[parson]

Just seen my neighbour with a new german shepherd pup! My heart sank as they havnt been the best of dog owners over the years.

They have always had rescue doogs, and mailnly small mongrels. But they never walked them enough resulting in them being hyper. Locked them up for too long, resulting in them barking and howling. Never secure their garden, which resulted in them wandering all up and down the street in and out other peoples garden fowling. Never put any effort into training them, which ultimatley ended up in their last dog attacking and biting another neighbour and being put down.

I have a few pals that have german shepherds. One of them breeds them and currently has 5. If you give them plenty of exorcise and put the time needed into training them, they can be fantastic dogs, but I'm not convinced my next door neighbours have the will or knowledge to do this.

They have been dog free for around a year now, it's been great, dreading what we have to look forward to in the future!

Hope none of our girls get taken by it jumping into our garden.

P.S. I know I sound like a dog hating person in this rant. I'm not, I have 2 wee terriers myself, I love dogs. I just dont think my next door neighbours should be allowed them as I believe they are poor owners.

Rant over!

[Casey76]

Can you go over, and coo over the puppy then ask "so when do puppy classes start then?"

I feel so guilty now, looking back at when I had my dog.  As a family we were very ignorant when it came to care - and although our Tess was never neglected - and lived to a ripe old 17 years - because she was never really "trained" she was a nightmare to walk, she shredded the post, and was extremely protective over her food.  I know I would do things completely differently now.

My friends have an 18 week old Boxer.  Since he was 10 weeks old he has been to puppy classes, he is the most socialised, well behaved, friendly (and loopy, as Boxers are!) puppy you could ever want to meet.  He can be walked off the lead and be relied upon to come to call; if he is unsure of anything he sits down and watches it.  He doesn't jump up, and he doesn't beg for food, he travels great in the car... but every interaction is "training."  Mistakes are corrected immediately, and he doesn't "get away" with bad behaviour.  All done in a way that doesn't change his bouncy, bubbly, mischevious personality.  My friend plans to complete in agility and defence, and I think he is going to be super!

[evie2]

I understand completely, parson.  

We have our fair share of uncontrolled dogs where we live  It starts around 6am when the first one is put out and barks continuously for the next hour, then the bliss of silence for 5 minutes before it all starts again with a different dog  So it continues for the rest of the day stopping for a few hours late evening.  Usually around 11pm it starts again   until about 2am when it would seem the owners have decided to go to bed so allow the poor animals back inside.

Then there are the others who just wander all day up and down the road.  One in particular; 'really enjoys chasing your cats so we always know where he is ', oh and we catch him because they can't!

We are surrounded by fields, woods, disused and dismantled railways, pit trails and country parks all supplied with dog bins, so it's a bit of a puzzle why we should have this problem at all.

[parson]

We're not really on the best of terms with them, they have tried our patience too often over the years. Too many tales to recount here.

They keep saying they are going to retire and move abroad, I'll believe it when I see it, but we live in hope!! 

[alancane]

Sorry to hear what's happening Parson. You mentioned that  their dog in the past has come into gardens and fouled etc. Is there anyway of stopping their puppy from coming into your garden and getting your girls? Fences etc?

I know you mentioned that you are not on the best of terms with them, but conversing I think is the only way to expressing your concern for your girls and ask what will they do differently to maange their dog this time. It may not be the easiest of conversations and may take several (keeping calm all the way), but this is going to be the only way for you to get through to them.

The hardest, but might work the best is to totally befriend them and then you maybe in a better place to influence them and the situation.

Otherwise....Fence up, gates on and turn your place into a impenetrable fortress.

[evie2]

Just thought Parsons, unlike cats (think they're classed like wild animals or something) dogs have to be kept under control and the owners are held responsible for their actions.  That would mean as long as you take precautions any damage done by the dog towards your hens they would be responsible. 

[alancane]

I think you are correct Evie.... but I don't think it is a cost issue; a chicken could cost say £20, the emotional damage alot more, which would be hard to get back and would you really want to go through courts for this?

Prevention is definately the key here.

[evie2]

Too true, it's always better to talk to people.  Although sometimes knowing there's help and it doesn't have to go to court can be useful.

[parson]

I have fences and hedges (with chicken wire) and gates al round my garden. So cross fingers thats enough, however my friend's german shepherd can get over her 6 foot fence when it takes the notion, so I'll just have to wait and see how the dog settles. It might end up being a great dog.

This morning they took it out the back, tied it to a stake on the grass, left it and went back inside. It is a pup and needs to be TAUGHT how to behave, it wont just grow up knowing, and leaving it to it's own devices is certainly not the way to have a good balanced adult dog.

The couple next door who have it are both quite small, probably about 5 foot each. If they dont train it properly starting now, by the time it is 6 months old it will pull them right offtheir feet. Then, when they realise they cant handle it, they'll get rid. I give it a year.

It's the dog I feel sorry for.

[alancane]

You are right Parson, it's the dog I feel sorry for too. I can't believe they have tied it up in the garden! Maybe start keeping a diary on their incompetent dog owner behaviour incase you need it for reporting to the RSPCA.

As they are so petite themselves, maybe they think they are getting a dog they can ride to the shops on, at 5foot and if it's a big GSD, then they won't be able to look him properly.

What do your other neigbours think?

[parson]

As they are so petite themselves, maybe they think they are getting a dog they can ride to the shops on

 

Not spoken to aany of the other neighbours yet. It will be us that are most affected being next door. All the houses are fairly far apart, though it didnt stop their last dog wandering and messing in other gardens.

I'll just need to wait and see how it goes.

[joyfull]

at 5foot and if it's a big GSD, then they won't be able to look him properly.

sorry but height has nothing to do with ability to look after a large breed of dog. I am five feet tall and have two large dogs - a Newfoundland/GSD cross and a Neapolitan Mastiff (which is classed as a giant breed and not large) and have no problems with my dogs.

[evie2]

Tying a puppy outside is definitely cruelty in my opinion and totally unacceptable

[alancane]

I hope I didn't offend Joyful.... it wasn't just the height alone, but if they don't train the dog sufficiently and he goes on a rampage, they won't be able to control him. If the dog is untrained, height and weight will play a big part.

I would imagine that your dogs are trained Joyful and therefore you can control them; there are too many people that decide to keep a dog and don't understand what the responsibility is and do nothing apart from tie them up in a garden; it's truly a disgrace.

[joyfull]

perhaps somebody could post some puppy training (and human training  ) class leaflets through their letter box?
All dogs need firm but fair handling from day one so they know (like chickens) who is the top dog, I am quite soft with mine but my dogs know that overall I am the top and they are below so if I raise my voice they stop whatever they are doing.