Disclaimer: I'm not particularly a dog lover, but I have no objection to dogs that are properly trained and controlled - my sister has a lab that we see frequently and we have friends with dogs that I have no problems with at all.
Today, for the second time, I have seen our neighbour's black lab jump over the fencing in their front garden and, for want of a better expression, harass a dog walker and her small dog - barking and snapping. Dog walker was clearly frightened, but probably didn't help the situation by shouting at the dog. On both occasions my neighbour has sauntered over the road protesting that "he's only a puppy" and basically failed to capture and control the dog. The dog is about 8-9 months old I believe - I understand that, apart from the training issue, it's really bad for the dog to be on its hind legs hanging over the fence all the time at this age.
Dog walker walked off shouting that she was calling the police. From what I can see now, a stranger in the park has brought back the dog some 5 minutes later which had apparently bounded along the road to the park. Neighbour seems completely unconcerned by the whole episode.
This dog is clearly not adequately contained in the front garden by the fence and the owner is (IMO) being irresponsible in failing to train it and control it. To be honest, I am concerned about the dog getting out when I have my baby son in the pram. There are loads of dog walkers along here and the black lab has been encouraged to be "friendly" and bark at them as they pass.
I don't know whether the police have, in fact, been called or even what they would do about it but I'd quite like to offer my support to the dog walker's story if they do. Is there any way I can do this without miring myself in an argument with the neighbour? What action would be taken - would they compel the neighbour to do puppy training for example?