[Chloedancer]

I live in an unincorporated area of a large county outside of Houston. I know there are leash laws here but not everyone observes them.

I have several neighbors that allow their dogs to run freely. Most of the time they are not a hindrance or bother but one is a lab puppy that is always with these children. Well, the children play outside with mine and this puppy is always with them.

My main complaint is that I keep my dog indoors and when/if she goes outside it is on a leash or line. Usually on a leash, with myself walking her to potty or work on training exercises.

It makes it very difficult to work with my dog when there is a puppy constantly interfering, barking, jumping on my dog, etc. What if my dog has "enough" and hurts the puppy, but on my property? Of course since my dog is a German Shepherd she will be considered dangerous. What a joke.

I don't understand people. The parents apparently are not decent people or they would not allow their kids' puppy to just run loose. I don't want to start any issues around here but I have had enough. I just had to stop a training session with my dog because of this.

I work with her indoors but she needs training outside with distractions also. This puppy is WAY too much distraction.

I don't know the best way to handle this. These people seem a bit "off".

 

[Leadchange]

That's a tough situation. Do you keep peace between you and the neighbors or do you go over and try to discuss this with them? Not knowing these people makes it difficult to say. I would try to approach them in a friendly manor and let them know that the pup is interferring with your training, ect. I feel for you. It seems like everytime I take my GS out for a walk we are bombarded by atleast two dogs that are off leash along the way. I just try to ignore the dog and owner and go on about our walk. This doesn't always work and I have had to have words with irresponsible owners before. It does seem that the GS always gets the bad rap when trying to defend itself regardless of the situation.

 

[Amaruq]

Why not send the kids and their puppy home so you can work with your dog?

 

[GunnerJones]

sometimes you have to make yourself a pita, Let them know in the politest of terms that thier are leash laws and dog lover that you are don't want to see dogs get hurt/poisoned/runover/dogfight injuries etc and you'll call AC if you see a loose dog.

 

[Kayla's Dad]

I have a similar issue in my neighborhood. Fortunately, the neighbors who let their dog (a border collie pup) run loose are pariah in the neighborhhood due to other issues.

Kayla is always on a line in the front. She is pretty good with the pup at the moment who always rather interact with her than her owners-they have very little control recalling her. Of course when they're yelling at the puppy to come why would she want to come to them?

I sometimes work with Kayla using the distraction of the puppy as another opportunity for training-improving her recall, etc. Talking with those neighbors is a waste of time-they are constantly apologizing but continue to allow the puppy to "get away" from them. So I try to turn it to our advantage-getting irritated with them is a waste of space.

Kayla is pretty good with the pup-which is why the pup gets so excited to interact with her or the other dogs we interact with at a local park.

And I also use the interaction as additional training with a small pup before we add one later this year.

 

[Papanapa]

I would try to be nice at first. Stop over at their house with your pup on a leash. Explain to them that although you LOVE their new puppy it is causing a slight problem with your training at the moment. Ask them to not let the pup out to play with the kids at the times that you usually train your pup. Or, ask if it would be okay if you send the kids back to the house with their puppy if it is interfering with your training time.

It is possible that the parents are oblivious to the fact that their darling children are taking the puppy romping in your yard. They might be grateful for that bit of information.

If the nice approach doesn't work then I would move on to some of the tougher approaches.

Good Luck!

 

[AbbyK9]

I would also have a talk with the neighbors.

If it were me, I would tell them that I have a puppy / young dog with whom I am working toward a specific goal (CGC, therapy dog, Schutzhund, etc.) and that their puppy, while absolutely adorable, is frequently interfering with the training. I would then ask them if they could please contain the puppy, or if their kids could have the puppy leashed when they come over, so it's not hurting my training.

 

[arycrest]

I agree to try to talk to them politely first. If that doesn't work I'd let a/c handle the problem.

 

[SunCzarina]

Why not make your children unavailable to play? Do they really like these other kids or are they just someone to play with? If the parents are unsavory as you say, do you really want your kids playing with thiers?

 

[Chloedancer]

These are kids that just roam the neighborhood. Well, they are just two houses down. The parents do not care about this puppy roaming either. My daughters took the puppy to their house last night because it was interfering too much and they said the mother just yelled at her kids. They keep this pup either tied up or let him run loose. They don't allow it indoors.

I doubt they would even care if I called AC. From what my girls tell me, the parents are just as weird as the kids. As far as mine playing with them...they come over constantly and are still young, like 5-7 but a big pain! There are times I have to send them home.

I am hoping they got the point today when I mentioned to the kids that their pup needs to be on leash, it has one, so use it or I would call the law. They left shortly after. I had even given them one of Chloe's old leashes as a "hint" awhile back.

Like I said, I do not mind distractions but this pup is way too much with jumping on my dog and constantly barking at her. My mom suggested tying their dog up while in my yard...if I am trying to train mine but I am not sure if that is against the law since I am not the owners.

As far as talking to them, I doubt it would work. I have never met them, my kids are not allowed over there but I have heard they are pretty weird and "mean".

I guess I can just ask/tell those kids to take their pup home while I am training or at least have him on leash during those times. His incessant barking is still annoying but can work as distraction.

Ugh....some people!

As far as making my kids unavailable...I have tried that or if my kids are busy they still hang around knocking on the door. Its like they don't "get it". Something is wrong with them, lol. And even if they are not around....the puppy sometimes is.

Thanks for the suggestions....

 

[CertainlySpoiled]

I agree with everyone, go to your neighbors and talk with them politly and if that doesn't work then you need to contact a higher authority, for instance about a year ago, my neighbors had a pit bull mix who was just mean, and everytime we would take the girls out he would run over and try to fight the girls and then I got sick of it after I watched the pitbull take a poodle and violently sling it and torture it, I tried to take control, but I then got into a dangerous situation when the dog came after me, I then called animal control and they came out and got the dog within a couple of hours. Goodluck, I hope things get better!

 

[selzer]

Maybe, they are not awful people, maybe they are; however the five and seven year old should not be blamed for that.

Instead of excluding these children and keeping you children away from them, why not use the opportunity to teach them manners and to teach them about dogs.

For example, pitch them a lead for their puppy and tell them that you are going to work with your dog and if they want they can watch, but they cannot go beyond a certain point and the puppy has to be with them.

If you show them a few things to work on with their puppy, you may have an instant distraction to work with your dog.

Just because you believe the puppy is poorly cared for does not mean that they do not care for it at all, and would not care if the humane society came and took it away. They probably would care very much. At least, the children would care.

I absolutely abhor people who leave their animals run loose as a matter of course. However, I do not blame kids for this.

I think that you can look at the situation as a problem or an opportunity. Part of what makes people great dog people is their willingness to educate others about dogs.

I know that it is a frustrating situation, and that there is no reason you should feel compelled to give these children the time of day. But you never know what small thing you may do today that will effect people positively down the road.

 

[bmass01]

Very well said Selzer!

I think that is excelent advice!