Letting your dog just wander the neighborhood

[FlightlessDuck]

We live in a cul-de-sac, and one of our newer neighbors got a dog a few months back. While they do have a fenced-in area, their dog either gets under the fence or one of the kids lets the dog out the door. The dog then spends hours of the day wandering between the neighborhood. She seems to stay within a certain area but will wander off as far as 5 houses away, but she'll just muck around for hours.

She isn't really messing with our stuff, and she's afraid of our dogs (out border collie has at least twice herded her back to her front door), but I'm worried at some point this dog is going to get hit by a car or get lost or something.

I'm assuming this isn't normal. I've certainly never seen this before with any other dog owners. Thoughts?

 

[jrmasm]

We live in a cul-de-sac, and one of our newer neighbors got a dog a few months back. While they do have a fenced-in area, their dog either gets under the fence or one of the kids lets the dog out the door. The dog then spends hours of the day wandering between the neighborhood. She seems to stay within a certain area but will wander off as far as 5 houses away, but she'll just muck around for hours.

She isn't really messing with our stuff, and she's afraid of our dogs (out border collie has at least twice herded her back to her front door), but I'm worried at some point this dog is going to get hit by a car or get lost or something.

I'm assuming this isn't normal. I've certainly never seen this before with any other dog owners. Thoughts?

That is very unusual in this day and age. It’s probably not even legal most places. I would speak to the owners out of concern for the dog.

 

[GreatLakes]

We live in a cul-de-sac, and one of our newer neighbors got a dog a few months back. While they do have a fenced-in area, their dog either gets under the fence or one of the kids lets the dog out the door. The dog then spends hours of the day wandering between the neighborhood. She seems to stay within a certain area but will wander off as far as 5 houses away, but she'll just muck around for hours.

She isn't really messing with our stuff, and she's afraid of our dogs (out border collie has at least twice herded her back to her front door), but I'm worried at some point this dog is going to get hit by a car or get lost or something.

I'm assuming this isn't normal. I've certainly never seen this before with any other dog owners. Thoughts?

Outside of rural areas that are mostly farms I don't think this is normal and as the PP mentioned it is likely illegal. Do the owners know the dog is getting out? My wife used to have a Husky mix that was an escape artist and it took her a while to finally get all the routes he was finding out closed. The first time she brought him to my fully fenced yard it took him about 10 minutes to find a way out that I never even knew existed.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Do the owners know the dog is getting out?

Yep. I mean, I assume so.

 

[momz]

unleashed dog will get you a fine around here. That said, i understand that dogs can get out unintentionally. Mine have, but I am aware when it happens. We have a fenced yard and while I don't stand outside with them, I keep an eye on them through the window. They have each squeeze through when the front door has been open a time or two. I get them back asap. One of mine will run up to people and bark at them, he's warning them to stay away from him, but most people don't understand that. He scares them, so I am very diligent about keeping him contained. the other one will want to play.

Reading your post, you said your border collie has herded the dog back home. Does that mean your dog is also unleashed? Could be a dangerous situation. I would not let mine (even my friendly one) interact with a stranger's dog.

 

[mjkacmom]

I assume that dog is doing his business on other people’s property. Lots of people have little signs reminding people to pick up after their dogs.

 

[Moliphino]

It may be normal for some people, but I hate it. The loose dog always winds up running at me walking my dog. Plus I have anxiety about traffic, dogs getting stolen, dogs running away, etc.

 

[china mom]

When we were in the suburbs (1/4 acre lots) - it was rare to see a dog on the loose.

Moved to a far less densely populated area and roaming dogs in not as big of a deal.

 

[StevieTimes]

That is very unusual in this day and age. It’s probably not even legal most places. I would speak to the owners out of concern for the dog.

That sounds very logical. Therefore, I would not recommend it.

 

[_19disnA]

From your description when you say the dog is loose for 'hours at a time', I have to assume the owners don't think this is an issue. If a dog runs out an open door or fence gate, most owners would know to immediately go look for it. Perhaps this is their first time having a dog and don't see it as a problem. However, a dog running loose could get hit by a car, get in a fight with other dogs or even bite someone it doesn't know. Most residential areas have rules that require dogs to be on a leash when in open areas for those very reasons. It is certainly NOT the norm for those who have dogs to behave this way.

 

[soccerdad72]

We have a wandering dog, I will admit.

We don't intentionally let him wander, but he has a tendency to sneak off on us when we let him out to go to the bathroom. Most of the time, we take him for a walk, but in the winter, often we just let him out and keep an eye on him. And being a little dog (dachshund), he knows he can slip underneath bushes and trees and we can't follow him.

Fortunately, all our neighbors know him well (we're also in a cul-de-sac) and aren't necessarily surprised when he comes to "visit". It's not something we encourage, but our next door neighbor will often open their back door, feed him a treat or two, let their daughters play with him for a while, then send him home.

 

[Christine]

We have a leash law where I live so this wouldn't be allowed. Just not a good thing to do in an area that is populated. Some other dog or animal could get to this dog, or as you said, the dog could be hit by a car. I'm sure most people don't appreciate others' animals doing whatever in their yards either.

 

[kdonnel]

She isn't really messing with our stuff, and she's afraid of our dogs (out border collie has at least twice herded her back to her front door), but I'm worried at some point this dog is going to get hit by a car or get lost or something.

Are your dogs loose as well? Or did you let your dog free specifically to heard the other dog back to its front door?

 

[VandVsmama]

We live in a cul-de-sac, and one of our newer neighbors got a dog a few months back. While they do have a fenced-in area, their dog either gets under the fence or one of the kids lets the dog out the door. The dog then spends hours of the day wandering between the neighborhood. She seems to stay within a certain area but will wander off as far as 5 houses away, but she'll just muck around for hours.

She isn't really messing with our stuff, and she's afraid of our dogs (out border collie has at least twice herded her back to her front door), but I'm worried at some point this dog is going to get hit by a car or get lost or something.

I'm assuming this isn't normal. I've certainly never seen this before with any other dog owners. Thoughts?

If you're concerned about it, go and knock on the neighbors' door and let them know that their dog has been getting out a lot and running free. How they respond will give you clues as to how you should proceed from there.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Are your dogs loose as well? Or did you let your dog free specifically to heard the other dog back to its front door?

Ah, you caught me! The border collie is allowed without a leash to go to the bathroom, but there is always a human who watches him and will pick him up and carry him back inside if he doesn't go back in voluntarily (which has only happened like 3 times in 5 years)

 

[mrodgers]

When we were in the suburbs (1/4 acre lots) - it was rare to see a dog on the loose.

Moved to a far less densely populated area and roaming dogs in not as big of a deal.

That's interesting because if known, around where I was in rural, you got one phone call to tell you your dog is on someone elses property. The 2nd phone call was to come collect the carcass.

I lost 1 chicken. The 2nd chicken the next day made it after the dog was completely pummeled by all the other chickens. I witnessed that and it was comical to see a dog running with a dozen chickens chasing it.

 

[NannyBeBe]

These days most areas have leash laws and require that dogs be vaccinated and licensed. I would speak to the neighbor first, but if they act like they don't care, I would call the local Animal Control and have the dog picked up. Having to go to the pound to get their dog and pay a fine may encourage them to take better care of the animal. I've had dogs for 70+ years and none of them have ever roamed the neighborhood. Most of the time, folks do it because they don't want to clean up their dog's messes.

 

[china mom]

That's interesting because if known, around where I was in rural, you got one phone call to tell you your dog is on someone elses property. The 2nd phone call was to come collect the carcass.

I lost 1 chicken. The 2nd chicken the next day made it after the dog was completely pummeled by all the other chickens. I witnessed that and it was comical to see a dog running with a dozen chickens chasing it.

We are not that rural. Lots of corn fields but no chickens but I have had a friend lost a pet duck and a chicken to dogs not far from my town.

I laughed at the image of the dog being pummeled by chickens... way to go chickens

 

[bcla]

My dog would typically just run off and then come back. Sometimes just go to a relative's house a couple of blocks away where there was familiarity. I remember a few dogs that managed to wander. My neighbor's dog somehow got out and was following us when we got home.

That being said, my area has a county "animal at large" ordinance where any wandering pet (even cats) can be captured by animal services. When I got one dog, we got it from a shelter that had its own tags attached. We didn't quite get a license and when my dog was picked up, we were notified and could go to the pound and pay to get my dog back. We got a fine for the dog not being licensed, which was the same fine for an "animal at large".

But yeah - a dog wandering around the neighborhood is generally going to violate some county or city ordinance.

 

[AgentMama]

Our neighbor's dog often wanders over to our our house, we have taken him back more times that I can count. One time he barged into our house and chased the cats. The last time we told them that if he is in our yard again, we will take him to the shelter and they can pick him up there. We're not far from a busy road, so I worry about him. I also cannot stand him going to the bathroom in our yard. We haven't seen him since then, so hopefully we won't.