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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    Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French
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    As I’ve said before, the property management company are the ones who lay down the law on this.

    @MissLoute has said time and again that getting anywhere with the management company is a dead end. I’m not actually in favour of filing a formal complaint – if you re-read my previous posts. That was just one of the options put forward. The main thing is to move forward and keep things focused... Otherwise, you’re just whistling in the wind, and it’s better to avoid trouble than go looking for it. It’s up to @MissLoute to sift through the advice and choose the solution that works for her. I’ve enjoyed our chat about this. Wishing you all a lovely evening, I’ve got to sign off now. @MissLoute, you’ll find the key to it all, have a good evening and give Ares a pat from me too. :-)

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    Missloute
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    ...the other person is imposing abnormal behaviour that you're just expected to adapt to.

    I really want to highlight that sentence (in the reply to Rudy). I’m in exactly that situation—I’m having to adapt to the ridiculous fact that this off-lead dog comes over to wind Arès up every time we cross paths, and the owner has no way of controlling his dog at that moment... No collar, no lead, nothing. Some days I don't mind, but other days I just don't want to be bothered by a dog that isn't on a lead.

    ===> Rudy

    We’re on good terms with the neighbour, we say hello and even do the whole cheek-kissing thing; there’s no drama and I don't want to cause any... But he just won’t listen. My partner has already told him he really should put his dog on a lead (which he used to do, funnily enough).

    A month or two ago, I told him the same thing again—that he should probably put his dog on a lead to avoid the absolute shambles whenever they meet, so we can both just pull our dogs away from each other... He told me he doesn't use a lead because her collar chokes her... I told him there are other options, specifically a harness, and even showed him that Arès was wearing one. He just ignored me and walked off... The situation is still the same...

    Because even on a lead it’s a total mess between the two of them (back when he used to use one). It’s not aggressive, mind you, it’s just play, but if both were on leads and we could each go our own way, there’d be fewer issues. This morning the dog was following Arès and kept winding him up; she ended up in the middle of the road right on a bend in the car park. I nearly ended up on the floor, and it’s not the first time. Basically, if I have to hurt my dog to get us out of this mess, it doesn't matter... that’s how I’m reading his attitude anyway.

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    Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French
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    Avoiding the police, that’s a given. Inviting the neighbour over for a coffee without waiting for the annual street party? Er, neither of those, and I’m quite a flexible person by nature (a bit of a joker, it’s true, but sometimes if you’re too patient, you just end up looking like a mug...). This gentleman’s brain isn't exactly firing on all cylinders, and communication is a dead end, as @MissLoute said. Lifting him eight inches off the ground and pinning him against the wall might actually speak his language. In this situation, there are only two ways forward: the police or some good mates.
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    Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French
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    I’ll hold my hands up, it’s all a bit playground... but honestly, you just have to deal with the person in front of you who thinks the world revolves around them; he’s just acting the fool. No problem, but once again we’re the ones who have to risk paying the price for others, while he forces his odd behaviour on everyone else and expects us to just adapt to it. I still think there are other ways to sort the problem out, though. Whether it’s threats or getting the police involved like I’ve seen suggested, it all seems a bit over the top to me. Perhaps start by inviting the neighbour over for a coffee and take the opportunity to explain the issue and your concerns about his little dog. That might be enough to resolve things. It’s worth a go, what do you think?
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    Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French
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    Fair enough, call it a playground... it’s just about dealing with someone who thinks the world revolves around them, he’s just acting the joker. No worries, once again we’re the ones who have to risk paying the price for everyone else; he’s pushing this unacceptable behaviour on us and we’re still the ones expected to adapt to it.
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    Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French
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    Or you could just send round some 6ft 1 mates in balaclavas to threaten him... "Oi, muppet, you're going to start taking that caterpillar out on a lead, otherwise you won't know where or when, but you’re going to have a bit of a 'problem'..." What’s with the playground advice?
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    Missloute
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    Yes, dogs should be let off the lead in a secure area, but there aren’t any secure spots (fenced off); you step out of the block of flats and you’re straight onto the car park. I’m entitled to some peace and quiet too. I’ve got back problems (as mentioned in my thread), and this morning I nearly fell over with all the commotion. It’s just not right; he was completely unable to keep his dog under control.
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    Solenneb
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    My St Bernard at the time was about 9 and a half stone, up against a tiny 3 lb Chihuahua... and well, he definitely got put in his place!
    Translated from French
    Missloute
    Missloute Icon representing the flag French
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    Yes, dogs should be let off the lead in a secure area, but there aren’t any secure spots (fenced off); you step out of the block of flats and you’re straight onto the car park. I’m entitled to some peace and quiet too. I’ve got back problems (as mentioned in my thread), and this morning I nearly fell over with all the commotion. It’s just not right; he was completely unable to keep his dog under control.
    Translated from French
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    Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French
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    Yes *****, that's exactly the problem. In a similar situation, I wouldn't report it, but I would have found a way to sort it out. It's not about being pessimistic and expecting the worst, it's just about looking out for yourself and thinking through the consequences... beforehand.

    Translated from French

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