Need advice, my dogs and neighbors.

Funny you should bring this up today as my downstairs neighbor has been starting up again, but I won't hijack your thread. People who think they're being bothered don't care that they are the ones who are the harrassers. You can also complain to your agency on elder problems that this man is threatening.
 

Blessed, if you're worried that he might poison your dogs, check the yard first before you let them out. Then accompany them outside while they do their business. Until you reach some kind of solution with this nutbag, don't leave them outside alone.

I doubt this man will call the police. Although if he does, they might come and speak to you. One thing about the police is that when you have a complaint, they want proof. Has he recorded your dogs barking? The other neighbors' dogs bark, too. Is he hassling them as well? The wife has seen this man bully you, is she the only one? Would she be honest about it if questioned by the police? If no one else has witnessed it, it's your word against his, and he might deny it. Get your camera up ASAP, and make sure it has a voice recorder.
 
oldaunt said:
My big girl only sniffs people and walks back to me. She has not jumped on anyone since she was a puppy, and the cats sleep on her. I have seen far more small dog biters than Chow biters.
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Yes, my other chow, I had when my son was born. I brought the baby in his carrier, took of his little sock, and the dog licked his little feet. He told me that this was his baby too! When the baby got to crawling around he would go over and just lay down on the dog, they would curl up and have a nice nap. He was never rough with my son. They were the best of friends and stayed that way for 5 years. We had to put the dog down when he was old and sick. When my friend died, my son, a grown man now, is just as attached to Bear. He does not worry about him hurting my grandson, grandson is fine with the dog. I did keep him away from my grandson when he was little because Bear could knock the grandson down in play.
 
Bella said:
Blessed, if you're worried that he might poison your dogs, check the yard first before you let them out. Then accompany them outside while they do their business. Until you reach some kind of solution with this nutbag, don't leave them outside alone.

I doubt this man will call the police. Although if he does, they might come and speak to you. One thing about the police is that when you have a complaint, they want proof. Has he recorded your dogs barking? The other neighbors' dogs bark, too. Is he hassling them as well? The wife has seen this man bully you, is she the only one? Would she be honest about it if questioned by the police? If no one else has witnessed it, it's your word against his, and he might deny it. Get your camera up ASAP, and make sure it has a voice recorder.
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He does not have anything to show the police. I am home all the time. The dogs are never left outside. I will be going with them now, I am scared he could do something. If I leave the house, they are inside. I have talked to the neighbors in the past and no they have not heard from them. I need to check again. Yes, I will be going outside now, checking the yard. The wife is the only one who has seen his behavior. No, I do not think she would admit the truth of it. I think the camera and or cell phone recording would be the best way for me to protect myself. I do have other neighbors that would report that I am a good pet owner.
 
Pepper said:
If it gets really bad, @Blessed, you can get a restraining order against him. If my neighbor downstairs continues with her nonsense, I'm seriously considering going to an elder gov't agency to complain!
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I am not concerned about a restraining order at this point. I am going to go down to the city and discuss it with them, what are the laws, what I might need to do. At this point, I don't think there is any law I am breaking. I have 3 dogs. The limit is 4. I am home all the time, the dogs are never left outside if I leave. I bring them in if they are having a fit of barking. The guy is just not happy, normal everyday life is just to much for him. He does have a small child and a baby so I am sure that he has enough disruption going on, but that is not my problem. I take care of my family and dogs are not allowed to go nuts.
 
Blessed said:
@Disgustedman , as far as the pepper spray, no, I do not need that. I can just let go of the harness of the 90LB chow. Trust me, he can stun!! He knocks down normal visitors if I do not restrain him. Even when he is behind the gate in the house, people back up right quick. He is not mean, he does not bark when I answer the door, he just stands and looks, that is all it takes.
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Be careful here. You will play right into his hands if your chow so much as touches him. He can contact the authorities and say he was attacked and have the animal put down.
 
I don't think your neighbor is going to attack you physically.
(or your dogs)
I can understand him though. I've worked nights and know
how hard it is to live with profound sleep deprivation.
I've also been up with a newborn baby with colic night after night.

He probably wanted to talk quietly with you but his temper got in the way.
Not enough sleep can make people act mighty strange.
With his newborn, every little sound will annoy him.
His mind may not be working correctly, from no deep REM sleep.
I have a large dog and I know dogs need to bark sometimes and run around.
I only suggesting you see his point of view as well and try to be tolerant with him.

I know how upset you are but I see both sides of this situation.
I know what a kind, wonderful lady you are and I also see his need for deep rest.
I don't know how to handle this except to say please be kind to him.
I sure hope this all works out.
 
Ronni said:
Be careful here. You will play right into his hands if your chow so much as touches him. He can contact the authorities and say he was attacked and have the animal put down.
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That is not going to happen, if he shows at the door again, I will not open it. I will tell him to come back with an officer so I have a witness to his behavior. The back yard, there is a 10 ft. privacy fence. I am not worried about him, I will call the police if he gets out of hand again. Trust me, the chow might pee on his leg but it is the little terrier that would give him a good nip.
 
Disgustedman said:
I'd probably make sure your screen door (if you have one) is locked, pepper spray also close to hand.

BEWARE, It's unlikely, but some pricks will put poison in meatballs Toss them in your yard to kill your dogs.

I'd also get a few cheap cameras to record the interaction and have them submitted to police. If he's making threats, that's enough for the cops.
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Poisoned meat is a real threat. It happened in our neighborhood. Someone killed everyone's dogs in a 3 house radius by throwing poisoned meat into the yards. We all were fairly certain who it was, but with no proof nothing could be done about it.

Even if you are physically present with your dogs in the backyard, they can find and gulp down a piece of poisoned meat in a heartbeat. Until the OP has this issue resolved, I would walk my dogs on a leash even in the back yard to monitor what they were sniffing and be able to pull them away immediately if I didn't like the looks of it.
 
caroln said:
Poisoned meat is a real threat. It happened in our neighborhood. Someone killed everyone's dogs in a 3 house radius by throwing poisoned meat into the yards. We all were fairly certain who it was, but with no proof nothing could be done about it.

Even if you are physically present with your dogs in the backyard, they can find and gulp down a piece of poisoned meat in a heartbeat. Until the OP has this issue resolved, I would walk my dogs on a leash even in the back yard to monitor what they were sniffing and be able to pull them away immediately if I didn't like the looks of it.
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This is why I always go to great effort to train my dogs from puppyhood to ONLY eat from their own bowl, or from my hand and touch NOTHING else. I have 2 dogs and they will not even eat from each others' bowl no matter what is in it.
 
Blessed said:
I just had a not friendly discussion with the neighbors behind me. My big dog was outside. He was barking as dogs do. I had the back door open and I hear the guy screaming from the fence. So, I go out to bring the dog in, mind you it is 7:30 pm. I do not let the dogs just go nuts, but dogs must go out to potty, get fresh air and run.

I know the guy works nights. I have tried to adjust by keeping the dogs in during the day, now he does not want them to be out at all, he even objects to me calling them in because he hears that to. He says that they just need to go. As far as I am concerned he can just call the city. The dogs are allowed to be out, the noise ordinance is from 7AM to 10PM. My dogs are never out longer than 20 minutes and if they start up I bring them in.

He has shown up on my porch before, throwing a fit. This was just after I had a hip replacement. I am at the door, with a walker and he is just going off. He had a new baby and what/ who in the hell did I think I was. I am and older person who just had a major surgery. I am doing the best I can.

I have never had a complaint about my dogs. My dogs do react to my nextdoor neighbors dogs, they are hounds and howl/bark. They also have a doggie door that allows them to go in and out at will. Maybe some of the problem is from their dogs. I asked the neighbor if this person had come to her house and complained. No, so I think the guy thinks it is all my dogs, because he hears me calling them in.

Why do people think they get to tell others how to live their lives according to what they want? I follow the laws, I have lived here for 30 years and have a good relationship with my neighbors. I am thinking I should go down to the city offices and discuss it with them, see what my rights are and what his are. This yelling and intimidation is not appropriate or acceptable to me. I wonder how he would like it if I threw a fit when his children are older, running and screaming in their back yard. No, that is just a part of life, living in a neighborhood.
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I don’t blame you for being upset at all…..would be a good idea to go to the city offices.
I clearly think he is in the wrong.
Hope this can be cleared up……you are a good neighbour…..he is NOT.
 
Lee said:
Blessed, such an awful situation to be in. Have you considered moving? Sometimes staying put is not an option.
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No, I have been here 30 years. He should have checked when he bought the home behind if anyone had dogs since he sleeps during the day and works nights. His wife works days. There is no time that is acceptable to him to be out in the yard.
 
caroln said:
Poisoned meat is a real threat. It happened in our neighborhood. Someone killed everyone's dogs in a 3 house radius by throwing poisoned meat into the yards. We all were fairly certain who it was, but with no proof nothing could be done about it.

Even if you are physically present with your dogs in the backyard, they can find and gulp down a piece of poisoned meat in a heartbeat. Until the OP has this issue resolved, I would walk my dogs on a leash even in the back yard to monitor what they were sniffing and be able to pull them away immediately if I didn't like the looks of it.
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I know that some people would do such a horrible thing. I can't put the large dog a leash, if he decides to chase a squirrel, he just takes me down. The two littles are good about listening. I have been going outside with them since last night. I take a bag of treats with me. They have just done their business and came in no problem. I have been in the habit of checking the yard for years first thing in the morning. I lost a dog five years ago. The vet said the only thing he could think was that he was poisoned. We did have a rat problem in the neighborhood at that time. I would find dead ones in the yard even though I was not putting out poison. The vet said a rat may have carried the poison to my yard or my dog chewed on a dead one. So yes, I am careful.

My nextdoor neighbor is so great, he does not have dogs but he always let's me know if he is spraying or spreading anything in his yard. He likes to borrow my littles. I pass them over the fence to him. They run, play and get plenty of pets from Bob.
 
Blessed said:
I know that some people would do such a horrible thing. I can't put the large dog a leash, if he decides to chase a squirrel, he just takes me down. The two littles are good about listening. I have been going outside with them since last night. I take a bag of treats with me. They have just done their business and came in no problem. I have been in the habit of checking the yard for years first thing in the morning. I lost a dog five years ago. The vet said the only thing he could think was that he was poisoned. We did have a rat problem in the neighborhood at that time. I would find dead ones in the yard even though I was not putting out poison. The vet said a rat may have carried the poison to my yard or my dog chewed on a dead one. So yes, I am careful.

My nextdoor neighbor is so great, he does not have dogs but he always let's me know if he is spraying or spreading anything in his yard. He likes to borrow my littles. I pass them over the fence to him. They run, play and get plenty of pets from Bob.
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It sounds like you're doing everything you can. Hopefully it won't come to that!
 
Blessed said:
I know that some people would do such a horrible thing. I can't put the large dog a leash, if he decides to chase a squirrel, he just takes me down. The two littles are good about listening. I have been going outside with them since last night. I take a bag of treats with me. They have just done their business and came in no problem. I have been in the habit of checking the yard for years first thing in the morning. I lost a dog five years ago. The vet said the only thing he could think was that he was poisoned. We did have a rat problem in the neighborhood at that time. I would find dead ones in the yard even though I was not putting out poison. The vet said a rat may have carried the poison to my yard or my dog chewed on a dead one. So yes, I am careful.

My nextdoor neighbor is so great, he does not have dogs but he always let's me know if he is spraying or spreading anything in his yard. He likes to borrow my littles. I pass them over the fence to him. They run, play and get plenty of pets from Bob.
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Get a Halti for your big guy . Amazing control.
 
oldaunt said:
Get a Halti for your big guy . Amazing control.
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I have a harness, his leash hooks on to that but he is still too strong for me. He loves to go for a ride, his previous owner took him everywhere. I have learned to put him in the car, when I get to the vet or groomer he will sit patiently in the car until I get someone to come bring him in. I also only take him in and out of the car with the garage door closed. No chance he will see something or someone and run.
 
Blessed said:
I have a harness, his leash hooks on to that but he is still too strong for me. He loves to go for a ride, his previous owner took him everywhere. I have learned to put him in the car, when I get to the vet or groomer he will sit patiently in the car until I get someone to come bring him in. I also only take him in and out of the car with the garage door closed. No chance he will see something or someone and run.
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Different deal. The Halti controls the head instead of the body. Works a lot better

https://companyofanimals.com/us/brand-product/halti-headcollar/
 
Get rid of the friggin dog. It is obviously a nuisance to neighbors making you a nuisance neighbor. Get a cat if you want an animal. I've got an idiot neighbor with 3 big ones and my brother has a problem with his neighbor's dogs. I'm getting a privacy fence when it warms up. When will you people get it?
 
Chet said:
Get rid of the friggin dog. It is obviously a nuisance to neighbors making you a nuisance neighbor. Get a cat if you want an animal. I've got an idiot neighbor with 3 big ones and my brother has a problem with his neighbor's dogs. I'm getting a privacy fence when it warms up. When will you people get it?
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When its obvious its only a problem to ONE neighbor, it tells me you and he have plenty in common. Buy a heart.
 
Chet said:
Get rid of the friggin dog. It is obviously a nuisance to neighbors making you a nuisance neighbor. Get a cat if you want an animal. I've got an idiot neighbor with 3 big ones and my brother has a problem with his neighbor's dogs. I'm getting a privacy fence when it warms up. When will you people get it?
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Okay Chet, I have a 10 ft privacy fence. I am home all the time and do not put my dogs out all day. They go out to potty, sometimes they like to lay on the patio in the sun. They are house dogs but they will bark at another dog, a squirrel or a stranger walking by.

So you are saying I am a nuisance. What happens when his children get older, they are out in the backyard, running, playing, screaming. Will I be allowed to tell him they are nuisance, they must go, rehome them. No, I will not!! That is part of real life, so are dogs. Get over yourself, I am very happy to share my neighborhood with all kinds of people, their children, their pets. I do not throw a fit unless someone is shooting off a gun or fireworks. Those things are a danger to any homeowner.
 
Blessed said:
I will have to google it, I am for anything that helps me manage him. Thanks!!
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Thanks Aunt, I have seen those but thought they were more for use as a guard for dogs that bite.
 

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