Hello this is the first time i have looked on here thank you to google.

I have two dogs both rescues one is a four year old staffie/english cross and the other is a 2 year old staffie. Both my dogs have not too good pasts the older one was found at 4 months old in some woods skinny and only just alive, he was taken to Wood Green where he was lovingly nursed back to health for three months,

On the day he was put up for rehoming my husband had just happened to have an impromptu day of work and we decided to drive there an have a look about, there we fell in love with our boy and were privileged to be the couple out of 5 other couples that were chosen to be his new parents. He is a complicated dog has some funny ways but we love him to bits as does everyone who meets him.

The younger one was brought to us by my step son who took him from a homeless person but couldn't keep him. He (the dog) was 3.5 months old a right mess bad skin smelly skinny awful and cross eyed, the vet told us they think the cross eyes is from him being beaten over the head. He now is a two year old nutcase who will do anything for food food and more food and play play and more play and cuddles.

I was worried about how both my dogs would react to my new granddaughter (who is now 8 months) but she can pull them poke them grab their cheeks tails etc and they just lay there and let her or when they are fed up they go into another room. basically they are two lovely dogs who want no more than long walks lots of playtime and more than anything big cuddles on the sofa with us in front of the telly in the evenings.

My two boys get on great together and on walks will go and say hi to most dogs and usually I just carry on walking and call them to "this way boys" and they soon forget the other dogs and go back to their sniffing playing etc.

Ok thats a short background of my boys now the problem

My boys are by no means perfect they can be a pain as well as the next dog can be but my problem is ...

My neighbour has two white german shepherds who are brother and sister, I know everyone has their own ways with their animals but I truly feel what she does is very very wrong, she has never socialized them with other dogs or people, she has this year made all her fences so that her dogs cannot see the outside world, she brought them up with newspaper hitting and shoe hitting, the only time they leave the premises is to go to the vets once a year for grooming. She also has three cats that she keeps indoors to the stage where her son has made frames with mesh on that fit in her windows so that she can open them and keep the cats in. (we live in the country no main roads etc). I hope you have got the gist of this.,

Anyway,  to get to my garden my dogs have to pass in front of my neighbours gate and last year her dogs were out when i took mine out and her dogs rushed the gate got under it  and attacked my dogs, luckily her son and myself managed to stop it very quickly so no harm was done, but since then this has happened two or three times, so now her son has put planks of wood on the gate (which was a 5 bar field type gate) floor to 5 foot high to stop this. But when she is expecting her son home from work or a visitor she will open her gate and leave it open for up to an hour before they are due to arrive.  She does have another section of fenced off garden that she can put her dogs in but my problem is now becoming that my youngest dog if that gate is open and he hears her dogs will rush in there (I assume to try and get them silly little boy he is) so the older dog then follows to protect my younger dogs. So now I have to check everytime before I take my dogs out that her dogs arent out and the gate is closed.

The saddest part of all of this is my neighbour and I have always got on well and still do we tend not to mention what happens between the dogs, but tonight something happened and I now wonder what I should do, my neighbour rung me up with a problem so I went round to be a shoulder, I get on with her dogs but I as everyone else is very wary of them so I tend to just ignore them and not pay them any attention (even the postie will not deliver the post inside her gate she has to have an outside post box).  But as well as cats and dogs she has a tortoise and unfortunately I have a bit of a tortoise phobia which is silly I know but that's life, anyway tonight the tortoise was out and I didnt know and it came out of the kitchen behind me and started to touch my ankles I jumped (like you do at a fright not a jump jump)  and let out a sort of scream more like argh instead of aaaaaargh I then sat down heavy breathing and the female gsd then tried to bite me in the face luckily all she got was a mouthful of my hair but that hurt like hell to have a dog pulling my hair, I know I am sort of to blame for arghing, but my neighour hit the dog more than once which I didnt like, and I found myself calming the dog down, but now a few hours later I find that I do not want to go next door anymore while those dogs are there. I do consider myself lucky that it was only one of the dogs as the male has snapped at my neighbour more than once.

We both rent our houses from the same landlord who really all he wants is his rent ontime, I dont want to fall out with my neigbour but I cant go on like this being scared that my dogs will get hurt and to lets be honest mine are staffies and there is almost a witch hunt for staffies i this country at the moment so what do I do any advice anyone?

To be honest I'm not quite sure if I have understood it all, but a few points: 1. Obviously your neighbour isn't treating the dogs very nicely by never walking them. :( 2. However, to make fences so that they can't see out is responsible -imagine how much they would stand and bark constantly otherwise, at the slightest thing passing. 3. To keep the cats in safely is very responsible too. 4. Can't you simply put your dogs on a lead when they have to walk past her gate? (This is the part I don't understand, can't visualise it at all. Why do you have to pass a neighbour's gate to get to your own garden?) However if the GSDs are out with the gate open and can get out of the property, then that of course is totally wrong and that needs addressing so maybe have a word with the local dog warden?

Thanks Goldmali, The fences dont matter they bark constantly at any small noise even when she draws the curtains in the house they just move them aside and bark.  Sorry I feel cats are animals that like to jump run etc and to keep them indoors is bordering on cruelty (her vet told her this when one was very poorly as well) especially when all we are surrounded by is fields and woods but we all have our own opinions on that one lol.

Where I l live we have two sets of two houses and the drive way comes from the road down past the first three houses and leads to the fourth, our gardens are across the driveway, my neighbour is the fourth  house, so her gate crosses over the driveway as there is no need for a right of way into hers. It would mean putting my dogs on a lead for under 2 seconds and taking them across a driveway that only i and her son use, to add to this there is not a fence between my garden and the driveway to describe it better

we are two semi detached houses

i look out my front window and the driveway goes straight past my window across the other side of the driveway is my garden and parking space, my neighbours gate runs across the driveway at the adjoining boundary of the two houses. my garden is over 100 foot long by over 75 foot wide it is fenced on three sides and I too have a gate that runs across the driveway therefore my dogs leave my front door and they are on my property. Hope that makes a little bit of sense.

Where we live we have never seen a policeman let alone a dog warden, just farmers and friendly game keepers and I would rather sort this out in a friendly way without upsetting anyone by involving authorities as we rent from the same landlord and I do not want hassle.

I agree with Goldmali re fences and cats and TBH I often wonder about statements such as "my neighbours NEVER walk their dogs" as are you in the house 24/7?  Maybe they walk them and you  do not know?

The reason I say this is because I was once accused of this years ago by a neighbour, what they failed to realise is that I walked them before they woke up in the morning and at night at the time! ;)

Anyway, you can avoid being exposed to these dogs by not entering your neighbour's house, no need to be rude just tell her you are afraid of them, and that you will not go into her property unless they are locked away.

If the dogs escape from their property and cause fear and alarm if not injury then I am afraid I would say to her this is not acceptable and that you feel both your dogs and yourself are at risk and if she fails to protect both her dogs as well as those of others and you then you will have no alternative but to speak to the dog warden.

You will not see dog wardens patrolling the streets, you just contact them via your local council, they will be in the phone book.

You ALSO have a duty of care to YOUR dogs, and thus I would put my dogs on the lead as of course if an incident DID occur you could demonstrate to everyone that YOUR dogs were under control! ;)

You sound as though YOU are upset, so you can choose to do something about it and potentially fix the issue, or do nothing and continue to be upset and at risk.

This problem seems so simple to sort out and the answer is staring you in the face. :-)

It's funny how you can be close enough to each other for her to use your shoulder to cry on and you are on friendly terms yet you can't tell her how you feel and worry about her dogs and the gate being left open. That is all you have to do talk to her, it could just be that easy.

What is it that you are afraid of, sort that one out and talking will become easier, do you think she will take offense? Do you think you will fall out? Do you think she will also say things to you? Get over these points by thinking how you would cope with the negative reactions and you'll be able to talk to her.

Invite her around for a coffee and sit and talk calmly and nicely, don't accuse tell her you are worried and it is keeping you up at night and can you both come to an arrangement to avoid the dogs ever making contact for both their sakes, it is a great shame that they were not socialised from puppies, but probably too late for that.

If talking is not possible, you could try a mediator who deals with neighbourhood disputes, but for now forget dog wardens and any officials, try talking to her, it may just be that easy. :-)

Don't be afraid to have a voice, (this country seems to have a great problem with that) if your voice and feelings are not listened to and heard then you can take things further if you wish.

Thannks for nothing wont be bothering with this site again if people just have a go at the poster.

Very puzzled by your response.  I can't imagine more helpful answers than you have had.  Why not have another little read over them :)

I think you are being a little over sensitive as your upset.  You have been given very good advice and no-one has had a go at you, just put the position as they see ti from what you have said.

I too would put the dogs on the lead (it's only two dogs and takes a few seconds, it's good training) if you have to cross communal ground/rights of way, to reach your garden so that your dogs cannot enter her property when she leaves the gate open, a bit of a faff, but worth it for safety and to stop a bad habit of them looking for the other dogs developing. 

> Thannks for nothing wont be bothering with this site again if people just have a go at the poster

I can't see any sign of that in the replies you've been given.  However you have been offered some alternative views which are always useful in a debate.  Some posters may have been on the receiving end of complaints and wish to offer you the neighbours perspective but no one has said that out of control dogs are ok!

Sometimes when you are in the middle of a problem it can be hard to be objective, or difficult to get your point across.  If you feel you've been misunderstood then rephrase your question or just ask a slightly different one.  To be fair, it's quite hard to picture your drive/house/gate arrangement so the advice to keep your dogs on a lead does not seem unreasonable.  Also talking to your neighbour is good advice.  We get our fair share of neighbour issues discussed on this forum and, before things escalate or officials get involved, talking or negotiating direct with the individual concerned is always the best possible course of action.

By the way: From past knowledge there are many people on this site that keep their cats indoors - you just need to agree to differ on that one :)

Also puzzled by your reply which was sent to me, we've all given you advice and opinions on what you could do to end this issue, without it getting worse nobody was rude to you at all. I'm not quite sure what you were looking for from this site or any other?

Your neighbour probably doesn't even realise that you have a problem with her and she won't unless you speak to her.

My neighbour has two white german shepherds who are brother and sister, I know everyone has their own ways with their animals but I truly feel what she does is very very wrong, she has never socialized them with other dogs or people, she has this year made all her fences so that her dogs cannot see the outside world, she brought them up with newspaper hitting and shoe hitting, the only time they leave the premises is to go to the vets once a year for grooming. She also has three cats that she keeps indoors to the stage where her son has made frames with mesh on that fit in her windows so that she can open them and keep the cats in. (we live in the country no main roads etc). I hope you have got the gist of this.,

Ahhhhhhhhhhh.................Penny drops, you wanted us to batter your neighbour for being a terrible owner?

You know the problem with many pet owners and parents is that they think their way is the only way and like to criticize how other people do the job.

I do agree that using newspaper and shoes to correct unwanted behaviour is very outdated and to most of us cruel, but the RSPCA would not be interested unless a dog were beaten and abused, I take it she uses these methods as in a tap, people have their different training methods from Ceaser Milan to Barbara Woodhouse to the more sought after and effective praise and reward, we may not agree but unless we are going to speak out at the time and try to re-train another way, which you could do especially as negative training methods can make a negative response, if the lady is bitten she'll know why. :-( But, if we are not going to advise, say nothing and just get upset then it's none of our business unless an animal is truly being abused in which case we call in the RSPCA.

GSD's need more grooming than once a year, so you may also have that point wrong and as said when you are out, the dogs may well be walked but again the RSPCA will not be interested all they value is that a dog has shelter, food, water and is not in pain, obese or abused.

The cats indoors, well once again that is owner preference, some cats are kept indoors, some in pens, some left to roam, none are cruel, cats sleep for 75% of the day and many only wander a few feet from their territory (the front door) even when left to roam. If the neighbour wants indoor cats, that once again is her business, it also depends on what type of cats she has some are just indoor cats anyway they do not fair well outdoors, I had a Maine Coon who did not leave the house even when I had all doors and windows open was not interested in the slightest. I also had a cat who would only live outside and I've had others who will wander and some who will make it 10ft and that's as far as they want to go.

So what you view as cruelty is not in the eyes of the RSPCA.

The only real issue you have is the two dogs making contact, and her not rearing her animals as you would.

Just thought of another possibility for the gate, instead of her leaving the gate open for up to an hour when visitors are coming could you ask her to keep it closed until visitors honk their horn to say they have arrived or even call her on their mobile when there to come and open the gate. (If mobiles can be picked up in your area)

>She also has three cats that she keeps indoors to the stage where her son has made frames with mesh on that fit in her windows so that she can open them and keep the cats in.

This actually what cat charities recommend for people who want to keep their cats as indoor cats for whatever reason. It isn't cruel per se.

I honestly think you've been given good advice about sitting down and talking to your neighbour about this. Obviously she doesn't want her dogs attacking anyone (hence responsibly putting up the high fence to prevent this), so a friendly chat about your other worries would be the first choice of action.

Richenda,all posts are to help you ,I hope you see that,remember people love pets in a different way,I dont agree with keeping cats in,but I would not judge anyone for doing it,as long as they are not starved and beaten(and we all know that many are) try not to worry over it.

As for the dogs, any hitting is not good,we dont do that,but ask yourself are her dogs terrified of her? do they cower and shake? some dogs get a  gentle wop and it doesn't mean that much to them,if they never go out, sadly they will behave the way they did when you yelped,its nobodys fault,please try not to proportion blame,my own dogs are not good with anyone coming into the house,they are rescue although we have had them 8 years its something we cant undo.

If you both have dogs I find it hard to believe you cant find common ground,most doggy people(myself included) wont shut up going on about their dogs.
You need to talk to her,some people love their animals so much they are scared of letting them out,or perhaps she just didn't know enough when she got them, please think twice before you do anything drastic (dog warden) you could cause untold misery for her by doing this.

Perhaps try thinking more positive ways in which you could help her,
trust me ,I have had worse neighbours than this.
Ash

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