I would appreciate your opinions on this scenaro!

[SammieG]

We live in a tiny hamlet with only 25 houses.

For the last three months we have been living next door to an empty house, waiting for our neighbours to move in.

They are now in (from last Friday) and seem nice people. We share a long drive with them which is not an issue at all apart from one thing..
they have 2 large dogs.. a Rotweiler and a Bull mastiff (sp?)

I absolutely LOVE animals, all animals, but these dogs worry me.
I know that they tend to have bad reputations, and are pretty soft in reality but tonight an incident happened which has made me very uneasy.

The neighbours leave the dogs outside when they are out. Their garden is not terribly secure at present and we overlook open fields..

We saw the two dogs out in the front garden earlier this evening, and we assumed that the owners must be around, but they were not. The dogs had escaped from the garden and were sitting in our shared drive space.

My husband went outside to the car and the Rotweiler came over and started to snarl loudly and growl at my husband pushing him back into a corner.

Eventually the dog backed off and my husband was able to get the two dogs into next doors garden where they have proceeded to try and knock the gate down all evening.

The dilemma we have is that we want to stay on good terms with these people, but also we use our front garden a LOT. More even than the back garden... and I cant chance that one of us, but especially not DS6 is attacked by these dogs.

We need to be assured that these dogs are properly restrained when the owners are not there. Next week they are back to work, and the dogs will be in the garden all day every day and I am going to be terrified to leave the house in case one of the dogs escape from the garden.
The LAST thing I want to do is cause bad feeling with our new neighbours, but I also dont want a repeat of todays incident.

I stopped DH from going over to see these people this evening when they got in, as I thought they might have been drinking and not taken the news very well.

What do you think we should do?

This is our dream house. We have only been here 3 months, and I cant bear the thought that something is going to ruin it for us.

 

[jen_uk]

You definately have to do something about this! I love dogs but I have to admit that I am not keen on rotweilers, esp ones that growl at me! Maybe you could be selective with the truth and tell then that your son has had a bad experience with dogs and is very scared and so it would be good if they kept them properly restrained. If you can't resolve it nicely then call the local dog warden at the council, its illegal to let a rotweiler loose with no lead or muzzle on and they will take action.

Hope you work it out!

 

[Kath2003]

Just go round and see them. Just explain that you have a young child who plays out back and you want to make sure that both your child and the animals are safe. Dog owners are required to have control over their dogs in public - your front lawn classes as public, therefore they should not be there without the owner present.

 

[Minniespal]

I love all animals as well especially dogs. It could be that since your neighbours are in the process of moving in, with other things on their minds, that they are just allowing the dogs to settle in. However, this is your space as well and you definetly have to say something. By remaining silent, your neighbours may be of the opinion that you are perfectly happy with the situation and therefore do nothing.

 

[Lizzy Lemon]

I would feel in an awkward position you want to get on with your neighbours but at the same time you've got to feel safe too. I would tell them what really happened its unacceptable that this happened to your DH and would be even worse if it happened to your child. If they want their property protecting buy an alarm, if they want their dogs, learn how to take proper care of them and not just leave them roaming.

 

[SammieG]

Thanks for your input.
They didnt leave them roaming.. the dogs escaped as they leave them out in the garden when they are out. But what is to stop them escaping again?

We have had a sleepless night. The only reason the dog didnt bite DH was that he was really calm and avoided eye contact and stepped slowly back.

If it had been me, I would screamed and run away. DS6 is likely to have done the same - and that would have been the worst thing we could have done and definitely resulted in a bite.

 

[Tron[ADS]]

What an awful scenario, I really feel for you.
I suppose the only thing you can do is talk to them. In the mean time, safetly is paramount and you might want to think about some kind of defence measure, incase the worst happens and you get cornered...for example could you maybe buy one of those anti-rape alarm squeel things, the noise may scare a dog off long enough for you to get into the house....or may be pepper spray or something if thats legal....I think you can get one of those ultrasonic pet scarer things from Maplins, that may do the trick.

 

[NJOYURLIFE]

That is terrible that you cannot feel safe in your own garden and that you are put in a position to have to bring bad news to your new neighbors. However, you need to let them know. In addition to your own families safety, it is also to protect the dogs. What happens to the dogs if they do bite someone or if they are out running loose can they get hit by an automobile? I would talk about your families safety, but I would also try to stress to them that it is also to the dogs benefit that they are secured properly.

 

[Clare D]

I agree that you have to talk to the owners and ensure that they know that the dogs managed to escape to the front garden. At least of they know this they may have second thoughs about leaving them in the back garden in the future, especially in an area where they are not secure.
Also dogs like this are normally, especially the Mastiff, used to protect property. A friend of mine has 2 massive ones on recommendation by the Police when they were broken into twice. So they are likely to growl when approached.
I have a Staffordshire Bull Terrier and I wouldn't dream of leaving him in the garden in case somebody stole him or he escaped and went wandering off.
You also need to stress that you have a small child as these dogs are huge and would be much taller than you son if they jumped up or stood on their back legs.
If in the future it happens again after you have discussed with your new neighbours then I would call the dog warden to come and move them as you never know what could happen. Your safety is more important.
Hope you get it sorted though.

 

[misskrystal]

My Yorkshire Terrier was attacked my a neighbours much bigger dog. He broke all of the bones in his face and lost teeth. After that happened, I realised that some things are more important than good feeling between neighbours.

I'm not recommending starting a war with your neighbors, but be firm with them and tell them you want their dogs to be safely restrained. If they don't do anything about it after you speak with them, do as one poster already suggested and take matters into your own hands by calling the council.

 

[SammieG]

thanks for all your advice.

I have spoken to the neighbours and they were shocked and extremely apologetic and promise it wont happen again (dont know how they can promise that!).. they are nice people.
BUT I think I will phone the council tomorrow and see what they say..

I have seven weeks of little boys running up the drive ahead of me and Im petrified to be honest.

 

[fizz13]

Don't have any good advice but I just wanted to send you I know I would be terrified for my kids too,

 

[SammieG]

thank you!

I love dogs, but why when you are out at work all day would you have two big dangerous dogs like that?

 

[carolfoy]

I've no idea, too many people keep inappropriate pets, the whole reason my DS will remain dogless (much to his dismay) is because I work full time and wouldn't want to leave a dog outside all day

 

[Goofyish]

Useful link:

http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/welfare/domestic/dogs.htm

 

[queenarmadillo]

I would be careful about contacting the council--if they come round to see the dogs your neighbours are going to find out that you complained about it and I suspect that would effectively end any hope of a friendly relationship between you. Additionally, until someone actually gets bitten they are unlikely to do anything (even if the dogs stray they will just be returned to the owners) and so it is unlikely that you will achieve anything useful through the council anyway. As the owners of dogs of "vicious" breeds, your neighbours probably expect hostility about their dogs before there are any grounds for it, and if they see you over-reacting by calling the council after (for all you know) the first time one of their dogs has ever escaped you will begin to look unreasonable to them and they are likely to stop considering your opinion.

Supervise your children whilst they are playing, and teach them to react calmly like your husband did (not just for their present safety with the neighbours dogs, but equally to help them around any stray dogs they may encounter in their lives) and unless it happens again consider the matter dealt with. If the incident is repeated then you will need to talk with them again and request that they increase the size of the fence (5ft will hold most breeds unless they are determined to escape), and then consider talking to the council about your options if the matter still can not be resolved.

 

[SammieG]

I would be careful about contacting the council--if they come round to see the dogs your neighbours are going to find out that you complained about it and I suspect that would effectively end any hope of a friendly relationship between you. Additionally, until someone actually gets bitten they are unlikely to do anything (even if the dogs stray they will just be returned to the owners) and so it is unlikely that you will achieve anything useful through the council anyway. As the owners of dogs of "vicious" breeds, your neighbours probably expect hostility about their dogs before there are any grounds for it, and if they see you over-reacting by calling the council after (for all you know) the first time one of their dogs has ever escaped you will begin to look unreasonable to them and they are likely to stop considering your opinion.

Supervise your children whilst they are playing, and teach them to react calmly like your husband did (not just for their present safety with the neighbours dogs, but equally to help them around any stray dogs they may encounter in their lives) and unless it happens again consider the matter dealt with. If the incident is repeated then you will need to talk with them again and request that they increase the size of the fence (5ft will hold most breeds unless they are determined to escape), and then consider talking to the council about your options if the matter still can not be resolved.

I know that the steps that they have taken to enclose the dogs are inadequate for the types of dogs they have.

That said, the dogs have been pretty quiet today - but the owners have been out since 5.30am and the dogs have been in the garden all that time.

They are nice people.. and seem reasonable and I think youre right, I wouldnt go down the council route unless I felt it was absolutely necessary as I dont want to fall out with them.

However, i also dont want my son attacked..
He knows what to do now, but the last thing I want him to do is be really scared of dogs (he already slightly is before this incident.. and so Ive had to be careful what ive said to him without scaring him further)
The dogs are often out the front with the owners too, and I dont want him freaking out every time he sees them.

Thanks everyone for the advice.

 

[Cyrano]

I used to have two Rotti's in a previous life. They were very good natured but needed to be trained to get that way. As I was single I "borrowed" my nephew and niece for a week so the dogs got used to children.

The kids next door used to ask if Rael and Pepper were coming out to play. they were 7 and 8 stone respectively. They were great dogs but never left alone.

The irresponsibilty of your neighbours is unbelieveable. If a dog bites someone it pays the ultimate penelty - a jag in the bottom. Even if it was only defending itself or the property. Why would anyone leave an unsupervised dog out

 

[SammieG]

i dont know.. they seem to think that its ok to leave the dogs locked in the back garden all day. Today they were out for 12 hours...and the dogs were in the garden unsupervised all that time.
They didnt escape and were pretty well behaved.. but all the same I couldnt rest...
And they are outside all day every day of the year.

 

[Kilted_Yank]

Ye Gods, Sammie!

Hmm. I suspect my solution would be entirely too American, so I will remain mum.

Looking forward to seeing you in a few weeks,

Bill