Neighbors Dog Sounds Vicious?

Question

I have a professionally trained Karelian bear dog named Penny. She is sweet quiet, and I can let her into the yard without fear of her running off and attacking people or children or really even running out of the yard. Our new neighbors moved into the other side of the duplex and they brought a dog that barks at everything and anyone. I'm afraid to let my dog into the pend in area of my back yard because this other one jumps onto the wooden fence and seems to be trying its best to get through. The fence however that is around the rest of our combined yards is really low and could be easily jumped or climbed by the neighbors dog or mine if she didn't know any better. I have talked to the neighbors about their animal and they said its none of my business. I really am scared this animal might get out and one day attack me, my dog, or anyone else who might be outside. Is there anything I can do about it?

I can actually hear it barking right now and my dog is inside. It barks all day and night at just noises. Or if John or I just walk out the back door to our cars. Last night I went to get a ginger ale out of the cooler we keep outside for drink and it scared me by barking through the fence, not to mention waking John up with its loud barking.

I saw the neighbor guy outside and just went over to chat. The dog was at the fence growling, barking, and snapping at me even when the owner was standing right there. And I sure didn't want to stick my hand over the fence to see if that was friendly growling and barking. I've tried cooing to the dog through the fence, talking sweet to it and its just not giving in. Its been about a month, not quite. But does it really take that long for a dog to get used to it surroundings? Not to mention my dog? Let me know! Thanks!

I think I understand why it acts so vicious now towards everything. I was outside the other day and it was barking, barking, and the neighbor took a metal walking cane and beat it till it was whimpering. The divider between my back yard and the neighbors yard is a large wooden fence with about two-three finger widths gaps between the slats so I could see it pretty good. Geh. I think I'm just going to call the ASPCA. Sad thing is that its a pit bull and will probably be put down just because of that if they see fit to take it. I don't know. Thanks for the help. I feel sorry for the dog now more than I fear it.

Answer 1

First off, I'd let your new neighbors know, in a nice way, that you are concerned for your own and your pet's safety, and perhaps they might be willing to arrange a meet and greet session so the animals can get to know one another. I think this new dog is feeling threatened himself- he can see your dog through the fence, and he feels that this other animal is in his territory, so he barks like mad. The same goes for the noises, and his reaction to you going to the cooler at night for a drink. In his eyes, you are in his territory, or what he thinks as his territory, and because he doesn't know you or what your intentions are, you are automatically a threat, at least in his mind. That's why you need to talk with your new neighbors and try to arrange a meet/greet session, first where you are alone, and then later, between the 2 dogs. If you get to know him, I suspect this other dog will stop acting so aggressive towards you and your dog.Keeping your dog inside all the time will drive you both crazy, and it will prevent what needs to happen from taking place.

If the owners of the other dog take the position that it's none of your business, then you need to take a different approach. If the dog continues to threaten you or threatens your dog, and you have tried to be polite about it, and they still won't cooperate, then you may need to get either animal control or the local home owner's association ( or both) involved. You have a right to some peace and quiet, and to be able to let your dog out safely in your own yard. I would call animal control and report that there is a nusiance dog living next door to you, and let the officers know that you have tried to be polite and ask the owners to either let the dogs meet each other in peaceful way, or to keep their dog inside when yours is outside. Once they get enough complaints from you and your other neighbors, they will investigate, and this dog's owners will probably be cited for keeping a nuisance animal on their premises. This will also mean that animal control will be keeping an eye on your neighbors- and if by chance that dog does get loose and attacks anyone, then they are within their rights to seize the animal and possibly have it destroyed, as well as to impose fines and other penalties on your neighbors. Harboring or knowingly keeping a viscious dog is a crime in a lot of places these days, thanks to an ever growing number of maulings and dog attacks on people in residential areas. Depending on the circumstances, if your neighbors are renting their side of the duplex, they could get evicted by the landlord ( which may or may not be you) for keeping a public nuisance. At any rate, I would try to talk to your neighbors again, and if they won't listen, then call animal control and report what's happening to them. Good luck to you.

PS: Just to be on the safe side, I would also make VERY sure that your dog is up to date on all her shots, especially rabies. Also, make sure that you have documentation which will provide proof of your dog's vaccination status in an easily accessible place. A word to the wise.

Answer 2

Honestly, it sounds like I could be that neighbor (but I'm pretty sure I'm not!). We just moved from the country to a city into a duplex. Where we used to live, we rarely had any visitors (except for all the drunks that would crash into the field next to our house and come banging on the door in the middle of the night - which DIDN'T help the situation) and our closest neighbor was the distance of half a block, plus our dog was just a nervous dog from the time we got her. Anytime someone would come over, our dog would bark and act like a maniac and she sounds very vicious. But she's NOT vicious at all, she's actually the biggest baby. Anyway, now that we're in a more-populated area, with neighbors on top of each other, our dog seems to be having a hard time adjusting to the change. If I'm out back with her and I see one of the neighbors coming out of the house or coming home, I try to scoot her in the house before she sees them, because she runs over to the fence, stands up with her front paws on the fence and barks like a nut. It's embarassing because she really does sound very vicious and I can only imagine what the neighbors think, but, like I said, she's really just a big baby. If she actually went over the fence (and I know she could if she tried), she wouldn't attack our neighbors, she wouldn't even get within 10 feet of them. Anytime she hears loud banging, a knock at the door, or sees strangers through the window, she'll start barking and carrying on. However, when any of us take her for a walk, she never makes a peep and she acts like she's scared to death to walk past someone.

Instead of cooing at the dog, just ignore it. I have noticed that when our dog is out and one of the neighbors starts talking to her, she just gets more wound up. Other than that, I don't know what advice to give you, but I can tell you that just because a dog sounds vicious, that doesn't mean it IS vicious. You don't know the dog's background - where it came from, what it's been through, etc. - there could be some very good reasons for why the dog acts like that. Not everyone can afford to have their dog 'professionally trained' and not every dog is quiet. And being loud, doesn't mean they can't be sweet.

Answer 3

The dog might just be scared of its new surroundings. Give it a little while longer and if it doesn't settle down you might have to call the police about the noise. Is there any law about how long a dog can bark outside? I'm suprised none of your other neighbors have called the police.

Answer 4

A lot of dogs bark like that over everything. How did you approach your neighbors about it? Maybe they thought you came across wrong or something. Have you tried to approach the fence to see if he growls or acts like he is going to bite. My dogs barks like mad when he sees other people and other animals but it is because he is excited and wants to greet them. He sound mean but he wouldn't hurt a fly.

Answer 5

All dogs on the other side of the fence sound vicious.

If the barking bugs you and the neighbour won't do anything about it.. You can call Animal Control.. I am pretty sure that's part of their job.. Dealing with nuisance dogs and cats..

Answer 6

give the dog time to get settled into its new surroundings for starters. if the dog continues to be a nuisance, call animal and complain. have other neighbors speak up if they are having the same problems. it is better to have multiple neighbors complaining than just you. they say its none of your business, but if animal control visits them often enough then maybe the fines will wake these a s s holes up.

add: please don't listen to the moron who suggested antifreeze. it is not the dogs fault the owner doesn't care for or train it properly.

Answer 7

Try talking to ur neighbor about the screams from the little girl ask your neighbor to tell her to quite down and stop screaming so ur dog won't bark as much

Answer 8

If he is truly a nuisance, and you can't get to sleep or anything, then you can report the dog.

If he attacks someone or your dog, then you really need to talk to the neighbor or call and report, a dog that does such a thing is considered dangerous that could be that.

Answer 9

As a professional dog trainer for over 16 years, I have to tell you my strong opinion that you need these group classes for obedience training. http://OnlineDogTraining.enle.info/?5CmA

Other pet warehouses are there to get you to buy their products and hang around their strore. And their trainers are their employees...never forget they have an agenda. Most of the trainers have very little education--if they had actual training and skills they wouldn't be there making just over minimum wage--trust me on this. But even if they did have experience and talent...a group setting is a terrible place for learning to take place. It's distraction training and it is the LAST phase of training not the first. You wouldn't have your child try to do their homework in a toy store, would you? Of course not...the level of distraction would be too high! It's the same with dogs. Having said that, these classes can be an excellent way to socialize dogs...but not to train them. And while they appear to be cheaper than a professional trainer...you have to attend many more sessions to get the same results because of the poor learning environment--so you wind up spending MORE money for less training than you would with a professional. Save your money and go to someone who actually knows how to train dogs. OR, read books and try to train your dog yourself. There is nothing they train at a Petsmart or Petco that you can't do yourself with a couple of hours of reading.

Answer 10

it could be watch dog or something and it could be horrible to you. i would just wait if it barks after curfew time which is 10pm here you can call and that is what i would do. if that animal bits you then you can have it destroyed but you can't do much more then that unless it bugs everyone.