Neighbour and our dog :(

con1888

I have to wonder why someone who does not like pets is on a pet section of a forum... odd.

Bromley86

Doesn't change the validity of their point though. Not that it's relevant to the OP, "He is never left on his own and there is always someone to go out to see if he barks."

krlyr

nikki702 wrote: »

I don't think the dog is a pitbull neither, it looks like a staff x mastiff. 'Officials' probably would class it as 'type' but lets face it they could 'type' a labrador X with their measuring tape!

Hope you can find a way for the dog to live inside, especially with this cold weather on its way.

Unfortunately it doesn't matter what you, me, Joe Bloggs on the street think, ultimately the only views that matter are those 'officials' and the cases like the recent Lennox just go to show what a very, very difficult battle it is if you object to those officials. There was a TV show on recently (didn't see it myself but heard about it) where I believe a Labrador cross was seized as 'of type'. The law does not recognised the American Pitbull breed but goes by Pitbull type, and this means that if it meets x, y and z measurements, it's of type and therefore illegal.
As you can't really do anything to alter a dog's physical appearance to prevent it looking of type, my advice to anyone who thinks their dog is at risk of being seized does everything they can otherwise.

So, for example, not doing anything that puts the dog on the council's radar, such as nuisance noise - OP cannot control the neighbour's actions here unfortunately but they can control the dog to an extent. This is why I think a contained kennel and run would be far better than a kennel and a loose dog in the garden - a contained dog cannot be tormented at the fence/gate, for example. You can buy runs separately that could be build around the existing kennel, or even section off a part of the garden for the dog - my last house had a huge garden that went all the way around the house, so the dogs had a 40' section from the back door - it meant no one walking past could even see the dogs, let alone aggravate them, fake a bite, throw anything harmful in, etc. - however much you trust your dog, unfortunately in today's world you cannot trust others.

They should ensure the dog is well-trained, well-socialised and well-liked - a vet reference or the views of the majority of neighbours could help show that the dog has never been any cause for concern. I would definately recommend a trainer who uses modern, fair methods, nothing "Dog Whisperer"ish using physical force, spray bottles, rattle cans, choke chains, 'sssht' noises, and so on. Train using fear and you have a dog who behaves only when the fear of the consequence is greater than the desire to not behave. These make for unpredictable dogs that tend to misbehave when no one is around to reprimand them, or who will lash out severely when in stressful or scary situations because they have been surpressed so much before reaching the point where they 'snap'. Train using positive methods that teach a dog that behaving benefits them, and you have much more longterm, stable behaviours, and a dog who trusts you to keep them safe in scary situations. The APDT website will list trainers in your area who have promised to follow the APDT code of practice

Avoid giving the dog an 'image' - no choke chains, chain leads, leather collars, definately no spikes, probably no studs either. Give the dog a family dog look - you can get fleece lined harnesses and collars from the Dog Games online shop, I'd go for a nice 'fluffy' look (I know in America lots of Pitbull owners put bandanas on their dogs to soften their look too). Even the name can play a bit part in people's perceptions - macho names like Spike, Bruno, Butch, etc. give an image of a tough dog, so it's often advised to go for a much softer name (I know someone who named their Staffie "Pup" as it brings up the mental image of a cute, innocent puppy!)

Would recommend caution on the guard dog thing for similar reasons too. I do not object to people viewing their dogs as a bit of additional security, I certainly appreciate owning a GSD and a Rottie x when home alone or walking out in the dark, but I see that as a bonus and I do not think it is wise in this day and age to purposely portray a dog as aggressive. Not only are there legal ramifications to owning a guard dog (so if you tell people he's your guard dog or use signs to suggest it, be very careful - for example, I believe a guard dog must always be kept on-lead or tethered by law, not roaming loose) but possible backlash in regards to the Dangerous Dogs Act, especially with the latest proposed changes (that make owners more liable for incidents on private property). Remember that a dog doesn't have to bite to be deemed a dangerous dog either - the fear of being injured is enough for someone to report the dog too.
I also think that many of the trainers who would help you train a guard dog would use the old-fashioned fear-based methods mentioned earlier so would be very wary having a professional come in and help. Dogs have a natural instinct to guard and I am more than happy to rely on that to protect me should I need it in my home, I don't feel the need to train or encourage any behaviour, I think that if the time came they would do it naturally. However, I do make sure that they're not pacing the boundary scaring off everyone who walks past, or encouraging any other guarding behaviour, because it could so easily backfire - I think in reality the chances of someone innocent walking in like a postman or a kid who's ball flew into the garden are far higher than a burglar, and the legal consequences for me and the dogs if they were to bite, and it be found out that I was training them to be guard dogs, are far worse a risk than a burglar IMO. I think the presence of a dog is going to be enough a deterrent on its own - but remember that if the dog is shut outside all day, a burglar could easily watch your house for a while and realise this, and then just break in through the front of the house. So another good reason to encourage the dog in the house more, if he's meant to be helping protect your house!

melanzana

Open forum. Anyone can read and post.

I was looking for just such a thread re barking dogs.

There is really no need to be so dismissive. People and pets huh? Definitely a different breed!

I just hate barking dogs! Seems to me the only ones who don't mind are the owners..

And I did not mean to offend anyone. Just hoping my neighbour is reading too!

gettingready

Well - I hate people having screaming arguments in their flats so loud that I can hear them, I hate them slamming doors, running their washing machines at 3 am etc etc.

And so what?

Live and let live.

OP says the dog barks very rarely , does not bark non stop.

Peple talk, dogs bark. Life.

Tropez

melanzana wrote: »

Get rid of the dog, and buy an alarm system. Everyone's happy.

Depends on the alarm system. If you don't like dogs barking, you'd probably dislike the siren that sounds virtually every time my neighbour goes out because the sensors are picking up insects, or letters being posted or some other such thing.

Still, at least it provides the useful function, due to not having its own backup supply, of letting you know when there's a power outage at 4am...

Fire_Fox

gettingready wrote: »

Well - I hate people having screaming arguments in their flats so loud that I can hear them, I hate them slamming doors, running their washing machines at 3 am etc etc.

And so what?

Live and let live.

OP says the dog barks very rarely , does not bark non stop.

Peple talk, dogs bark. Life.

I hate slamming doors, screaming children and people standing outside my flat door in the middle of the night having a chat. You need to do that in the corridor because ... ???? :mad:

VoucherMan

Fire_Fox wrote: »

You need to do that in the corridor because ... ????

Same answer as I'd give to the question 'Why do dogs lick their ba**s? (because they can)

lindens

gettingready wrote: »

He looks lovely

Hope you do not mind?

I'm not a dog lover but that is a beautiful intelligent looking dog. best of luck

Mupette

I just hate alarm systems that just randomly go off, and no one deals with it for hours, give me a dog anytime.