My dog, the neighbor and the tree

[Carriemel]

So we live in a condo complex, on the second floor, above a relatively older man. This man (who tends to sunbathe nearly naked, and honestly shouldn't) has somewhat declared himself "beautification manager and flower attendant" - pruning, planting new flowers, cleaning leaves up, and whatnot.

Sooooo....

Between our building and the one next to it, there stands a decent-sized tree, and under that tree, the neighbor has placed a whole bunch of decorative white stones. In that tree live a family of squirrels, which my dog seems to think would be pretty tasty, even without barbecue sauce. The dog has the time of his life staring up at these squirrels, growling at them, giving them the stink-eye. He also enjoys peeing at the bottom of this tree, as a sort of "MINE, not YOURS!"

The neighbor stopped me tonight as I'm out walking the little fuzzball. "Hey," he says, "do you let your dog do his business by that tree??" I said that he does. The neighbor replies, "Well, keep him away from the tree, he's moving my rocks around."

I replied back that I can't exactly control where and when my dog piddles, and if he chooses that tree, I'm not going to stop him.

DH said that I was right to tell him that.

Was I?

 

[Jennasis]

Assuming your dog is leashed when he piddles you do have control of where and when...and he should be leashed. BUT, that said, there isn't any particular reason he shouldn't be able to pee on the tree I suppose.

 

[minnie mum]

Is your dog on a leash? I'm assuming he should be if this is a public area. If he's on a leash, then you can control him and keep him away from the rocks under the tree.

 

[low-key]

yep that was ok, me I am the guy thats say "ok", then go do what ever I want

 

[jdb in AZ]

Haven't quite figured out what sunbathing nearly naked has to do with landscaping. Does the neighbor own the tree in question or the land that it's on, or is it "community property?" Does your condo group have an HOA?

 

[Carriemel]

Dog is on a leash, but if I don't keep the leash to a two foot length, he's able to walk over by the tree, and by that time, he's in the middle of peeing, and I can't stop him. Just to add, we're not talking about the dog doing #2, just about #1.

 

[Carriemel]

Point about the neighbor being nearly naked, is that it's OK for him to do *that*, but not ok for my dog to pee on a "community tree". There is an HOA, and all it states is that poop must be picked up.

 

[jdb in AZ]

Point about the neighbor being nearly naked, is that it's OK for him to do *that*, but not ok for my dog to pee on a "community tree". There is an HOA, and all it states is that poop must be picked up.

If it's not in the HOA, your neighbor has no right to complain.

 

[low-key]

Haven't quite figured out what sunbathing nearly naked has to do with landscaping.

that means we already have reason to hate him

 

[Jdbsfw]

If he would have asked nicely, I would have found another tree, since he got all bossy about it, I myself would pee there after my dog, then rub the old mans nose in it

 

[Jennasis]

Dog is on a leash, but if I don't keep the leash to a two foot length, he's able to walk over by the tree, and by that time, he's in the middle of peeing, and I can't stop him. Just to add, we're not talking about the dog doing #2, just about #1.

You can just avoid walking him near the tree if you so choose. Again, there isn't any reason the dog can't or shouldn't pee on the tree...but if you wanted to keep the peace with weird naked neighbor you certainly CAN control both where and when he pees on the walk.

 

[Carriemel]

Kinda hard to do when the tree is smack between the two buildings..gotta walk by it to get anywhere.

 

[diznygirl]

Point about the neighbor being nearly naked, is that it's OK for him to do *that*, but not ok for my dog to pee on a "community tree". There is an HOA, and all it states is that poop must be picked up.

A lot of HOA's have rules against white rocks. Just saying'

Meanwhile I'd be walking in another direction both to avoid the squirrels AND Mr. Wise Guy.

 

[Jennasis]

Kinda hard to do when the tree is smack between the two buildings..gotta walk by it to get anywhere.

Shorten the leash to that magic 2 foot length you spoke of and keep walking past it.

Or don't.

 

[mom2rtk]

It's not his tree.

 

[lizabu]

You have to live next to this guy. And whether or not your dog is disturbing his stones your dog is over there and taking the blame. I would keep the dog away from the tree so whether that means shortening the leash or tying him up in a different part of the yard...I would keep the peace. I feel like its important to pick your battles and this one isn't worth it.

 

[Kathryn Merteuil]

It's not his tree.

Unless the guy peed on it first.

 

[Jdbsfw]

Unless the guy peed on it first.

Quietly one of the funnier/wittier remarks I've seen lately

 

[RedAngie]

It seems easy enough to control where the dog pees in order to avoid tension with a neighbor. Don't be surprised if neighbor puts poisoned Milk Bones in the white rocks if you continue to let the dog pee there.

 

[Mizzoufan]

Seems so easy. Just avoid the tree and walk somewhere else. Is this a fight you really wanna have??