I have been told that a Beware of the Dog sign can even be used against you if something happens away from the house. It can be used as eveidence that your dog could be aggressive !!!. Personally I have a 'Please Shut the Gate, Dogs Running Loose' sign, more of a request then a warning. Ingrid

I have a sign on my garden gate that states Watch Out Doberman About.But this i must say is actually a very pleasant looking sign that has a lovely cartoon picture of a dobe. So out of curiosity do you think by this i'm advertising an aggressive dog.

Alison

We have 2 the first one says:
Never mind dog beware of owner
The second says
My dogs can reach the gate in 3.2 seconds, can you?

Never read all posts didn't realize that these were said all ready.
I have also heard if someone breaks into ur house and hurts themself that they can sue u, not sure how true that is but heard it more then once.
ttfn :)

My husbands got a really good on the garage door it reads

Never mind the dog beware of the WIFE Which i must say is probably true. Would do smiley but dont know how to do !

Smileys: click on Help and scroll down. There is a list of all the smileys and extra bits you can do:)
LynnT

Thanks LynneT

If a dog bites an uninvited intruder on his own premises the owner is liable and can be sued.Just the same as if you hurt an intruder in the process of restraining him he can sue.I have read you can use due force to restrain an intruder but then it is arguable ,what is due force?Burgulars have sued and won apparently when sustaining injury whilst caught in the act by homeowners trying to protect their
property.Whose side is the law on anyway!!!!!!!
Carole

Carole,

Missed all of this but the law saws that intrusion and self defense and viewed the same way.

Thus being you are entitled to use the same force in defense as you are receiving.

A punch for a punch , a kick for a kick.

This is to stop people shooting , unarmed people whether criminals or not.

Need to read the whole post now.

Pam

Ps Carole, :-)I back this up with the Harrison case ( ex beetle) they felt their lives were in danger and I believe the intruder was either killed or very very seriously injured ( Someone correct me if I am wrong about the injuries).

The term is reasonable force which is "like for like" and also it is viewed and determined what any other reasonable Person would have done in the same situation. If most reasonable people would react in a certain manner then this is allowed as acceptable behaviour. :-)

This however is completely nothing to do with a dog issue as One would be criminal and the other cival.

BFN Pam :-)

My mate brought my hubby this sign for Christmas:
"Never mind the DOG
Beware of the KIDS
And be VERY AFRAID
Of the WIFE!"
Do not know why she should think that :D

Yeah, but then the Mother-in-Law bites the intruder and you go through the same legal hassle ;-)

Wendy

hahahahahahahahahahahahahaah....s**t...I think the misses heard me!!!!!!

I obviously cannot say for with 100% accuracy but regardless what the sign says a sign would not be taken as evidence of you admitting you have a Vicious dog. Until recently the only sign you could buy was " beware of the dog" it was for 2 reason 1, to warn people the dog was their, most dogs will be a little protective of their property 2, so as not to let them out.

I believe that each case is taken and decided on it's own merit. For example has their been problems in the past. Was the area secure. Was there a warning sign.

Who in their right mind goes into gardens or premises with barking dogs there. ( oh yes the police I forgot)

My view is always accept that you are 100% responsible for your dogs and take actions accordingly , if there is a problem the liability is not or could not be limitless.

BFN Pam

Of course I know that you are all right in what you say, but the thought of a someone running down a garden path with half his trousers hanging off and a dog close behind still gives me a smile.

Bazza

I should have one saying "Beware of the ice -queen" That will sure stop people commingnear my house......... its enough to put any one off :D

Hi Pam
My info was taken from a question and answer column
in a Sunday paper by a lawyer.Just glad that with my breed I have no fear of biting but could be sued for licking someone to death!
Regards
Carole

I was going to put a sign up saying beware of the dog as I know what Molly can be like at times. But Ingrid told me gosh a long time ago about this and I have never put a sign up. though might put one up "beware of the cat!!!! Heee :D Julieann

I learnt about dog signs many years ago when I worked for solicitor, although laws may have changed a lot since then, I wouldn't take any chances especially with the way many seem to be anti dog these days and would use anything against them. Ingrid

I wouldn't put a sign up at all - especially if you have a desirable breed - you may find that you come home and the love of your life has been stolen!

Very nearly happened to my last cat - fortunately neighbour scared them off. Don't think anyone in their right mind would try to get my akita out of her run with out her having met them before! And she is by no means agressive - just protective.

Each to their own.

Hi
I have a pic of dobermann in window with i live here on it,
And yes it was me that posted about beware of dog sign arfter talking to our local police man
That had just brought my staff home arfter he had jumped 6ft garden wall and walked 3 miles with the pc on his beat before returning to the station he walked mojo home nice man,
He pointed out the sign i had on gate saying beware of dog
He said that haveing sign worded that way is stateing that i know my dog might bite hence leaveing myself open,
sandy.

I AM a police (wo)man and I have a sign stating "Beware of the dog"! And I am in no doubt that Hugo (my dobe) WOULD bite an intruder so it makes absolutely no odds to me, I'd get sued anyway so let the little buggers know what they're in for! I'm quite happy to let the dog insurance take care of any liability claims, it's what I pay my £10 a month for.

Everything Carole stated about reasonable force re restraining the delightful drug ridden intruders is absolutely dot on, under Common Law: "any person may use such force as is reasonable and necessary" to restrain/detain persons who are in the act of committing crime or have committed a crime. And don't forget the term 'Pre-emptive strike' i.e. "I saw his fist clench and raise towards my face, officer, therefore to avoid being struck, I deflected it by striking him first"

The law is NOT on our side, everything is in place to make sure the criminal gets the best of everything - and free of charge for them might I add. Should anything like this happen and an intruder have the damn cheek to make a claim, I'd happily provide a statement to counter it explaining in depth how I saw them kick and puch the poor mite and provoked my poor animal into retaliating. A nice little charge and a £500 fine for animal cruelty will make them & their solicitor think twice about pursuing a dog bite charge.

Another interesting fact: I interview 'career' burglars on a weekly basis and many have stated time after time that they will avoid houses with dogs due to the barking/raising the alarm etc. It's too much like hard work for them when there are easier pickings such as the lone elderly person. I can't remember the last time I attended a burglary with a resident dog.

Phew! Now I feel much better!

Lady G

To lady G
Your reply was very interesting, as I thought that I had read somewhere, a few years ago
probably, that if you owned a dog and displayed a Beware of The Dog sign, letting people know that you did have one, then if the dog did bite an intruder, it would be his own fault as it was clearly displayed as there one being about. I suppose the law could have changed since then, as you say the law seems all for criminals these days. To my mind anyone that wants to break into a house displaying a sign, deserves what he gets from a dog. Small dogs can be as vicious as a larger breed. I have a Cavalier, who is normally very placid and would lick anyone to death, but a relative used a side gate to get into my garden and the dog went berserk barking. I think most dogs will protect their home in some way. I have a German Shepherd now who is a real softie, but her bark makes her sound quite ferocious. I am worried now about these signs, as Shepherds have a reputation of being a nasty dog and people tend to blame them for accidents even if they are the innocent ones. I would personally prefer to pre-warn people that I have a dog at home.

I have a "Please shut gate, dogs loose" sign.

That warns people, but in a non-threatening way. :)

I always think of the theft risk when I see 'Show dogs in transit' signs on cars - or the similar ones with breeds and 'show offs' or something like that! A neat little advertisement that your dog may be a pedigree, of desirable quality and able to be handled by strangers ie... a judge ( I also appreciate that some dogs of all breeds may be territorial of their own space!:) )
I wouldn't have one!

Nice signs here: http://www.enamelsigns.ca/dog.htm

Saw a sign recently with a picture of a cute budgie which said 'I whistle for the Rottweiler'.

Nothing illegal there.

My husband bought this sign for a joke from an army and navy store Warning This area is patrolled by army dogs. We also have a sign on the side gate which reads Watch Out German Shepherd About with a picture of a GSD on maybe a bit over the top ?
You could have bought quite a few different signs from Crufts like the ones mentioned earlier.
barbara

I have a sign that says CAUTION! THIS AREA IS PATROLLED BY BULLMASTIFF SECURITY CO.I would think that it would make any wannabe intruder think twice!.

My sign is dogs will bark but the owner will bite.

I am moving and I want to just put up a pic of a Border Collie nothing else on my back gate that would be OK would'nt it? Julieann xxx