Dog incident

[jjsooner73]

So, last week I was vacuuming my car when a man with 2 dogs approached. Scared the !@#$ out of me...anyhow, he was very polite and introduced himself and said he wanted to let me know that I might want to secure my back gate. I was immediately alarmed, thinking it was open or loose (I keep a lock on the INSIDE), but he meant the gap underneath the gate. Turns out as he was walking his dogs, my smaller dog (Peanut) was barking--as dogs do when dogs walk by. As they passed the gate, his dog (a small terrier puppy) was barking back and going for under the gate. Peanut got a piece of her and brought blood--nothing serious, just broken skin. THe man initially thought his dog was going to be drug under the fence.
I put bricks underneath so that's no longer an issue.

However, what would YOUR reaction be to this man? I was fine--he was polite, I did feel very bad for his puppy--who didn't seemed concerned herself!

Funny thing is, Peanut is the most submissive loving dog. She was scared of some kittens at my parents' house recently. I know it's just territorial behavior though-the yard is HER domain.

I told my dad about this and about 30 minutes later he brought the subject back up, saying he would be mad that this guy had the gumption to come and 'complain' about my dog. I live at the end of a cul-de-sac and this guy had to go out of his way to come talk to me. I pointed out that next time it could be a small child's hand..you just never know. Plus, the guy was polite about it. I do think he could have kept his dog away from the gate--I'm sure her head was as much under the gate as my dog's.

[Cookin4Love]

Personally, I would be thrilled that the neighbor politely informed me of the problem. You're right--next time, it could be a human part under the fence, and I know you would feel terrible if a child got hurt. You might remember that we had some terrible neighbor issues regarding our dogs right after we moved in here, and I wished like crazy one of them had politely approached me instead of lodging official complaints. We had no idea there was a problem, and had no WAY of knowing without being informed. I would have considered it an extreme act of kindness for someone to just let me know face-to-face. We took care of the problem as soon as we knew about it, but not until some very hard feelings were formed on all sides. We essentially have no relationship at all with our neighbors now, and it cemented the fact that we will not stay in this neighborhood long-term. It sounds like your neighbor was on an information-providing mission rather than trying to assign blame, and you've now taken care of the problem.

As for your residence being out of the way because of being on a cul-de-sac...well, I often walk my dogs in cul-de-sacs; I get on the sidewalk and follow all of it's twists and curves. Similarly, children often play in cul-de-sacs because of the lesser amount of traffic. I'm sure your dad is a great guy, but I think he's wrong on this one. JMHO, though. ;)

[jjsooner73]

I'm sure your dad is a great guy, but I think he's wrong on this one. JMHO, though. ;)

First, thanks for your reply. I appreciate another's view. I tend to be too nice at times, and was wondering if this is one of them.

Dad is a good guy. HOwever, he has lived in a rural area (no neighbors within view) for most of his 60 years and is used to others minding their own business and he his.

I'm sorry things never were to be repaired with your neighbors. I know that has to be difficult. :(

[misskitty100]

Was the guy letting his dogs onto your property? I am assuming this is what happened since most likely, the gate to your backyard must be on your property, right?

I would have reacted to the man just as you did however, 30 minutes later I would have thought EXACTLY like your Dad. Some guy letting his dogs onto your property and then coming to complain about the experience later :confused: The neighbor man is a bit off base but since he was nice to you etc. I would just let it go in the interest of neighborly peace.

[Triathlon13]

HI! Sorry to hear about your experience, but at least the guy was nice--that is always a plus!

So I look at this situation a couple of ways...his dogs were on your property-so that is his fault-but if your fence juts up right to the sidewalk or road I can see how this can happen-I know when I walk my family do I let her on a long leash-but I also keep good track of her and she doesn't go very far on to people's properties.

My fear as you stated is if a kid wanders off and tries sticking their hand under there or what not--chances of it happening is small, but we all know the unlikely is usually likely to happen:^)

Something that you could try (my parents did this)-is putting chicken wire or wire fencing in that small area--they took a spade and dug around and tucked the fencing into the ground and then either using a staple gun or another means attach it to the fence. This is a rather inexpensive way to do it and it won't look all that bad if you do it well and then the dog can still see under the fence, but no dogs or hands will be getting in or out!!!

Good Luck!

[LakeMartinGal]

I think you were just right. If the guy was polite and informative, rather than angry and demanding, there was nothing for you to be upset about. If he'd wanted you to pay a vet bill for the dog's injury, and the dog was on your property, that would have been something else entirely...

It seems to me that, if you're at all like me, we can get angry about our own things, without someone else telling us we 'should' have been angry...JMO

[gertdog]

Our "back" gate actually opens onto the street, so I'm thinking it's possible that Jennifer's opens along a sidewalk or something. If the guy was on her property that's one thing, but if he wasn't, I'd be really glad he told me. I wouldn't want my dog, someone else's dog, or a child to get hurt, and I wouldn't want to rely entirely on other people's common sense (keeping their dog or child away from a gate with a barking dog) to prevent problems.

[jmarie]

Could the hole have become bigger? And if so, could your dog have gotten out and gotten lost or stolen? If so, then I would probably be thankful.

And... I saw on TV where these doberman's dug and went under a fence after someone's barking dog. I' m thinking it wasn't a bad idea that you were informed so that you could get the problem taken care of.

Good luck!

[Leslie Ferguson]

From a different perspective somewhat. It is definitely good that the guy was polite since I experience a lot of poisonous people when I run and ride around my area who get in your face for little things. At least things were civil and you both have an understanding. No fault was tendered (at least as I see it) just information and that's nice.

As for the dog being on your (Jennifer's) property - that's true but I know in our area that unless a yard specifically states No Tresspassing Keep out and there's a fence to keep people out yards are pretty much fair game. Not that folks can do anything they want in my yard but if they traverse my yard or their dogs/cats/children are in my yard I have no legal recourse to remove them. And many can cite what happens when a child falls into a pool and gets injured, even if there's a fence to keep them out. People (for good or for ill) are held liable for things that happen on their property - sometimes even with no tresspassing signs posted.

I'd chalk this one up to a freindly neighbor and a good natured interchange. He wasn't demanding and was polite. Both good things in my book.

Glad everything worked out for the best.
Les

[Robyn1007]

I agree that since the man let you know in a friendly manner I wouldn't think anything more of that part. I'm glad that you put bricks under the gate to avoid a similar or worse incident. As someone struggling greatly with the issue of something I did hurting an animal even though it was not my fault I would give just about anything to go back and change what happened. Trust me, the its not your fault thing only goes so far in dealing with the guilt.

[beckms]

I'm siding with the guy on this one. There have been many times when I've been out walking my dogs and we've been susprised by a dog in a fenced-in-yard. I have one very dog-aggressive dog (stemming from anxiety, not aggression), so it's always scary when a strange dog comes up out of nowhere and starts barking, because it startles my dog and makes it more difficult for me to control her. I've never had a situation where my dog could have gotten under a fence, and I'm sure glad of it. I tend to walk close to people's yards because there are parts of my neighborhood that don't have sidewalks, so I want to stay out of the road.

Just MHO, from the POV of someone whose dog could hurt the one behind the fence... :cool:

[jjsooner73]

I have one very dog-aggressive dog (stemming from anxiety, not aggression), so it's always scary when a strange dog comes up out of nowhere and starts barking, because it startles my dog and makes it more difficult for me to control her.

Actually, it's this guy's dog who came up out of nowhere (walking along the sidewalk that borders my backyard)...I would hope in the future he does a better job of keeping his dog away from anyone's fence where his dog could squeeze her head through or under.

Stephanie described my setting correctly--my fence (6 ft. privacy fence) backs up to a street. There are sidewalks along all sides of the back part.
I'm not sure if his dog was more on my property--head under the fence barking, or my dog was more off of my property--again head under fence onto the easement.

The gap isn't big enough for my dog to get through, and I'm not sure she would go off if she could. Lawn people once left my gate open at my previous home and she did leave but came around to the garage and whimpered. Harley just stayed on the back porch--they're not runners.

Anyhow, I will keep the bricks there for the time being and may see if my dad can add some boards to the bottom of the gate at a later time.

Thanks for everyone's input.

[Cookin4Love]

Anyhow, I will keep the bricks there for the time being and may see if my dad can add some boards to the bottom of the gate at a later time.

Thanks for everyone's input.

We had a situation at our old house where the dogs were trying to paw under a gate so they could look out. We had a contractor pour flat concrete curbing under the gate opening. Totally solved the problem, plus it looked nice. It was very inexpensive, as well.

[ChristyMarie]

A neighbor once told me the same thing - my dog was slowly digging a nice little hole for himself under our fence. It was in a back corner and I didn't see it. I was really glad she told me.

[swquilts]

Jen, I have a dog that is a sweet as pie, loving (to the point of irritation sometimes) etc, but when she is behind her fence she is fierce as heck. The "my space" bark comes out and she can scare the beejeez out of folks. Once you step to her side of the gate, you are her new best friend. Some watchdog huh... :rolleyes: .

Anyway, I agree with the gentleman. I would feel better knowing that someone was watching out for both sides of the fence. :)