While we've always got on great with our neighbours Im getting really mad.
1 side as her grand children round very often. We have a 6 foot fence between us and the dogs never aknowledge the fact of the fence at all untill the kids start.
They have a coal bunker on their side and the kids have always looked over at the dogs thats perfectly fine.
Last year I found loads of pieces coal in our garden my husband had a word with our neighbour who said shed have a word with the kids. Now the weather is nicer its starting again. Last Sunday Sheena the Akita kept going to the fence barking every time I looked out I could see nothing.
later on I saw the kids hanging over the fence shouting at her and kicking the fence. Nothing I could realy do although I wasnt too happy.
Then I saw the coal come over at her. That was it I got very hangry at the kids better not say what I said to them.
The kids are aged between 5 and 9. Sheena in 8 years as never been any trouble in the garden she lays in the sun all day very lazy and very happy. Now shes barking at the fence all the time. Shes a big dog and if the kids hang over if she jumps up she could easily bite 1.
It happened once after I told them off I wasnt aware of it my 10 year old went out and said shed bite their arms off(not her the dog).
My hubby had a word with the neighbour again and told her if the dog bites we wont have her pts. She said shed have another word.
Nothing yet this weeekend but theyll be here this afternoon.
This does not bother the 2 huskies at all they just see everything as a game.
It just annoys me that a very good natured dog could so easily change because of these kids. Should I keep her locked while the kids are here I shouldnt have to really.
Any ideas and how would we stand leagaly if the dog did bite a kid which was leaning over the fence.

Hiya

Sorry to hear this is happening, it is VERY upsetting when out of your control, your dogs are being upset.

Im afraid if your dogs DID bite these kids, you would be in a very risky position, especially if you have mentioned to the kids grandparents/parents that they may bite (admitting you KNOW they may bite means you are aware and thus you should take precautiosn to stop it happening).

I would feel the same way as you though, my garden, my dogs, leave them alone or suffer the consequences, but the law doesnt work like that.

The best thing to do, would be to talk openly and frankly with the grandparents AND the kids, and point out that (possibly scaring the children a little - no bad thing i think) winding the dogs up and causing them to bark and nip may result in them ending up DEAD which should take some of the fun out of the game a little.

I would probably lie in wait for the little buggers and spray them with the hose pipe though HAHAHAA!

Em

Surely the neighbours can control what goes on in their own garden, sadly they seem to have no concern for your enjoyment of your own property :(
There is a very good lawyer called Trevor Cooper who deals with dog problems and i suspect a google search would bring him up.

I would be tempted, if all else failed, to use the hose pipe as Emma has said :D because if the children don't stop they could be bitten and better sopping wet children than bitten ones -safer all round!!

But obviously try the talking route first.... ;)

And ensure the dog is NEVER in the garden unless you are there too. In case.

Hope it gets resolved,
Lindsay
X

I would take some photos from your upstairs window when they are doing this - and them keep in a safe place - just in case :(

Daisy

Well they were here today with no problems. Hoping the chat my hubby had with her did the trick. My daughter and her friend were in the garden armed with water balloons just incase. It seems more innocent coming from other kids and it gives them a bit of fun on a boring day.
The hosepipe is a good idea so is the photos.

I'd also take some video of what the kids are getting up to and keep that in a safe place too.  Not sure if it would be legal or not but no dog should be provoked like that.

Your dog could be PTS if it bit them and you could even be banned for life 'because' you are aware of the problem and the potential, the kids are not at the age of legal responsibilty and dogs have no rights to bite under these circumstances.
Sure turn the hose on them if you want to face more criminal charges which could carry a possible jail sentence + an ASBO + a criminal record, the rest of your life living with daily problems, which could only escalate, your choice and decision but at least you are better informed now about the real world of a dogs place within human society.
If you want to solve the problem you could put a raised extension on the fence, either that criss cross wire - there might be planning problems with it, but above all, if your dog so much as gives one of these kids  slight nip your dog will pay for it, or at least that is the potential.

I have a similar problem.My huskies are fine when the next door's little girl climbs the fence they love her,but the other day she went in their run when one of them had a bone,and my rescue dog gave her a nip.I took her home and her parents were fine about it it was only a nip but i felt sick all day.The little girl has been back in and they are pals again.The run has a paddlock on now though cos it could have been alot worse.

Glad to hear things seem to be returning to normal - but don't trust the children to behave appropriately when they think you aren't there or aren't looking! ;)

We're all aware of ASBO  etc but at the end of the day, i still believe a wet child and maybe some minor legal problem is better than a dog accused of, or actually, biting :)
Hope things stay good for you!

Lindsay
X

The DDA would NOT apply in this case as the dogs are NOT in a Public place & the DDA only applies in a public place. However it does appear that they might be behaving better now G mother has had a word with them

I have a 6 foot high solid concrete block fence around my garden so anys one entering uninvited would be trepassing which is now a criminal offence

I get angry with parents who fail to teach their kids right & wrong & the correct way to treat any animal

have the children concerned ever been in and met your dogs maybe if they met them and played a bit with them it might stop them teasing them?

Yes the kids have met the dogs before. I dont think myself the dog would just atack the kids like that my husband just said it in hope they might be more aware and at the end of the day a dogs a dog and can we full trust any dog.
Im not daft and wouldnt do anything directly to the kids my 10 year old would do the hosing.lol.

;)  LOL.

Lindsay
X

I think hoseing will make it worse as being children they will do it more to get a reaction i thought maybe if the children played with the dogs and you mention that they get scared when being teased it might make them feel guilty of being cruel when they see how freindly your dogs are.

I have the same problem next door with a 4 and 7 year old.  I have a chain link fence, perfect for poking sticks and rocks through...and little arms.  I've spoken to the parents, the grandparents and an uncle.  All say it'll stop and yet, surprisingly enough, it continues. 

I've done what I can, spoken to an attorney to assess my responsibility if they bite one of the kids, etc.  When they are home and playing outside my dogs don't go out alone and mostly just don't go out.  Less headaches for me that way.

I know what your saying mr spock. It doesnt seem fair to keep your dogs locked inside at least I dont have the problem all the time just when they visit.
If my dog did bite and it had to be destroyed cos of these horrible kids 1 thing for sure is my kids would make their kids lives hell.

It isn't fair by a long shot.  Most reasonable people would make sure their kids stopped that type of behavior or raise their children to respect animals.  Sadly, you'll not typically deal with the reasonable.  ;)  Once you've done everything you can your only 2 choices are to take a chance or not.  I just chose the not.  :)  I don't think my dogs would bite but as they are dogs it's never 100% and I totally believe they'd be in the right if they got poked in the eye by a stick or little greedy fingers.

Totally agree with you mr Spock. If your dog DID bite whats to stop your dog getting lost (wink wink). You know just to a family member or good friend.

LOL!  They'd definitely get lost although here I seem to maybe be a bit more protected than you are there?  The atty. I spoke with told me that if they bit, on their own property, a child that was jamming it's arms through the fence, etc. that the neighbor wouldn't have much of a case.  Completely different than one of them running after someone and attacking, for example.  He did, however, tell me to remove the 'beware of dog' sign on the fence as that would tell a judge, or anyone, that I was aware people needed to be wary of my dogs.

I had some vinyl strips that I had weaved through the fence to prevent it, I think I may redo that this spring.