We have lived in our present home now for two years. We get on well with our neighbours but we have a problem with their dog. He is seven years old and is a cross between a GSD and a Chow Chow. In all the time we have known them, this dog is chained outside from the minute they get up to the minute they go to bed, in rain, hail, frost and all weathers. It barks quite fiercely nearly all of the time and because the chain is quite long, it can reach accross to our drive. The dog sometimes uses our drive as its toilet and if anyone comes to our door, it tries to jump at them and barks even more so. It has tried to bite one of my teenage sons friends but fortunately he had a thick coat on at the time so was only shaken by the incident but only this weekend, the dog had bitten its owner, causing him to have a tetanus vaccine because he hit him for doing something he shouldnt. We also know that the dog has bitten his own six year old sons friend on one occasion.

The only time the dog is taken for a walk is when the neibours father comes round and decides to walk him but I only know of three occasions this has happened in the last two years.

When the neighbours go on holiday in August, we have been asked to look after the dog, chaining him up etc. in the same way but to be honest, I am not looking forward to this.
We have spoken to our neighbour about the dog but are always told that "he is doing his job"
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What if anything do you think we should do or is it none of our bussiness? I dont want to fall out with the neighbours but neither do I want the dog to turn on my family or anyone we know.

Irrespective of all else, if the dog can access your property or get to people coming up your drive etc, I would have thought it was a simple case of asking them to shorten the chain. If it were me, I would tell them you are unable to look after the dog in August.....say you are away yourself or something.

Hello guest.....can I get this right ..they have asked you to look after this dog during their holidays and you have said yes?

I would have said no ..without a doubt ..and I would have reported them to the authorities by now ..they have a duty to keep the dog off your property for starters ...also , your teenage sons friend could have gone to the police ..whether he was wearing a thick coat or not , he was bitten!

Melody

What a miserable existence for this dog - no wonder it's fierce. No 'Pack Stability' - even biting the Owner!

And what a strange comment for the Owner to say that "he is only doing his job" - what job is that exactly? If the idea is to guard, then a burglar would do well to break in round the back, afterall the dog is chained up out of the way! I doubt this dog will have any true alliance to the family, proved that by biting the Owner!

There is no way that I would agree to be party to this shocking neglect. Does the dog have shelter? Personally, I would report it to the RSPCA, and see what they have to say. This may not even be a 'bad dog'. Some dogs thankfully when rescued from appalling conditions have turned out to be quite nice dogs, who respond to the correct training they need. The RSPCA can be quite diplomatic at reasoning with awkward folk, and helping them see sense.

(If you feel worried that they might suspect you of reporting them, tell them a little white lie, that someone knocked on your door and asked if you knew anything about the dog, and that you do not know who they were, but seemed a bit strange) - or some other suitable fairy tale!

This dog deserves a life.
Denise.

Hi, I've just become a member so that I can add a little more to my original post about my neighbours dog.

Despite being outside in all weathers, in all the time I've known them, the neighbours have not provided the dog with any form of shelter although they are talking about making him a kennel for when they go on their holidays. We wont hold our breath!

When I was asked to look after him while they were away, I was put on the spot and as I never like to say no to people and always try to help out when I can, I felt I had to say yes, it isnt until later on when I have had time to think about things that I start to regret what I have agreed to. I know that I should try to get out of it and have thought of a couple of excuses but dont know if I could be convincing enough for them to believe me. I dont like to upset people, especially as they are neighbours who on the whole, I get along with.

Hi Sammyray,

Glad you joined, particularly to try and get this situation sorted. Can appreciate your dilemma. Many people agree to things that while their mouth is saying "yes certainly" their heart and mind is screaming "no way"!!

Firstly, I am sure it is against the law for this dog to be left for this amount of time without adequate shelter. So I would report your concerns to the RSPCA (annonmously if necessary - they will undertstand), now! - before they attempt to possibly build a 'holiday kennel'.

So where does the dog go when it is not chained up? Will you be able to approach it? Presumably, the dog is taken indoors at night time, so why does it have to be chained up during the day?

Act fast with the RSPCA. Wait and see what they will do, decisions then over the August holiday, will hopefully be taken out of your hands!

However, if nothing is done by the RSPCA!!!! - Perhaps you could simply tell your neighbours that you have thought about the situation, and feel 'afraid' of the dog. To the extent that you do not feel you could handle him/her on your own. Tell them that it is too much of a responsibility looking after someone else's animal, let alone one that you are afraid of. You would also (presumably) have responsibility of their home! (Having to let the dog in and out). Tell them unfortunately, you cannot accept these responsibilites.

Good Luck (Hoping this dog gets a long awaited holiday too).
Denise