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Was this rude or was I right? (long)

6K views 73 replies 33 participants last post by  selzer 
#1 ·
Our GSD is 14 months old, high energy female, super active, plays rough. You need to be firm with her. I put her out side on her lead this morning and went back inside. Only a couple of minutes, she started barking then I heard some kids and thought my husband was home with the grand kids but then I realized I did not hear the car pull up. Plus she would not bark at the grand kids or my husband. I look outside the window and the person who lives right next door was by the dog with two strange kids I have not seen before. He was trying to get her to behave and sit, she would not listen to him and in the mean time she was barking at the one kid. He was still trying to get her to settle when the one kid started to go toward her and back up several times. This was all in a short time span. Well, I went out side and told him that I would prefer him not to bring kids over if we are not outside. My husband is telling me never to say anything. Was I right? I have to protect my dog. This person feels like he can walk in our yard any time, on foot or with his ATV and go up and pet the dog. His back yard is even with our house, our house is set back on our property and I found out that he will stand in his back yard and call the dogs name and make noises. I found this out when they invited us over and they had a few to many and his wife told me. Her lead and kennel is on that side of the house. I am just fed up with people like this. What are your guys opinion on this? Sorry if to long.
 
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#2 ·
I do not believe you were rude whatsoever.....simply being responsible and acting in a fashion which is best for everybody....including the dog.

A Robert Frost quote comes to mind....." Good fences make good neighbors"

SuperG
 
#3 · (Edited)
I have similar issues but not quite as drastic. When it was just my little dog outside people walking by would stop and reach over my fence to pet him. The neighbor girl on the left tries to play with my dogs through the fence and my neighbor on the right stops by to see them. He is ok because he has brought his dog over into my yard with my permission to socialize the animals. The neighbors behind us I am pretty sure don't mess around but I did find an empty peanut butter jar in that part of the yard one day. I let that one go because I didn't know if it was something that was buried in the bushes or if they gave it to the dogs. My husband and friend who is a property manager both stated that in city I have no right to stop people from doing this as long as they are outside of my yard because they are on public property. Have you posted No Trespassing and Beware of Dog signs? At least if you have those posted you have a little more protection on your side if something does happen. I'll be interested to see what people here have to say about the issue.

I now keep the little dog on a chain inside the fenced in yard because the neighbors and passerby's actions have encouraged him to charge the fence every time someone walks by. He has gotten out twice, once into the little girls yard and once right out the front. I think it's sad that I have to leash my dog inside his own fenced in yard but I can't change the actions of others so I have to adjust around their actions.
 
#37 ·
Have you posted No Trespassing and Beware of Dog signs? At least if you have those posted you have a little more protection on your side if something does happen. I'll be interested to see what people here have to say about the issue.
So, before becoming a nurse, I was enroute to be a lawyer (I know, 180, right?) and this is a complete fallacy...at least in California. Placing a "beware of dog sign" legally acknowledges that you have a "vicious animal" on your propertry and should someone get bit, you KNEW you had an "attack animal" that would do "bodily harm" and therefore are MORE liable. No sign, no statement of acknowledgement, greater chance that there would be no legal repercussion should the dog bite. That being said, because we have "aggressive dogs" we are still in hot water if they bite someone.

As to the OP---were you rude? NO. My comment would have been more like "What the &&&& are you doing? Are you a %%%% moron? Get the &&&& out of here *******!" Then a prompt trip to Home depot to build a makeshift fence.
 
#4 ·
Not rude, best to just stay out with your dog while it conducts its "business", especially with no fence. It only takes a split second for some kind of accident/incident to happen, dog knocks kid down or even a solid unintended head-butt to one of the kids and you may have someone knocking on your door, just not worth the risk.

Kind of tough dealing with neighbors, but best to be clear with them. I'd have a talk about respecting boundaries, but be diplomatic, he may be a PITA, but there may come a time when you may need their help.
 
#5 ·
what kind of a person calls YOUR dog and makes ''wierd'' noises? sounds like a potential Big problem IMHO.
and don't forget in the long run-if you fail to plan you might as well plan to fail.
best wishes for a peaceful outcome.
personally I would post my property with no trespassing signs ASAP.
 
#7 ·
all the above but also putting your dog on a tie out and not supervising her outside
and having people teasing her is going to make her aggressive
if you do not remedy this situation instantly you are liable to have a bite case on your hands very soon
 
#9 ·
Certainly not rude!! I think you are correct in laying the ground rules - your property, your dog etc etc. Heaven only knows where you would be if the dog bit one of those kids!
:)
 
#11 ·
I would have to agree with others opinions of not leaving your dog unattended out back on a lead, let alone knowing your neighbor teases your dog anyways.

As for your initial question, you were much nicer than I would have been. Neighbor has no business coming onto your property unannounced, let alone approaching your dog. He to me is acting like he partly owns your property and your dog. This should come to an abrupt stop. He needs to understand upfront and right away this will not allowed. If you let this progress, you are puting your dog at great risk.

I don't have any idea what your husband is think telling you to not say anything. Does he really want to take the chance of a lawsuit? By not saying anything and having no "no trespass" signs that to me your saying it's ok to come over anytime and mess with the dog. Kind of risky.

I would have told them the very first time "back away from the dog. Do not come on my property without asking us first." Also I would make him aware that I know he teases the dog too and it should stop now. I would be firm and direct, but not insulting.

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#12 ·
We do not have a fence, my husband will not put one up. We live on two acres. I was real nice about it. We are friends with them. He just needs to know his limit and what I will or will not tolerate. My husband is way more relaxed and tolerant than me. This is his first dog but not my first. I had GSDs my whole life. I know what they can do to a person on accident. My other half does not like to confront anyone about anything because he don`t want to cause trouble. I think if telling someone in a proper manner what you dislike it should not be a problem for them. You are after all protecting them and your dog. I think it is wrong for a person to go into your yard and mess with your dog and try to introduce strange children to it. We do have signs up, no trespassing and beware of dog. She was out side for less than 60 seconds. I know it only takes a second. I am real careful about our dog. I do not let her run outside unless I am out there with her. But will once in awhile I will put her on her lead(that is attached to her dog run) or put her in the outdoor dog run. I should not have to worry about the neighbors and what they will do. They being adults, should know better than that and have common sense when it comes to dogs(he`s had a dog before). My dog is very friendly and loves kids. She is not aggressive all. She is not left outside all day long. But I should be able to leave her for two minutes on her lead, in my yard. Our house is about midway on our property.(2 acres) It is also a dead end street and I do not live in the city. Don`t get me wrong, we get along with all are neighbors and they are real nice. The thing is, she is our dog, not his. He can get his own. I am just tired of people coming over and trying to give her commands and treating her like the neighborhood dog. I have rules for a reason. Sorry, end of rant. It`s know wonder why sometimes I like my pets more than people.
 
#14 ·
OOooooo in blue. Teaching the dog when she barks at kids they'll back away. Not good if don't want the dog barking and lunging at kids!

You did right and in the future I wouldn't leave your dog out unattended for too long.

We've got a lot of kids in the neighborhood who have decided the green space behind my house is a public right of way (it's not, I bought this lot for the privacy....:crazy: ) but anyhoo, we've fenced in our back yard and double fenced now along the back lot line. I've watched the kids walking back there and they'll stop and go forward and back while they debate if they should pet my dogs. So now I tell the kids to keep moving and/or recall my dogs. I don't want to kick up a fuss either but you do have to draw the line for the safety of the children AND your dogs at some point.



Our GSD is 14 months old, high energy female, super active, plays rough. You need to be firm with her. I put her out side on her lead this morning and went back inside. Only a couple of minutes, she started barking then I heard some kids and thought my husband was home with the grand kids but then I realized I did not hear the car pull up. Plus she would not bark at the grand kids or my husband. I look outside the window and the person who lives right next door was by the dog with two strange kids I have not seen before. He was trying to get her to behave and sit, she would not listen to him and in the mean time she was barking at the one kid. He was still trying to get her to settle when the one kid started to go toward her and back up several times. This was all in a short time span. Well, I went out side and told him that I would prefer him not to bring kids over if we are not outside. My husband is telling me never to say anything. Was I right? I have to protect my dog. This person feels like he can walk in our yard any time, on foot or with his ATV and go up and pet the dog. His back yard is even with our house, our house is set back on our property and I found out that he will stand in his back yard and call the dogs name and make noises. I found this out when they invited us over and they had a few to many and his wife told me. Her lead and kennel is on that side of the house. I am just fed up with people like this. What are your guys opinion on this? Sorry if to long.
 
#16 ·
You all are right. I should not leave her unattended. This person thinks he has no rules, cause even if she is in her dog run he will come up to the house and let the children put their fingers through the cage. I caught him. You would think a person would not go by a dog run and let the kids do that. I do believe he thinks he can do what he wants and my husband will never say anything. But I did, know matter what my husband told me. I had to. I had to put a stop to it. Hopefully he got the hint. Again, I was real nice about it. My husband asked me what he said. He said oh um ok, and walked to the edge of the property and went home. I hope I do not have to say anything more to him. I guess I will just have to be more careful and make sure my husband really understands what could happen, even though I already explained it to him. I just don`t get some people. Even living in the country you are not safe from people that do not think first until something happens. She is a super nice dog, but I know her and she is still much a puppy even at 14 months and seems to be in a I don`t wanta stage.(not spayed) I even get teased because they think the dog has to many rules like not running around loose,(we have a lot of coyotes around here), I do not let her chase or kill any thing(I have a cat I love also that she can get to rough with and no they are not left alone, the cat is my personal therapy pet), no junk food, stuff like that. Is it wrong to want a well behaved dog and to represent the GSD as a whole(good dog)?
 
#17 ·
Move the lead and kennel to the other side of the yard. Easier said then done but....

Apologies to the guys on here.. I have found with guys, instead of being polite, trying to keep peace; it works better being direct. Instead of saying 'I prefer..." - 'Do not...' gets the point across and doesn't leave room for any confusion. But then I don't mind being a witch lol.

As for the other half, ask him which he would like to confront - putting his foot down with a neighbor or losing the house on 2 acres?
 
#18 ·
"What the :censored: are you doing" also works well for most people.

Honestly, you are much nicer than I would have been. I do NOT like people roaming into my yard. Ask my neighbors, who had their children escorted home by me and told that they would NOT be playing in my yard.
 
#26 ·
That's exactly what I would have said. I have ZERO tolerance for people I don't know messing with my dogs after my ex-neighbor poisoned and killed my golden retriever in my backyard :mad:
 
#20 ·
Sounds like you have the guy figured out. He thinks rules don't apply to him.

No it's not wrong for you to want to train your dog properly and be a good canine citizen no matter what breed really. Banish the thought! Your dog, your property, your right.

...and what Twlya said above.
 
#21 ·
I understand why you may be unable and/or unwilling to fence in two acres. Would your husband possibly agree to fencing off a small portion? Could you fence the area around your dog's run, plus a little extra? You sound like a very reasonable person, who understands the risk of this behavior. Your husband needs to understand as well. Just a small fenced area would protect you from a possible lawsuit, as well as keep your dog safe.
 
#22 · (Edited)
I don`t think I could move the kennel. It is in a real good spot. It is on pavement, easy to clean and I can see her from the window to keep an eye out. Sometimes it is necessary to put her in the kennel when she is in heat. Better than having an oops litter. She can get real stinky when it`s her time. She is not on her lead when in heat. I try to be a good dog owner. She gets plenty of exercise, play, toys and mind games. She is not dog aggressive or fearful, shy or timid. Great dog. She has had not one health issue yet. Back to the neighbor, well maybe the neighbor did get the hint. He really does like my dog. Maybe to much. But I will be way more careful and watchful of the neighbor and start telling him what is not allowed. I have to say everyone is real nice on this forum and I like that people on here do not sugar coat any thing. Thanks for all the help. No, I don`t think he would fence a small portion. He don`t like fences.
 
#51 ·
No you weren't rude, the neighbor is just a dipstick. No matter how many times you try to educate that type of person, they'll still keep coming over.

I'm sure it was innocent, he *wasn't thinking* and just wanted to introduce the kids to the pretty dog they probably remarked on seeing. However, his having had dogs before doesn't mean he knows jack diddly about german shepherds. They're not like other dogs (unless we're talking about a very similar breed!)

Yes. With a nice garden around the outside so dipstick neighbor can't get too close.
 
#24 ·
Yes I think you should always speak up. With the kids on one side of us I had to tell him not to put his hands/ arms through the fence 2 or three times, the last time pretty sternly and called his brother over and told him what the younger was doing and his mother came out and I went over it again! I haven't seen him do it anymore, but if they are out and I have my dog out, I take my dogs in. My grandparents lived on a farm, but keep the area around the house fenced to keep animals from getting up close to the house and preserve her gardens! Pasture/grazing along the back and one side. You might consider something like that, they had a large open area in front and to the side and the rest was fenced for cattle/sheep/wheat fields.
 
#27 ·
I wouldn't put up with that. That dog bites it will somehow be the dogs fault. Is there any way to put up a fence so you and not your neighbors can enjoy your yard that is on your property that you pay taxes on?
 
#35 ·
If you are on friendly terms with your neighbors, and you seem to be, perhaps your dog knows them well enough and they felt comfortable being around it. I have been in places where this has happened, especially rural areas.

Can you not gently talk to them that GSDs being a protective breed you are worried for their safety and to stay away unless you are present with the dog?


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