Hi
The house next to me has been sold for months and months but not occupied.  Last night when returning from a dog walk I met my new neighbour - a single lady in her 30s who seemed very nice and was making conversation about my dog.  She then slipped into the conversation that she had a 7 year old neutered male Pit Bull x Staffie that had come from rescue and that she had had for 2 years.  She also added that he could be 'iffy' with other dogs.  Yikes!

Three questions:

Firstly, there is a footpath that runs between our two propoerties for the length of both front and back gardens.  It is fenced on my side but not on hers.  Is she legally bound to erect a fence?

Secondly, I thought Pit Bulls and the breeding of the pit-bull type had been banned more than 7 years ago............is that correct?
Thirdly.......given that she is unlikely to get a fence erected by next week which is when she said she was moving in, do you think it an idea to see if she would meet me and my dog on neutral ground first or best just not even to go there?

Sleepless nights ahead methinks.

Jan

PS  My dog is a 3 year old entire male GSP
 

The breeding of pitbulls, whether 'purebred' or their crosses, was banned in 1991. It is also illegal to sell or otherwise rehome them, so the rescue centre she got him from is very much at fault.

As for the fence - it depends on the deeds of her property. Certainly people walking on a legal right of way must not be harrassed by dogs; as a particular 'celebrity' whose name escapes me at the moment is discovering to her cost.

Edit: Found it! It's Claudia Schiffer who's having problems.

Not a great start for your first meeting with a new neigbour to be told your dog may be in danger!!!! :-(

Of course when people say their dogs are 'iffy' with other dogs there are varying degrees of iffyness, it may just be that he barks, if he is extremely aggressive, pulling the lead with snarling teeth and you know he is likely to attack and harm and possibly kill, and he truly is part pitbull,  that is the plus side for you, unlike other dogs which are aggressive the RSPCA would take him away purely for being part pitbull as already stated by JG they are illegal. So you can sleep easy on that point. Any problems all you need to do is pick up the phone.

If he is not a pitbull cross, you can't make your neighbour put up a fence, what you can do is insist that her dog is always on a lead in the communal part, and keep your dog on lead also to prevent any accidental meetings.

I would see how the land lies, and what character the dog has first before panicking and above all else make friends with your new neighbour to keep things civilised and then you can work together on keeping your dogs safe, you never know they may even become friends, a lot of aggressiveness in other dogs comes from fear and from being previously attacked, if the dogs new owner is working to right his behaviour there may be hope for all of you to eventually get on really well.

Hi Jan,

I agree with Carrington that it's not the best start and can understand your concern but perhaps you're getting yourself in a state unnecessarily :)  It could well be that the owner is concerned at you having an entire male and this being a catalyst for behaviour that she's already overcome previously :)

IMO setting up a meeting on neutral ground is entirely personal but possibly worth suggesting to your new neighbour.  If going that route perhaps you could meet together for an on lead walk keeping the dogs on the outside of each of you so not close enough to make any contact but hopefully enough for them to accept and possibly better still ignore one another.

I think the fencing issue has been adequately addressed already.  As to the issue of this dog being a Pit Bull x, many a dog is sold as being this cross and has no Pit Bull breeding in it's pedigree at all ;)  That said I do believe that there are underground sources for Pit Bulls, law or no law :rolleyes: , but unless I had a serious problem with an aggressive dog I could not in conscience report it to any authority.

good luck, Teri :)

I wouldn't worry yet, Jan because your fears may not be realised and, until she has moved in you won't really know what she meant by her comment.

Only the expression "a bit iffy" covers a multitude of sins from being a tad grumpy onwards. My new neighbour apologised for Percy, her Norfolk terrier occasionally being "iffy" and in reality it means he doesn't always want to play, not that he wants to fight. Admittedly, dealing with an "iffy" Norfolk terrier is less of a concern than an alleged pitbull cross.

However, so far as the footpath is concerned, it will be her responsibility to ensure her dog behaves in a way that permits free access along it and, if her dog is to run free in the garden I'd expect a responsible owner to erect a fence before allowing the dog out unsupervised and off a lead.

I would agree with you roz.  I have been known to say my dog is a bit iffy with others as she doesn't like dogs trying to hump her, take her stone on the beach, get in her face trying to get her to play when she doesn't want to play or when they try to lick her mouth.  It doesn't mean she is iffy all the time.  I also constantly watch if my dog is out in the street as the papillion up the street always growls and snarls at her and mine would definitely win that one if she responded.  If you are both responsible and vigilant then it shouldn't matter if there are a pack of wolves next door.