Neighbor's dog(s) off leash running toward me on my property

[Anonymous]

They need to do electric fence for their dogs. Explain to them that the dogs make you nervous, and even if the neighbors assure you that the dogs are friendly you are still made nervous bu their barking and near approach. Tell them you don’t like this and want to enjoy your property without being made nervous. Therefore, they need to fix the situation so that their dogs don’t come in your property any more. Then stop talking and wait for them o tell you what their plan is.

[Anonymous]

Same experience for me -- off leash, on our property
but it was a Great Dane and at night. Always at night. And didn't seem like a nice dog.
So glad when those neighbors moved away.

[Anonymous]

I’d tell the neighbors that next time the dogs are on your property, you will be forced to call animal control. . Remind them that you have asked many times, and have been generous enough. It is YOUR property. They need to build a sturdy fence, install invisible fence, or train their dogs.

That being said....

When my kids were small, we had neighbors with a black lab- the dog would escape all the time and run through our yard. I thought it was funny, more than anything. One time I even found him sitting in my kitchen! (I had left the patio door open while I played with kids in backyard). The neighbors were very gracious and apologetic. I never once considered calling animal control. But the dog is as just funny and annoying, not scary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Get a gun and shoot them if they run towards you, on your property.

Wrong answer and very inhumane. Call the animal control first.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’d tell the neighbors that next time the dogs are on your property, you will be forced to call animal control. . Remind them that you have asked many times, and have been generous enough. It is YOUR property. They need to build a sturdy fence, install invisible fence, or train their dogs.

That being said....

When my kids were small, we had neighbors with a black lab- the dog would escape all the time and run through our yard. I thought it was funny, more than anything. One time I even found him sitting in my kitchen! (I had left the patio door open while I played with kids in backyard). The neighbors were very gracious and apologetic. I never once considered calling animal control. But the dog is as just funny and annoying, not scary.

Now imagine the dog in your kitchen growling at you. Is it still cute and funny?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Dogs that run up to you but stay back a few feet and bark are not friendly dogs. Those dogs are exhibiting territoriality, they believe that your property is theirs because they haven’t been taught differently, and they see you as a threat. That barking is aggressive territoriality and because EVERY DOG IS UNPREDICTABLE it is not out of the realm of possibility that under the right circumstances those dogs could escalate to biting you on your own property. Thousands of people are attacked this way every single year in this country by dogs whose owners think they’re ‘friendly’. Multiple dogs pose and even greater risk because when dogs run in pairs or packs, they are more subject to their base instincts to attack other animals (humans are animals) they are as a threat - the same mob mentality applies to humans, as we all know from observation.

Your neighbors are lazy dog owners who cannot be bothered to adhere to the local leash laws or to properly train their dogs. Dogs absolutely can be trained to a property line, but it takes the hard work of daily training over a period of weeks or months to do this. My aunt and uncle used to have dogs they allowed to roam at will on their property abutting a very busy road; I remember once as a kid watching one of the dogs chase a squirrel to the front property line and being certain the dog would run into the road after the squirrel - but it did not. It stopped on a dime at the property line and watched the squirrel cross the road. My aunt spent weeks walking the property lines with the dogs when they were puppies. They also had actual perfect recall, which means coming when called Every. Single. Time. Perfect recall takes time and effort to train. Most people don’t invest the time or effort and their dogs actually only come when they feel like it.

My border collie mix has at will roam of our property, and the adjacent neighbor’s property at his acquiescence. We are at the end of a culdesac abutting woods, so I feel okay letting her out unleashed and she has been trained not to leave these two properties to venture up the road. When my neighbor is in his yard garnering, she will approach him quietly and happily accepts his greeting and petting. THAT is how a friendly dog behaves to neighbors. Staying of a distance and barking incessantly with hackles raised (the fur behind the head - have you noticed this?) is territorial aggression. This is NOT okay!

I know it sucks to deal with neighbors, but you need to stand up for yourself here. You need to confront your neighbor. You can do it in person or write a letter. Let them know that you expect them to keep the dogs on their property and off yours - train them to the property line so they are 100% reliable, use an electric fence (dogs will break through these and it can cause greater aggression), install a fence to fence in THEIR yard, or install an outdoor run/kennel to put the dogs out in. No more encroaching on your property, period, or you will call out animal control every time.

What if you have family or friends visit who have small kids? When small kids get aggressed on by large dogs the way you describe, they usually scream and run. Then they get chased and attacked like the prey animals they resemble while exhibiting those behaviors. These dogs are an attack waiting to happen. Don’t let it happen to you.

Whoa pp say with less words!

[Anonymous]

I hate when people have bad pet behaviors use the excuse that the dog is friendly so it’s okay. I counter with ‘well my dog is not friendly, get yours under control’.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I hate when people have bad pet behaviors use the excuse that the dog is friendly so it’s okay. I counter with ‘well my dog is not friendly, get yours under control’.

+1000. Why should OP tolerate being barked at by large dogs on her own property…. bc the dogs are friendly?!? Friendly dogs don’t bark at people, they are defending their turf and will end up biting someone likely OP and/or her kids. Call animal control.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Dogs that run up to you but stay back a few feet and bark are not friendly dogs. Those dogs are exhibiting territoriality, they believe that your property is theirs because they haven’t been taught differently, and they see you as a threat. That barking is aggressive territoriality and because EVERY DOG IS UNPREDICTABLE it is not out of the realm of possibility that under the right circumstances those dogs could escalate to biting you on your own property. Thousands of people are attacked this way every single year in this country by dogs whose owners think they’re ‘friendly’. Multiple dogs pose and even greater risk because when dogs run in pairs or packs, they are more subject to their base instincts to attack other animals (humans are animals) they are as a threat - the same mob mentality applies to humans, as we all know from observation.

Your neighbors are lazy dog owners who cannot be bothered to adhere to the local leash laws or to properly train their dogs. Dogs absolutely can be trained to a property line, but it takes the hard work of daily training over a period of weeks or months to do this. My aunt and uncle used to have dogs they allowed to roam at will on their property abutting a very busy road; I remember once as a kid watching one of the dogs chase a squirrel to the front property line and being certain the dog would run into the road after the squirrel - but it did not. It stopped on a dime at the property line and watched the squirrel cross the road. My aunt spent weeks walking the property lines with the dogs when they were puppies. They also had actual perfect recall, which means coming when called Every. Single. Time. Perfect recall takes time and effort to train. Most people don’t invest the time or effort and their dogs actually only come when they feel like it.

My border collie mix has at will roam of our property, and the adjacent neighbor’s property at his acquiescence. We are at the end of a culdesac abutting woods, so I feel okay letting her out unleashed and she has been trained not to leave these two properties to venture up the road. When my neighbor is in his yard garnering, she will approach him quietly and happily accepts his greeting and petting. THAT is how a friendly dog behaves to neighbors. Staying of a distance and barking incessantly with hackles raised (the fur behind the head - have you noticed this?) is territorial aggression. This is NOT okay!

I know it sucks to deal with neighbors, but you need to stand up for yourself here. You need to confront your neighbor. You can do it in person or write a letter. Let them know that you expect them to keep the dogs on their property and off yours - train them to the property line so they are 100% reliable, use an electric fence (dogs will break through these and it can cause greater aggression), install a fence to fence in THEIR yard, or install an outdoor run/kennel to put the dogs out in. No more encroaching on your property, period, or you will call out animal control every time.

What if you have family or friends visit who have small kids? When small kids get aggressed on by large dogs the way you describe, they usually scream and run. Then they get chased and attacked like the prey animals they resemble while exhibiting those behaviors. These dogs are an attack waiting to happen. Don’t let it happen to you.

Whoa pp say with less words!

Lots of words but this PP took care to provide valuable advice, details, and examples. Thanks for the many words!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have quite a bit of land and a neighbor has decided that it's okay for their dog (was one, now two) to run free on our property. These dogs are large (100 lb+). When I walk on my property it's common for the dogs to run toward me barking. It's not their fault--they have no idea where the property lines are. The neighbors will sometimes call to the dogs (who don't listen) and sometimes not--even when they are outside and I see them watch it happen.

I'm a dog lover and have a fairly large dog but would never consider letting her run free on someone else's property let alone bark at that person. I've tried speaking to the neighbor and letting them know that it makes me nervous and their response is to say "oh, don't worry, they are friendly." I don't understand that mindset. If your dog is on someone else's property and that person is not okay with it you keep your dog on your own property.

I'm thinking I've got two options--calling animal control (which I do not want to do--again, it's not the dog's fault and I'd have to make repeat calls) or put up a fence and I don't think split rail would solve the problem since these dogs have gone through a neighbor's split rail. Any options I haven't considered?

So you haven't asked them to keep the dogs off your property, or keep control of them when they are?

In their mind, they have dealt with the issue. You said it makes you nervous, and they have reassured you that there's no reason to be nervous.

Directly ask then to do whatever it is you want them to do. If they don't do that, then call animal control.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Dogs that run up to you but stay back a few feet and bark are not friendly dogs. Those dogs are exhibiting territoriality, they believe that your property is theirs because they haven’t been taught differently, and they see you as a threat. That barking is aggressive territoriality and because EVERY DOG IS UNPREDICTABLE it is not out of the realm of possibility that under the right circumstances those dogs could escalate to biting you on your own property. Thousands of people are attacked this way every single year in this country by dogs whose owners think they’re ‘friendly’. Multiple dogs pose and even greater risk because when dogs run in pairs or packs, they are more subject to their base instincts to attack other animals (humans are animals) they are as a threat - the same mob mentality applies to humans, as we all know from observation.

Your neighbors are lazy dog owners who cannot be bothered to adhere to the local leash laws or to properly train their dogs. Dogs absolutely can be trained to a property line, but it takes the hard work of daily training over a period of weeks or months to do this. My aunt and uncle used to have dogs they allowed to roam at will on their property abutting a very busy road; I remember once as a kid watching one of the dogs chase a squirrel to the front property line and being certain the dog would run into the road after the squirrel - but it did not. It stopped on a dime at the property line and watched the squirrel cross the road. My aunt spent weeks walking the property lines with the dogs when they were puppies. They also had actual perfect recall, which means coming when called Every. Single. Time. Perfect recall takes time and effort to train. Most people don’t invest the time or effort and their dogs actually only come when they feel like it.

My border collie mix has at will roam of our property, and the adjacent neighbor’s property at his acquiescence. We are at the end of a culdesac abutting woods, so I feel okay letting her out unleashed and she has been trained not to leave these two properties to venture up the road. When my neighbor is in his yard garnering, she will approach him quietly and happily accepts his greeting and petting. THAT is how a friendly dog behaves to neighbors. Staying of a distance and barking incessantly with hackles raised (the fur behind the head - have you noticed this?) is territorial aggression. This is NOT okay!

I know it sucks to deal with neighbors, but you need to stand up for yourself here. You need to confront your neighbor. You can do it in person or write a letter. Let them know that you expect them to keep the dogs on their property and off yours - train them to the property line so they are 100% reliable, use an electric fence (dogs will break through these and it can cause greater aggression), install a fence to fence in THEIR yard, or install an outdoor run/kennel to put the dogs out in. No more encroaching on your property, period, or you will call out animal control every time.

What if you have family or friends visit who have small kids? When small kids get aggressed on by large dogs the way you describe, they usually scream and run. Then they get chased and attacked like the prey animals they resemble while exhibiting those behaviors. These dogs are an attack waiting to happen. Don’t let it happen to you.

Whoa pp say with less words!

Fewer.

[Anonymous]

good fences make good neighbors

[Anonymous]

If the dogs come at you again-just call animal control. Right then. Don't talk to the neighbors again, don't come here and ask. Just do it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Dogs that run up to you but stay back a few feet and bark are not friendly dogs. Those dogs are exhibiting territoriality, they believe that your property is theirs because they haven’t been taught differently, and they see you as a threat. That barking is aggressive territoriality and because EVERY DOG IS UNPREDICTABLE it is not out of the realm of possibility that under the right circumstances those dogs could escalate to biting you on your own property. Thousands of people are attacked this way every single year in this country by dogs whose owners think they’re ‘friendly’. Multiple dogs pose and even greater risk because when dogs run in pairs or packs, they are more subject to their base instincts to attack other animals (humans are animals) they are as a threat - the same mob mentality applies to humans, as we all know from observation.

Your neighbors are lazy dog owners who cannot be bothered to adhere to the local leash laws or to properly train their dogs. Dogs absolutely can be trained to a property line, but it takes the hard work of daily training over a period of weeks or months to do this. My aunt and uncle used to have dogs they allowed to roam at will on their property abutting a very busy road; I remember once as a kid watching one of the dogs chase a squirrel to the front property line and being certain the dog would run into the road after the squirrel - but it did not. It stopped on a dime at the property line and watched the squirrel cross the road. My aunt spent weeks walking the property lines with the dogs when they were puppies. They also had actual perfect recall, which means coming when called Every. Single. Time. Perfect recall takes time and effort to train. Most people don’t invest the time or effort and their dogs actually only come when they feel like it.

My border collie mix has at will roam of our property, and the adjacent neighbor’s property at his acquiescence. We are at the end of a culdesac abutting woods, so I feel okay letting her out unleashed and she has been trained not to leave these two properties to venture up the road. When my neighbor is in his yard garnering, she will approach him quietly and happily accepts his greeting and petting. THAT is how a friendly dog behaves to neighbors. Staying of a distance and barking incessantly with hackles raised (the fur behind the head - have you noticed this?) is territorial aggression. This is NOT okay!

I know it sucks to deal with neighbors, but you need to stand up for yourself here. You need to confront your neighbor. You can do it in person or write a letter. Let them know that you expect them to keep the dogs on their property and off yours - train them to the property line so they are 100% reliable, use an electric fence (dogs will break through these and it can cause greater aggression), install a fence to fence in THEIR yard, or install an outdoor run/kennel to put the dogs out in. No more encroaching on your property, period, or you will call out animal control every time.

What if you have family or friends visit who have small kids? When small kids get aggressed on by large dogs the way you describe, they usually scream and run. Then they get chased and attacked like the prey animals they resemble while exhibiting those behaviors. These dogs are an attack waiting to happen. Don’t let it happen to you.

Whoa pp say with less words!

Lots of words but this PP took care to provide valuable advice, details, and examples. Thanks for the many words!

Less is best

[Anonymous]

After this post, have you spoken with your neighbors directly to ask them to not allow their dogs to run loose on your property? That is if you did not ask directly before. That was unclear from your post. It’s unfortunate if you have to spend the money to put a fence up because you have inconsiderate neighbors. I know fences are expensive. I like the advice to call animal control, but it doesn’t sound like the dogs are running loose unattended if it’s only happening when they are “walking“ the dogs. The owner is right there with them. In other words by the time animal control came, the dogs would no longer be on your property. Because of this, your options are limited. You can build a fence, take pictures and videos of the dogs on your yard and get a lawyer or something but that would be expensive for you too. I don’t know, if you got videos and the pictures could you go to the police, but what can the police do? ugh