side of our house. The dogs were going crazy and snapping at us. He held them back about 2 m from us whilst I tried to get the children in the house. If anything he looked embarrassed because this proves our point. It wasn’t helped by my littlest saying loudly how naughty his dogs are. He wouldn’t look at me but shouted at his dog to shut up, then we heard a squeal and whimpering from one. I didn’t see what he’d done but the dog was distressed and was crying as they walked down the road.
We’ll keep an eye on things and report again if needed.

@Iluvfriends

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.

This

The dogs will break through.

They will hurt someone.

Badly.

Do you have cctv at all. It'd be great to forward yesterdays behaviour back to the EH

Film him beating the dogs and send it to the RSPCA, the dogs are dangerous and will attack someone, most likely him.

I just wanted to give a brief update as I know a lot of people were concerned and had commented on my post. The local council had made a recommendation to the owner that he erect a 6ft fence around the entire perimeter of his large property. If he didn’t they have powers to start enforcement action. However, after 9 months of speaking to the council and them not acting on their powers to start enforcement action I submitted a complaint to the council which is currently being reviewed. The next day, however, the guys’ next door neighbour came to see us to say that one of the dogs had jumped his garden fence and attacked him. This was the second attack on this poor guy in 9 months. The result was that the owner surrendered both dogs to a kennels yesterday for evaluation and rehoming, if possible, but he won’t be having them back. Awful for the neighbour but good news for everyone in the neighbourhood. We’ll be celebrating today by allowing our children to play out in the garden for the first time in 18 months!

The neighbour should ideally notify the police but we don’t have control over that. We have informed the council though so they are aware of the attack.

Oh gosh I remember reading this originally. I'm glad you got a resolution.

That is a mega update, I really hope that is the end of things. Sadly we have to as a society accept some dogs must be pts - two attacks is serious.

You could inform the police yourself if you wished. The attack is on record, it isn't just gossip.

It's a good outcome for you . It's a shame it's because your poor neighbour had to be attacked twice .
I hope your children enjoy the garden and your neighbour never has dogs again.

Great news - so pleased for you and your family.

So sad about these dogs though, they didn’t deserve that owner and that treatment.

A Hawthorne hedge is a good idea - nothing will get through it! They grow quickly too. Careful running around barefoot with it though.

At least read the OP’s update if you can’t be bothered to read the whole thread.

@Tsc2011 Good news. Funnily enough, I thought about this thread a few days ago and wondered what had happened!

Each police force should have a DLO(dog legislation officer). Ask to speak to them directly rather than the standard plod as they will be much more helpful.

Sad for your neighbour's neighbour but very happy for you that it's finally dealt with. I adore GSDs but like any other dog, raising them properly is vital. They can be very dangerous. Sadly it sounds like they wouldn't be able to be safely rehomed though.

Do you know where the dogs have been taken. If I were you if want to make sure they knew the full background and that they'd attacked numerous times. They need putting to sleep, not worth the risk to regime them.

Thanks everyone. We do know where the dogs have gone (very small community and everyone knows everything). The owner’s a friend of a friend so we’ve passed on what we know and told her about the number of attacks and abuse that’s been going on. As much as we feel sorry for the dogs we also don’t want an unsuspecting new owner not being fully informed and facing the very real consequences.

I'm horrified by this, too.

The police seem to have no understanding of the law, or perhaps lack the will to address it.

Hedging won't contain a powerful determined dog with a really thick coat (like GS) ; they would find the gaps and dig to enlarge them. So just forget about hedging, it's a pointless distraction.

A 4 ft fence is not high enough to contain a large aggressive GS determined on getting out. I have seen a dog leap a 6ft wooden panel fence.

The real issue is that your neighbour has two dangerous dogs NOT UNDER CONTROL with a proven history of biting DH. (Where was DH? On NDN's land or yours? ) The police must enforce the law to make sure the dogs are kept in a secure place or put down.

Contact your MP, yout local council dog warden, and local councillor with a formal written letter of complaint and full history. Sent by recorded delivery.
Follow this up with face to face meetings at your MP's and councillors local surgeries.

Stop worrying about your neighbours reaction; put your childrens safety first.
My kids would not be playing in your field until this is resolved.

@2bazookas. Please read the final update.

Maybe with a better owner the ddogs may have chance of being better ddogs. Good update op.

Absolutely but in the absence of this why don't you contact the local dog warden. This is a serious issue and you can't just wait for your children to be bitten.

You're allowed air rifles on private land with a licence aren't you? If they came onto my land I'd shoot them and tell police that they were on my property attacking me.

Sorry didn't realise this was an old thread. Ignore me.

Absolutely but in the absence of this why don't you contact the local dog warden. This is a serious issue and you can't just wait for your children to be bitten

Most councils have sacked their dog wardens so you can only report problems to the police, who are clearly not interested. I am glad you've got a resolution OP I remember your thread.

This is what I had to get when i had my 2 gsd. They could easily jump a 6ft fence and would have pushed straight through a hedge.
They were not agresive and hardly ever left my side, but I couldnt take the chance that they may get out

What a relief for you