about neighbour's dog?

[humptyismarriedtoanumpty]

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?

Morning Goblinchild...

...Needs must, it would seem.

If you share a path and gate with the neighbour, and the dog is free-ranging outside this, then shut the dog out (as opposed to in with them) when your kids want to play.

I'm another one who would say if he hasn't shown any aggression and has caused no problems to you and your kids so far, then let sleeping dogs lie.

The first few times the DC go outside to play, supervise them, watch how the dog responds to them making noise, running about, etc. Then make a judgement.

And keep reporting her when it is running about and being a problem.
Or fence off your bit of garden.

Children of 4 and 5 too young to be out in the garden? Since when? That is a bizarre statement

If the dog was in my garden and I had asked its owner to keep it on her own property, then I would take the dog to the pound myself. I would choose a pound that would not kill the dog and would take care of it. Maybe it would then get a new owner who could be arsed to look after it properly. I would also do this if the dog was in shared areas unsupervised. Wrt supervising children in the garden, if your garden is unsecured and accessable to people other than yourself then you should stay with them imo

YANBU

& I'm quite shocked at some of the comments saying otherwise, sad to think there are other irresponsible dog owners out there too, must be if they think your neighbour is within her rights....she's breaking the law, lovely fluffy sweet natured collie or not....

ALL dogs are potentially a danger to such small kids, simply because they see them as potential toys, they don't mean to hurt them, but of course they can & will if over excited & not properly supervised.......... & that bit of info came from my friend who has always owned dogs, is trained in dog behaviour, & was a police dog handler for years..........she walks her French Bulldog in her local park at 6am, so she can let him run free without the worry of small Children being around, & he is a gorgeous natured Dog, who my DD loves...even though she can be very frightened of Dogs after she was once bitten by an elderly Aunt very spoilt Shitzu

besides, is she the neighbour running behind her loose Dog cleaning up its crap, as the law also dictates ,

as the others suggest take photos, videos, any record you can, & keep reporting it, the Woman is out of order, & needs bringing into line, for her Dogs sake too..Collies DO bite, I was bitten by one myself as a child, ALL dogs bite, just as all Cats scratch, amazed any dog owner would think otherise

& if you get so fed up, you go beyond worrying about being cruel.....lt your kids feed the damned thing chocolate..........its poisonous to Dogs....maybe then your ignorant neighbour might get the message

My children are 3 and 2 and they play out in our garden(in summer). Playing happily, they take their cars out there and just play on the grass. Most the time i am pottering around the house, cleaning.

People on this thread seem to doubt that dogs can turn on family members.

My DH was 18yo and over 6ft tall on the day he made the mistake of walking through the kitchen at home. The family's pet Labrador jumped for his throat, cornered him against the kitchen units and was eventually pulled off by FIL and BIL. DH has been left scarred for life on chin and neck.

The dog had never attacked before - but if DH had been smaller, younger or weaker, he may not have been so lucky as to just have some scarring.

I'm incredulous at all the 'let the kids play outside and watch how the dog reacts' advice. Let's hope how the dog reacts is 'ok' rather than 'bit my child's hand/leg/face', shall we? Or that'd be one piece of unfortunate research. But at least you'd know either way

Any dog can bite. No dog should be roaming around unsupervised. Your neighbour and her dog may have lived there forever and a day but it gives them no more rights to the public outside area than someone who's moved in 10 minutes ago and certainly no right to have their dog in your private garden. Keep reporting it.

apologies for delay responding....
To those thinking I am down on dogs, I'm not. What I meant was I was taught to have respect for dogs, but my parents never left me and my sister alone with the dog until we were much older and taught to treat the dog with respect, we were always supervised. Mainly because as others have said, some children don't understand not to tease/hurt/torment/upset/over excite a dog, and the dog can hurt them. And then in many cases the dog has to go, which I don't think is fair.
dh has taken 3 photos today of dog on the loose and will start recording it for housing officer.
Will supervise kids and take from there and if dog turns out to be a problem will approach neighbour again.

In the meantime, I would buy a lead and attach dog to fence in shade with water (on neighbour's side if possible) when your kids are out there, or take the the dog into your house whilst they are out there. There is no reason to curtail your kids' playtime (which will inevitably happen if you have to supervise them all the time).

Thanks for sugggestion hardertokidnap, will do...

Sorry havent read the whole thread. How does the dog get into your garden?