Dangerous neighbour's dog

@Doc

"I've never seen a dog, even a very barky one, kick off at a next-door neighbour (unless the neighbour is interacting positively — in which case the dog is calling out to them — or negatively — in which case the dog has found an enemy) because the said neighbour is just part of the regular scenery."

> Not if the dog is scared of its own shadow and has zero trust in humans... which is likely if their owner isn't a solid point of reference for them. We were here before the dog arrived and never paid him any mind. He started acting like this during his "teenage" phase at around 8 or 9 months old...

"When he comes out and approaches your kids, a firm, authoritative NO! from you should stop him in his tracks."

> If you did that with Zeppi next door, he’d go into total meltdown! He's the type you're better off reassuring rather than challenging.

So it all depends on what’s triggering this behaviour in the dog... They definitely need a dog trainer either way, as the owner seems to have no idea how to train his dog.

Dogs are creatures of habit. I’ve never seen a dog, even a real barker, kick up a fuss about a next-door neighbour (unless the neighbour interacts with them in a positive way—in which case the dog is calling out to them—or a negative way—meaning the dog has made an enemy) because that neighbour is just part of the everyday scenery.

When he comes out and approaches your kids, a firm, authoritative ‘NO!’ from you should stop him in his tracks. You also need to teach the children not to start dancing about the moment they see a dog.

They should either stand still if they're too scared or just carry on walking calmly without giving him a second look, but they mustn't start running, shouting, or jumping. Certain movements trigger a reaction in dogs, and children need to learn to avoid them.

None of this should stop you from taking the necessary steps against the owner, but in the meantime, it’s best to adopt the right approach.

It's a really tricky situation... I went through exactly the same thing with my neighbours about a year ago, except we don't have any children...

They were handling things all wrong with a GSD/Border Collie cross they’d got from a rescue in Sicily with a bit of a murky past... They got him at 5 months old, so his socialisation and weaning had been a bit hit and miss, to say the least...

The dog would jump at the fence as soon as we were in our garden and completely ignored his owners... We had two proper "snaps" where, if the fence hadn't held, he would have attacked.

I tried to give them some advice, but they clearly didn't take me seriously... It was only when I got my own dog and they saw me training him that they started to soften up. Later on, their dog started coming over to my place to see mine, and it was when I took their GSD on the lead that they realised the problem was them. Actually, he just wanted someone to follow... The lines of communication opened up, they went for private sessions with a trainer, and things have been much better since.

The dog is still super protective, which I think is just in his nature... but he knows the difference between us and a stranger now.

So I think the best way to get through to them is by talking and maybe suggesting that they work with you and your kids alongside a trainer...

I'll admit, it's not easy. We had a few rows before we could move forward. I tried inviting them over for drinks and things after that, mainly so the dog could get to know us too, and now we're actually quite good mates. The trouble is, if you stop talking, there's little chance of the situation improving, and besides, if things go wrong just once, that could be one time too many...

Finally, you've got to tell yourself that it's absolutely not the dog's fault, it's the owner's. If you show animosity towards the animal, he'll always be on his guard.

Try presenting the situation to him by describing the worst-case scenario and asking him to see it from your point of view. He’s already nipped your son, so ask him: does he really want to wait until the dog goes for one of your children's throats? Maybe you could suggest some trainers in your area?

"I'm not going to spend a fortune on a dog that isn't mine..."

The dog might not be yours, but the children are ;) I completely understand how you feel, but if the owner is making the effort to ensure the dog stays in their own garden (which is the bare minimum, let's be honest), I think protecting your kids by screening them from the dog's view would be a good idea ;)

Without necessarily making a massive fuss over the dog, giving him a bit of a frankfurter through the fence (don't put your fingers through!) while speaking to him calmly could really help.

Try contacting your local council; they might have a mediator or someone who could come out and ask the man to keep his gate closed.

As for the wire fence, if he doesn't do anything, your only option is to put up some screening on your side of it.

Also, instead of clashing with the dog, maybe you could try to win him over by giving him some treats through the fence and speaking to him kindly. Since you can't seem to get through to the owner, you could try getting through to the dog instead. I know it shouldn’t be down to you, but it might help make things a bit more peaceful for you...