Neighbor is afraid of dogs and scaring my kids and dogs

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Some people have a genuine phobia of dogs. It may not seem rational to you, but it's very real to them.

Try to start looking at this with a little compassion. If you can't do that, then just obey the leash law.

But, if this family has a dog phobia, maybe they shouldn't come down into the woods. The first time is excusable since both sides didn't know the situation was going to happen, but going forward the anxious mother and her kids should stay away. Non-dog people also have to have a little compassion for the fact that we don't all have the ability to drive to a dog park and our dogs still need recreation on a daily basis.

When you move into a new neighborhood, you need to take a step back and figure out how you are going to fit into the culture. The culture is not going to change totally to fit you.

[Anonymous]

OP, you are scaring other kids not the other way around.

[Anonymous]

OP here, the nearest dog park is 40 minutes away by car in traffic - that is not an option for us.

I do feel for people that have dog phobias, that is why we are careful to play and exercise the dogs away from the street and the other homes. My four year old is worried that the police will take the dogs away and kill them (somehow that was his take away from the incident). My daughter was trying, in her bossy way to explain to the new girl that the dogs just like to bring balls to people.

Just feeling sad for my kids, their friends and all of the dog buddies that what used to be a great neighborhood get together is now going to be a source of conflict.

[Anonymous]

Dogs are actually more likely to bite someone who is afraid of them than someone who isn't. For the sake of your dogs as well as the other family, keep them on the leash at least until the dogs know the new people and the new people know the dogs. If the mother has a real dog phobia, the dogs might have to run around elsewhere.

[Anonymous]

You sound self absorbed OP. Maybe you should invite your friends to your yard to play. The leash law is there for a reason and you already stated that you know you are breaking the law. You got away with it for a while but now you have to change.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here, the nearest dog park is 40 minutes away by car in traffic - that is not an option for us.

I do feel for people that have dog phobias, that is why we are careful to play and exercise the dogs away from the street and the other homes. My four year old is worried that the police will take the dogs away and kill them (somehow that was his take away from the incident). My daughter was trying, in her bossy way to explain to the new girl that the dogs just like to bring balls to people.

Just feeling sad for my kids, their friends and all of the dog buddies that what used to be a great neighborhood get together is now going to be a source of conflict.

OP, don't assume that it will be a conflict forever based on one incident. Talk to your neighbor an try to work out a compromise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would quietly and rationally explain to her that this is a neighborhood tradition and a good time for those with kids and dogs (or who like dogs.) Since the dogs are not going near her house or her kids, rather her kids were coming down to where the dogs were playing, tell her the hours that you normally go there and ask her to keep her kids away during those windows. Stress that you will only let your dogs off leash in this wooded area that she and her kids do not have to frequent. You will not let the dogs off leash near their house or on your street.

Then, invite her to some other neighborhood event so that she doesn't feel like you are trying to exclude her or keep her from being a part of the community.

I have dogs but I disagree with you. If the OP lives in a jurisdiction with a leash law, she needs to follow it. Asking the neighbor to keep her children away isn't the answer here. OP, why not move the gathering to your own yard?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some people have a genuine phobia of dogs. It may not seem rational to you, but it's very real to them.

Try to start looking at this with a little compassion. If you can't do that, then just obey the leash law.

But, if this family has a dog phobia, maybe they shouldn't come down into the woods. The first time is excusable since both sides didn't know the situation was going to happen, but going forward the anxious mother and her kids should stay away. Non-dog people also have to have a little compassion for the fact that we don't all have the ability to drive to a dog park and our dogs still need recreation on a daily basis.

When you move into a new neighborhood, you need to take a step back and figure out how you are going to fit into the culture. The culture is not going to change totally to fit you.

That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard on DCUM. The culture? It's the law idiot!

[Anonymous]

OP, you don't deserve to own a dog. You should have known better before getting your dogs. I hope the police will fine you. YOU are very un-neighborly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some people have a genuine phobia of dogs. It may not seem rational to you, but it's very real to them.

Try to start looking at this with a little compassion. If you can't do that, then just obey the leash law.

But, if this family has a dog phobia, maybe they shouldn't come down into the woods. The first time is excusable since both sides didn't know the situation was going to happen, but going forward the anxious mother and her kids should stay away. Non-dog people also have to have a little compassion for the fact that we don't all have the ability to drive to a dog park and our dogs still need recreation on a daily basis.

When you move into a new neighborhood, you need to take a step back and figure out how you are going to fit into the culture. The culture is not going to change totally to fit you.

That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard on DCUM. The culture? It's the law idiot!

+1

[Anonymous]

OP, your neighbor is batshit crazy and is scaring her family. You might want to keep your distance and ignore her!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

OP, your neighbor is batshit crazy and is scaring her family. You might want to keep your distance and ignore her!

It is the OP who is scaring another family!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nice try neighbor but that's not exactly how it happened. And you know that.

BUSTED!

[Anonymous]

"OP here, the nearest dog park is 40 minutes away by car in traffic - that is not an option for us."

BULLSHIT!

[Anonymous]

OP, contact your county and ask them if it's possible to build a dog park where you guys play.

Your neighbor is right, sorry. And I'm saying that as a dog lover.