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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

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Original poster

Neighbour's reactive dog, where do we go from here?

74 replies

HopelesslyHopeful87 · 10/07/2022 22:40

Myself and my neighbours both live in council houses. We are terraced, I'm mid, they are end so we are their only adjoining neighbour. We both have dogs, mine a French bulldog and theirs is a German shepherd. My dog is 4. They got theirs last year, so not a year old yet.

Their dog is very reactive to other animals especially my dog. When they are both outside at the same time he goes berserk. He has broken all of the fencing between our properties since they have owned him by trying to get through to get to my dog when she is in our garden at the same time as he is in theirs. We had to do a patchwork job on the fence until we saved enough to replace the whole stretch.

A few weeks ago he broke another section big enough to get his paws and mouth through and bit my dog and tried to drag her under the fence by his mouth. I reported to 101 but apparently its not a crime for a dog to attack another dog so I couldn't do anything. Fortunately she wasn't injured, just a bit shaken.

It is our perimeter responsibility so we have just paid £2k to have all the fencing replaced but he is still clawing and jumping, scratching and banging ferociously at all of the fence, the fence has been up all of 2 weeks and it's going to be destroyed pretty quickly if he keeps doing this and it will be our responsibility to replace as its our perimeter.

Were now having to fetch our dog inside every time we hear them let him out. We cannot enjoy the garden or relax because we are constantly having to listen out for him. I can't leave the door open and let my dog free roam because they blame me ie he wouldn't be reacting if we didn't have a dog.

When he dragged her through the fence their reaction was basically sorry but maybe when you replace the fence he won't do it. We've replaced the fence and it continues.

How do I stop this? I can't force them to train their dog. I can't force them to neuter their dog (if that would even help?), do I report them to someone? If so, who? I don't want to fall out with them. We've lived next to each other for almost 10 years and not had any issues but since they've got their dog it's been a living nightmare.

I know this sounds so petty but I can't afford to keep replacing a fence that I'm not breaking! I need to keep my dog safe and our garden needs to be secure so she can't get out in the roads.

OP posts:

Digimoor · 10/07/2022 22:54

Why is your dog out and next to the fence allowing the neighbours dog to bite?
Your answer may be a chain link fence alongside the wooden fence

MaybeThisIsntForYou · 10/07/2022 22:59

It sounds like your neighbours aren't particularly responsible and nor are they likely to be open to seeking professional help.

With everything you've said I can't see any option that's practical other than engaging with the council in their capacity as landlord of both properties. Presumably there's a clause in your tenancy agreements permitting dogs but requiring them to not cause a nuisance?

Small claims court may also be an option for the damaged fence.

Can the dog see yours through the fence?

Whitney168 · 10/07/2022 23:02

Digimoor · 10/07/2022 22:54

Why is your dog out and next to the fence allowing the neighbours dog to bite?
Your answer may be a chain link fence alongside the wooden fence

Why on earth shouldn’t the dog be out in its own garden? 😕 (Bar its owners fearing for its life ‘n’ all …)

Dozydot · 10/07/2022 23:05

Digimoor · 10/07/2022 22:54

Why is your dog out and next to the fence allowing the neighbours dog to bite?
Your answer may be a chain link fence alongside the wooden fence

@Digimoor what an odd comment? Surely their dog is allowed to enjoy their garden. They shouldn't have put an additional fence up surely?

70kid · 10/07/2022 23:05

Expensive but can you build a wall on your side then put a fence on top of it

Burnamer · 10/07/2022 23:06

Can you replace the fence with something more substantial. I know you shouldn’t have to but it kinda very stressful.

Burnamer · 10/07/2022 23:06

Sounds very stressful.

Cookiedough123 · 10/07/2022 23:16

How does the dog know when your dog is out? Does your dog react to theirs? If your dog reacts then maybe do some training to teach her to ignore him. And maybe line the fence 1m in with some mesh and ground sticks? We have just done this to cut our garden in half to save it from dog wee. I would also get video evidence over multiple times and then if it does get worse you could contact the council/a solicitor. We have a reactive dog on the other side of our house. Luckily my dog ignores him.

XelaM · 10/07/2022 23:29

Cookiedough123 · 10/07/2022 23:16

Errr... do you not know that German Shepherds have a pretty good nose on them? Of course he knows when OP's dog is outside. Even our little pug knows when our neighbour's dog is outside!

ImHavingAnOldFriendForDinner · 10/07/2022 23:32

No advice on the dogs but if it's council houses can you not report them to the council? Also if it's their dog breaking the fence then they should be paying for it or the council should as their landlord. It's anti social behaviour, I'd report them.

ChuckBerrysBoots · 10/07/2022 23:36

Do you think your neighbours would be open to schedule which avoids both dogs being out at the same time? A bit of a bind but the predictability of knowing when he’ll be in or out might help.

Cantbeliveyoufakeit · 10/07/2022 23:58

Following with interest as I have exactly the same problem!! So far we have had to attach a second fence panel halfway up the first as NDN's dog was climbing on accumulated abandoned furniture their side and attempting to get over the fence in one particular place, replace a different panel 3 times as NDN's dog keeps breaking it by running at it full pelt and attacking it with its claws and teeth, and arrange every piece of garden equipment/furniture we have along the main run of fence to create a barrier so my dogs don't get close enough to get hurt if the fence breaks again.

it's been going on for 3 years now, ever since NDN got the dog, unfortunately she is a violent alcoholic so speaking to her has no effect. Our HA are useless and I suspect complaining would just make things worse, RSPCA are not interested despite dog being out there with no shelter in all weathers. My dogs have never been reactive but are now anxious in the garden and run round in circles crying while NDN's dog does it's best to eat through the fence every single time they have to go out to pee.

coffeecupsandfairylights · 11/07/2022 07:35

You can't control their behaviour or their dog so I would probably look into replacing the fence with something stronger - are you allowed to get a wall built? If not, you could install temporary chain fencing to provide an extra barrier between the dogs.

For now I would see if you could put your dog on a line and tether so she can't get within biting distance of the neighbours garden. I know you shouldn't have to do that but you need to keep your dog safe.

We had similar with a neighbours dog - he would come along our back gate and snarl and stick his head under the gap to try and bite our dog. We had to install a temporary double barrier system so there was always at least a metre between the dogs until we could repair the gaps.

Felixthefish · 11/07/2022 08:04

My parent had this issue with a neighbours (illegal) pit bull throwing itself at the fence to get my parent's two small dogs. They put a second fence up with a gap of an inch or so between the two so there was a double barrier. Horrifically the pit bull then went on to kill a young child in the property

Catsdrool · 11/07/2022 08:09

I would put some wire fencing along the the fence pegged into the ground to try and stop the dog lifting it up. Can you ask your neighbours to do similar? Or for them to build a barrier to stop the dog launching itself at the fence?

if they were good neighbours they would be supervising him in the garden so I doubt you’ll get far with that

ChiefPearlClutcher · 11/07/2022 08:09

Report to dog warden!

Galliano · 11/07/2022 08:15

It absolutely is an offence to own a dog that is dangerously out of control and examples of this are a dog which causes people to be afraid it will attack them or attacks other animals. It may not be an offence the police are keen to pursue but you should persevere with reporting this crime as you do have the evidence of the destruction of the fence, the attack on your dog and presumably are in fear of being attacked yourself or others in your garden being attacked.

www.gov.uk/control-dog-public

Minimalme · 11/07/2022 10:55

That's awful op. I think owning a 'reactive' dog has happened more frequently since lockdown.

The owners seem to think it's other dog owners responsibility to keep their non- reactive dogs away or else accept their dog being savaged.

I would report to the RSPCA - the owners are failing in their duty to stop their dog biting other dogs and damaging property.

soloula · 11/07/2022 11:10

Would the police not be interested in damage to property by the dog? I'm not au fait with the law. Small claims court for reclaiming costs of repairing your fence when their dog damages it. Take photos, videos and keep all receipts.

Original poster

HopelesslyHopeful87 · 11/07/2022 12:13

Thank you for all the replies, sorry I've only just come back to the thread.

Building a brick wall would cost thousands and is definitely not an option unfortunately. We've used all our savings to install this new fence as it is. We've installed concrete posts and concrete 1ft gravel boards so the wooden feather edge fence is not on the ground level anymore and it's much sturdier than the old wooden posts and flimsy cheap panels. my dog doesn't really reach the wooden panel above the gravel board (she's quite small).

In answer to other questions, I'm assuming their dog knows my dog is outside as he can smell her and she snores when she's sleeping or sunbathing (as frenchies do) so he could hear that too.

They cannot see each other through the fence anymore although they could before we replaced it as their dog had bashed holes in the fence at various heights and he could see her through the gap. We patched it best we could whilst we saved up enough to replace it all to stop our dog escaping through the holes he had made.

My dog doesn't really react, perhaps an odd bark here or there but she comes away when called, doesn't claw or bash at the fence in response yet their dog continues to smash himself into the fence, bark uncontrollably trying to get to her. She's a calm dog, not remotely vicious and just wants to sunbathe on the patio that lies along the fence. She's one of those dogs that just chills and loves kids. Never reacted to anyone or anything with a bark or a snarl. She's been brought up around young kids and is very much a chilled family dog.

I will speak to the council and the dog warden and see what they say.

OP posts:

caramac04 · 11/07/2022 12:41

What horrible neighbours you have! They don’t even care about their own dog let alone yours or the fence.
Our GS puppy barked twice at our neighbour and was swiftly told to be quiet, barked again and was put inside. He doesn’t bark at the neighbour anymore nor their chickens or the local cats. Mind you we see less of them now.
Ultimately your neighbours could and should train this reactive behaviour out, maybe the local dog warden could advise. I’d couch it in terms of concern for my dog and also the GS who should not be reacting in this way. Yes they guard but this isn’t acceptable.
Any chance they could meet on neutral territory, on leads, even just a walk by and build up to a greet? The GS may think your little Frenchie is a threat when clearly she isn’t.

Weefreetiffany · 11/07/2022 12:45

Chilli paste or powder would keep the dog away from the fence. It’s a bit drastic but could help

Original poster

HopelesslyHopeful87 · 11/07/2022 12:48

They have met on leads before as we left the house coincidentally for walks at the same time. It didn't go well. My dog laid down with her belly upwards, all submissive wanting to make friends and their dogs just barked growled, showed teeth etc. Their dog literally sits on the bay window sill barking at everything all day long, especially other dogs and passing cats.

There has also been a previous time, way before he bit my dog and this reactive behaviour began that my 4yo asked to stroke him whilst neighbour had him on lead out the front of the house. He said yes, he's not nasty, she stroked him and he went for her. No contact made thank god as dd moved quickly out the way and owner pulled lead back in time.

He's just a badly trained dog.

My dog isn't perfect, I'm not sitting here holier than thou. She's a runner and will run on any slightest whiff of a free escape but she is definitely not reactive or a danger to anyone.

OP posts:

picklemewalnuts · 11/07/2022 12:50

I think you need to tell them their dog is damaging your fence, so they will need to pay to make it good or install something like chain link on their own side.

What a nightmare. We have similar, but fortunately we have a solid fence.

Actually, we built a raised bed and planted prickly/dense shrubs along it to reduce the amount the dogs could get at each other. That's helped a lot.

theemmadilemma · 11/07/2022 12:50

www.bluecross.org.uk/advice/dog/dog-laws-uk

It's out of control and it doesn't in law matter that it's in a private space. This quotes the laws you can report this under.

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