How would you handle a neighbor's little boy teasing your dog?

Question

Ok I'll try to keep this short - our neighbor has a 9 yr old son who likes to tease our dog when she's in her pen (she's never outside unless we're home so I've been able to watch him through the window). Our dog is a Doberman but contrary to her scary looks she is very people friendly (she was once a therapy dog with disabled children), and I'd really like her to stay this way! She will bark at strangers near our yard or when someone knocks on the door, so I think he likes to provoke her. I have watched him yell and scream and jump around, which is fairly harmless, but more alarmingly I've seen him throw things over the fence or call her over and try to poke her with sticks (the fence is 6ft/chain link). I've caught him in the middle of it at least 4 times now, each time going out and giving him a stern warning not to tease our dog anymore. I'm afraid I'm going to have to take it to his dad but don't want to cause hard feelings. How would you approach this?

Answer 1

If I was a parent of a nine year old boy who was buggin the neighbor's dog, I would want to know. Now, yes, your dog is a good dog, but maybe the next dog my kid teases is not. The next may bite his arm off.

Now, if my neighbor comes and is angry or mad at me or says bad things about my boy, it hurts my feelings. So it is more in the delivery than the message.

I would go over there, and start out with a compliment. - whatever you can think of that has some truth. "You have a great kid. I have seen him do ..... and I am really impressed. I am having a bit of a probelm because recently, I have seen him tease my dog when she is in her kennel. I think my dog will be well-behaved, but she is a dog still, and it worries me when he teases her. I would not ever like him to get hurt. Could you please take care of the situation?" Then tell them how much you like being their neighbor and don't want problems, and are happy oyu can talk openly with them and trust them to deal with it. Then walk away and see what they do. They may just step up to the plate. If they do, and he leaves your dog alone for a few days, be sure to go over and say thank-you.

Answer 2

I wouldn't worry about hard feelings. If your neighbor is any kind of a descent human being, he would not approve of the child teasing the dog anyway.

The kid can make the dog mean. If the dog ever bites, provoked or not, the law is on the side of the person who is bit. In other words, it is to your advantage legally and morally (for the dog's sake) to stop this child immediately.

Calmly ask the father to have a talk with the child. If you still catch him teasing the dog, go back to the father. If it happens after the two talks, let them know that you will notify the police.

You are the only person the dog has to protect it from this sort of abuse. The dog's safety and happiness is more important than wondering what will happen if a child is asked to behave like a human being.

There is no reason to let a wonderful well-mannered dog's life be ruined by an ignorant selfish child.

Answer 3

I would definitely have a discussion with the boy's parents. They need to be aware of their son's behavior, and how this could potentially be dangerous to him if he continues to treat your dog, or another dog, in this manner. Children need to be taught to respect animals - in order to be humane and decent, and also because the animals have big, sharp teeth. In fact, I would videotape this boy when he is taunting your dog, and show it to the parents, and keep it on hand in the future for evidence, should it ever unfortunately become needed. However, you are absolutely doing the right thing by protecting by your dog and the neighborhood kids, no matter how obnoxious they may be. Another possibility might be to try to involve the boy in doing some fun training or games with your dog, provided it is done very safely, of course. Join yahoo group Clicker Solutions for ideas.

Answer 4

Tell his parents non-confrontation-ally. Say that you have noticed their son has shown interest in you dog when she is outside, and you would like to make sure that he can relate appropriately to her. If that doesn't work, take pics of the kid bugging the dog and show the parents. If that doesn't work, offer to buy the kid a kennel so he can be outside at the same time as the dog, since he is the animal!

Answer 5

I think its about time you did take it to his dad. Explain to his dad just what you typed about the gentleness of the dog, and also let the dad know that you don't want to be responsible if his child gets hurt by the dog. Also, start taking pictures of the child teasing the dog, so you have documentation of what is happening. You could also try going to your local ASPCA and asking them what they would recommend, what the laws are in your area regarding this problem. Good luck

Answer 6

You have two choices. Your dog will continue to be tormented or your neighbor will resent you for not allowing his kid to abuse you dog. That is a difficult choice for you? Suppose the little darling actually injures your dog? Will you neighbor pay the vet bills? Actually your neighbor probably doesn't even know this is going on and would most likely appreciate being informed about his son's behavior.

Answer 7

I would have a discussion with the boy's parents right away. They need to be aware their son is mistreating your dog and that this could result in serious consequences for either him or your dog.

If possible, I would videotape this child when he is taunting your dog. I would do this for three reasons:
1) As evidence to be shared with the parents
2) As evidence in case your dog bites the boy
3) As evidence if you choose to take legal action, such as filing a police complaint or requesting a restraining order on the child.

Answer 8

We had teh same problem with our neighbor girl. She was just barking at our dog when he was out in the cage while we are home. She really wasn't doing anything wrong but our dog would go nuts! My husband talked to her mom and our concern for Duke getting out and hurting her if she came to the cage. No problems since.....talk to the parents and try to put it as a safety issue for the kid....we actually didn't want our dog to get bugged to death but they don't have to know that !

Answer 9

Talk to his dad first because i think this is illegal. Throw him in a pen (make sure its a hot day) leave him there just long enough to get the point across(but before it causes psychological damage) if he does it again repeat and then try poking him with a stick while blasting really bad music.

Answer 10

If you have asked the child already you are going to have to go the dad. Apparently he is not taking you seriously. And the cost could be your dog, if she gets irrated she may bite then it won't matter what he did to provoke it it will only matter that she bit. Not fair but probably true.
Good luck