What would YOU do?

[chloesMama]

I agree with everyone else. You need to talk with the apartment manager and bring the dogs behavior to the attention of the police and/or animal control.He almost seems to be stalking you and Shasta . He and his owners need to be reported and stopped before the dog does serious harm to either another animal , you , or a even a child.

The same for the Rottie upstairs. It needs to be reported . It's not right for the dog to be able to either get to someone coming up the stairs or do harm to itself by accidentally hanging himself off a patio in an effort to get to someone !

[Yorkieforme]

This is a very dangerous situation.....my neighbours also had a Mastiff...180 lb Mastiff....the Matiff's owner was in the Military....and my neighbour was this guys Mother..who ws caring for the Matiff while the guy was away.
The younger son who lived with his mom (and Mastiff) would take the dog for a walk on a leash and he would torment the kids in the neighbourhood...telling to dog to "get em" ....of course the dog would try...but he was leashed...so he could only go so far...
My son has always been afraid of dogs....big and small even before this happened..
Then the owner came home from the Military on leave and he was out in the front yard with his Mastiff (not leashed) and my son who was 9 at the time was outside shoveling snow. The Mastiff attacked my son My son had a snowsuit on (thank god) and the dog got a hold of my sons leg and would not let go...I was at work but my daughter witnessed the entire episode....the owner of the dog had to punch & kick the dog many times to get the dog to let go of my son!
My son had bite marks to his leg and thankfully no muscle damage was done. The owner of the dog felt aweful and I explained to him what his little brother does when he has the dog out for a walk on the leash. The mother.....was a total B**** and did not even ask how my son was....she said it was my sons own fault!!
I sued her...since the dog was in her care in her home...she had to use her house insurance to settle the claim!!
We also had to move....b/c my son was terrified to be living next door to this dog after...and it was a duplex and my son could hear the dog bark through the wall....it would stress him out...

PLEASE don't wait....take care of this NOW.....

[lilstar63100]

Thank you all for your replies.

there is another person in my apartment complex that has a Belgian shepherd... Little Man had made friends with him one day while we were out to potty and i was talking to the guy and hes a cop from a different county and the dog is actually a K-9 police dog... i didnt even think about it before but maybe i can talk to him as well and ask what steps to take to at least get a report going of whats happening with this dog so that if the apartment managers do nothing and soemthing does happen it will be on file that i did file a complaint.

oh.. and BTW... even those the k-9 is perfectly well behaved, trained, and under control... even HE doesnt ever let him off leash...

[Iluvmygirl]

EXACTLY!!!! That's responsible ownership because you just NEVER know.

[TresCutePiggies]

I had a bullmastiff before my yorkies. I NEVER took him outside unless he was on a harness and leash (his fat neck made it easy for him to slip a collar off over his head). Of course, I never take my yorkies outside unless they are on a harness and a leash either. My bullmastiff was well-trained (these are "fun" tricks):

YouTube - Hutchy doing his tricks Part 1 3/24/05

YouTube - Hutchy does his tricks Part 2 3/24/05

Anyways, I would complain. It seems like if they just kept the door to their apartment closed that would solve a large majority of the problem. I guess they aren't worried about anyone just walking in? I'm fearful the rottie may hang himself. It's so sad. These giant breed dogs really do just want the same love and companionship as the little ones, but people feel the need to treat them so differently. I firmly believe it's bad owners (like your neighbors) that give these breeds a bad rep.

I wanted to add bullmastiffs/mastiffs, especially over the age of 2 do quite well in an apartment setting, because they generally don't have the desire to be very active, save for a few daily walks. I'd imagine the breed restrictions has to do with the apartment complex's insurance policy, though I never had an additional premium on my renter's insurance for my big guy - they only wanted to know if he'd ever bitten someone (NO!).

[lilstar63100]

Your mastiff is adorable!
i dont understand whats so hard about keeping the door closed either. OR put up a small gate on your patio like i did so that i dont have to worry about them running out.


i think it has to do with insurance policies. around here its pretty much impossible to get home owners insurance in some places with bully breeds, and alot of the other dogs on the restriction list... so im sure its the same with the apartments.

[TresCutePiggies]

Originally Posted by lilstar63100

Your mastiff is adorable!
i dont understand whats so hard about keeping the door closed either. OR put up a small gate on your patio like i did so that i dont have to worry about them running out.


i think it has to do with insurance policies. around here its pretty much impossible to get home owners insurance in some places with bully breeds, and alot of the other dogs on the restriction list... so im sure its the same with the apartments.

Thanks! I still miss him, even though I can't imagine loving my two "little" girls anymore.

I wonder if your neighbor would leave the door open if they had a smaller dog. I really think the leash law does apply in this instance. Maybe approach it from that angle...I get very frustrated where I live when I see people taking their dogs out without a leash or collar on - my two are always leashed or in a carrier but of course they want to interact with these dogs running down the hallway free. I've seen this with a maltese all the way up to a larger mixed breed.

[Dana2657]

This is so unfair to you, what selfish owners these people are. I dont understand the mentality to have these pets and not have them properly restraint. I would call anonymously the local animal control and report the bull mastiff off leash, and the rottie not restraint properly. This way your neighbors wont know who complained. More than likely you are not the only one in your area with this concern.

[Katylou]

When you speak to your apartment manager you might mention that he or the owner of the property may share some liability under homeowner's insurance if something should happen. Maybe the actual property owner is not aware these dogs are there? Obviously he should be made aware of the problem and I would put it in writing. I've learned that a phone call or verbal can be denied whereas if the problem is put in writing and sent Certified Mail it is pretty hard to deny.

[Dana2657]

I agree, this is an excellent idea. You have rights and don't deserve anything to happen to your or your furbaby.

[Miao]

The only problem is, your neighbours and/or the manager might approach you about breaking the rules for the number of dogs you have also. Unless, of course, they can't tell one yorkie apart from another, and think you have not gone over your 2 dog restriction.

[Dara311]

Originally Posted by lilstar63100

my complex is one of the few in my area that do allow larger breeds (one of the reasons we wanted to move here cause we thought we may eventually want to have a border collie or australian shepherd) BUT there are restrictions and rottweilers and bull mastiffs are not allowed

wow. well, not that im saying anything to defend your neighbors, but mastiffs are usually nice dogs, so thats just odd. i have a rottie in my house and he is afraid of Fiona. I really don't know what else you can do. I just hope your baby is safe, and that nothing should happen. I had a lab come after fiona at a friends house the other night, and boy i was heated, i picked her up so fast, it could have been deadly! and that owner was not happy with what i said to him!

[SweetViolet]

Originally Posted by Iluvmygirl

Who cares about your neighbors they obviously dont care about you or Shasta.

Amen to that!

Nobody is going to take better care of you and your safety than YOU...and that includes Shasta's safety, too.

Report them to the manager and if nothing happens, take it to the police. There are laws in California about vicious and dangerous dogs...use them to your advantage.

[Potter]

I didn't read what everyone else says but I would say, do some thing about it before it is too late. It might not be you who get hurt but another child or another small pet. Its even worse when Yorkies are so brave and think that they are just another big dog. Pao's worse enemy is a Rottweiler and the Rottie charges at us too and his guy owners looked like he could barely control him but he knows I don't like it. I think the Rottie isn't even friendly towards human kids. I have nothing against the breed but I don't like it when bigger dog owners do not train/control their dog properly. I was nearly bitten on the neck by an unleashed Rottweiler when I was young so I will call the animal control on anyone who offleashes their Rottie/dangerous dogs.