Would appreciate some useful information.

We have a new neighbor that have two aggressive and scary looking pitbulls.

These dogs can jump on top of their doghouses and stand with their chest above the fence line and aggressively bark at my wife and I when we are tending the garden. These are scary dogs...they would attack us if they could figure out they could jump the fence.

What I have done so far. I have confronted the neighbor twice (very friendly) and he has not followed through with pulling the dog houses away from the fence. I have called the sheriff department and the sheriff was VERY understanding once the dogs jumped up and introduced themselves to him. The sheriff went over to talk to them. I am not hopefull this will change anything.

Any advice on what other tools, resources or tactics I could use to keep those dogs at ground level? I guess I can deal with the incessant barking but not the aggressive behavior of the dog.

[This message has been edited by FCBlitz (edited 4/24/2012 10:02p).]

Lure them over the fence and shoot them on your property. Just kidding.

I would be armed in my own backyard if I thought I was really in danger. Other than that, it sounds like you are going about it in the right way.

Antifreeze marinated steaks

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Any advice on what other tools, resources or tactics I could use to keep those dogs at ground level?

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They need to be below ground level.

As stated, arm yourself. Also continue to talk to the guy and call the sheriff occasionally.

Build a higher fence? Or some sort of barrier?

Thanks for the suggestions.

My wife and I are going to be UNINTENTIONALLY provoking the dogs a couple of time each day.
The reason is that our garden is located right along the fence where the stand up and bark.

Because of those dog are able to to jump on top of there dog house and put their paws on top of the fence line and make eye contact:

1.) I have deep concern for my family well being and safety in our back yard.

2.) My families quality of life has been impacted by not being able to enjoy the back yard.

3.) I am trying to sell the house and I know that will detract anyone from buying the house.

4.) I will shoot the dog if it reaches my property....but I absolutely want to avoid this at all cost.

My goal is to have there owner keep them at ground level. I will find a way to put up with the barking.

When I read you original post I was thinking I'd be looking for a way to kill one or both, but now that you've tried proper ways of dealing with it you would be the prime suspect if they happened to die.

Your new neighbor sounds like a real a-hole. I can't believe someone would deny a simple request to move the dog house considerig what his dogs are doing to you.

Try the neighbor again. Express your fear very clearly for yourself and your family. If he doesn't respond once again to your request then contact Animal Control.

Needless to say this isn't going to be a fun or easy process for everyone involved.

Our dogs are not aggressive, but they barked quite frequently at our new neighbors when we moved into our current house. The barking was just as annoying for us as to them, as we both like to sit out on our respective porches. We visited our neighbor's backyard with our dogs and then invited them into our back yard. This allowed the dogs to get to know the neighbors and vice versa. Our dogs stopped barking almost immediately. It should also be noted that most people, including some dog owners, interpret one of my dogs barking as aggressive, when she has never actually been aggressive. In fact the "aggressive" one is the only one we let kids pet because she is a gentle giant outside her yard - allowing kids to poke her eyes, pull her ears and tail. Our other dog, who most see as docile, will nip.

I would recommend you take a similar approach with your neighbor. Mention the fact that you are selling your home and have an established garden (you could even pull the "my wife is scared of all barking dogs"). Ask if you could assist in moving the dog house to another location in the yard until you move, at which time you could help him move it back. Take the opportunity to socialize with the dogs in their backyard. You could also inquire as to what, if any, dog snacks you could give the dogs. Then when you go in your back yard, you could throw over a couple of snacks to them. In my experience, many responsible dog owners, especially Pit Bull owners, are overly sensitive to the point of being defensive in how Pit Bulls are reacted to.

Ask them if you bought a shock collar if they would put it on the dogs. Maybe would stop the barking at least.

these dogs have chewed three new holes in the fence...they also throw their bodies against the fence which is un nerving in of itself.

So not going over to play nice with those dogs. I will do anything else.

Do you have kids or a small pet? Because this sounds like a situation that could potentially be very scary. Definitely keep your law enforcement appraised of what's going on - holes chewed in fence, etc - even if they can't do much, you will be building a paper trail. It sucks; I'm sorry you're having to deal with it.

How about getting a spray bottle and using it on their face? Maybe you can get them to fear the water in the eyes

I am speaking from a medical standpoint so take it with some bias. I have seen way too many dog bites to kids/adults that will be physically scarred forever.

If it were me, I would put my family/kids safety first. If moving is not an option, I would find a way to get the dogs taken care of. I would spare no cost. hire someone, put out traps, leave a hole where the dogs can "wander" into your yard with a shotgun ready, etc

Your neighbor is not listening. Law enforcement is not listening. If this drags out much longer, I would not be surprised if these Pit bulls jumps the fence and take you or your kids out.

I never understand why our society cares more for the well being of animals than people. You should be able to take a video of the dogs putting their paws on your fence barking, show it to animal control, and then the owners have 1 warning. If it happens again, kill the dog. Why wait until it hurts someone.

I don't understand why the Pit bull species is even allowed but I don't want to go into that debate.

Again, I have seen kids face ripped off and disfigured forever.



[This message has been edited by Medaggie (edited 4/25/2012 2:09p).]

Do you know if any other neighbors are feeling threatened? Are there any HOA guidelines regarding noisy dogs?

As a courtesy, and so that you will continue to be seen as the "good guy" should litigation ever be involved, try approaching the owner once more in a friendly, but serious manner. Follow up with a certified letter (even though they're next door) that clearly explains all of your concerns and the steps you've taken to try to reach an amicable solution.

As a last resort: Could you (while the neighbor is gone) remove some fence boards to let the dogs in your yard, then call animal control?

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leave a hole where the dogs can "wander" into your yard with a shotgun ready, etc

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Don't do this.

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Could you (while the neighbor is gone) remove some fence boards to let the dogs in your yard, then call animal control?

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Or this either, as you could find yourself being sued.

Keep the heat on animal control and local law enforcement.

I will take a lawsuit, and paying whatever fine there is rather than risking my family's lives.

Sorry, but I rather be out of some pocket change than using that pocket change for medical bills.

I don't understand the world we live in sometimes. Why does a reasonable person have to go through all of these legal hoops, spend all of this time and money, just to feel safe?

Going through the HOA, certified letters will take months and may not give you the relief you need. By that time, your family's well being would be in danger.

If you take care of it now, paying whatever fine is a small price. You would never forgive yourself if you take the "legal" route against an unreasonable neighbor and something happens to your family

Even if the unreasonable neighbor gets the dogs taken away, it would take him half a day to get another pit bull to terrorize you again.

I would find a way for the pit bull to leave the yard and have it dealt with and let your unreasonable neighbor know that it would happen again if he gets another one.

He is absolutely being unreasonable if he won't move the dog house against your fence. What is the point of talking to someone so unreasonable.

"These dogs can jump on top of their doghouses and stand with their chest above the fence line and aggressively bark at my wife and I when we are tending the garden. These are scary dogs...they would attack us if they could figure out they could jump the fence"

These dogs will figure out that they can jump the fence. Its just a matter of time. Just get a piece of meat, when they are barking over the fence line. They will jump the fence for the meat and take them out. If you are scared to shoot a gun, hire someone.

[This message has been edited by Medaggie (edited 4/25/2012 3:02p).]

Thanks...keep the comments coming!

What I want is to feel safe safe in my back yard. It is a intimidating feeling to have the dogs on their hind quarters front paws on the fence barking at you. For me to tend to my tomatoes they are directly above me.

Honestly I don't want to kill the dogs...just because of the trauma that will bring..police....possible lawsuit. I just don't want that head ache.

Nor do I want one of my loved ones....including my dogs maimed or killed...

I did call my HOA and they are worthless...

Can I extend the fence up and then sue him for time, materials and mental trauma...

[This message has been edited by FCBlitz (edited 4/25/2012 3:02p).]

Well, I'm sorry to say that there isn't much you can do then.

You could try your HOA if you have one, but the boilerplate HOA docs are going to be about barking. And unless it is for extended periods of time and at night, you'll likely lose that one. The other option is if the dog house can be considered a permanent structure and is on an easement. Even if this is the case, chances are the utility or city/county wouldn't act on that either. If they are really so viscous that you are scared, you could always call Animal Control to do an assessment. Again however, if they haven't done anything physical to someone, Animal Control likely won't do anything. As HTown said, you can keep the heat on animal control and local LE, but eventually they will treat you as an annoyance.

I've been on both sides of this issue before. Likely you're going to just have to wait them out unless the dogs attack someone. If you do anything proactively against the dogs, that neighbor can make sure you don't sell your house in addition to any legal issues they bring against you (sue you for animal cruelty, etc.). If the dog is really aggressive, it is likely due to the owner. If he has aggressive tendencies as well and you provoke him by killing his dogs, that could end really bad for you. If your neighbor wanted to work with you and was a good dog owner, he'd separate the dogs, put one on a leash and let you socialize with it while present.

Have they made themselves bleed trying to get through the fence while you're outside? Are they lunging from the top of the doghouse? How long has this been going on? Try giving them some dog snacks to see if that calms them down. If they ignore the treats you may have issues. If not, you may be okay.

At my last house, the neighbor's two Golden Retrievers destroyed our fence and my neighbors sprinkler system trying to get through and under the fence. They did this primarily when we were by the fence or if my toddler son was outside. The un-neutered male showed all the signs of aggressiveness including snarling, trying to push his way through the fence, nipping at the fence, and ignoring owner commands. He never did stop that behaviour with me, but eventually stopped doing this with my wife and son after they visited my neighbors pool. We never got comfortable enough to let my son pet them through the fence, but were comfortable otherwise when he was in the backyard.

Can I build something that blast high frequency noise each time they get high on the fence(say a motion detector)....Can I be smart by annoying the neighbor back?

Is there something non-lethal you could spray them with while they are above the fence level while you're outside? Like a spray bottle with vinegar in it, or something? Not to hurt them (since you don't want to have to deal with the fallout from your neighbor) but to annoy them enough that they leave you alone? I'm not a vet - maybe vinegar isn't the right solution - but something very unpleasant to the eyes, yet not actually dangerous to the dogs (since they are technically still on your neighbor's property, and you could end up getting sued).

Sounds to me like they would either run off or someone from that dog fighting ring would steal them.

You can't sue for anything you do to your fence or mental trauma.

You can try the anti-bark devices that emit high frequency sounds. We've tried a couple different ones. However, these only worked for one of my dogs. And when they were after squirrels or other small animals, it didn't do anything. If they are being aggressive, the only thing you really could do is perhaps shoot them with a water hose. If they don't enjoy it, it may work, but could piss off your neighbor.

try pepper spray or mace all over the fence...make sure the wind is blowing in their direction, not yours

[This message has been edited by powerbiscuit (edited 4/25/2012 4:06p).]

I don't get why everyone is taking the passive route. Your neighbor is unreasonable, your family is not safe. There is no reason to try and not hurt your neighbor's feelings.

There is nothing passive you can do to those dogs that will make you feel safer. If something does work today, doesn't mean that it will tomorrow. The dogs may play nice now, but may go nuts and jump over the fence when your kids are by themselves.

Stop being passive. Tell you neighbors that they are a danger, take videos, take pictures. If something happens to the dogs, then atleast you have some proof that they were dangerous.

...because what you are advocating is illegal

Go talk to neighbor tonight, express concern, report back what he says. All further posts will be moot.

What I have done so far. I have confronted the neighbor twice (very friendly) and he has not followed through with pulling the dog houses away from the fence

So a third time is a charm? If he really was a nice and reasonable guy, all he would need to do is move the dog house about 10 feet. The guy just doesn't care and think its funny that your family is being tortured.

If those were my dogs and they were barking like that at the neighbor and jumping on the dog house with easy access to the neighbor's yard, I would do more than Move the doghouse. The dog is too aggressive to be in a neighborhood with kids and I would not want other's blood on my hands. Those dogs would be taken and put down.

But I guess I am just reasonable

That's the deal. they are not your dogs

That's the deal. they are not your dogs

A fire hose spraying water seems to disperse a riot crowd ok so I still say you try spraying them to see of their behavior changes to avoid you

Sounds like they are patrolling their property

Don't do anything to provoke the dogs like spraying them in the face. That will just ensure that if they ever get in your yard they will attack. I would first try one of those anti-barking devices. Second, I would build a stand over the garden where the dog house is and the dogs most likely to jump over. On the top of the stand I would put some type of netting, possibly with large treble hooks in it. If the dogs do manage to get over and you are outside, hopefully they get caught in the net long enough for you to get inside. While this is not a solution to the problem, it is a safety measure.

I also like the continued dialogue with the neighbor but sounds like that is going to be futile.

You may want to post on the Outdoors board also.

Good luck.

Open gate, hunt them down, bury.

Not that I'd ever do that.

My point about the certified letter was that he should document all the steps he's taken to reach a legal, reasonable, safe solution, and to show that the neighbor ignored his concerns. I'd also record, take pictures, video any aggressive behavior by the dogs.

Don't get me wrong. I would not hesitate to shoot them if my family was in danger. Good luck.