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The doghouse

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

Original poster

neighbours Cane corso and shared open plan communal garden

66 replies

cannaecanecorso · 31/05/2023 16:01

OK hive mind... Some help please!
What would you do?
Our downstairs neighbours have just got a cane corso dog - a very large powerful and potentially aggressive breed if not trained correctly and kept safely. advice says it needs a secure double fenced garden, minimum 6ft. Very high guard instinct. . It is recommended to get a pup from a reputable breeder who will match pups temperament to new owner and circumstances.

Our neighbours have no experience of this breed having only kept small dogs to date, bought from a pals friend, don't know how to train and only have access to our open communal garden supposedly for us all to use. there are 6 families who share this space with low fences, that connect to 4 other gardens with 24 families who use their gardens. lots of trampolines, swings and kids about.

there is no possibility that neighbours can fence off an area with the level of fencing required.
The neighbours allow their other dog unsupervised free reign of our garden and stairwell. they have said they intend this dog to be allowed the same.

i wanted to be informed and now the facts before speaking with neighbours as i know it will not go well.

I have contacted with 3 reputable breeders and asked them for advice. All of them said this is a dangerous situation due to the dog's need to guard and protect. they said with so many "strangers" in what the dog will think of as their space - it is a recipe for disaster. they also said it should NEVER be allowed to roam the communal stairwell. They would never place a pup in this situation as setting it up to fail and is too unsafe for all. They were v concerned that another breeder has allowed a pup to go to this home..

i spoke with a rehoming centre for this breed and they were upset that a dog may well be in a situation where its natural instinct will be activated and the dog may naturally react with aggression. they said they are inundated with calls for support about this breed who has bitten and they are challenging to rehome.

i spoke with th SSPCA and they said to speak with dog warden. dog warden says there is nothing they can do until dog bites or attacks someone.

i dont like the thought of a dog like this out in the garden and stairwell. It is not the best for the dog or any of the other neighbours apart from owners.

this is not about judging a breed but having listened to advice - i dont see how this situation will work but equally feel powerless.

The owners are not the easiest to speak to. i cant pre-empt what exactly they will say but I imagine it will be - "we will keep an eye on him whilst he is out there"

If you were me, what would you do???

OP posts:
JustCheckMyHead · 31/05/2023 16:04

Didn’t you post about this already?

BadlydoneHelen · 31/05/2023 16:05

Is everyone owner occupiers or tenants? Is there a management company for the communal areas?

Original poster
cannaecanecorso · 31/05/2023 16:06

@JustCheckMyHead no, not me?

OP posts:
Original poster
cannaecanecorso · 31/05/2023 16:07

@BadlydoneHelen Of 6 flats - 4 are owners and 2 are housing association.
The association tends the communal areas.

OP posts:
JustCheckMyHead · 31/05/2023 16:07

There was an almost identical post. The advice was to contact the housing association (or whoever runs the housing and communal garden) and discuss the concerns. Same here I would say

Vroomfondleswaistcoat · 31/05/2023 16:09

They might 'intend' for this dog to be the same, but surely there are regulations where you live? I wouldn't wade in directly with 'this dog will be dangerous' (because, of course, they will counter with 'he's never bitten anyone (yet)') but having a dog running loose in a communal living situation may well contravene tenancy agreements? Maybe check out there first, via landlords or deeds.

Whinge · 31/05/2023 16:11

The neighbours allow their other dog unsupervised free reign of our garden and stairwell. they have said they intend this dog to be allowed the same.

Regardless of the new dog, surely someone has complained about this? Confused

ItsCalledAConversation · 31/05/2023 16:13

I’d contact ha as the neighbours are planning to use the communal stairwell for their dog and raise your concerns. You sound to have researched this thoroughly.

I’m an absolute dog lover but I see your concerns on this one. My child-free, large dog-loving friends (already own a lab and a Weimaraner-mastiff cross) rescued a cane corso. They gave him the best possible set up but still couldn’t manage him. He was aggressive to everyone, including their other dogs, houseguests, even them. They got rid within days I’m afraid. Trust your instincts on this one.

JustCheckMyHead · 31/05/2023 16:13

Th point about checking the tenancy is a good shout. It might solve the problem for you

Original poster
cannaecanecorso · 31/05/2023 16:20

@JustCheckMyHead aaah i see. i have spoken with housing association and they said they were not aware of any rules that restricted dogs in communal gardens.

OP posts:
Original poster
cannaecanecorso · 31/05/2023 16:24

The other dogs having use of the communal areas has not been an issue in the past as they have been small. This is somewhat different.

i contacted Housing association and asked for clarity on dogs in communal areas. apparently there are no rules against it so neighbours are allowed to have their dogs of any kind out there.

OP posts:
Whinge · 31/05/2023 16:28

The other dogs having use of the communal areas has not been an issue in the past as they have been small. This is somewhat different.

Small or large im surprised no one has complained. It's not the fact the dog uses the communal areas that's a problem, it's the fact it's unsupervised. Surely the housing association rules state that dogs must be under control, and an unsupervised dog isn't.

Shadowworry · 31/05/2023 16:31

Whinge · 31/05/2023 16:11

The neighbours allow their other dog unsupervised free reign of our garden and stairwell. they have said they intend this dog to be allowed the same.

Regardless of the new dog, surely someone has complained about this? Confused

Complain daily to the housing association citing your right to a safe space

Original poster
cannaecanecorso · 31/05/2023 16:32

@Whinge apparently the housing association has no rules on pets and communal spaces! i wasnt aware of that until now.

OP posts:
JustCheckMyHead · 31/05/2023 16:47

I think it’s worth maybe even getting some legal advice

Unluckycat1 · 31/05/2023 16:48

What is wrong with people. Obviously a dog of that size with guarding traits is not suitable for a communal garden. I wouldn't have my own five month old friendly non-dangerous breed out unsupervised in a communal garden, any dog can bite, the fear of what might go wrong would be hugely anxiety inducing.

I would complain often, ask to escalate it, point out the rise in dog attacks by large bull breeds (presuming a cane corso is a bull breed?). Put them in a situation where if something happens there will be a paper trail of evidence of them dismissing concerns, and let them know that's what you're doing.

heldinadream · 31/05/2023 16:49

JustCheckMyHead · 31/05/2023 16:47

I think it’s worth maybe even getting some legal advice

I agree, and fast. This is a disaster in the making. Please do this OP. It's insane.

Bert2e · 31/05/2023 16:56

Surely you just report it to the local dog warden or police who will intervene. The Dangerous Dogs Act of 1991 covers this even though its private property.

Original poster
cannaecanecorso · 31/05/2023 16:58

@Bert2e i spoke with dog warden. tehir advice was to speak to teh housing association. the warden also said there was nothing they could do until the dog was actually out of control, had bitten or attacked someone. so we have to wait for an attack and only then can something be done.

OP posts:
Original poster
cannaecanecorso · 31/05/2023 16:59

this is all why i feel powerless to do anything!

OP posts:
Whinge · 31/05/2023 17:04

cannaecanecorso · 31/05/2023 16:58

@Bert2e i spoke with dog warden. tehir advice was to speak to teh housing association. the warden also said there was nothing they could do until the dog was actually out of control, had bitten or attacked someone. so we have to wait for an attack and only then can something be done.

That's not true. The law states

It’s against the law to let a dog be dangerously out of control anywhere, such as:

  • in a public place
  • in a private place, for example a neighbour’s house or garden
  • in the owner’s home

Your dog is considered dangerously out of control if it:

  • injures someone
  • makes someone worried that it might injure them

A court could also decide that your dog is dangerously out of control if either of the following apply:

  • it attacks someone’s animal
  • the owner of an animal thinks they could be injured if they tried to stop your dog attacking their animal

An unsupervised dog in a communal space, especially one as large as a cane corso is a dangerous dog. Something can be done before it gets to the stage where it bites or attacks someone.

crowsfeet57 · 31/05/2023 17:07

Surely the dog needs to be under control in communal areas, ie on the lead. I work for a HA and we would not allow dogs to roam around the communal areas. I would report this as ASB, not everyone likes dogs and they shouldn;t have to put up with them in communal areas.

Maybe go to your MP. HA's hate MP complaints.

LilyLemonade · 31/05/2023 17:11

Do you mean to say that you would potentially have to encounter this large, unsupervised dog simply to enter or exit your own home? (If it’s allowed to roam the stairwells unsupervised). I would also seek legal advice I think.

miniegg3 · 31/05/2023 17:17

There may not be rules against having a dog in the communal areas (as in walking through it for a walk) but doubt they would be allowed to roam unsupervised!

Original poster
cannaecanecorso · 31/05/2023 17:20

thanks for all this folks. i honestly dont see how it can work, given the dogs need for a fenced in space which the owners will not be allowed to build / construct in the communal area. it is not that the dog just needs to be on a lead in that area - it needs its own space to guard.

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