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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

about neighbour's dog?

62 replies

humptyismarriedtoanumpty · 12/04/2010 16:04

We have recently moved into new flat with a tiny garden of our own. My kids are desparate to get out and play in it, but I am worried because of next door's dog. The dog is a big collie type and seems harmless enough ie doesn't growl or bark at you, but I was brought up with dogs and taught to never trust them with kids. Neighbour lets dog run free, in and out of her house and up and down the street and it also likes to sit outside the front door in the sun.
Am I being totally precious not to want my kids outside with this dog running around unsupervised? I realise that I will have to keep a close eye on them but they are 5 and 4 and are a bit frightened of this dog????
Have tried to speak to neighbour about dog and asked her to keep it in her garden or under control but she isn't interested and told me so!!
Housing officer warned us about this dog when we moved in and asked us to report it if we see it loose, but seems pointless as it's always loose...
WWYD?

OP posts:
Original poster
humptyismarriedtoanumpty · 12/04/2010 16:05

Forgot to add, we share gate and path with neighbour, so if I close the gate, I am closing the dog in too with my kids!!

OP posts:
swanandduck · 12/04/2010 16:08

I would report it and keep reporting it and let the housing officer take it up officially with your neighbour, who is being totally inconsiderate and irresponsible.

Original poster
humptyismarriedtoanumpty · 12/04/2010 16:11

Thanks swan it seems like such a waste of tiem because when housing officer comes round and asks her why dog is lose she makes a big show of saying how it must have just run off etc...
But if I don't report, nothing will change resolved to report, report, report!!!

OP posts:
brook1 · 12/04/2010 16:11

Do what the housing officer said and report it if its loose. It sounds like they're already aware of it for some reason and they could be needing an excuse for a visit.

VinegarTitsOnaDiet · 12/04/2010 16:12

i would say a 4 and 5 yr old shouldnt be left out unsupervised anyway

The dog sounds harmless, you cant move in and start dictating to a neighbour who has lived there for years, why did you move there if you were warned about it before hand?

midori1999 · 12/04/2010 16:12

I would tell her to keep it out of your garden and if she doesn't you will phone the dog warden and tell them it is straying. She will have to pay to get it back and if it happens several times they will refuse to give it back.

Also, has it got a collar and tag on? It is an offense for a dog to be out in public without a collar and tag.

She sounds like a twit and not a good dog owner at all!

Original poster
humptyismarriedtoanumpty · 12/04/2010 16:14

Vinegar, we were warned and guess should have taken notice... but tbh it is a million times better than our old house so had to take it, would have been stupid not to.
I feel so cruel keeping my kids under such close supervision when there are their class mates from pre-school who play in the street on bikes etc and I won't let mine without me or dh watching.

OP posts:
Original poster
humptyismarriedtoanumpty · 12/04/2010 16:15

midori lol!!

OP posts:
midori1999 · 12/04/2010 16:16

"i would say a 4 and 5 yr old shouldnt be left out unsupervised anyway

The dog sounds harmless, you cant move in and start dictating to a neighbour who has lived there for years, why did you move there if you were warned about it before hand"

people should allow their neighbours dogs to stray into their own, private gardens purely because their neighbour has lived there the longest? Really?! The dog should not be allowed to stray and by being in the road it is a danger to drivers. Who's to say it won't suddenly runout and cause a car accident?

Surely children of 4 and 5 should be able to play fairly unsupervised in their own gardens too?

Original poster
humptyismarriedtoanumpty · 12/04/2010 16:17

When I say "unsupervised" I mean, they are playing while I am watching out of the window and pottering in and out of back door hanging out washing etc...
TBH I thought this was normal for a 4 and 5 year old to play in the back garden like this?

OP posts:
VinegarTitsOnaDiet · 12/04/2010 16:20

midori i am entitled to an opinion same as you, get over it

If you move into a flat with a shared garden/path/whatever then what do you expect?

i think you are being precious imo

pointydog · 12/04/2010 16:27

Can you fence in your bit of private garden?

I lived in a flat with a set-up that sounds similar to yours. It is a pain in teh arse when one dog is allowed to take over the whole communal bit.

swanandduck · 12/04/2010 16:27

I would expect anyone who chooses to have a dog in those circumstances to exercise a bit of consideration, particularly around small children. How would she like it if the children were allowed run amuck around her garden?

midori1999 · 12/04/2010 16:27

The woman is breaking the law, her dog should not be allowed to stray and cause a nuisance to others. She is putting her do at risk, as well as others.

pointydog · 12/04/2010 16:29

and yanbu

outnumbered2to1 · 13/04/2010 00:16

ok if the housing officer warned you about the dog BEFORE you moved in and asked you to report it if you saw it roaming loose then do what the housing officer told you and report the damn dog.

Its not fair that your kids can't play unsupervised because they are scared of the dog and your neighbour is an arse and her attitude stinks.

Next time the dog is loose can you take pics of it with a time stamp on them to show that it didn't "just get loose" as your neighbour claims but that has been roaming around all bloody day.

GypsyMoth · 13/04/2010 00:28

Housing officers are pretty much useless. Limited powers etc.

Try councils dog warden,if there's noise or dog mess, involve environmental health

piprabbit · 13/04/2010 00:40

By law, your local authority is responsible for dealing with stray dogs.

There's no statutory definition of a stray dog - although this seems to be quite common way of defining a stray... 'The definition of a stray dog is a dog unsupervised in a public place regardless of whether it is wearing a collar and tag.'

Check your local council website for their guidelines, if it's a stray according to their guidelines then I would report it as such.

BitOfFun · 13/04/2010 00:54

I have to say that I agree with Vinegartits. It is not a 'dangerous dog', and unlikely to be aggressive, plus your kids are too young to be out on their own anyway. Is there not some compromise to be reached here? Can you be sure your children won't mither the dog, and perhaps introduce them, with your neighbour's help?

BritFish · 13/04/2010 01:41

her dog is not being a nuisance to you, yes it shouldnt be on your property, but if you were brought up around dogs you should know how to handle it yes?
and if your kids are scared you should be showing them not to be scared. some dogs are not good with kids, but lots are.

please dont teach your kids to be scared of the dog, the dog needs to be taught who's boss by you getting to know it so you can get it out of your garden, and maybe a chat with the owner to see if its okay for your kids to stroke the dog and become friends with it? gaining a dogs trust at a young age is vital for later attitudes.

also, if you were brought up with dogs and were told never to trust them with kids, how exactly were you as a child brought up with them? you were obviously trusted with them at soem point...
not trying to be harsh, just dont want any more kids afraid of dogs when there's no reason to be most of the time!

MitchyInge · 13/04/2010 01:53

god

sounds like a lovely dog and a potential asset to your family life, without the hassle of owning one yourself

why can't you fence your garden in if you don't want to make friends with the dog?

have become really good friends with people who live nearby thanks to my nutty spaniel leaping over our SIX FOOT WALL and going into their gardens on cat patrol, and even getting stuck up their trees - he's a bit of local colour, please don't move into a house near me!

MitchyInge · 13/04/2010 02:03

although being a collie your neighbour's dg might try to herd the children by nipping their ankles?

coralanne · 13/04/2010 02:40

All dogs will bite. I have two jack russells but would not leave them alone with my DGC.

DGC are not afraid of dogs but have a healty respect for them. They are aware that they do not go near dogs they don't know.

I think that people are dismissing OPs concerns too lightly.

Too many stories in the papers re family pets suddenly turning on family members.

Goblinchild · 13/04/2010 08:24

MitchyInge, thank your lucky stars you don't live next to us. The last dog that chased our cat into our garden was picked up and thrown over the wall and into the road by my son, as an alternative to dismemberment. It wasn't a small dog either.
I'd report it as the Housing officer asked, it's obviously a known problem. Back it up with photographic evidence and times. Be honest with the owner that that is what you've been told to do, and you think it's the right course of action if she won't take full responsibility for her dog.

rainbowinthesky · 13/04/2010 08:41

Where are all these stories about family dogs turning on family members?

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