I love dogs, BUT...............

[rodeo65]

We moved into a new house recently and the yappy thing across the street never stops.

It lunged and snapped at DD the first week we lived here. She has no dog fear because of our two so I have to constantly remind her that not all dogs are friendly and she is not to try to pat one unless the owner is there and gives permission. I could see it happening in slow motion as she reached down to it (it's quite small) and it showed it's teeth. I yelled to her as it lunged. Fortunately she was quick enough that she did not get a bite.

The owners leave it outside all day or it has a doggie door. It either escapes out of the gate or stands there barking at all the kids walking by or people walking their dogs. They leave their windows open and if it IS inside it yaps at everything that moves.

THEN it chased me with our two dogs ON LEASHES back up our driveway and into our garage while the lady that owns it continued her gardening. They leave it free all the time when they are outside. And they KNOW it's aggressive. She even made a "funny" comment to me when we first moved in and I told her about the incident with our daughter about how nasty he is. Well, yeah, we have a small dog too which is more aggressive than our large one - that's why we keep it on leash at all times. When it chased us into the garage, I was trying to keep our big guy between it and my small one knowing there would be a dog fight for sure, but it kept coming. As we got in the garage I yelled "NO" at it and it lunged at ME. DH came out the front and yelled at it and it ran home. Then he told the owner about it and that we have found it in our back yard twice. It seems to be slightly better now but it still yaps incessently.

We've contacted animal control and we have to keep detailed dates, times and duration of the barking for them to do anything but they were going to pay a visit to make sure the dogs are licensed (they have two but the bigger one is not the nuisance the little one is) and read the bylaw to them. That was when things got slightly better, but only slightly. Right now they are off to work with all the windows open and all I can hear is yapping.

I really did not want to start out on a bad note with new neighbors, but this is just nuts! We can't step out our front door without barking. I'm not the type to make waves (although DH is) but when it tries to attack my child and our dogs it has to be stopped. Okay rant over - I feel better.

 

[agnes!]

Maybe get one of those hand-held dog-"zappers"? Worked for us - neighbor's dog would bark when we went out our front door, bark when we went out our back door, back when we drove up in our cars, bark when we had the TV on and the back-door open and on and on... (you get the idea). In desperation I ordered one off of Amazon and we started using it when we'd take walks (would keep it in a coat-pocket and only click it when the dog barked). The dog would kind of shake its head and look befuddled, but it got the message. Now it's lovely! Dog only barks on an as-needed basis (and if you would have told me this would work, I wouldn't have believed it before I used the thing).

Of course, our situation is a little different because the dog wasn't loose and in attack-mode all the time, just lives next door and was out in the fenced yard on a *very* regular basis.

And I think it's terrible that you feel unsafe in your own yard.

agnes!

 

[dzorn]

We moved into a new house recently and the yappy thing across the street never stops.

It lunged and snapped at DD the first week we lived here. She has no dog fear because of our two so I have to constantly remind her that not all dogs are friendly and she is not to try to pat one unless the owner is there and gives permission. I could see it happening in slow motion as she reached down to it (it's quite small) and it showed it's teeth. I yelled to her as it lunged. Fortunately she was quick enough that she did not get a bite.

The owners leave it outside all day or it has a doggie door. It either escapes out of the gate or stands there barking at all the kids walking by or people walking their dogs. They leave their windows open and if it IS inside it yaps at everything that moves.

THEN it chased me with our two dogs ON LEASHES back up our driveway and into our garage while the lady that owns it continued her gardening. They leave it free all the time when they are outside. And they KNOW it's aggressive. She even made a "funny" comment to me when we first moved in and I told her about the incident with our daughter about how nasty he is. Well, yeah, we have a small dog too which is more aggressive than our large one - that's why we keep it on leash at all times. When it chased us into the garage, I was trying to keep our big guy between it and my small one knowing there would be a dog fight for sure, but it kept coming. As we got in the garage I yelled "NO" at it and it lunged at ME. DH came out the front and yelled at it and it ran home. Then he told the owner about it and that we have found it in our back yard twice. It seems to be slightly better now but it still yaps incessently.

We've contacted animal control and we have to keep detailed dates, times and duration of the barking for them to do anything but they were going to pay a visit to make sure the dogs are licensed (they have two but the bigger one is not the nuisance the little one is) and read the bylaw to them. That was when things got slightly better, but only slightly. Right now they are off to work with all the windows open and all I can hear is yapping.

I really did not want to start out on a bad note with new neighbors, but this is just nuts! We can't step out our front door without barking. I'm not the type to make waves (although DH is) but when it tries to attack my child and our dogs it has to be stopped. Okay rant over - I feel better.

Keep calling is your only choice. Did you inform animal control that it has ran after you not just barking but attacking.

Denise in MI

 

[acejka]

Maybe get one of those hand-held dog-"zappers"? Worked for us - neighbor's dog would bark when we went out our front door, bark when we went out our back door, back when we drove up in our cars, bark when we had the TV on and the back-door open and on and on... (you get the idea). In desperation I ordered one off of Amazon and we started using it when we'd take walks (would keep it in a coat-pocket and only click it when the dog barked). The dog would kind of shake its head and look befuddled, but it got the message. Now it's lovely! Dog only barks on an as-needed basis (and if you would have told me this would work, I wouldn't have believed it before I used the thing).

Of course, our situation is a little different because the dog wasn't loose and in attack-mode all the time, just lives next door and was out in the fenced yard on a *very* regular basis.

And I think it's terrible that you feel unsafe in your own yard.

agnes!

Does this shock the dog?!

 

[sunnyday123]

Does this shock the dog?!

I am also wondering this. And would it be any different than an invisible fence shock? Would it affect all dogs in the area? Can you tell I live next door to an all day barker??

 

[agnes!]

Does this shock the dog?!

Oh no, it's sonic, gives out a sound that only dogs can hear. To shock the dog the animal would have to wear a special-collar(to receive the shock) or it would have to maybe be a "tazer'. (Actually, I know someone who walks a dog and the dog has to wear a shock-collar while they're our, but even that shock is very mild and is more of a slight buzz to warn the animal and to get it out of its I'mNOTlisteningtoyou mode.
'Zapper' is probably not the best term to call it, it's just the word our family uses. I've also seen these hand-held devices at pet stores.

agnes!

 

[agnes!]

I am also wondering this. And would it be any different than an invisible fence shock? Would it affect all dogs in the area? Can you tell I live next door to an all day barker??

Yes, it is different from the invisible shock fences (I think those also require a shock-collar + the installed fence?), this thing just gives out a high-pitched sound that the dog doesn't like. It's very benign and unobtrusive. It's easy to work how you use the thing (it's slightly smaller than a TV-remote, maybe about the size of a cellphone?) and keep it in a coat-pocket and the owners of the barking machine will never know...they'll probably be amazed at how much better the dog is behaving.

At least it worked for us and saved our sanity *and* we didn't have to tell our *immediate* next-door neighbors that their out-of-control dog was driving us crazy. (And I know it's not really the dog's fault, it's the owners who should be better-trained eh?)

agnes!

 

[KCK]

PLEASE post the name of the model you use... we need one of these too!

 

[sunnyday123]

Yes, it is different from the invisible shock fences (I think those also require a shock-collar + the installed fence?), this thing just gives out a high-pitched sound that the dog doesn't like. It's very benign and unobtrusive. It's easy to work how you use the thing (it's slightly smaller than a TV-remote, maybe about the size of a cellphone?) and keep it in a coat-pocket and the owners of the barking machine will never know...they'll probably be amazed at how much better the dog is behaving.

At least it worked for us and saved our sanity *and* we didn't have to tell our *immediate* next-door neighbors that their out-of-control dog was driving us crazy. (And I know it's not really the dog's fault, it's the owners who should be better-trained eh?)

agnes!

Huh. Does it affect all the dogs in the immediate area? How about if a dog is inside?

 

[agnes!]

Huh. Does it affect all the dogs in the immediate area? How about if a dog is inside?

It only affects a dog if you directly point it at the animal and only within (I think?) about 20 feet. If a dog is inside a house 25 feet from me it will not affect it, if I have my back to the dog it will not affect it. I have to point it *at* the animal and I have to click the button to ennable the ultrasonic noise...it's more of a startle type of thing and we only used it when the dog would bark at us, I didn't want it to lose its effectiveness by overuse.

PLEASE post the name of the model you use... we need one of these too!

It's called a Dazzer II.

agnes!

 

[sunnyday123]

It only affects a dog if you directly point it at the animal and only within (I think?) about 20 feet. If a dog is inside a house 25 feet from me it will not affect it, if I have my back to the dog it will not affect it. I have to point it *at* the animal and I have to click the button to ennable the ultrasonic noise...it's more of a startle type of thing and we only used it when the dog would bark at us, I didn't want it to lose its effectiveness by overuse.



It's called a Dazzer II.

agnes!

Agnes, you rock.

 

[rodeo65]

Thanks agnes! DH said he had looked into those within the first couple of weeks but wasn't sure it would work so didn't bother. I'll let him know it does work. The problem being, of course that half the time it's inside with the windows open. I wonder if it would work in that case. He also worried that if it could work on the dog across the street, it might upset our own two. I can see him standing at the foot of their driveway manically pressing the button.

Denise, he did tell them about the incidents when it growled, lunged and snapped, which was why they got a bylaw visit to ensure the licenses were in order and were read the bylaw. Dogs must be on a leash if not on their property. Since then we haven't seen it off their property, but we sure hear it! Of course that doesn't mean I ever leave the propery with our dogs without being paranoid it will come racing from behind a car or something and start attacking my little dog - who is 15 years old and kinda grumpy. She would not back down!

DH is dreaming of evildoing but I keep telling him it's the owners not controlling the dog. He thinks the dog is Satan. I think the owners are irresponsible - well so does he, but it's the noise that makes him lose his mind. He works from home and his office is right at the front of the house - directly across from the open window.

 

[Disney Doll]

The guy who trained our dog had 2 famous sayings:

"There are no such things as bad dogs, only bad dog owners"

and

"You get as good of a dog as you deserve"

Meaning, don't blame the dog for the owners' mistakes. That dog behaves like that because it has never been properly trained, corrected and socialized.

But, it doesn't solve your problem of the menacing dog, OP. keep calling the dog warden. Try the Dazzer II. maybe you will have to be the one to surreptitiously train the dog.

 

[Promomx2]

We have dogs that back up to our house who bark and I've noticed that Lowes has one of those sonic barking things that looks like a birdhouse. I'm thinking of getting one of those, but I'm hoping that back to school will straightened out the owners and keep the dogs quiet.

 

[pixiewings71]

So does that sonic thing work thru fences? The dogs in our neighborhood all go nuts when we walk the dogs and I wonder if that would work on them. lol I would use it on my dog too, she barks like crazy and it's very annoying.

OP I would keep documents and be very careful around that dog. It does not sound like it's going to end well.

 

[rodeo65]

OK -almost 10pm and it won't shut it!!!!!!! I have no idea what it is yapping at but it's been non stop for about 20 minutes. It's inside with the window open and mine is closed. It's like it's in the room with me even with my windows closed - which I would prefer to have open.

 

[Evi]

I would try talking to the neighbor nicely and be really specific with what your concerns are and how you think they could be resolved. I have new neighbors and I've been trying to get them to trip hedges previous owner used to keep then nice and short well I guess I asked the wrong way and now hedges are like 14ft high. For what its worth you don't want neighbors to hate you and be spiteful.

 

[Tigge50447]

My friend from work bought one of those bird feeder things and it does work. She lives in an area where the houses are so close and she had enough of the barking. She had it installed right on her house and said it's much better now. She set it on it's highest setting, lol.... That was after the dog warden was called several times with no good outcome.

 

[KCK]

I would try talking to the neighbor nicely and be really specific with what your concerns are and how you think they could be resolved. I have new neighbors and I've been trying to get them to trip hedges previous owner used to keep then nice and short well I guess I asked the wrong way and now hedges are like 14ft high. For what its worth you don't want neighbors to hate you and be spiteful.

In my experience with dog-nuisance owners, they NEVER own up to their dog being badly behaved or oblige with more vigilance over the dog. They always come up with excuses, such as the dog poops in the house, gets bored, a bark collar is inhumane (like torturing your neighbors is humanitarian), yada yada yada. Many times they'll turn angry and heap abuse on you. This happened to me.

I took my ex-neighbor to court for the barking. She knew the judge (really!) but he couldn't ignore the cop's testimony. He found her guilty but suspended the fine.

Two months later her dog was on my property (300 ft away) and Animal Control wrote the ticket. I had it on videotape and we went to court again. This time she didn't know the judge and she got hit with a $75 fine. When she tried mouthing at him he doubled it on the spot and said "keep going". Of course she didn't...

Yes, for sure you should try talking to the neighbor, some people even say take over a bottle of wine, etc. But I don't think much will come of it... call me a cynic.

I know this doesn't help but I am very sorry for your plight. Having been in a similar situation I know what pain you're going through. You should pull out all the stops in terms of involving the authorities after exhausting your options with talking to the neighbor. People can be such jerks; all I can tsay is that one day, they'll get their payback, right here on this big blue marble, no waiting for the hereafter. I've seen it with my own eyes too many times to doubt it.

 

[rodeo65]

Well, last night was fun.

After the prolonged 10pm barkfest, DH went over to ask the neighbor to get the dog to quiet down. No one was home. Surprise. So he left a note on the door saying "Please, do something about the non-stop barking, it happens day and night".

About 20 minutes later - it's now closing on 11pm there was a pounding - I mean fist-banigng pounding on the door. I was upstairs and heard parts of it but basically the neighbor threw the note at DH and said he should have talked to him about it. DH said he tried but no one was home. Neighbor started getting loud so DH asked him to step outside since our kids were sleeping. He said "so what so are mine". His kids are older teen and young 20's and as far as I know only one lives there during the school year.

The rest is what DH told me when he came back in. He said neighbor was belligerent and as you said KCK denied any issue at all. When DH told him about the dog attacking our DD twice and me and our dogs once, on OUR property, he said (again with tone and attitude) "this dog does NOT leave our property". Ummm - attacking issues aside, he told me when we first moved in that it was so great living beside a park that he could let the dogs run in (it's not a leash free). The were running off leash and off his property at the time.

When called on the barking he said "what, your dogs don't bark?" and "how do you know it's my dog - there are dogs behind us that bark all the time". Well lets see...actually our dogs do not bark inside the house since they don't sit at the front windows and watch everything. The like to look out the back at the squirrels but don't bark at them. The only time the little one barks is if we're out walking and another dog comes after her. I think I can count on one hand the number of times the big one has barked. And the dogs behind him? Not unless they are in his yard standing at his gate and look just like his. DH said he didn't get into what our dogs do or don't do, just kept saying we are within bylaw limits.

It ended with neighbour saying DH should have talked to him first before calling bylaw. This is the only point DH and I disagreed on. I thought he should have too, but he said talking to his wife was enough. I said I bet she never told her husband the dog chased us and lunged at us, so he should have gone to the husband too. He says he told a member of the family, nothing changed and he should not have to go speak to each and every member of the family to get them to do something about it so he called bylaw.

DH was mad at the denial and him flat out saying the dog is never off property. He's been in our BACK yard, not just running around out front. I've seen him off property with neighbor standing there talking to me, so clearly I've seen it. In the end neighbor said no big deal and what did DH want him to do about it. DH said follow the bylaw and keep the noise down.

We have enemy neighbors now. At least today was quiet. I said I though they'd keep it quiet for a bit and for sure make sure it stayed on property since he flat out denied him being off, but in a few weeks or months it will start again. Neighbor said the dog has a complex. That was the only "concession". If he admits that then he knows the dog is aggressive and noisy.