Dog off-lead in my block of flats – what are my rights?

Missloute
Missloute Icon representing the flag French
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Hi everyone,

 

Here is my problem: there is a neighbour in my building who never keeps his dog on a lead. She is a "handbag dog" – sorry for the term, but I don't know the breed. Just to give you an idea of her size, she weighs maybe 4.5 lbs at most (about the size and build of a Chihuahua), maybe a Miniature Pinscher. As for me, I have a Golden Retriever who is nearly 12 months old and weighs about 5 stone (around 70 lbs).

 

So, back to the issue: whether it's outside or in the communal areas, his dog is never on a lead, and my dog pulls like crazy because he wants to go and play.

 

The problem is that the dog just wanders off, runs everywhere, and winds up my dog who is actually on a lead.

 

When we run into each other in the communal areas, or just in passing – like this morning when he was coming in and I was going out – I was still half-asleep and didn't see them through the glass door. It was absolute chaos again. My dog was lunging to go and play with her, the other dog was darting all over the place, and I almost ended up on the floor and nearly let go of my dog.

 

I already politely told him a couple of months ago that it would be a good idea to put his dog on a lead, and he just replied, "No, otherwise she chokes herself on her collar." 🤪... I mean, there are other types of harnesses and things! I told him that, but he just turned a deaf ear and walked off...

 

Sometimes I'm coming out of the lift with my dog and the neighbour is at the postboxes (which are inside the building) with his dog off-lead, and then it's just total mayhem. I try to control my dog, but he can't control his at all, and it's just running around in circles in a tiny space.

 

When he goes out, the dog isn't even wearing a collar. The owner walks out with his hands in his pockets, not even carrying a lead just in case. There's no way of securing her at all. 🙅

 

I've already warned my landlord several times (well, my partner warned them). At 10:30 this morning, I'm going to the housing office to see the property manager who looks after my building to make a formal complaint. 😠

 

But what recourse do I have? I'm really fed up. I nearly fell, and I have back problems (severe lumbago following a fall, which had nothing to do with this, I should clarify – my ankle didn't like a hole in the grass!) with a twinging sciatic nerve. I've already had two rounds of anti-inflammatory jabs. If I fall again, it could leave me bedridden. One day something is going to happen: either I won't be able to hold my dog back (who is always on his lead), or I'll end up on the floor, or my dog will give the other one a swipe with his paw and hurt her. I know he'll be the one blamed, but who knows what the neighbour might say afterwards...

 

Thanks for any answers. Sorry for the long post and any typos there might be.

Translated from French
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52 answers
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    • Missloute
    Missloute Icon representing the flag French
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    Following up on my reply to @Istiva1

    Regardless, my dog is always on a lead. If I don't want him going up to certain people or dogs, he stays right by my side; he doesn't wander off or go running over to bother anyone else...

    This neighbour’s dog keeps coming over to pester mine, just like another one from a different entrance in the block. A border collie ended up cowering under my dog outside, and mine was just batting him with his paws (to play). The woman was about 6 metres away just calling him, but the dog couldn't have cared less, and there I was being personally attacked by this woman who wouldn't even move her **** to come and get him. In the end, my dog didn't even finish doing his business; we just went back inside. I had tears in my eyes and I didn't go back out again until my partner got home from work... (this was about 3 or 4 weeks ago now; my partner told the housing officer straight away, but she didn't give a toss even then).

    I’m not looking for pity, far from it, I just wanted to make that clear.

    Oh, and as for me—yes, ME—I did make the mistake once of letting my dog off his lead to practice his recall behind my building. He was 4 months old at the time (that was the same time they started trying to claim he was a "dangerous dog" breed)... he went to sniff another lady's dog and I got absolutely slated by her and her daughter, who was actually working at the time (she’s the building's cleaner and she just had to butt in). That was also when the housing officer phoned my partner to say that my dog was off his lead and had run off... I was incredibly apologetic to the woman about my dog going over to her, but the two of them just ganged up on me and gave me a right earful. I went home in tears again...

    Then the housing officer calls my partner to tell him off about the rules and says the dog has to be muzzled because those two women went and complained, telling a load of rubbish... Arès was growing fast and they didn't like the look of a big dog, even though these same women were fussing over him just two months before. I know full well I messed up. I admit it—it happened ONCE.

    Even then, my dog had his collar on and I had the lead in my hand...

    So, I have to keep my dog on a lead and make sure he doesn't bother anyone... but everyone else is allowed to hassle us with their dogs off-lead, no collars, no leads, just walking around with their hands in their pockets? Without even saying "sorry"? And I'm still the one who's expected to control my dog when he's the one actually on a lead?

    Translated from French
    Missloute
    Missloute Icon representing the flag French
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    So, just because you can't handle your dog, your neighbour is supposed to keep theirs on a lead?

    My dog might not walk to heel like we’re supposed to be teaching him – and are trying to – but maybe it’s not even a problem with the dog. Maybe we just walk too slowly! 😯

    I definitely keep hold of my dog, as I’ve never let go of the lead... Perhaps we should do it the other way around? If the dog had us on a lead, that might solve the problem – he’d be too busy taking us for a walk!

    I’ve got a young dog who’s turning one in four days. He’s a total live wire once he’s outdoors; in fact, I sometimes wonder if he’s actually a dog at all... We reckon he’s a cross between a dragon (he’s not quite breathing fire yet, but maybe soon) and a kangaroo (sometimes he doesn't just run, he bounces along while he’s at it)...

    And yeah, I don't have a “statue dog” yet, and I don't want one either...

    Translated from French
    Missloute
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    You've got a few options:

    - Just let your dog play with the other one

    It’s not that I don’t want to. It’s just that there are times, like first thing in the morning, when you just want to take the dog for their first quick toilet break in peace. You’re barely even dressed—just a jumper thrown over your pyjama top, jeans, socks... half the time I don't realise I haven't even brushed my hair until I’m in the lift, so I just end up putting my hood up... And your stomach is rumbling for a glass of orange juice... You just want to leave the building quietly and go for a proper walk, rather than having a little dog darting around all over the place so you can't even get away...

    But your suggestions did give me a good laugh lol

    ==> @estival

    I'll get back to you in a bit; I’m having to use a word processor at the moment because my antivirus is playing up and keeps deleting everything.

    Translated from French
    Missloute
    Missloute Icon representing the flag French
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    You've got a few options:

    - Just let your dog play with the other one

    It’s not that I don’t want to. It’s just that there are times, like first thing in the morning, when you just want to take the dog for their first quick toilet break in peace. You’re barely even dressed—just a jumper thrown over your pyjama top, jeans, socks... half the time I don't realise I haven't even brushed my hair until I’m in the lift, so I just end up putting my hood up... And your stomach is rumbling for a glass of orange juice... You just want to leave the building quietly and go for a proper walk, rather than having a little dog darting around all over the place so you can't even get away...

    But your suggestions did give me a good laugh lol

    ==> @estival

    I'll get back to you in a bit; I’m having to use a word processor at the moment because my antivirus is playing up and keeps deleting everything.

    Translated from French
    ?
    Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French
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    So just because you can't handle your dog, your neighbour is supposed to put theirs on a lead?

    Can't handle my dog?

    You’re joking, surely 😔!

    The neighbour's off-lead dog comes over and winds theirs up, running around their legs and getting them all worked up. Obviously, trying to control a 66lb dog that just wants to play is going to be a struggle.

    I’ve got a husky myself who is very well-behaved on the lead, but when an off-lead dog starts darting around her, she’s naturally going to want to join in too.

    Maybe we shouldn't be blaming the "victim" here. If the owner of the off-lead dog can't make them listen, they should just keep them on a lead. Simple as that.

    An off-lead dog shouldn't be bothering other dogs. It’s called common courtesy and having a bit of respect for others.

    Translated from French
    ?
    Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French
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    So, because you can't control your dog, your neighbour is supposed to keep theirs on a lead?
    Translated from French
    Le Saint-Paul
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    You’ve got a few options:

    - Just let your dog play with the other one.

    - The sneaky approach: when you see the other dog coming, start shouting "OI! GET AWAY! HELP!" Eventually, you’ll annoy the neighbours so much they’ll come out of their flats to see what’s going on. At that point, pretend you’re really struggling to hold your dog back; in theory, someone should then put the other dog on a lead or shut it away so you can regain control and head off with a most regal "walk to heel".

    - Join a gym to get massive arms so you can hold your dog without any trouble.

    - When you’re heading out, look for the little dog, tie it to a wall or a lamp post, then once your dog is safely back home, go back and untie it.

    - Tell the owner to keep their dog on a lead, and be aggressive about it. They’ll sense you’re fuming and get a bit scared, so they’ll keep their dog with them.

    Translated from French
    ?
    Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French
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    Hi, just imagine Arès and the neighbour’s dog playing together… Think of all the fuss it would cause among the moaners. You’ve certainly got some patience, MissLoute!

    Translated from French
    Missloute
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    Hello, So, to update you on what’s been happening, I spoke to my partner when he got back from work last night. He was not happy at all about what happened yesterday morning with the neighbour—the fact that I nearly ended up on the floor and the customer service rep couldn’t have cared less. He’s actually got the number for her manager, so we’re going to try and take it higher and book an appointment with him directly. People have already complained about Arès before; the rep once called us to say I had to muzzle him when out on walks when he was only four months old because he was a "big, big dog" and that it was "the law" (apparently some people had complained that he wasn't muzzled and wasn't staying small)... Except Arès is a Golden Retriever; he’s not a restricted breed, and we’re under no obligation to use a muzzle. So, since we’re now asking for dogs to be kept on a lead in the building (which is perfectly reasonable) and she’s refusing to do anything—despite being quick enough to ring us up about every little thing—we’re going straight to her boss...
    Translated from French
    Missloute
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    Yeah, I went to the building management company this morning. I went straight to see the customer service manager at the office, but she just said she’d put out a notice and that was it... She couldn't care less, to be honest. We’ll see if a notice actually appears, but I don’t even think she took down the dog owner's name to give them a ring and tell them directly. She just scribbled something in her notebook, goodness knows what... It felt like she just wanted to be left in peace to read her book more than anything else. I think next time I'll just send a formal letter by registered post straight to the agency.
    Translated from French

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