Dear neighbour, about your dog...

elsien

Just seen this on Facebook and had to share.

Dear Neighbour
It was good to meet you and your dog once again this morning. I’m sorry the circumstances were such that we couldn’t have a proper chat, but I’m afraid that being in a situation where I was restraining my four agitated and angry dogs whilst trying to ward your dog off with my foot as he tried to hump them indiscriminately wasn’t conducive to chit-chat.
Unfortunately we have had similar encounters several times since you moved here a few weeks ago, and as my dogs are neutered males and spayed females who don’t appreciate your dog’s relentless advances things can get a little lively when we meet, so I thought perhaps a letter might help to break the ice as it were.
I appreciate that your dog ran over two fields and nearly a quarter of a mile to get to mine, so it was going to take you a little time to get there to retrieve him. However for next time I’d suggest spending 15 minutes standing two fields away angrily screaming his name possibly wasn’t the best use of your time. It hasn’t worked on any previous occasion and didn’t work this morning, so could I respectfully suggest that next time you cut that part out of the process and come and get your dog straight away?
Anyway, I was sure as hell pleased to see you after 25 minutes of my dogs being humped, barged and jumped on. It was a shame that having finally managed to catch your dog and get hold of his collar you only let us get a few yards down the path before you released him, so he immediately came after us and the whole performance started again, but hey, that’s dogs for you – whoever in the world could have predicted he would do that?
We did talk a little last time about how you could stop your dog continuously running off and bothering other dogs, and I’ll accept that you have indeed tried ‘everything’ – except training apparently. Or rewards, as he ‘should’ do what you tell him without them. Dogs are certainly clever animals, but I’d never before realised that they had a sense of ethics and obligation to do the right thing, I certainly learned a few things from our conversation. To think of all that time I’ve wasted with clickers and treats!
On that subject, I’m still I’m not entirely sure how smacking him when you do finally manage to get hold of him will make him easier to catch next time - perhaps you could talk me through that one next time we meet?
We also briefly discussed that neutering might help curb his desire to streak off into the distance hump anything that moved, but you mentioned that you were considering using him at stud in due course as he a Pedigree Labrador with Papers; and he’s Chocolate – that’s important apparently.
Now I certainly can’t claim to know a lot about Labradors, but if the standard for the breed specifies a potato-shaped body and short, stumpy legs your boy is certainly a fine example and it would obviously be a shame to rob future generations of his genes; and he has Papers. I hate to break it to you, though - so does my newsagent but that doesn’t make me want to have his babies.
You told me that you’d thought about an electric shock collar to tackle his tendency to run off, but were concerned about the cost. I’m sure the fact you didn’t also mention any concerns about the effect of administering electric shocks on your dog’s physical and psychological wellbeing was merely an oversight, but I thought I’d slip it in here just in case it’s an aspect of these collars you may not have considered?
Anyway, having come home and pondered our mutual problem, I hope you are as pleased as I am that I have managed to come up with a tried and tested 100% effective solution that requires no time, input or effort from you and costs only a few pounds.
There is a handy little gadget that savvy dog owners have been using for many years to address your sort of problem. It’s very simple, a long strip of rope or leather with a loop at one end you can use as a handle, and a clever little clip at the other end that attaches to your dog’s collar (you might have seen that metal ring on his collar and wondered what it was for?). This brilliant device is called a lead - L.E.A.D. You attach it to your dog, hold the handle and hey presto, you have control of your dog and he can no longer run away! Most pet shops sell them – in fact I probably have a spare I can loan you to try, just let me know.
You can thank me next time we meet. Or better still, if we don't meet that will be thanks enough.

UKTigerlily

See, even Gitdog didn't get a letter on behaviour! Thanks for sharing lol

Person_one

I get that it's annoying when other dog owners are stupid and let their dogs cause problems, but this kind of self satisfied, self righteous, supposedly amusing, mean spirited, click bait, approval seeking rant is one of the least pleasant aspects of Facebook/social media.

(I know you didn't write it op, I don't blame you!)

Pollycat

I did think it was amusing (not just supposedly).

I'm relieved that it wasn't a Gitdog incident - especially after his recent 'walking stick' debacle.

moneyistooshorttomention

:rotfl::rotfl:. I can just picture it being said - with a studiedly neutral expression on face and carefully-hidden gritted teeth.

....and I sympathise....as I've got one of the "stoopid" type dog owners living near me...and actually pity the poor dog too for having them as owners.

So - personally - I'd add a suitably phrased bit about "You may not have noticed - but this is a residential area and not a farm in the middle of nowhere. Also you may not have noticed that it isn't a chavvy type residential area either. So it's not appropriate to have a dog kept outside in role of "guard dog". The only appropriate dogs round here are standard "pet dogs" kept inside as normal. The price you paid for your house in year x should have given you the clue that its not a chav area. The fact that there are some extremely expensive houses very near by should also give you a clue that it's not a chav area. Anyway - if Mr Burglar does come calling anywhere round here - he will doubtless choose one of those extremely expensive posh houses, rather than yours or mine".

Would have to phrase it better than that....but that's the gist of it.

mad_spaniel

I have always wondered how anyone with 4 dogs can ever hope to control them all in difficult circumstances. Perhaps if Elsien walked 2 dogs at a time or had a companion to help he or she would be able to get away from all the neighbour''s dogs' unwanted approaches and wouldn't have to resort to warding off Loving Dog with a foot. Since Loving Dog is now a new neighbour these encounters are going to be frequent unless 4 dog owner changes something in the dog walking routine. The Time? The Places walked? How the dogs are walked?

annandale

The Op copied the post from Facebook. Not their own experience

elsien

Elsien finds one lunatic Gitdog is quite enough to be going on with at any one time.

Having said that, there are an awful lot of people who allow their off lead dogs to approach , then get silly when he lands on their heads. I just remind them whose dog is on the lead and whose isn't.

Person_one

elsien wrote: »

Elsien finds one lunatic Gitdog is quite enough to be going on with at any one time.

Having said that, there are an awful lot of people who allow their off lead dogs to approach , then get silly when he lands on their heads. I just remind them whose dog is on the lead and whose isn't.

Haven't you had some nightmares where your dog has got loose and you've had to chase him down the street, or he's bothered people and you've had to sort it though? I'm sure you've posted about stuff like that. Nobody's perfect, **** happens, I think I'd rather meet someone who gets it wrong and knows it and deals with it than someone as unbearably smug as whoever wrote that 'letter', especially with the b****y comments about the dog's appearance.

minimad1970

annandale wrote: »

The Op copied the post from Facebook. Not their own experience

That's why it says "just seen this on facebook and had to share", at the beginning of the post.

AylesburyDuck

:T:T Utterly brilliant