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The doghouse

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See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

I reported my neighbor

28 replies

Thatsmycupoftea · 25/02/2021 19:58

Hi

Just after some reassure I suppose or to be told I'm unreasonable if I am.

I have posted about next doors dogs before as they are aggressive to my lovely soft dog and its making her scared in her own garden.

Anyway I accepted they were dog reactive and called my dog in when they were out and barking at the fence. I thought what can the owner do. Not much I suppose.

Recently its got much worse. Think it's because they are out all day now with the better weather. My dog is sleeping on the grass minding her own business and they will come out and go crazy, running at the double fence, growling, barking, lunging.

They are like that if I'm just out and are worse with my young children.

I was out alone today gardening when they just wouldn't stop trying to get through the fence in an aggressive manner. I was so scared I went inside.

My dc were out playing and he let them out and again they were trying hard to jump the fence and literally running into it trying to break through. I was so scared for my dc and my toddler was frozen crying. This has happened all day lots of times. And other times since we moved here.

I'm not sure they could get through the fence but they are giving it a good go and I'm petrified that if they do they will kill my children.

They snarl, bark, lunge, growl. My dc are not even being noisy or near the fence they are literally just playing quietly.

We now can't use our garden.

They don't get walked and bark continually when he's at work. But that's a separate issue.

I feel awful and I'm not sure what will happen or what the owner can actually do.

Dh is not sure if I should have reported them but I said what if they do get in and hurt our dog or children. They are doing there best to get through.

I don't understand why they are so aggressive to us when we are literally just using our garden not bothering them.

Did I do the right thing. What will happen does anyone know.

Thanks

OP posts:
Original poster
Thatsmycupoftea · 25/02/2021 19:58

No idea where the paragraphs have gone sorry

OP posts:
ArcherDog · 25/02/2021 20:02

Yes you did the right thing. You have a right to enjoy and feel safe in your garden.

Can you put some pots or plant some thick hedgehog plants along that fenceline? Just as an added barrier

theotherfossilsister · 25/02/2021 20:02

This sounds so horrible and traumatic for you, your children and dogs. I'm guessing you have already spoken to them about it and it's made no difference?

Are you keeping a record of every time it happens? Who did you report them to?

peak2021 · 25/02/2021 20:05

The dog is being neglected. Enough reason.

Spillanelle · 25/02/2021 20:05

This would really concern me too so no I don’t think you were wrong to report it. Not sure what can be done though. Who did you report it to?

justthecat · 25/02/2021 20:05

Hell no, it sounds horrendous

allsayingthesamething · 25/02/2021 20:12

I would speak to the council, the dog warden and a solicitor re the possibility of an injunction.

Eviethyme · 25/02/2021 20:13

You did the right thing

Original poster
Thatsmycupoftea · 25/02/2021 20:18

Thanks everyone.

Not sure why this has ended up in the corona topic when I put it in the dog house. Oh well maybe MN will move it.

OP posts:
MNHQ
LouMumsnet · 25/02/2021 20:29

Evening, @Thatsmycupoftea - we've just shifted this over to the Doghouse for you. Hope that helps. Smile

ktp100 · 25/02/2021 20:33

I think I'd have to put in a secondary barrier on your side, just in case.

That does sound really frightening.

2BDIs · 25/02/2021 20:34

Totally agree that reporting is the right thing to do. The poor dogs didn't chose their shitty, neglectful owner, however you don't need to be a martyr and not go in your own garden. Put your own 6 foot solid panel fence up inside your permiter and against the original fence. The dogs then won't be able to see through and be teratorial and you can enjoy your garden with spring and summer being just a round the corner

AvocadosBeforeMortgages · 26/02/2021 11:57

This sounds like a shit situation for all concerned. Can you work with next door to install a solid wall / non see through fence?

It strikes me that the dogs next door would be much less distressed if they couldn't see you in your garden

Theunamedcat · 26/02/2021 12:00

Is it wooden fencing? If nothing happens I would invest in concrete posts and gravel boards all the way up to the 6ft it might look a bit grim but you will be able to use your garden and it makes a handy chalk board

noeffingwayyyy · 26/02/2021 12:08

You've definitely done the right thing. I have a reactive dog, but luckily for some reason she's not remotely bothered about next door's little dog, I think it's because she knows that it can't get to her through the fence, so she doesn't see it as a threat. If she was reacting like your neighbour's dog, she would not be out in the garden unsupervised, and we would be doing some more behaviourist / training work with her to see if we could get any improvements. For her own wellbeing as much as anyone else's - the dogs are reacting like that because they perceives your dog/children as a threat, so it's awful for the dogs to be continually placed in that stressful situation as well as it being horrible for you. This is totally the owner's problem to resolve, I am really sympathetic to them having reactive dogs as it is bloody hard, but they have a responsibility to manage the dogs' welfare and behaviour, and it doesn't sound like they are even trying.

Hopefully the RSPCA will intervene and offer some helpful suggestions to the owner to help them manage the situation. Have you considered putting in some tall / thick hedging on your side to build more of a barrier to next door? You shouldn't have to I know, but it will muffle sound much better than just a fence as well, so may help a bit on both sides.

blowinahoolie · 26/02/2021 13:13

"My dc were out playing and he let them out and again"

Our NDN does this with their JRT. The wee fecker jumps up at the fence when my DC are out. They let the JRT out probably because he hears my DC outside and probably drives the NDN to distraction. Left to its own devices 🤷

blowinahoolie · 26/02/2021 13:18

We use mesh up against our fence - mainly to protect our DC from being bitten by NDN's dog. It's a vicious wee thing🙄

Check the background of the picture I have attached.

I reported my neighbor
sunflowersandbuttercups · 26/02/2021 14:05

You've done the right thing.

I hope things improve for you soon Flowers

Itsjustaride8w737 · 26/02/2021 14:11

You did the right thing op.

We have 2 dogs that love to bark occasionally, especially when playing in the garden with each other. However, they get brought in after a few minutes if they continue as it's not fair for others to listen to.

I'd be mortified if my dog made a toddler cry with his barking, people forget dogs can sound very scary to young children.

Floralnomad · 26/02/2021 14:11

Reported them to who ? Put a solid fence up as high as permitted on your side of the existing fence - job done unless you want to report them as a noise nuisance . What sort of dogs are they ?

Theunamedcat · 26/02/2021 14:36

I would accidentally spray the bastsrd with a hose but im super intolerant

Original poster
Thatsmycupoftea · 26/02/2021 18:27

Thanks everyone.

We have been out today looking at the fence and making it more solid until we can put a new one up.

I reported them to the dog warden or something similar i just googled it.

They are pit bulls/a bully type breed but they are quite solid and big.

I do feel sorry for the dogs.

I'm just so scared they will hurt someone.

OP posts:
Moondust001 · 26/02/2021 18:40

Dog owner, and in total sympathy, but I doubt you'll get anywhere. If you are lucky someone might speak to the neighbour. But unless the dogs are neglected- and that means a lot more than being left in a garden unsupervised - they won't do anything more. My friend was telling me about a story local to her. Two Cane Corsa escaped from a puppy farmer property near her. Attacked her small dog. Ran off to a local mall. Attacked another dog and a person. ELEVEN police officers in riot gear and shields to back up the dog warden. Two days later they were returned to the owner. So I fear that your concern about dogs that haven't escaped won't convince anyone.

DogInATent · 26/02/2021 18:48

Reported to whom?

sunflowersandbuttercups · 26/02/2021 18:51

Unfortunately I don't think the dog warden can do anything about dogs barking and growling in their own garden.