Advice Needed..

[krisykris]

I just moved into my new home about two months ago. This is the first house that I've owned so I'm not really used to caring what my neighbors think of me.. ( I know that sounds bad, but I'm a good neighbor and have never had issues). But now that I'm in a home I could potentially be in for the next 5-10 years or longer.. I'm paying more attention to my neighbors.. saying hello.. being friendly, ect.

Anyhow.. here's my dilemma. There's a home kiddy corner from me and they have what looks to be a large husky mix. He's never ever on leash.. and until today I'd never seen him leave the yard. But today I was on a walk with my dogs and he was two blocks over. He stares my dogs down and growls at them whenever we pass and it makes me very nervous. I walk all 3 of my dogs at the same time w/a coupler so if the dog was to attack.. there's no way that I could get all my dogs to safety.

I'm not sure how to approach it.. these neighbors seem a bit stand offish and I've never met them though I see them out all the time. I have 3 dogs and plan on getting another sometime in the next year or so... and I just don't want to start a war with them. I know I could anonymously report them.. but they've lived here for a long time and I'm sure they could put two and two together about who called.. ie.. me.. the neighbor w/the three little dogs that just moved in.

I hate confrontation.. Should I talk to them or just let it continue and hope I never have a problem with their dog? =/

 

[otch1]

Be a good neighbor and communicate before making that call to Animal Control. At least that way, you've given them a chance to correct the situation. Approaching this by saying you're very worried that he got out of his yard, might possibly have been hit by a car and you thought about calling animal control to prevent that from happening, (but didn't because you realized he was theirs) This will put them on alert of what will happen if they let him get off the property again, without you putting them on the defensive by questioning his temperament or being confrontational about him being off leash. Of course, this must have been an "acccident", lol and you want them to be the first to know, so it doesn't happen again and how happy you are he wasn't hurt. I've seen fueds between neighbors errupt, when questioning each others animals, faster than those arguements over each others kids! Good luck.

 

[squirtsmom]

Neighbors are tricky. Good luck.

 

[Denaluvscorgis]

I also agree....try to be the good person and respectfully try to talk to them about it. If that doesn't work, then call animal control. I'm having a similar issue with some people who live about me.

 

[TopShelfPets]

Be a good neighbor and communicate before making that call to Animal Control. At least that way, you've given them a chance to correct the situation. Approaching this by saying you're very worried that he got out of his yard, might possibly have been hit by a car and you thought about calling animal control to prevent that from happening, (but didn't because you realized he was theirs) This will put them on alert of what will happen if they let him get off the property again, without you putting them on the defensive by questioning his temperament or being confrontational about him being off leash. Of course, this must have been an "acccident", lol and you want them to be the first to know, so it doesn't happen again and how happy you are he wasn't hurt. I've seen fueds between neighbors errupt, when questioning each others animals, faster than those arguements over each others kids! Good luck.

i agree, approach them before calling Animal Control. Gush about how worried you are that their dog could have been hurt. You could "just happen to have an extra" tie out they could have. (i'm guessing the yard isn't fenced if the dog is just loose in the front of the house?) but if you go that route, don't bring it with you, ask first and run home and get it if they don't act pissed off by the idea.

I honestly think some people just don't know better. It's extremely ignorant, but they still just don't. But that's me thinking of the lonely little old man cat hoarders who think neutering their cats is cruel, who honestly love all of them, but don't see the problem with having 20 cats in a NYC apartment. Maybe these people know the dog has problems, but love it and can't see them?

 

[krisykris]

Thanks guys.. I'll attempt to talk to them next time I see it happen. Yes, their yard isn't fenced and they leave the dog out there alone w/o being tied up. I've seen them out there before with the dog.. while shoveling and things like that.. and honestly that doesn't bother me too much as long as the owner is right there.

There's also a frisky little chi around the corner that is let out to potty and play off leash and runs after my dogs trying to bite them. *sigh* I never saw this problem before when I lived in the city.

 

[bubbatd]

Maybe they have an invisable fence . I agree, just be a good neighbor ....you with 3 and maybe 4 dogs may be a problem to them . Good luck !!

 

[krisykris]

Maybe they have an invisable fence . I agree, just be a good neighbor ....you with 3 and maybe 4 dogs may be a problem to them . Good luck !!

I don't consider myself to be a problem to anyone w/my 3 or potentially 4 dogs. I keep them leashed at all times.. they do not bark all day and are very well behaved. I can see a neighbor having a problem with it if I let them roam free and they were out of control, but they're not. All are registered and licensed.. his dog doesn't even wear a collar.

 

[girlbuffalo1]

If I were in this situation I would type an annonymous letter and put it in their mail box signed "concerned neighbor"--I have done this a few times before with my neighbors for various things (letting their cat out at night who kept going potty in my flowers to the neighbor behind us playing LOUD video games at 2am thus sounding like bombs going off in the yard)--it worked both times for me--as long as you chose your words carefully and respectfully.

 

[nikkichan]

If you're concerned about approaching them, perhaps you can go under the guise of "I'm new to the area and I noticed you have a dog. Are there any good dog parks around here?" This could get the conversation going in a friendly way and then you could work in "how do you keep your dog from leaving your yard? Do you have an invisible fence? How do those things work anyways?" Or whatever you want to say.

It's got to be better than being standoffish and getting off on the work foot.

GOOD LUCK!

 

[Aussie Red]

Just a thought .... Have you made friends with any of the other neighbors ? If so maybe they might be able to give you a little insight into what type of people these are and how to approach them.

 

[ToscasMom]

OTCH is right on. As always.

 

[krisykris]

You know, I haven't made close friends w/any of the neighbors yet. I've been so busy w/my dogs and moving and everything. But my next door neighbor is one of my little sisters teachers so maybe I'll ask her about them to feel the situation out a bit.