Advice needed re neighbours dog - long post

[fannyanne]

Neighbours just across the road have two dogs(look like stafs to me , but am no expert)
A couple of weeks ago whilst I was coming to my house, with front gate shut he let his dogs out of the car - Unrestrained.
They barked loudly and ran across the road toward me and DC age 2.10, and 18 months, was not to concerned as gate was shut, but they jumped the wall and barking ran to DC , who were scared( maybe due to surprise) I blocked the dogs with my body and my neighbour ambled across slowly to collect them.
I got a bit mouthy - as I did not know the dogs and felt that if he wasn't able to control them in the street they should be on a lead.
He told me to mind my own, which I in no uncertain terms said I was as they were on my property.
Anyway left it and put it down to my overreaction.

BUT today was met by a shaken lady and her large dog who crossed the road to warn me to keep a close eye on DC as one of my neighbours dogs had just been let out of the car and attacked her dog

Basically I want to know from MN who have dogs whether I am wrong to be increasingly concerned about this, and if you have any advice on how to handle it

I would ring the dog warden and complain.

Unacceptable totally.

I would bevery concerned if my dogs attacked another dog tbh. It's not a good sign IMO.
Neither do my dogs rush up at people barking.
Neither behaviour is good.
Not sure what you do tho. The lady who's dog was attacked could do something.
One of my labs, when they were puppies, got her face badly bitten by a Staff whilst we were out. My pups were on leads, the other dog was not. It just rushed up and sunk its teeth into Molly's face, who promtly wet herself on the spot. Then had to spend a year re-socialising her with other dogs.
I took the womans details and made a complaint to the police who issued her with a warning saying it must wear a muzzle.
That dog has since actually bitten my bother but he was so shocked he did not take details and she left quickly and I have lost her details.
This particular dog used to attack other dogs, then it bit my bro, not good....

The dogs not treating a wall as a barrier sounds very bad to me ( as does the other beheviour ). Ring the Police for advice as it doesn't sound like he would take a friendly chat about his dogs not scaring your Dcs very well.

Ok firstly, the fact that you think they might have been staff's has nothing to do with it
It is not acceptable for any dog to run at you or your child barking. Aesponsible owner should have control over their dog(s) at all times which your neighbour obviously doesn't.
This is not about breed, it's about a persons lack of control of a probably untrained dog or dogs.
I have a cross breed and a staff both of which can be excitable at home but do not jump up or run at people or children at all. They are continously trained and I feel I am a responsible owner.
Unfortunately there are some owners who are not as rsonsible and thats the main problem.
Its a difficult one, the police are not always helpful unless something bad happens which of course is wrong. A dog warden is usually only interested in stray dogs although they may be able to offer some advice.
I would write a quick note explaining that you and your children feel uneasy coming in and out of the house because of the incident with his dog and you would really appreciate it if he could either make sure they are on a lead when coming from his car to his house or 100% controlled by him.
The woman who's dog was attacked should contact the police as an actual attack is something they have to deal with.

I agree about the breed of dog, should define owners I think. My friend has a staffy and has been great with countless kids.

I thought the Police partly as each incident shoud get noted and if something happens again, even to anyone else, then there is a history for them to use. There is alot of press about dog attacks reacently so think you may get a response.

Well, actually, saying they look like Staffs gives an idea of size and shape - so not entirely irrelevant.

Are the dogs young, do you know? Young dogs can be very excitable but not intend any harm at all. Having said that, if they are like that, he shouldn't be letting them out of the car without a lead on. If it was just one dog, it wouldn't be quite as bad, but more than one dog and they become a pack which means that a normally placid dog might well join in something aggressive because another dog is doing it.

I would certainly be concerned that they jumped the wall into your property and your neighbour's reaction suggests that he knows he was in the wrong. I hope the lady whose dog was attacked has reported it because it seems as though the aggression is escalating.

If you contact the police too it will add reinforcement to her complaint. You might even find that others have complained.

Thanks for your advice, I think I will try thr note first and if I don't notice a change in how he manages the dogs in the next week then I will give the police a ring.
Just glad that noone on here seems to think I am overreacting. And I take the advice of Dog owners and lovers more than friends and rellies who have no experience with animals

I would be concerned, yes.

As much by the owner's reaction as the dogs' - if my dog behaved like that I would be mortified, appologetic and would immediately fix the situation (put her on the lead, start a new training regime etc). The fact that he reacted by implying that your reaction was ott would set alarm bells ringing for me - if he's not prepared to deal with his dogs when they are barking at the neighbours, then he probably isn't going to control his dogs if their behaviour gets worse.

How old are the dogs?

We recently had experience of a chap in our local park not controlling his dog and the police were sympathetic but unable to do anything (they have to wait until someone gets bitten ) but the dog warden was very helpful. Contact them for advice.

I have 2 large dogs, but am not your neighbour. Mine are never let out without a lead. Not because i fear they would attack anybody but because im fully aware that not everyone would appreciate them charging up to greet them.
In the park or field is different, but in the street is just a no no. Not only becuase of the above reason but also they could run into the road and get knocked down.

If your very concerned, then you could contact the dog warden.
How long have they been your neighbours and are they frequently getting loose?

My dogs got out once and i was mortified. I ran after them, which they thought was a game. I think the reaction of the owner that you have described is very careless, and gives the rest of us responsible dog owners a bad name. If he is that unsympathetic and careless then how does he go about his dog handling/training? With the same attitude is suspect.

..with the same attitude I suspect.