Dog proof fencing?

m0t

Neighbours diagonally behind us have bought a pair of very destructive American Bully dogs, probably weigh at least 50kg each. 

Both dogs seem territorial, as soon as anyone goes in to their gardens they start barking, snarling and hurling themselves into their fence (a standard wood slat affair). It feels like only a matter of time until they get out and the fence between our garden and the intermediate neighbours garden is rotten so I'm sure if they got out of their garden they'd be in ours in minutes.

We have a small poodle and a one year old and at the moment hearing two massive dogs throwing themselves into the fence to get to them is worrying.

Is there a type of fence we could install in our garden that would stand up to these two dogs that doesn't look awful? Ideally something that looks wooden to blend with the rest of our fencing.

Doozergirl

Who owns the other fence?  

An extra fence inside is the obvious choice, rather than a replacement. 

Double masking, so to speak.  

stuart45

Chain link is one.of the best.to keep out dogs, but not to everyone's taste. An electic wire running inside the 2 fences would give them 5000volts on the wet nose.
People can be really irresponsible keeping dangerous dogs. 
Where I live the farmers shoot a lot of them. Often it's the owners that need shooting.

Bendy_House

All manner of wooden fences should be strong enough, as long as the timber used is.
Have you spoken to this neighbour? Yes, the dogs are noisy and head-butty, but do you think they pose an actual risk to your dogs, or 'just' make them anxious?
There is a legal onus on dog owners to keep their dogs safely within their land. So, regardless of who is 'responsible' for that fence, these neighs MUST secure their boundaries, just as you should yours, if your poodle threatens to break out...
So, if that fence is in poor order, and even if it's yours, as long as YOUR dogs don't break it down, then THEY need to make sure that THEIR dogs cannot break through it either. 
I really think you need to first find out whose responsibility it is, and - if it's yours - get around to replacing it since you KNOW it's rotten. That would be the right thing to do.
If, however, it's THEIRS, then you really should have a chat. Nice and reasonable. Test the water on their calibre. Explain your concerns, and ask if your dogs would be fine IF their dogs broke through. Note their response and manner. If they are dismissive, then you may need to - again politely - let them know that you remain concerned, so they should take your concerns as them 'being put on notice' that you believe the condition of the fence is not safe and reliable. 
You make this approach with ideally a witness accompanying you, or having the conversation recorded. In fact, both
Judge their response to this. 
If they still don't sort the fence, then you may need to put up your own, tight up against the boundary. 
If the worst happens meanwhile, they will be in double-deep poo since you can demonstrate you've made them aware.
A lot of folk shy away from such an approach, fearing some anti-social retaliation, but in my experience, people inclined to a-s behaviour only continue or become worse UNTIL they know the game is up.
Nothing about such an approach is unreasonable - only their behaviour is. And folk shouldn't get to think that such 'entitlement' is normal.

m0t

Doozergirl said:

Who owns the other fence?  

An extra fence inside is the obvious choice, rather than a replacement. 

Double masking, so to speak.  

All our fences are joint owned. In theory it should mean that repairs, maintenance etc are shared but in reality it means that one person refuses to pay and gets a free fence. I've already had to pay for one that came down in the wind.

Bendy_House said:

All manner of wooden fences should be strong enough, as long as the timber used is.
Have you spoken to this neighbour? Yes, the dogs are noisy and head-butty, but do you think they pose a risk to your dog's, or 'just' make them anxious?
There is a legal onus on dog owners to keep their dogs safely within their land. So, regardless of who is 'responsible' for that fence, these neighs MUST secure their boundaries, just as you should yours, if your poodle threatens to break out...
So, if that fence is in poor order, and even if it's yours, as long as YOUR dogs don't break it down, then THEY need to make sure that THEIR dogs cannot break through it either. 
I really think you need to first find out whose responsibility it is, and - if it's yours - get around to replacing it since you KNOW it's rotten. That would be the right thing to do.
If, however, it's THEIRS, then you really should have a chat. Nice and reasonable. Test the water on their calibre. Explain your concerns, and ask if your dogs would be fine IF their dogs broke through. Note their response and manner. If they are dismissive, then you may need to - again politely - let them know that you remain concerned, so they should take your concerns as them 'being put on notice' that you believe the condition of the fence is not safe and reliable. 
You make this approach with ideally a witness accompanying you, or having the conversation recorded. In fact, both
Judge their response to this. 
If they still don't sort the fence, then you may need to put up your own, tight up against the boundary. 
If the worst happens meanwhile, they will be in double-deep poo since you can demonstrate you've made them aware.
A lot of folk shy away from such an approach, fearing some anti-social retaliation, but in my experience, people inclined to a-s behaviour only continue or become worse UNTIL they know the game is up.
Nothing about such an approach is unreasonable - only their behaviour is. And folk shouldn't get to think that such 'entitlement' is normal.

I thought they were just noisy but a couple of months ago the neighbour walked past us with her dogs on the other side of the road when I was out with my baby in the pram. My baby was babbling away and one of the dogs heard, started snarling and tried to pull across the road to get to him. The neighbour was barely able to hold on to the dog and I felt lucky that a few cars drove past at that moment as it broke its concentration.

The rotten fence isn't their fence. The rotten one is a fence between my house and the neighbour behind (rented), the dogs are then next to that house. They are throwing themselves at the fence between their house and the neighbour behind to get to us (also the fence on the other side when the other neighbours come out).

The neighbour is a bit odd. We've spoken to her a bit when she had her last dog (lovely lab) and when the current dogs were puppies. She claimed to have rescued them from some kind of fighting ring in eastern europe and that's why they had their ears cut and tails docked (badly) even though we had seen them in her garden when they first arrived completely intact.

She used to be friends with one of our other neighbours but then her son and his wife moved in a couple of years back and they fell out with everyone. My other neighbour tried talking to her about all the dog noise, barking, snarling and throwing them at the fence and she told them the dogs were friendly and not to worry.

Bendy_House

THEY had these dog's ears and tail clipped?! Is there a 'reason' why this is done - is it for a particular 'look'? I thought docking and s*** was outlawed? And they've had them as pups, but still can't control them?!

if these dogs aren't on a register of dangerous/banned breeds, or have not demonstrated 'actual' dangerous behaviour, then - other than possibly 'nuisance' - there's probably not a lot you can do, other than perhaps act in concert with other neighb's and make numerous complaints to the council.

Meanwhile, I think it would be worth contacting the LL of that shared fence, and explain the situation; the fence you share is in poor condition and you fear wouldn't withstand an attack from these dogs should they get in to the LL's property. You also have concerns for their tenants, as that other fence is also suffering from pounding that you think might not contain the dogs. Therefore you'd like to at least replace 'your' fence and ask that they go halves, and you also respectfully recommend they check their other fence, too, as their tenants could be at risk if they get through that fence. Ask for a response regarding YOUR shared fence by X date, as you DO consider it a matter of some concern and urgency.

Again, this is an effective 'putting on notice' technique which the recipient would be wise to investigate, and take action if needed. As before, if they don't, it could count very badly against them.

(If the LL gets in touch with the dog owner, then that really helps your case.)

TELLIT01

stuart45 said:

Chain link is one.of the best.to keep out dogs, but not to everyone's taste. An electic wire running inside the 2 fences would give them 5000volts on the wet nose.
People can be really irresponsible keeping dangerous dogs. 
Where I live the farmers shoot a lot of them. Often it's the owners that need shooting.

If a dog is loose and uncontrolled in a field with livestock, the farmer is totally within their rights to shoot it if they believe it to be 'worrying' the animals.  I do agree that more often than not it's the owners who should be shot.

TELLIT01

If the OP is sure the dogs were undocked and had unclipped ears when they were young, they may want to speak to their local RSPCA about the situation.  Similarly if they believe the dogs to be a risk to people outside their garden.  RSPCA will be able to advice on steps which can be taken.

Norman_Castle

m0t said:

We have a small poodle and a one year old and at the moment hearing two massive dogs throwing themselves into the fence to get to them is worrying.

I'd investigate the cost of chain link fencing. Assuming the current fence posts are sound fix it to them and add long tent pegs at 45 degrees along the bottom. The cost plus some work will give you peace of mind which is worth it for the time until either you or the dogs leave. I wouldn't wait until the fence fails, dogs can be very persistent.
While its worrying to have aggressive sounding dogs trying to get through a fence it is common for all dog breeds to do this, a friends neighbours aged spaniel does it, the dogs may be harmless. If you are concerned contact either the RSPCA or the police on 101 for advice.

Bendy_House

Norman_Castle said:

I'd investigate the cost of chain link fencing. Assuming the current fence posts are sound fix it to them and add long tent pegs at 45 degrees along the bottom. The cost plus some work will give you peace of mind which is worth it for the time until either you or the dogs leave. I wouldn't wait until the fence fails, dogs can be very persistent.
While its worrying to have aggressive sounding dogs trying to get through a fence it is common for all dog breeds to do this, a friends neighbours aged spaniel does it, the dogs may be harmless. If you are concerned contact either the RSPCA or the police on 101 for advice.

Good point - if this is truly a 'shared responsibility' fence, then there is no reason I can think of that you cannot simply staple a chain-link fence to the existing posts. Assuming the posts themselves are not rotting...