Neighbours Dog Fouling on Front Garden

LeighO86

Hi - having an issue with a neighbour and their dog who live a few doors down from me.

We brought this house and have been in for just over 18 months. This issue only really started a few months or so ago, but the neighbour lets the dog just wonder around while they're in the garage and it's a fairly large dog. The dog comes up to the front of our garden and has a wee - which is fine as you can't help marking and the fact we have two of our own dogs, but what absolutely drives me mental is the fact the dog proceeds to come right up to the front of the house and will poo in our garden and walk off - again, no owner in site and toddles back off the house. For the size of the dog, we aren't talking small amounts either. I caught the dog 2 weeks ago and confronted the neighbour on this as we originally couldn't figure out where the mess was coming from. 

This is where the fun starts. Admittedly, I was very annoyed and not sure about the temperament of the dog. I went around and the dog was in the front garden barking at me so I shouted hello and for someone to come out, took a few attempts but someone came out. I told them to come pick the dog mess up and showed them where it was. I was polite but stern, nothing to serious, just annoyed. Two days passed and late at night we got a knock on the door. It was the neighbours son telling me to come down to speak but I opened the top window as I was in the office. He then proceeded to shout and threaten to 'smash the place up' because I apparently threatened the neighbour (which I did not). I then got a load of abuse, telling me to stay away from the neighbour etc etc - couldn't get a word in edge-ways so decided to call the police. Turns out when I confronted the neighbour her husband was in hospital and when the son knocked on, he had died so tempers are flared. Police come and sort it out, tell them to keep the dog out the garden and keep out of each others way - happy days. I did go around to properly introduce myself a couple of days later and to see if the family was ok and apologise for their loss.

Two weeks later (today) the same thing as before has happened. Now I feel like I cannot go around to ask the neighbour to keep the dog out of the garden - Ideally I don't want to have to go to the council as I feel like that will cause another issue and the son is constantly the house so I definitely cannot go around as he is aggressively confrontational, last thing I want to be doing is scrapping with a neighbour or it escalating further. Any advice to try keep the dog out?

Thanks,
L

tacpot12

I think I would get two lengths of wood and keep them by the front door. When you see the dog approaching the garden, slap them together (keeping your fingers clear). The loud noise should cause the dog to change its mind and move off somewhere else. You need to be careful so that you don't startle it so much that it runs out into the road! After a few times, the dog will realise that if it approaches your garden it will heard a very unpleasant noise and will stop coming. 

Carrot007

Every time it is off lead (which is not allowed unless in a private contained area) solve the problem by taking it to the pound.

The £100 release fee should sort things out after a few times.

sheramber

Contact you dog warden as the dog should not be out roaming the street. 

Can you fence your garden so it cannot enter?

elsien

Carrot007 said:

Every time it is off lead (which is not allowed unless in a private contained area) solve the problem by taking it to the pound.

The £100 release fee should sort things out after a few times.

That’s not correct. Dogs have to be under control which does not automatically mean being on a lead. 

This one clearly isn’t under control but It’s not right to say they can only be off lead in a private contained area. 

LeighO86

sheramber said:

Contact you dog warden as the dog should not be out roaming the street. 

Can you fence your garden so it cannot enter?

It's not feasible at the moment due to planning to get kerb dropped and driveway done within the next year or so.

Even thought about dog deterrents but with two dogs of my own, probably is not the best choice.

Think dog warden will be the place to go.

LeighO86

tacpot12 said:

I think I would get two lengths of wood and keep them by the front door. When you see the dog approaching the garden, slap them together (keeping your fingers clear). The loud noise should cause the dog to change its mind and move off somewhere else. You need to be careful so that you don't startle it so much that it runs out into the road! After a few times, the dog will realise that if it approaches your garden it will heard a very unpleasant noise and will stop coming. 

My partner said this with some pans, will give it a try when it next happens.

fryedslyce

If it happens again, scoop up the dog mess with a trowel and return it to your neighbours via their letterbox.

tacpot12

fryedslyce said:

If it happens again, scoop up the dog mess with a trowel and return it to your neighbours via their letterbox.

This is not good advice as the neighbour's son has already shown that they will retaliate any action against their parent.  An action that only affects the dog is the only safe action under the circumstances. 

Soot2006

Steel fencing pins, 60cm mesh roll, run a cheap and temporary fence around your front garden. Dog will get in the habit of !!!!!! somewhere else. No confrontation required. When you do your driveway, dog now won't be in the habit of !!!!!! in that location, which will be a good outcome for your cars ...

oystercatcher

How about a peaceful approach to this family who have been bereaved. As OP is a dog owner surely they could just bag and bin the mess as they would their own dogs and then when they happen to next see the neighbour just light heartedly say " You owe me 4 dog bags" or whatever to drop the hint that the dog is still getting out. It sounds unintentional and the family are stressed. It's not the dogs fault. No point in making mountains out of molehills. The problem may well stop soon once the family get back to normal routine.