Neighbor in my yard: wwyd?

[Anonymous]

So this afternoon i am sitting on the sofa and notice someone in my backyard. It is my next door neighbor, who has brought his granddaughter in to play on our swing set. I didn't quite know what to do, so I went outside and said hi. He said "I didn't think anyone was home". Mind you, his kids were not with him/granddaughter, they stayed in their own yard. I'm assuming they realized that one doesn't go into a neighbors yard uninvited to play. Anyway, I said something to the effect of "feel free to come anytime, just make sure the dog isn't in the yard. I dont remember what else I said other than reiterating again not to come in when the dog is in the yard. I tried to get my son to come out and play with this little girl, he wasn't interested, so I went back inside. They stayed there probably for another 10-15 minutes after I went inside.

Anyway, now that my shock has worn off, I realize how unnecessary it was for this guy to come into my backyard as we have a playground 1 house down from mine (2 houses down from said neighbor) that they could just as easily have gone to. And no, I don't want someone using my backyard anytime. Not only do I not want people coming in and out of my yard, but I'm honestly afraid of my dog getting defensive if someone comes in the yard and we aren't out there. I don't want my dog biting the nice older neighbor, let alone his granddaughter.

We have lived here for 2.5 years, so I would assume that if they had any "arrangement" with the previous owners of our home, it is no longer in effect. I would have understood if this had happened shorty after we moved out of habit, but not now.

I kind of want to say something to neighbors wife, along the lines of how it was great to meet her granddaughter and kids, but that I would appreciate if they knocked on the door and asked before using our backyard in the future: again I'll mention the dog. My husband thinks I should drop it but is also concerned about what the dog would do to a random person coming in the yard without us. And also, neither of us want random people coming into/out of our yard.

Wwyd?

[Anonymous]

Check your insurance policy. You may be liable if his GD gets hurt on the swing set or even if he trips on a loose paving stone and breaks his hip. This is how we got our neighbors to keep their kids out of our berry bushes. We sent them a cease and desist letter citing concerns about our insurance if someone was hurt.

[Anonymous]

Nothing. I wouldn't think it was a big deal , especially since he thought you weren't home and his granddaughter was just visiting.

[Anonymous]

Make a sign. "Get off my lawn!" Stick figure of lady shaking her finger.

[Anonymous]

Do you have a fence? F not, then get one. ASAP. Very weird behavior.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Make a sign. "Get off my lawn!" Stick figure of lady shaking her finger.

Grow up.

[Anonymous]

Now that you've said he can come over, it'll be hard for you to take it back.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you have a fence? F not, then get one. ASAP. Very weird behavior.[/quote

OP here. Fully fenced. He had to open gate to get in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you have a fence? F not, then get one. ASAP. Very weird behavior.

+1
My parents are best friends with their next door neighbors of 45 years, and they'd still never dream of going uninvited into their yard to just hang out. WTH?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you have a fence? F not, then get one. ASAP. Very weird behavior.

Not 'Very weird' for an old who might have grown up when neighbors didn't spend their days in Bike retaliation, but were sociable instead, and beyond that HELPFUL.

[Anonymous]

Hi, Op

I agree with you as I've had a neighbor invite herself over to our yard ( we have a small pool) This is the same neighbor who threatened to call the county on us because we were waiting until the snow stopped before we cleaned our sidewalk. So, I was surprised when she invited herself over ( she was walking away too) a so I didn't have a good comeback. Like...no? I still want to be friendly with them but not that friendly! s she was walking awa

If I were you I would be direct and visit with the grandfather and say something like this:

It was nice meeting your granddaughter the other day however, you really took me by surprise. For liability reasons, I do not feel comfortable with you or your granddaughter in my yard without my permission ( or letting us know) Perhaps if you call ahead I will then tell you if the yard is available or not. Please do not come over if you have not checked it out with me because I am concerned about our dog hurting either one of you.

Thank you!

Good luck and let us know how it goes!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you have a fence? F not, then get one. ASAP. Very weird behavior.[/quote

OP here. Fully fenced. He had to open gate to get in.

Put a lock on the gate. Problem solved.

[Anonymous]

If you have to say anything, please decide to be polite, kind, respectful of your elders, sensitive, etc. Maybe he did not have permission to take the granddaughter to the park. Maybe he was staying close to watch a sick wife or waiting for his child to call. Maybe it is no BFD.

[Anonymous]

You guys are really uptight. I would have no problem with the neighbors using my yard without asking. However, having a dog is a legitimate reason not to do that and I would talk to the parents

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you have to say anything, please decide to be polite, kind, respectful of your elders, sensitive, etc. Maybe he did not have permission to take the granddaughter to the park. Maybe he was staying close to watch a sick wife or waiting for his child to call. Maybe it is no BFD.

OP here. He is not elderly, he still works full time. I believe at FT Belvoir. And his kids were right there watching, just from their own yard. I introduced myself to them, they walked over to the fence to say hi and they seem nice.