Inconsiderate Neighbors - HELP!!!!!

[Beth]

I am wondering if anyone else has the unfortunate experience of having ignorant, inconsiderate neighbors that tease their dogs and throw things over the fence into their yard?

We are at our witts end with our neighbors and I need to vent to other dog lovers.

Our dogs, and I am not being bias, are great dogs they only bark for the normal stuff they hear someone on the other side of the fence, animals on the other side of the fence, etc. Our other neighbors in the neighborhood have actually asked us how we keep our dogs so quiet and well behaved. We also don't just let the dogs bark and bark in the yard we let them in to calm down before they can go back out.

So when we find apples in our yard with ants on them (when there are no apples trees to be found anywhere), and BIC lighters in our yard when neither one of us are smokers, and see the kids next door waving hockey sticks and toys over the top of the fence teasing our dogs we just don't know what to do. Yesterday it was firecrackers at the back of our fence it was driving the dogs mad so I took them inside and they settled some but still heard the firing of fire crakcers and they could not get completely settled. I was home yesterday from work too with a sick infant.

I want to talk to the neighbors but we are afraid they will not be approachable, and that a feud will ensue and we all have to live on the same street and we'll be even more miserable.

They have 3 dogs that they let roam the neighborhood and pee and poop on everyone's lawns. We have a leash law in our town and no one else allows their pets to roam around unleashed. Other neighbors walk past our house to use the woods (our street is a dead end that has state protected woods) and walk their dogs and the neighbors dogs will come running out and annoy the people walking their dogs, not to mention not all dogs are dog friendly, and we all know how scarey it is to have an unleashed dog come running up at you when you are walking your dog.

Their dogs have sprayed on our bushes and my husband caught one in our garage spraying some boxes that we had sitting on the floor. Our garage door was open and we can let our dogs out there and they won't run out the garage but imagine if we had let them out at the exact moment their dog was in our garage spraying?

I mean we have a fun loving female pitbull/lab mix who is a big baby - but we wonder sometimes rub her the wrong way and then what? Especailly now that she has been exposed to the teasing. Don't get me wrong she is by no means aggressive we have toddlers in our family that can put a cookie in their mouths and she will genlty take it out. Our other dog is a jack russel terrior mix and he's not as dog friendly or people friendly as our older dog. He is more of the barker and these kids make him crazy. And he's a puppy still so it's not helping our cause of trying to get him socialized.

We just don't know what to do these people are irresponsible animal owners they have wild cats, wild dogs, and wild kids and I am begging for suggestions on what to do.

Any suggestions? Any great wisdom out there?

[Mandy King]

I am living this same issue! The neighbors behind my house throw their scraps over the fence! I didnt realize they were doing it until my dog (a toy yorkie) came in the house and puked speghetti all over my couch! I was furious! I started shoveling the scraps back into their yard. I dont feed my dog table food, and I certainly dont appreciate some else doing it!
They have a big Mastiff(sp?) that kept jumping over the fence into our yard. I had felt so sorry for that dog because I could tell it got absolutely NO attention and was chained up! His chain was just long enough to jump the fence and land right in our yard, ofcourse he couldn't go very far after that. But what if my yorkie went outside and that dog was there! He could eat him for lunch! My yorkie only weighs 6lbs! Not to mention this dog growled at me when I tried to pet it once. My husband nicely asked the neighbors to do something about it, but they never did. I was forced to call the police. They no longer have the dog, and I wonder if they took it to the pound and now its been put down. I feel horrible if that happened! But I had to think of my dogs safety and my toddler niece. I wasn't wrong to call the police was I?

[Heather A Templeton]

cant the police or someone help you they should it still harrasment no matter what and it is not right~

[ashleyrene51205]

I understand your problem. My uncle had a full blooded boxer he was a great dog that he adopted from a pound. He was gentle with kids and never bothered to be anywhere else but my uncles side. My uncle has bad neighbors and they kept teasing the dog every night, fire crackers.ball bats,yelling, you name it they did it then one night a nicer neighbor girl was walking out was was attack by mistake by the dog because he was so used to the boy walking down the road so late to tease him. After words the dog was put down some time later. because he bame ill in a way where only my uncle could keep him and when my uncle was going to jail he was terminated.

[Vicki Martinez]

Call your local police/sheriff. I had this issue with my first female rottie the neighborhood kids teased her and I spoke to the parents who did nothing so I called the Sheriff and explained what was going on he went and spoke to the mother and cited her for her child harrassing us and tresspassing and that was the last time we had issues. The little girl eventually came up and wanted to pet the dog and they became fast friends and were friends until she passed(the dog). I would cover your bases tho, maybe get some video of the unleashed dogs and the owner's disreguard for fencing and take that to the police with your complaint.

[fur babies]

Do you live in town or out? One thing you can do is take a pic or video them teasing and especially throwing something in your yard. Take a COPY of it to the neighbors and tell them it stops now or they will taken to court. The court systems consider dogs as property and you have every right to protect your property from damage. If you live in town, even better, get your proof (pics and or video) and call the pd and report harassment from your neighbors.

[fur babies]

This right here is the reason why I bought 5 acres out in the middle of the country. I will always have my dogs in a 6ft fenced in yard but this way if someone is on my property I have recourse to prosecute them for trespassing.

[J jones]

Easy fix: KEEP YOUR DOGS INDOORS. Anyone who leaves dogs (or cats, or any pets) outdoors is putting their pet at risk of being taken by "Bunchers" (the "good" and "very rural" areas are the most at risk of this!!!!) -- Bunchers take dogs (even "vicious" ones, with catch poles) to sell them to laboratories for cosmetic and medical testing (didn't you see the documentary???), and for bait dogs in Pit bull fighting rings (yes, they are everywhere). Also -- If your neighbors get sick of the noise (AND RIGHTFULLY SO), they can throw poisoned meat over the fence, to kill your dogs (it happens all the time when dog owners don't consider that their neighbors might not enjoy hearing dogs constantly barking over "normal stuff") I have two new adopted Pits, and I love them -- So much that I don't inflict them on my neighbors, and I don't leave them in my yard to annoy people, and I don't leave them in the yard alone FOR THEIR OWN SAFETY too. Get a clue. If you are not outside with your dogs, they should be INSIDE WITH YOU -- If the neighbors are taunting them, it's just a matter of time before they get poisoned or shot, or burned from a fire cracker. My mother always says, "It's easier to put on your bedroom slippers, than it is to CARPET THE WORLD." FOR YOUR DOGS SAFETY -- KEEP THEM INDOORS UNLESS YOU ARE OUT WITH THEM. Why don't you try being considerate neighbors?

[Beth]

J Jones,
I believe your message was for me to try being a considerate neighbor? I think that you are jumping the gun slightly in your interpretations of what I do or don't do with my dogs. While I appreciate your opinion as it is the other side to the coin so to speak I really don't appreciate the apparent tone in your comments.
I don't think that Maxfactor has bunchers romaing the streets where I live, I do however, appreciate your enthusiactic concern!
Thanks for letting me know that I should 'get a clue'. I found it both entertaining and ironic.

[Dawn...G]

I have to agree with J Jones on this. Keep the dogs inside! Problem solved. They should be anyway, as part of the family. Then let them have play time outside, supervised by you or another member of the family. That way they still get to run in the yard.

[J jones]

I agree with Dawn. ALSO -- Professional dog trainer and behaviorists say it is BAD to just turn your dogs out in the yard to run, unless you take them for REGULAR SCHEDULED WALKS ON THE LEASH,2-3X PER DAY.A Walk should be w/the dog BESIDE YOU,NOT in front of you. If the dog is in front of you, it means (to him) that he is in charge, and dogs feel off balance that way.

AFTER the dicipline of the walk, THEN you can take the dog to run in the yard and play ball WITH YOU, or go to the dog park, again to be SUPERVISED BY YOU (or any other TRUSTED ADULT.

Kids can walk WITH YOU, but they should NEVER be left to supervise the dog!

If you are a GOOD, CONSIDERATE pet owner (whether it's dogs, cats rabbits, etc) YOUR PETS WILL BE INSIDE, UNDER YOUR SUPERVISION, and you would be considerate, and thoughtful enough NEVER to give the neighbors ANY reason to complain.

What is "barking at normal stuff" to you, is a BIG ANNOYANCE to others, and the PITY of it is, the ones who ALWAYS SUFFER in the end ARE THE PETS WHO WERE UNDER YOUR CARE, and who you were SUPPOSED TO BE protecting and looking after and GUIDED by YOU.

I think everyone wants people to love/like their pets as much as they do, right?

So if you are a good, responsible owner, and keep your pets under your SUPERVISION AT ALL TIMES, then EVERYONE will be HAPPY to see them when you WALK THEM ON THE LEASH DOWN THE STREET (And NOT the mile-long retractable leashes, where the dog feels he is walking himself! Watch "It's Me Or The Dog" or "The Dog Whisperer" or any of the other million trainers and behaviorists)

[Dawn...G]

Just to clarify. I do believe it is best to keep them inside. As part of the family. It is just my belief. Having outdoor runs as playtime. Unless of course you live on a very large property. However, I don't necessarily believe your being inconsiderate to your neighbors. Although, given J Jones comment, I guess it's a matter of opinion. It's possible, neighbors are bothered and don't say so. Also, the leash issue. Given I don't have any dogs, nor have I as an adult, only as a child. However, I don't necessarily agree with having to keep them on a tight leash either, if their friendly. Now there are some really good people on here, major dog owners that would know better than I on that subject.

[J jones]

When you have a dog, you have to be the pack leader, or else people around you will not be happy and eager to see your dog. First comes the WALK ON THE LEASH. Then, after that, comes FUN of running and playing in the yard or dog park. Running off leash should NEVER take the place, or come before the LEASH WALK, unless you want your dog to become an annoyance to people who are not in your household. Period. Watch ANY OF THE BEHAVIOR OR TRAINERS shows, or BETTER STILL, have a consultation with an accredited dog trainer. They might have various methods, but THEY ALL AGREE on that one point!