Anonymous
03/10/2023 16:41
Subject: My neighbor’s aggressive dog
Anonymous wrote:My neighbor has a very aggressive dog and I am very afraid it will bite me. I have done nothing to aggravate it. I am not sure what to do.
I live in a townhouse community. The neighbor has a belgian malanois or german shepherd dog that has been very aggressive to me and other people in the neighborhood. It has lunged and barked at me while walking on the street. The neighbor told it to stop and that worked. The guy’s wife walks it and has less control over it. It looks like the dog pulls her down the street.
It barks and lunges at me from their ground floor window. I see and hear its nails hit the window. This is a daily occurrence.
I can”t avoid it because the doors are side by side. I take a different walking trail to avoid them in the afternoon and evening.
It barks at the children playing in the street, other neighbors, cars, and other dogs.
The neighbor is not particularly nice and I don’t feel comfortable talking to them. The HOA and the City of Alexandria don’t seem to address this situation unless one is actually bitten. I am concerned the neighbor might lose control of the dog during a walk or accidentally get out their door and attack. The dog seems triggered by everything. I’d appreciate any advice. I am ready to move away because it is such a bad situation.
I am the poster from the other thread who crates her dog with small child guests. This is an actual situation to be wary about.
I would send a certified letter raising my concerns about the dog. Not the window stuff, but the outside stuff. At least then you’d have a paper trail if you get bitten and they might get more control of this dog.
The small woman with the dog out of control is a real safety concern. The rest is not as much.
Anonymous
03/10/2023 16:40
Subject: My neighbor’s aggressive dog
In Alexandria you need 2 reports to animal control to get action. If you ever hear of this dog remotely attacking or biting someone please make sure they report. Because if they don’t report, nothing they can do.
Im in Rosemont. I personally know of 2 occurrences of aggressive dogs either getting loose from their yard or breaking free from their leash to attack another dog. In one case my friend’s daughter was walking the dog and she tried to stop the attack and got severely hurt. It took 3 grown men to get the aggressive dog off of the other dog. Animal control required it to be removed from the home.
Im in Rosemont. I personally know of 2 occurrences of aggressive dogs either getting loose from their yard or breaking free from their leash to attack another dog. In one case my friend’s daughter was walking the dog and she tried to stop the attack and got severely hurt. It took 3 grown men to get the aggressive dog off of the other dog. Animal control required it to be removed from the home.
Anonymous
03/10/2023 16:33
Subject: My neighbor’s aggressive dog
Some dogs express their fear in an aggressive way, PP. That fear doesn't mean the dog isn't aggressive. It's LUNGED at people.
Anonymous
03/10/2023 16:29
Subject: Re:My neighbor’s aggressive dog
This is OP. I weirdly feel sorry for it. I actually like dogs.
I try to avoid it if at all possible. I try to take a different sidewalk, trail, and step away from it if I see them. It has focused on other neighbors too and lunged.
I am reading all the responses and thinking about the best way forward.
I try to avoid it if at all possible. I try to take a different sidewalk, trail, and step away from it if I see them. It has focused on other neighbors too and lunged.
I am reading all the responses and thinking about the best way forward.
Anonymous
03/10/2023 16:17
Subject: Re:My neighbor’s aggressive dog
Sorry OP. My dog lunges and barks from the window because my idiot neighbors with reactive dogs let their dogs bark at her on every walk, so now she's a reactive dog. It is a viscous cycle.
Anonymous
03/10/2023 16:13
Subject: My neighbor’s aggressive dog
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:My neighbor has a very aggressive dog and I am very afraid it will bite me. I have done nothing to aggravate it. I am not sure what to do.
I live in a townhouse community. The neighbor has a belgian malanois or german shepherd dog that has been very aggressive to me and other people in the neighborhood. It has lunged and barked at me while walking on the street. The neighbor told it to stop and that worked. The guy’s wife walks it and has less control over it. It looks like the dog pulls her down the street.
It barks and lunges at me from their ground floor window. I see and hear its nails hit the window. This is a daily occurrence.
I can”t avoid it because the doors are side by side. I take a different walking trail to avoid them in the afternoon and evening.
It barks at the children playing in the street, other neighbors, cars, and other dogs.
The neighbor is not particularly nice and I don’t feel comfortable talking to them. The HOA and the City of Alexandria don’t seem to address this situation unless one is actually bitten. I am concerned the neighbor might lose control of the dog during a walk or accidentally get out their door and attack. The dog seems triggered by everything. I’d appreciate any advice. I am ready to move away because it is such a bad situation.
What people think as aggressive may in fact be a fearful dog. His barking and lunging is a way for you to keep away. First, he has the right to bark in his own home. I know it can be unnerving but, there is nothing you should do. He is protecting his family. Lots of dogs are fearful of children because they are unpredictable. Not every dog likes dogs. People think they need dog friends but, not everyone do. If the dog has only barked at you or lunged that is not a crime. Cross the street when you see them or turn and go the other way. Don't give eye contact, obvously. There is no need for you to talk to the owner. They might be working on these issues and either way you stating the obvious isn't helpful.
Something is wrong if you have a dog that requires others to cross the street in its vicinity.
Anonymous
03/10/2023 16:11
Subject: Re:My neighbor’s aggressive dog
This is OP. Thanks for the advice and suggestions! I have some things to look into now.
Anonymous
03/10/2023 16:05
Subject: My neighbor’s aggressive dog
Anonymous wrote:Would agree with carrying mace or a heavy stick. The stick / baseball bat would send a message.
The message is stay away from "crazy"
Anonymous
03/10/2023 16:04
Subject: My neighbor’s aggressive dog
Would agree with carrying mace or a heavy stick. The stick / baseball bat would send a message.
Anonymous
03/10/2023 16:03
Subject: Re:My neighbor’s aggressive dog
Anonymous wrote:I'm a DH but I walked around with a knife of baseball bat during a similar situation and finally the neighbor stopped letting their aggressive dog outside. If you're not comfortable with that then maybe carry some mace? People get disfigured in these attacks and the owners just go about their business without a care in the world, so watch out for yourself.
If I saw you walking around with a baseball bat ( have no idea what a knife of a baseball bat is) I would be more worried about you than the dog.
Anonymous
03/10/2023 16:02
Subject: My neighbor’s aggressive dog
Anonymous wrote:My neighbor has a very aggressive dog and I am very afraid it will bite me. I have done nothing to aggravate it. I am not sure what to do.
I live in a townhouse community. The neighbor has a belgian malanois or german shepherd dog that has been very aggressive to me and other people in the neighborhood. It has lunged and barked at me while walking on the street. The neighbor told it to stop and that worked. The guy’s wife walks it and has less control over it. It looks like the dog pulls her down the street.
It barks and lunges at me from their ground floor window. I see and hear its nails hit the window. This is a daily occurrence.
I can”t avoid it because the doors are side by side. I take a different walking trail to avoid them in the afternoon and evening.
It barks at the children playing in the street, other neighbors, cars, and other dogs.
The neighbor is not particularly nice and I don’t feel comfortable talking to them. The HOA and the City of Alexandria don’t seem to address this situation unless one is actually bitten. I am concerned the neighbor might lose control of the dog during a walk or accidentally get out their door and attack. The dog seems triggered by everything. I’d appreciate any advice. I am ready to move away because it is such a bad situation.
What people think as aggressive may in fact be a fearful dog. His barking and lunging is a way for you to keep away. First, he has the right to bark in his own home. I know it can be unnerving but, there is nothing you should do. He is protecting his family. Lots of dogs are fearful of children because they are unpredictable. Not every dog likes dogs. People think they need dog friends but, not everyone do. If the dog has only barked at you or lunged that is not a crime. Cross the street when you see them or turn and go the other way. Don't give eye contact, obvously. There is no need for you to talk to the owner. They might be working on these issues and either way you stating the obvious isn't helpful.
Anonymous
03/10/2023 15:57
Subject: My neighbor’s aggressive dog
You might want to consider caring, mace, or a stick with you or both.
Anonymous
03/10/2023 15:57
Subject: Re:My neighbor’s aggressive dog
I'm a DH but I walked around with a knife of baseball bat during a similar situation and finally the neighbor stopped letting their aggressive dog outside. If you're not comfortable with that then maybe carry some mace? People get disfigured in these attacks and the owners just go about their business without a care in the world, so watch out for yourself.
Anonymous
03/10/2023 15:55
Subject: Re:My neighbor’s aggressive dog
Could you post this on a neighborhood app like Nextdoor? Not because some neighbor will chime in with a fix for the problem, but because it will make clear to the general, suing public that the dog's aggression is known. Or, maybe a neighbor can suggest a fix. They're in danger, too.
Anonymous
03/10/2023 15:49
Subject: My neighbor’s aggressive dog
My neighbor has a very aggressive dog and I am very afraid it will bite me. I have done nothing to aggravate it. I am not sure what to do.
I live in a townhouse community. The neighbor has a belgian malanois or german shepherd dog that has been very aggressive to me and other people in the neighborhood. It has lunged and barked at me while walking on the street. The neighbor told it to stop and that worked. The guy’s wife walks it and has less control over it. It looks like the dog pulls her down the street.
It barks and lunges at me from their ground floor window. I see and hear its nails hit the window. This is a daily occurrence.
I can”t avoid it because the doors are side by side. I take a different walking trail to avoid them in the afternoon and evening.
It barks at the children playing in the street, other neighbors, cars, and other dogs.
The neighbor is not particularly nice and I don’t feel comfortable talking to them. The HOA and the City of Alexandria don’t seem to address this situation unless one is actually bitten. I am concerned the neighbor might lose control of the dog during a walk or accidentally get out their door and attack. The dog seems triggered by everything. I’d appreciate any advice. I am ready to move away because it is such a bad situation.
I live in a townhouse community. The neighbor has a belgian malanois or german shepherd dog that has been very aggressive to me and other people in the neighborhood. It has lunged and barked at me while walking on the street. The neighbor told it to stop and that worked. The guy’s wife walks it and has less control over it. It looks like the dog pulls her down the street.
It barks and lunges at me from their ground floor window. I see and hear its nails hit the window. This is a daily occurrence.
I can”t avoid it because the doors are side by side. I take a different walking trail to avoid them in the afternoon and evening.
It barks at the children playing in the street, other neighbors, cars, and other dogs.
The neighbor is not particularly nice and I don’t feel comfortable talking to them. The HOA and the City of Alexandria don’t seem to address this situation unless one is actually bitten. I am concerned the neighbor might lose control of the dog during a walk or accidentally get out their door and attack. The dog seems triggered by everything. I’d appreciate any advice. I am ready to move away because it is such a bad situation.