Neighbours dog

[Slowdownyouredoingfine]

We have young children and an 8 month old cat. He (the cat) has free rein to go in/outside in the daytime and is kept in from about 9pm. The kids are also in and out in the daytime.

Next door neighbour who lives alone has a large dog, dog has always barked over the fence at us but she has recently told us the dog is aggressive and will attack cats and also men as she doesn’t like them. (Told us a story of dog attacking her adult son)

Owner is so worried about it attacking something/one that she wont take the dog outside her house/garden. If my kids are playing in the garden and she lets the dog out it will bark constantly until owner drags it inside (takes ages.)

I’m so worried this dog is going to end up over our fence one day, or our cat will go in their garden and end up mauled to death.

What can I do? Neighbour is a nice lady and I’m sure would be fine if I spoke to her about my concerns but realistically what can she do? I can’t ask her to rehome her pet, I can’t stop my cat venturing in their garden…(can I?) I’m just a bit pissed off that I’m having to worry about the unpredictably of this animal to be honest!

Any advice?

Ask her to muzzle the dog? Better than the worst happening and the dog having to be destroyed.

I was going to say the same as the pp. muzzle when outside at all times. Poor dog has no life if it never leaves the garden.

@Nobumsonthetable This is the solution!! How had I not thought about a bloody muzzle?! 😂 I will speak to her, thank you!!

@RentalWoesNotFun I agree I feel sorry for the dog too, I also feel sorry for the lady. She loves the dog and the dog seems fine with her but I think shes out of her depth in terms of controlling/training it.

Lots of dogs attack cats. Prey driven breeds like greyhounds are what springs to mind. But you can not expect them to be muzzled in their own garden. If you allow your cat to roam, then you accept the risks of outside things like foxes, dogs and cars causing them harm.

@XenoBitch I know I agree with you. I wouldn’t want to keep him indoors but it’s impossible to control where he goes when he’s out. I had thought about buying some cat deterrents for her to put in her garden maybe.

From experience, not much works. I used to have 3 cats, and one neighbour was rightfully annoyed about them pooing in his garden etc. He tried the ultrasonic sound things... they did not work. They actually put me off as I could hear them. He tried the spikey stuff on top the boundary wall. I saw one of my cats arch her back and still climb over them.

Sorry but its up to you to keep your cat out of your neighbours garden and you cant expect the dog to be muzzled in its own garden to keep your cat safe.
You can put up special anti cat roller things on your fence (they harmlessly dump the cat back in your garden when they try to jump up on them) or nets that lean over your garden.
As for the dog being aggressive towards you and your dc when you're in your own garden talk to your local dog warden and or environmental health about the noise nuisance. But if the dog doesn't have a recorded history of attacking people your unlikely to get any help.
What breed of dog is it

@Hoardasurass Its an Alsatian.

My male cat actively avoids dogs and, as such, never sets foot in my next door neighbour’s garden as they have 2. Though he pisses them off royally (they’re quite reactive dogs) by walking on top of the adjoining fence and occasionally the shed roof. I’ve never seen him in a neighbour’s garden actually, he sticks to communal grounds (he toilets in a bush in the car park). There are loads of dogs here yet the only time he’s been injured is at the paws of another cat. He probably deserved it.

Get a catio for your cat.

Re-inforce/heighten your fences to protect your kids.

I wouldn't muzzle my dog in his garden. It's up to you to contain your cat somehow.

If the dog can jump the fence and that's a risk to your child, then that's something I'd take very seriously. If it can't jump the fence, I'm not sure there's much you can do but make sure your child knows not to climb the fence.

You can make your cat a house cat. Or build one of those cat aviary things.

I think its frustrating but the dog is in its garden, and if your cat goes there because you let it out thats the risk you take. You'll only guarantee its safety if it says in (i say this as someone with 2 cats, one self imposed house cat and a cat who like yours is allowed out til bed time)

No, her dog would not get into trouble if your cat went into her garden and her dog hurt/killed your cat.

Cats roam....its not a case of allowing them, its what they do!

Yes, they roam. But they get killed by cars and dogs and foxes.
If you let them roam, you can't complain they get killed.

It's only what they do if they are allowed to. You can contain them or build a catio. It's much safer for them all round anyway. I don't want to contain a cat, so I don't have a cat.

Get some cat fence rollers.

German Shepherds are incredibly trainable, that’s why they make excellent police dogs. Can you talk to your neighbour about a course of training? The dog should be able to use its own garden unmuzzled, your cat will soon suss out whether it’s safe to trespass.

Cats will roam, it’s their nature, and confining them is cruel. But you have to accept that they might encounter danger and come off worst. I don’t know why people have pets if they aren’t prepared for the consequences.

Unfortunately as they aren't considered a dangerous breed under UK law your going to have difficulty getting anyone to take it seriously.
If you can get a sturdy 6' fence that has no gaps so the dog cant see your kids it will help reassure you that your dc are safe and may help calm the dog down if it cant see you.

I think this thread should focus on the fact that the op has mentioned concerns for her own children if the dog gets into her garden. We have had this issue in our home, next door’s very strong and aggressive pair of dogs broke through their fencing into our garden a few times. Luckily we don’t have young children. But if we had been outside i am certain they would have attacked us. As it was, the final time we were all sitting around the kitchen table in our own home and the dogs were throwing themselves at patio doors barking aggressively trying to get at us. The neighbours had to drag them away. It was scary. We absolutely insisted they got very substantial new fencing put in immediately which fortunately they did. Otherwise our garden would be off limits to us because we definitely weren’t safe. Muzzle for the dog for sure at least during agreed “playtime hours” so you can relax. There are way too many people out there who get big dogs and don’t take responsibility for socialising them. It’s not ok.

You can cat proof your garden. So the cat can go out into the garden but not get out of the garden. It’s great.
id contact the rspca too about the dog if its that aggressive

My dog hates cats and chases and barks at them. I have no idea if he would really harm one as he had not been close enough. However I would not agree to muzzle him in his own garden for someone else’s cat. Any sensible cat would stay away. We do have big fences that we make sure are maintained and we fetch him in if he is barking but a muzzle would be a bridge too far.

Why are people fixated on the cat? The OP says she’s concerned the dog could get into her garden and harm her children. That’s appalling and so awful for the children.

I’d keep a log of all activity with a view to getting a court order to have it destroyed.

The neighbour is a disgrace.