Neighbours horrible dog - please help - what can I do?

[Cherrybug]

Hi,

Hoping to get some advice here. Firstly want to say, I like dogs a lot, always have, had 3 when growing up and often dog-sit for friends. So I am not against dogs in any shape or form.

But...

We live in an upstairs flat with a flat below and both properties share access to the back garden. The back garden is split with each property having a strip and a shared green in the middle to dry washing. The back garden is only accessible via a small waist height gate at the side of the property. My downstairs neighbour is in her 80's, lives alone and has a dog which I think is a shitsu.

The dog has always been a horror but hasn't been living there for a long while as she's been ill. She's now recovered and he's back. He is extremely aggressive and vicious. If we go near the gate he is jumping up frantically behind the gate snarling and snapping and we have to wait for my neighbour to come out (she has patio doors at the back of her flat so has direct access to the garden) and get him back in the flat before we can go in as he would clearly bite us if we touched the gate to open it. She leaves her patio doors open so he can go in and out as he pleases so this happens all the time. Even if we come out of our flat to get in our car parked in the drive at the front of the property he goes ballistic at the gate. He's an absolute menace.

Now, I have a 3 year old little girl who I have to make sure doesn't just run up to the gate and touch it or he will bite her. If we go in the garden he'll start barking and going crazy (though he seems slightly less vicious once we are in). He once barked so much at DD she became frightened and started crying. I now think she is quite cautious of dogs which I'm angry about as it's purely because of him.

I get on okay with my neighbour and understand she wants company. I also understand that it's the complete lack of socialisation that has made him like this (she had him since a puppy). But, I'm afraid I now have no sympathy for him. I cannot stand the creature. He is a horrible creature and I feel that he could easily bite me or my daughter. I am angry that I cant even access my own garden in peace and honestly he's always yapping and snarling every time someone comes near the house (postie, delivery guys etc).

What can I do? I think I've been way too soft over the years and now it's hard to say anything and I also dont want to upset my neighbour who's been ill and had a really hard year. But, I feel something needs to be done now. I thought I may suggest to her that she get a trainer in to try and sort his behaviour out before he does any damage? I don't think she will though.

What makes it worse is we are trying to sell our flat and if any viewers come round they will be seriously put off if they see/hear him. I've asked her to keep him indoors if we know we have a viewer but he'll still be going ballistic behind the patio doors and for a little dog he's got a loud nasty bark.

Sorry for the length of this post!

The dog might not neccessarily be aggressive. There are three giant GSD's further down our street and honestly the way they behave when you walk past their house you'd think they're gonna come through the front window and eat you

They are three of the most loving dogs I have ever had the pleasure of meeting when they are not protecting their boundaries.

Have a chat with the old lady and find out how often this dog is walked. I'd guess at not much. If he's not aggressive you could offer to walk him for her. The more exercise he gets the less likely he will be to jump at the gate barking.

Plus you would no longer be a potential threat, you'd be promoted to 'giver of exciting walks' so he'd be excited, rather than nervous when he sees you. It's win win for you, the lady and her pooch.

Exactly what Cleanin said. Sounds like a typical small dog being territorial. If she's in her 80s, chances are the dog is not getting enough exercise and is possibly being neglected. It's quite possible to socialise even an adult dog, but takes some time. Is there any evidence that he would bite at all? Most of these small, yappy dogs will back off very quickly if you act in a dominant fashion.

No way should someone else's dog prevent you from going into your own shared garden. I wouldn't offer to walk it!!!!!! I would give her the name of a good dog walker and ask that she either fences off a bit of the garden so you can walk freely into your own property or a better solution if you can think of one being on the ground. If she is not willing I would contact the landlord or management company.

It is not your responsibility to start training someone elses dog, it is the owners and she must be made to see that - you just want to go into your own garden and not get yapped at - seems reasonable to me.

Thanks all. Firstly the there is evidence that the dog will bite. It jumps up and tries to snap at my fingers if I dare touch the gate. Also a couple of times I've been in her house and held my hand out to it to try and be friendly and she told me not to try and touch it as it will bite. So, I do actually think it is agressive. It may be caused by fear or by protecting it's boundaries (which actually belong to me too) but I am sure it would bite If it got the chance. It bares it's teeth and snaps in a pretty vicious manner.

When she first got the dog I offered to walk him for her a few times. each time I offered she never took me up on it. Apart from that I have a toddler, am pregnant and work so I don't feel particularly able or inclined to be honest, to walk it now. Though as I've said I Dont think she'd want me to anyway.
It doesn't get walked much at all, just occassionally by her family and it seems scared of other dogs. I think she may actually like him going ballistic as she feels protected. I understand she may be vulnerable living alone but surely she had a responsibility to make sure he's not dangerous to people.

I had thought perhaps of giving her the number of a dog trainer. I'm trying to be understanding but I really believe it could easily bite one of us. I've always loved dogs but I confess I can't stand this animal now even though I know it's not the dogs fault. It's a horrible creature unfortunately.

Sorry for typos, Im on my phone!

Oh, really!! Why on earth should the OP offer to walk the bloody thing? Honestly, I'm LOL'ing at that. If she wanted to walk a dog she'd buy her own, and she certainly shouldn't feel that it's either walk the dog or carry on putting up with it barking/snarling!

Also, what Minimu said.

She shouldn't have to walk it, but it would be a nice thing to do for the lady and her dog.

Certainly have a word with her and get her the number of your local dog trainer/walker.

As your neighbour is very elderly, and not in the best of health by the sound of it, why not suggest she contacts the Cinnamon Trust? They could be able to provide a volunteer dog walker at least a few times a week. They could also encourage your neighbourt to think about what happens to her dog after she passes away - the CT offer a homing service in these circumstances, and genuinely don't put dogs down (except in medical necessity cases). If the dog is not being exercised, it's going out of his mind with boredom, loneliness and frustration so regular walks may well improve the situation.

If she's not receptive to this idea, then you may need to escalate matters, but please think clearly about what you actually want as an outcome - are you looking for the dog to be removed/rehomed or could you tolerate the dog with some modification of behaviour? If you are gunning for removal, please bear in mind that for many elderly people their dog is a lifeline, a reason for living and often their only friend.

What does your tenancy agreement/landlord/management company say about having pets?

Thanks all. Scuttle - I'm not sure the Cinnamon Trust have any presence in Scotland where we are. I can look into it though - thanks for the tip. She does have family that visit her regularly though so the dog would go to them if anything happened to her.

We both own our homes so no landlords/agencies involved. I feel it's pretty much only up to me to try and get something done. I'd love it if the dog magically disappeared but that said, I am genuinely sympathetic to the fact that he is her company and friend and I understand that. So, in terms of outcome I am not gunning for it to be removed, just for her to try harder to tackle this antisocial behaviour we have to put up with and at least take a little responsbility for doing something. I mean, am I right in thinking if it bites my daughter it could get put down? Surely she should be ensuring that doesn't ever happen. I should add, I'm pretty sure she could afford it, I think it's just she doesnt see it as important and as I said her family often visit so they could also take a bit more responsibility for walking the dog.

As I said earlier, I've been too soft all along and I guess the best thing to do is to have a chat with her the next time he's going flipping mental and suggest a trainer/walker/locked gate for her yard.

Right, off to put out some washing and no doubt get snapped at!

Just wanted to add you have my sympathies. We have the exact same problem with older neighbour and small dog. The dog's barking goes on at all times of the day but what is worse is the neighbour trying to reason with him. It goes on for hours with him threatening the dog instead of just putting the little shit inside!

It's now gotten so bad that most neighbours have stopped using their back garden as it's unbearable. I did phone the dog warden last year but it has had no effect. I've also picked the neighbour up on it when the dog is hurling itself at the fence and barking at my kids. His response was it was my own fault as I had never socialised my kids with his dog! WTF!

Posted on AIBU as I cant even take my dog for a walk in the local park now without him being there. Dog is never on the lead and always goes for mine. Again, had it out with him but he is just not interested.

I absolutely love dogs but I am counting down the days when the little mutt eventually makes its way to doggie heaven.

Sounds like a very difficult situation with the owner being so elderly.

There are a couple of things you could try to keep the dog off the gate and away from you/your family. Next time it runs up barking, make a distinctive noise (I use 'ah uh' but whatever comes easy to you) and then squirt it in the face with water. This should not hurt the dog at all, but many dogs are so surprised they stop the behaviour. Repeat in the hopes of associating the initial noise ('ah uh') with the unpleasant experience of the water, so that in time you only need to say 'ah uh' and he stops. Alternatively, if the water has little/no effect, say the word again but this time drop a can full of pebbles that is likely to make an all mighty racket in the space between you and the dog (don't throw the can at the dog, merely drop it to the ground, it's the noise you want). Repeat in the same hope of associating the word with the scary noise.

If none of this works I think you may need to talk to the local dog warden. They usually take reports of aggressive dogs, especially where children are involved, very seriously.