topic Re: Neighbor's Killer Dog in Community Chat

Neighbor's Killer Dog

fortune — Wed, 09 Mar 2016 16:13:32 GMT

I posted a thread about this a while back. My next door neighbor has a big vicious dog. He walks her right by my house every day. If I'm outside, the dog growls, hisses, pulls on the leash, and tries to get to me. The owner holds onto the leash and just lets the dog struggle to get free. He doesn't let the dog know that trying to kill someone isn't acceptable.

I don't know what to do. I want to say to him that the next time his dog attempts to attack me I will call the police. Or, I could call the police and just report the dog. It's my next door neighbor and if I take action, he will be my worst nightmare. The guy is not a nice person. This is the third vicious dog he's owned.

Re: Neighbor's Killer Dog

CardinalGirl — Wed, 09 Mar 2016 16:18:17 GMT

What breed is the dog? Some cities have muzzle laws for certain breeds of dogs. Maybe you can check into your city's ordinances. If it should be muzzled and is not, take a picture next time and turn him in.

Re: Neighbor's Killer Dog

deepwaterdotter — Wed, 09 Mar 2016 16:24:49 GMT

Has the dog actually made physical contact that has resulted in damage? I'm not sure the police can do much more than suggest that the man take a different route when walking his vicious dog. Not a very hospitable neighbor.

Re: Neighbor's Killer Dog

Montana — Wed, 09 Mar 2016 16:28:15 GMT

What are the animal control regulations where you live? Do they address your situation? It seems like he is enjoying your fright. This would scare the daylights out of me.

I understand your reluctance to antagonize a person like that who lives right next to you. But at the least, you need something to protect yourself. What if the dog breaks free? It happens all the time.

Re: Neighbor's Killer Dog

Preds — Wed, 09 Mar 2016 16:30:54 GMT

Maybe you could firmly ask him to change his route when you are out because you don't like to see his poor dog get so stressed out and worked up. Let him feel guilty about upsetting his dog, because it doesn't seem to bother him that it upsets you.

Re: Neighbor's Killer Dog

DiAnne — Wed, 09 Mar 2016 16:31:47 GMT

Dogs often pick up an owners feelings. If the owner does not like you for some reason the dog will sense it and that makes you the enemy.

Re: Neighbor's Killer Dog

HappyDaze — Wed, 09 Mar 2016 16:38:20 GMT

I find it interesting so many are saying to ask the neighbor to take a different route. You certainly can NICELY ask them to maybe take a different route if they see you outside because the dog scares you but to do it rudely or meanly or insist that he should isn't really your call. The owner has the right to walk the dog where he wants and the dog has never touched you and it sounds like he has the dog under control, meaning he isn't letting the dog run free or allowing it to go after you. Please do not waste the police or animal control's time by calling about something like this since it has not done anything to you and it is not on your property.

As uncomfortabale and scary as it may be, the owner and dog has not done anything wrong and there is nothing you can do but go inside your house or garage when the dog walks by. All of a 30 second solution to the problem.

Re: Neighbor's Killer Dog

Lipstickdiva — Wed, 09 Mar 2016 16:39:45 GMT

If the dog is on a leash and has a license, I'm not sure what else can be done.

My dog is a mess on a leash too and we are working on it. But she pulls something horrible if I pass anyone or another dog. She also tries to run after moving cars.

Re: Neighbor's Killer Dog

Moonchilde — Wed, 09 Mar 2016 16:51:47 GMT

The OP titled her thread "Neighbor's Killer Dog."

Does the OP know for a fact that the neighbor's dog has killed, bitten or harmed anything in the neighborhood?

The OP characterizes the dog as "vicious" and believes the dog is "trying to kill" her, but that would seem to be her own interpretation of the dog's actions.

From what has been said by the OP, I too would suggest going into the house or garage whenever the dog is out, controlled and on a leash. After all, can't be too careful when there are "vicious killer dogs" being taken for a walk.

Re: Neighbor's Killer Dog

CrazyDaisy — Wed, 09 Mar 2016 16:54:59 GMT

The owner of the dog has really not done anything wrong. Nor do you know that he is not trying to correct the behavior.

As other have said, you could explain to the owner that his dog scares you. Perhaps a solution can be found with a calm discussion.

Re: Neighbor's Killer Dog

CrazyDaisy — Wed, 09 Mar 2016 16:55:34 GMT

Re: Neighbor's Killer Dog

HappyDaze — Wed, 09 Mar 2016 16:57:07 GMT

@Moonchilde wrote:
The OP titled her thread "Neighbor's Killer Dog."

Does the OP know for a fact that the neighbor's dog has killed, bitten or harmed anything in the neighborhood?

The OP characterizes the dog as "vicious" and believes the dog is "trying to kill" her, but that would seem to be her own interpretation of the dog's actions.

From what has been said by the OP, I too would suggest going into the house or garage whenever the dog is out, controlled and on a leash. After all, can't be too careful when there are "vicious killer dogs" being taken for a walk.

@Moonchilde I thought these exact same things too and don't think it is fair to characterize a dog like that without facts to back it up. And if there were facts to back it up that it was a killer dog, it would have been taken away and put down.

I've seen many sweet dogs act nuts on leashes but they wouldn't hurt a fly. You can't call the police on someone because you interpret the dog as being something that it may or may not be based on nothing more than how it acts when it sees you (or others) or that you are afraid it MAY do something and the possiblity it MAY break free and attack you,especially since the owner is controlling the dog.

Re: Neighbor's Killer Dog

CrazyDaisy — Wed, 09 Mar 2016 16:58:13 GMT

@Moonchilde wrote:
The OP titled her thread "Neighbor's Killer Dog."

Does the OP know for a fact that the neighbor's dog has killed, bitten or harmed anything in the neighborhood?

The OP characterizes the dog as "vicious" and believes the dog is "trying to kill" her, but that would seem to be her own interpretation of the dog's actions.

From what has been said by the OP, I too would suggest going into the house or garage whenever the dog is out, controlled and on a leash. After all, can't be too careful when there are "vicious killer dogs" being taken for a walk.

I too have a dog that SOUNDS "vicious" and I guess she did kill a mole once. Oh no I have a vicious killer dog.

Re: Neighbor's Killer Dog

MaggieMack — Wed, 09 Mar 2016 17:00:32 GMT

What I would do is be prepared with a dog treat next time. Say something like, "Nice puppy! Here's a treat for you" as sweetly as possible. And drop it near him. In time, he will see you as friendly, not a threat.

Re: Neighbor's Killer Dog

Moonchilde — Wed, 09 Mar 2016 17:08:29 GMT

@HappyDaze wrote:
@Moonchilde wrote:
The OP titled her thread "Neighbor's Killer Dog."

Does the OP know for a fact that the neighbor's dog has killed, bitten or harmed anything in the neighborhood?

The OP characterizes the dog as "vicious" and believes the dog is "trying to kill" her, but that would seem to be her own interpretation of the dog's actions.

From what has been said by the OP, I too would suggest going into the house or garage whenever the dog is out, controlled and on a leash. After all, can't be too careful when there are "vicious killer dogs" being taken for a walk.
@Moonchilde I thought these exact same things too and don't think it is fair to characterize a dog like that without facts to back it up. And if there were facts to back it up that it was a killer dog, it would have been taken away and put down.

I've seen many sweet dogs act nuts on leashes but they wouldn't hurt a fly. You can't call the police on someone because you interpret the dog as being something that it may or may not be based on nothing more than how it acts when it sees you (or others) or that you are afraid it MAY do something and the possiblity it MAY break free and attack you,especially since the owner is controlling the dog.

The OP might have issues with dogs, or like many people, assume that all large dogs are dangerous, when in reality there have been quite a few studies done that show that small dogs are the biters.

If I were the OP, unless she has/has had issues with the neighbor apart from the dog and is on bad terms with him for other reasons, I would speak to the neighbor and ask him to "introduce" me to the dog so that the dog knows I'm not a threat to his master. Give the dog a cookie. If the neighbor does not want to do that, there would then be something more to go on - either the neighbor isn't in complete control of the dog, or there is another reason for him not wanting the dog to get along with her.

Re: Neighbor's Killer Dog

fortune — Wed, 09 Mar 2016 17:08:49 GMT

@HappyDaze wrote:
I find it interesting so many are saying to ask the neighbor to take a different route. You certainly can NICELY ask them to maybe take a different route if they see you outside because the dog scares you but to do it rudely or meanly or insist that he should isn't really your call. The owner has the right to walk the dog where he wants and the dog has never touched you and it sounds like he has the dog under control, meaning he isn't letting the dog run free or allowing it to go after you. Please do not waste the police or animal control's time by calling about something like this since it has not done anything to you and it is not on your property.

As uncomfortabale and scary as it may be, the owner and dog has not done anything wrong and there is nothing you can do but go inside your house or garage when the dog walks by. All of a 30 second solution to the problem.

The dog is in full attack mode when it sees me. The neighbor can barely control it. If its collar or leash breaks, I would be attacked and probably hurt badly. It clearly wants to kill me. I can't get out of the way, because he comes out the front door and is instantly near me with the struggling vicious dog. We live in townhouses and his is attached to mine.

Re: Neighbor's Killer Dog

Angus15 — Wed, 09 Mar 2016 17:09:01 GMT

You would consider my dog a "killer" too. I don't walk him often, he has a backyard, but when i do he growls, lunges at people and barks. I muzzle him when he goes outside and put him in a large sturdy cage when someone comes to my house. My dog is not a killer though. He has never hurt anyone . Actually he is afraid of every living thing he encounters and only trusts me. He was a year old when i adopted him and I have no idea what sort of abuse or turture he was subjected to before i got him. I do know that he was starved and had no vet care. He was only 18 pounds, and since he's a husky should have been at least 50 or 60, and had many untreated medical problems. I don't think any dog is really born a killer. Dogs are usually pure love and it takes some serious abuse, or a medical problem, to make them killers.

Re: Neighbor's Killer Dog

Say Nay — Wed, 09 Mar 2016 17:12:01 GMT

The dog is leashed and walking on a public sidewalk. You can't do anything.

Re: Neighbor's Killer Dog

IamMrsG — Wed, 09 Mar 2016 17:14:35 GMT

The last thing I would do is to let the neighbor know I am scared of his dog. Why give him the power over you?

I would arm myself, though. If you must be out when you expect this man and dog will be nearby, for your self-protection, keep a repellent spray in your pocket.

Re: Neighbor's Killer Dog

missy1 — Wed, 09 Mar 2016 17:14:40 GMT

@MaggieMack wrote:
What I would do is be prepared with a dog treat next time. Say something like, "Nice puppy! Here's a treat for you" as sweetly as possible. And drop it near him. In time, he will see you as friendly, not a threat.

A good idea. Always ask the owner first.. The dog could be on dietary restrictions etc....