Dog allowed to roam street, what can I do?

[kid]

Its a really sweet looking pup, well a big pup but still youngish (he squats when he wees and is is very bouncy!)

But he has no tag, collar or lead. The owner visits a local cafe opposite my house daily for hours on end.

The dog is left outside the cafe and most of the time, he stays close but yesterday and today, he has been coming into my carpark and keeps barking at anything and everything.
He even barked at DS(8) this afternoon but the owner came straight over and took the dog back with him. I saw the dog after that just sitting around outside the cafe without a lead on still.

Is there anything I can do? Should I be weary of DS playing out when I know this dog is close by off lead?

I am also concerned about when I get my puppy. I know for a fact that I will be too scared to walk my puppy while that one is hanging around. I couldn't even get out of my house through another door as this dog is by my only way out.

Maybe I am being pathetic, but other dogs around my own dog do scare me until I get to know them. The dog is a huge staff type dog. I wouldn't say it was a pitbull as I wouldn't be able to identify one so there is no point in even guessing he is one.

The place they visit are under the watchful eye of the police and have been in the papers a few times after being raided for drugs.

Call the dog warden. The Police are less likely to make any effort over a stray dog unless he is aggressive, although they can implement a Dog Control Order just as much as the DW in theory. If the owner makes a habit of visiting the cafe, make the DW aware of this and tell him what you've told us about the dog wandering. You'll generally have far more chance of him coming out than the local bobby (unless the bobby's terribly bored!).

And btw, if he's a huge beggar, he isn't likely to be a Pit Bull!

An American Bull perhaps?

Or a Mastiff maybe?

THIS is a Pit.

I don't know what type of dog he is, IMO, he doesn't look like any of the dogs you linked to.

I'm sure I'll be able to get a photo of him, he is always over there and never locked away. The owner doesn't always stay with him either.

They did have 3 dogs, one was definitely a staff, the other 2 were identical colour and size. I have only seen the 1 dog there for ages though.

I'll keep my camera handy tomorrow so you can help me identify him.

Oh gawd! Now there's a challenge!

Typical, he isn't there today!

is he not scared that someone would steal his dog?

sorry, i know you dont know the answer to that. i am just talking out loud.

He was there tonight after all but not left outside alone.
I haven't managed to take a photo yet as I don't want the owner to catch me photographing his dog!

The pit bull looks like Scooby Doo! I wasn't expected that.

Alouiseg Is California not very exciting? Do you miss us?

Anyway, I was about to say that few of the Staffordshire bull terriers that are passed off as such nowadays are full Staffies. They are often crossed with American Bulldogs, Pit Bulls or mastiffs to get extra size, muscle or aggression, but still technically be legal, or difficult to pin down to anything illegal. The rehoming centres are absolutely chock full of the poor things.

I'd be nervous too, but to be fair, I know as a dog owner that barking does not necessarily equal aggression. He's probably just bored stiff, poor thing.

I used to carry a cola can with pebbles as a detterant. Dogs don't like the sound of it being shaken. If you shake it at the pup, or in an emergency throw it in the pup's direction (not at it)the pup will leave you well alone.This should link to advice on training discs The idea is the same but cans are much cheaper, and if you drink fizzy drinks, much more available!

Sounds like just a big bouncy pup to me. Which is worrying, as pups need to be taught manners, which it doesn't sound like it's getting.
Don't scare it - dogs very often react negatively only because they have been treated badly by people. Try talking to it. Nice calm tones. That sounds crazy, I know (it's not, I promise) but if you talk to it it's more likely to stop barking at you and associate you with nice petting.

Just because it looks like a staffy does not mean instantly mean it's aggressive. In fact most Staffys are nicer-natured than labs.

And all dogs have a funny mix unless they are pedigree. Does not guarantee a nice/bad dog. No matter what the mix is.

It's how they are treated by people that set them up in their nature.

But totally agree, owner is irresponsible. It should not be your problem. Phone the council. A dog should only be off lead if controllable.

If you are afraid of other dogs, you will teach a puppy to be afraid of other dogs. It may help you to find out about dog training classes in your area before you get a dog, and go along and see what happens. The APDT here has a list. People should not let their dogs run about out of control. Left to their own devices they can become territorial. I agree with ThreeLIttleducks that the council should help.

Hello Fellatio! No it's great fun but jet lag is waking me at night, si I catch up with mn and fb and Twitter.

I went puppy classes with my previous pup, he was great around other dogs and I was fine as long as I knew the dog. I have no problem with other dogs on lead around my dog, its when they come charging out of no-where that I get really scared.

I plan to enrol my new puppy at classes when he is about 5 months old. I want to do some basic training with him myself like with my other puppy.

I'm getting him in 3 1/2 weeks, can't wait!
I have been buying him some toys, still need to get a lead, collar and bed though

The pup I originally posted about has been taken off the owner by a friend of my sisters as she the owner was mistreating him. The owner wasn't bothered about letting the pup go and apparently he said he can get another one.

The friend couldn't keep the pup, she said he was naughty so she has handed him over to someone else
I am relieved that he isn't going to be hanging around outside my house when I get home from holiday and pick up my puppy [happy]