This woman is very unreasonable about her dog?

[Changethelot]

There’s a woman in my street who leaves her dog out in the front garden a lot, she leaves her front door open and the dog comes and goes, neighbour is at home.

Whenever I pass the dog is jumping, growling, barking and snarling quite angrily, I was so pissed off the last time I told her she should have the dog under control, she told me if it bothers me cross the road. She said the dog won’t bite but I don’t think I’d like to chance it!!

Should I just be avoiding passing or should she be controlling the dog? Dog is a large breed, unsure what breed though. I think it’s an accident waiting to happen!

I don’t understand, is it on a lead or fenced in?

The dog is aggressive towards anyone who walks past the house?
Im surprised no one has called the police yet?

Sorry, should have said behind a fence to the street.

Im surprised too and I thought about doing it, may do yet just didn’t know if they would listen as the dog is within Her garden.

YANBU if the dog could conceivably get over the fence. I’m assuming it’s a low fence because it’s a front garden? Report it to the council or dog wardens asap .

Dogs need to be kept under control and if they are giving cause for alarm they are deemed out of control even if they haven’t actually bitten or scratched anyone.

The snarling and jumping off leash without the owner close by, and near a low fence would should count as out of control.

She is BU. The Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime & Policing Act 2014 extended the remit of the original Dangerous Dogs Act so that intimidating or aggressive dogs can be considered out of control even when on their owner’s property, so your local police force should take it seriously enough to have a chat with her about it at the very least.

What about any deliveries or postie? I think they will refuse to deliver.
You wouldn't have a person out there swearing and shouting at people as they walk by, this is the canine equivalent. Report it to the council.

It's in its own garden. It's contained. No problem. And she's right of you don't like it t cross over.

If god is blocked behind fences I don’t see the issue?

This.

The definition of "out of control" is about causing concern or distress to others. It's an entirely plausible concern that a jumping, snarling dog could breach a low fence and cause harm, and therefore the dog is "out of control" by the legal definition.

I couldn't get worked up about a dog in its own garden. I have a toothless old rescue pug who's favourite hobby is sitting by the gate waiting for people to pass so he can get angry about them. Unfortunately for him we live at the end of a cul de sac so it doesn't happen very often. I'd be telling people to cross the road if they didn't like Jim doing his thing in his own garden too.

I am a dog owner with three little dogs who love running out of my back door and terrorising anyone (man or beast) who walks up the ginnel at the back of my garden. We have dog proofed the fence with conifers and holly bushes etc and there is also chicken wire so they can't escape out and in some places boards so they can't actually see their victims. If I leave the door open this will go on all day and it drives me bonkers.
Some people goad them deliberately especially the local children (who have probably caused this in the first place by teasing them) and some people are just minding their own business.
When they have done it several times (as they have this morning) I bring them in.
If they got out - would they attack? They are nice dogs otherwise and love people but in this situation where they are on guard as it were - I do not know.

If this were a front garden situation where they could see their victims it may be different, but since they are only small dogs and not nasty anyway who knows?

If it was me in your situation OP I would be afraid that the dog may jump the fence and as much as I love dogs I would be scared if it did. A dog like this is protecting the property/owner.

I'm so fed up of poor dog owners.

We have all read the horrendous stories of various incidents as a result of poorly handled/ badly trained dogs with aggressive tendencies.

Years ago I was a postie. There was one particular house that had a rottweiler. Always in the garden barking away and snarling. I used to chuck the mail over the wall and inevitably it would land in the rose bushes and the woman would go mad! When she had a moan at me one time, I pointed out the dog, big dog, big teeth, clearly territorial... And asked her if she wanted to be dealing with the repercussions of a bad incident should I actually enter her property to deliver her mail in the standard way. She never grumbled again, but honestly it's wild how stupid some folk are.

Behind a fence, I agree with her, cross the road if you are unhappy.

Can someone let god out please.

If you're uncomfortable, cross the road.

And of course it's not a low fence.the dog would have been over it if it was. But MNers do like a good froth about dogs.

It’s in a garden? Not roaming the streets. She’s right, cross over.

🤣
OP I love dogs, have had many over the years. Last one would have done exactly this, if I'd let him in the front garden, so I didn't. I don't get any joy from seeing people get a fright or seeing my dog distressed.
Yet when people came in the house, even those he didn't know, he was extremely loving and would be begging for a stroke. So I can see how she may think her dog I'd doing no harm, if it's the same nature as mine was, but she's not considering anyone's feelings.

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

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

The law applies to all dogs.

https://www.gov.uk/control-dog-public

How is a dog out of control in a securely fenced off garden? Answer it is not.
The owner may not get mail or deliveries as a result, but that is their problem.

Hmm - if it seems dangerous I would report it. If she claims it's friendly, I might ask for an introduction and see if I can establish a friendly relationship with the dog. As it's a neighbour and you pass by often.

That might solve your problem - an introduction, some sniffing, some treats and you'll probably be greeted with wagging from now on.

Doesn't solve the problem for the rest of the neighbourhood, though.

Yes to this. There are a lot of problems in life and this is a long way down the list.

A few years ago, the law changed so that a dog only has to make someone feel threatened to be considered out of control. A dog jumping, snarling and growling at a fence could easily scare someone and cause a problem.

As a dog owner, your dog must be under your control on private property as well as out in public.

That said, I doubt anyone would get very far complaining if the dog is safely contained in the garden and not able to escape. Dogs are allowed to roam free in their own gardens after all, and nobody's actually in any danger from a contained but barking dog.

I’d just report every time I saw it.

Is that where he's gone? Thought I hadn't seen him around lately.

I was going to, but he was jumping, growling, barking and snarling quite angrily.