*RedFlag & On the Alert*
 

I have 2 small Yorkies and have a huge love for dogs. I have personally trained my dogs to remain off leash safely and 'stop' barking when asked. They know numerous tricks and I pride myself on keeping dog etiquette my priority. I would like some feedback on a recent dog incident involving three untrained dogs (a black lab and two pit bulls) and my Yorkies. I recently moved and my new neighbors have a dog-walker come everyday to walk their 3 dogs. The other day I encountered the dog-walker with a black lab and a pit bull on the other side of the fence separating our properties. My dogs were off-leash in my backyard with me when the black lab & pit bull lounged at my dogs, pulling the dog-walker towards my fence. She stated the dogs were territorial while the dogs barked viciously and continuously lounged in the direction of my male Yorkie. (There were 2 fences over 5' high separating the dogs so I knew mine were safe.) The dog-walker was obviously having a very hard time controlling the dogs and was yelling their names and 'NO' at the top of her lungs. I left my dogs in my double-gated backyard for a few minutes while I went to grab my mail when the dog-walker informed me that there were 2 pit bulls living next door and that it would be in my best interest 'to ensure my little dogs never get out because you know....' I was shocked with her comment and the tone she took with me so I replied by simply stating that my dogs were on my property [where they were supposed to be] and they are trained unlike the dogs she could barely control. Ideally, there shouldn't be a problem but realistically (and unfortunately) there is. I felt as if she was threatening me with the pit bulls! I've spoken with other neighbors about these dogs and have been told that in the past the pit bulls have growled at kids, as well as adults while with the owner. To make matters worse I found out that the dogs have escaped from their backyard on numerous occasions! I will not live in fear for myself or my dogs but now I see a RED-FLAG and am on the ALERT! I would like to hear what other responsible dog owners think about this situation and what the best approach would be? I don't want to characterize these dogs as a threat but from the stories I've heard from neighbors and the incidences that have occurred between the dogs, dog-walker & dog-owners, I see this is as a classic case of uneducated dog owners. I don't think my new neighbors care that their dogs are a threat to children, people & other dogs in our community. Neighbors have complained to them on numerous occasions about their dog's behavior & escapes. I want to approach my neighbors to discuss the recent events but without causing problems. Suggestions are greatly appreciated!

I have pit bulls myself.. 3 in fact :) but they are NOT aggressive nor do they growl at people, kids, or other animals.. In fact My 100lb male is let in the front yard OFF A LEASH and NEVER even bothers with people walking Chi's and Wiener dogs and all other sorts of pups .. he just minds his own in the yard.. So with that being said.. the owners OBVIOUSLY LACK TRAINING SKILLS and need to do something about their dogs. Maybe need them kenneled so they do not get out!

I have a Yorkie myself and I WOULD DIE of Worry if someone told me that he may get mauled if he ever got out of my yard! I would NOT live like that, and would in fact speak with the owners of the pittys first and then resort to ANIMAL CONTROL if need be.

I am sorry that these people are making a worse rap for pit bulls as they are great animals when properly trained!

I meant to post this but couldn't find it.. Just to show they can be love bugs too ..

I use to know a super sucky, loveable, and playful pitbull. He was my roomates dog. This pitbull was sooo gentle, he loved children and babies. I had a lab-cross, a hedgehog, and a conure when I moved in there (10 yrs ago). The pitbulls owner had a cat and an ignuana too, besides their pitbull. They also had 2 kids! He loved them all. He'd even let my bird "hang out" on his back.

When there are behavioural issues with animals, you really have to blame the owners, not the breed. :)

Being an owner of both a pit bull and 2 small breeds (Yorkie & Maltese), my dog would not hurt my dogs or other people. She does not like other dogs that charge toward her...and I know that. She is NEVER allowed out side without supervision nor is she allowed to be left unattended with my babies without supervision.

I feel the owners need to be able to know their dogs capabilities along with their likes and dislikes and provide the safest environment for their pets and everyone involved.

Having had a dog killed in my own backyard by a neighbors German Shepard who jumped the fence....I say....NEVER LET YOUR GUARD DOWN!!!!

Your dogs may be well trained but that does not mean that other dogs are and you always need to be cautious everywhere that you go. Mine NEVER go out of my yard without leashes on...even when going out front. Too many people assume that since their dogs are trained that nothing will happen cause they can control their dogs. Its not your dog you have to worry about....its the untrained dog that comes near yours.

Have you tried talking to the owners? They need to know how their dogs act and you may need to talk to someone about the law where you live. Maybe you could find out if they have to put up a better fence?? I know I don't have to tell you that you have to keep your eye out at all times.:eek::eek: Best of luck ,hope all works out for you.

Sorry, but I WOULD live in fear until I left the area. Their dogs don't seem to be trained & unfortunately they could very well harm your babies. Scary thought.

You may feel your pittys are fine loose in your front yard (off leash) but your neighbors may not feel the same way. There is an aggressive lab, yes...lab down the street from me who is allowed to lay in the front yard unleashed. EVERY time I go by there, he comes after my two yorkies. I've spoken with the owner and she just states that he's afraid of little dogs and maybe I should carry them when passing her house! I've seen this same dog go after another small dog while they were both on leashes. The dog is unpredictable. But regarding yours, I've stopped taking my girls out to the neighborhood mailboxes because I have to walk by her house. It's not fair to those of us who obey leash laws when someone in the neighborhood doesn't.
Just thought you might like to hear from the other side of the coin.

I totally agree with this. I never used to be able to walk my old chow mix in our neighborhood. She was dog aggressive, but trained well enough to stay on leash and at my side.

Unfortunately, my neighborhood was full of Maltese, Bichon Frise, Shih Tzus and other small dogs who were allowed to go off leash in their front yards. The small dogs would either a) bark aggressively at my dog from a safe distance, driving my dog into a frenzy, or b) come right up to her, tempting her to gnaw their cocky little heads off.

It got to where I just didn't walk my dog at all, because if these people only had their dogs on a leash, I could safely move mine to the other side. But because the dogs were always charging up to me full speed, every encounter turned into a game of keeping me between the little dog and my chow mix.

That got old pretty quickly.

In my opinion, dogs should always be on leash when they leave the confines of their yard or home. It protects them, other dogs, and other people.

You are responsible for your dog....... Period

Whether that's a Pit Bull or a Yorkie
or whatever
Someone warning you not to have your dogs out on YOUR property is ridiculous
and if someone ever told me that I'd say thank you very much
... I'll make sue my Lawyer Knows exactly what you said
;) and have a nice day

you are in a bad situtation...you should be able to let your dogs run free in your own yard!i have a german shepard and doberman but they are about as unaggressive as it gets lol,just huge teddy bears,but many people are scared of them which is understandable,i would confront the owners and then see where to go from there

It really bothers me that you think your dogs are safe because they are behind a five foot fence. Our lab used to jump/climb out of our yard with a six foot fence. We had to kennel her and after she made it out of the 7 foot kennel we had to put a lid on it. Sorry, but I would never leave my dogs out there alone, ever. I think others have given good advice about dealing with the dogs. Good luck.

very true...a huge hunting dog jumped my 6 ft fence just a few nites ago...

I'm sorry you took it that I was trying to argue. I wasn't. I'm just saying that leash laws are there to protect people and their pets from dogs running loose, whether it's the friendliest pit bull or an aggressive doxie doesn't matter. When you ignore the leash laws, you are saying your pet's freedom is more important than the law and my pet's safety and I don't think that's fair. Furthermore, even though I know there are many, many friendly pit bulls, I don't want to happen upon one who isn't confined or is off leash. It would scare me to death! Maybe if I hadn't had an issue with the lab down the street, I wouldn't have responded to this post at all. I just thought you might be interested in how others in the neighborhood might feel. Obviously, you're not.

And one more thing because now my hot buttom has been pushed....I personally believe it's rude to ignore the law. THAT"S being disrespectful of other's.

To answer the original poster... this might not work at all, but this is what I would try:

Start off assuming that the owners are wonderful people who are simply uneducated about their dogs. It sounds like they might want to get a more experienced dog walker, for one. It sounds like maybe she was trying to be helpful, but obviously the most helpful thing would be to ensure these dogs are controlled.

I would go over and begin as nicely as possible. Compliment them on their beautiful dogs, but say you have concerns because they seemed aggressive and you yourself have small dogs. Tell them that the dog walker they hired didn't seem to have full control over them. Stress how devastating it would be for everybody if one of their dogs got into your yard and seriously injured your animals.

You can ask them what training these pit bulls have had so far. If the owners say they haven't been trained, or you can't train pit bulls, perhaps you can research a good trainer in your area and provide them the name. Or ask them if they have thought about reinforcing their fence.

Unless your neighbors are completely evil, they would feel awful if their dogs injured someone. Try to alert them to your concerns without putting them on the defensive.

This sounds like a great idea. I would try it too.

Well the fact that your "HOT" button has been pushed is really your issue to deal with ... not mine

I love my dogs, the neighbors love my dogs so that would be the end of my point.. I wasn't asking your opinion and if you would be scared of my dog to be honest.. I was offering my thoughts to the OP... THAT IS WHAT THE BOARD IS FOR.. For people to offer thoughts when asked for them.

I will be a Big Girl and Agree to Disagree .. Have a Happy Holiday!!! ;)

I would be even scared living next to a pit bull that is well trained because even those have been known to just attack and one tight snap of there jaw on your arm and your going to be in really bad shape. Other then talking to the neighboors I'm not sure there is much you can do besides always keeping an eye on your dogs when there outside and being with them when there outside.

Pit bulls DO NOT just attack and turn on people , untrained pit bulls on the other hand are a DEADLY WEAPON. Often, people say the dog was always nice and never harmed anyone but one day it "turned" when in reality the dog may have been sweet and kind but NEVER trained and taught anything... that is the reality of it..

I have 3 pit bulls and they are Perfect in fact one that we bred and gave to a friend actually has a certificate saying he is an AMBASSADOR of the pit bull breed and passed many extensive tests by a trained UKC judge for tempermant w/ dogs and children.

It makes me sad when people are so stereotypical about them without knowing the breed or raising the breed... I can respect your opinion though.

Any dog can just attack but a pit bull is the scarest because there jaws are the strongest! I have heard of a well trained pit bull going on the attack all of a sudden. These dogs where bred to be attack dogs its in there blood and that cannot be changed!

I am not trying to make a bad wrap for pit-bulls because the breed is not so much my problem. Please remember that there were 2 dogs involved- a black lab and a pit-pull. The black lab was the one that lounged forward and was barking at my dogs first. The pit-bull was actually following the labs behavior and altho he was lounging forward and barking, he did so remaining behind the lab. (The dog-walker had one leash/one dog per hand and trying to restrain them unsuccessfully.) I love all dogs, including pits but this is about having neighbors with big, powerful untrained dogs. I know the reason these dogs are aggressive is because of the owner's lack of discipline. I would like to know what other people with small or big dogs would do if they were in my place. I don't want to have any problems with the neighbors but they have already made suggestions to keeping my dogs on their leashes even when they are fenced in my backyard! I feel slightly threatened by what she is saying [it's as if she's trying to protect herself if her dogs get loose] and I would like to take every precaution possible without restricting my dogs of running around in their big backyard.

They weren't bred to be attack dogs on people, they were bred to be fighters. So if you are meaning to attack other dogs YES you are correct they were bred for that but NOT TO ATTACK PEOPLE. Pit Bulls are a terrier breed and one of the most loyal.. My Yorkie is MORE AGGRESSIVE than my pit bulls :rolleyes:

Please understand that these dogs are part of families and loved just like Yorkies and when we lose them it tears us apart just the same...

If you do not like the breed that is ok , but please do research on them before assuming that everything on the news is true.

** SORRY OP this is a touchy subject.. I own Pit Bulls and they are LOVING AND LOYAL it makes me so sad when people assume they are killer dogs.. they are like my children.. I wish people would give them a chance :( **

Thank you for clarifying that for people, I would personally call Animal Control and let them know that the neighbors dogs are agressive and untrained and let them know that the neighbors have warned you that your babies may be killed if they ever got out. Animal Control usually does not take things like that likely and they will go to their home. Just make an anonymous call instead of saying it's you if you fear having a bad relationship with them. The relationship is obviously nothing in comparisn to your babies lives... Just do what you have to do to protect them.

I'm sorry but to me that is ridiculous. You should not have to do that in your own backyard. I hope you can find a solution to this. I pray to God that your babies are never harmed by these dogs.

When your dogs are on your property: unfenced, you are taking a chance. You may have the law on your side, but if an loose dog gets your dog, you can not replace your dog. Sure, they may pay vet bills and if the wost happens, you may get a new dog, but is it worth it..just because you are right?

I completely agree with this strategy. It sounds like a great idea.

i have a doberman and german shepard,most people are scared of em but it is completely understandable becuz breeds like that do have bad reps...it is sad but thats the way it is and i understand when people look at em and are scared.

Wow, As a fellow Long Islander I am so sorry you are going through this. I would talk to the neighbor first. Feel them out. Don't give them names of reputable dog trainers this is offensive and what if they can't afford it. We pay alot of taxes here on Long Island and for you not to be able to enjoy your own backyard with your babies is unbelievable. Do you have children? I would be very concerned. Also I would not ask them to secure the fence. Do it yourself, I would. You, can't make demands of them because they pay the same taxes ya know what I mean? I had to put a stockade fence in front of my neighbors chain link fence because the dogs could see eachother. Now it is peaceful. Good luck your in a tough situation. Like I said I would try to be neighborly first. Anyway hope you have a great holiday.
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