I had the same problem with my neighbors dog except theres no fence their dog roams everywhere and they dont seem to have a problem with that.
I difused the situation by purchasing a tennis ball and a package of ham. Every time i went to my front yard their dog would run up to me and bark for awhile and when i would say something it would stop barking momentarily. Thats when I threw the tennis ball and then tossed it a piece of ham. Doing this every day for a week totally stopped the dogs aggressive behavior towards me but it caused another annoying problem, everytime i try to get yardwork done the dog comes running with the ball expecting me to either throw it for him or to get some treat… But iguess its better than his constant barking.
Anyway, i think this might have also worked without the treat, maybe not though. Dogs generally bark at strangers, and i guess, by having my scent on the ball and getting used to that everyday it no longer considered me a threat to his territory.
I would recommend trying that too, but you should probably ask the owners first before handing out treats.
Also, i guess it depends on the dogs level of aggression. You need to let it get acustomed to you. Like maybe talk to it some in a calm voice everyday, and once it stops barking for a short time toss the treat. But dont just toss it when it starts its crazed barking because it would more than likely reinforce that type of behavior.
Interesting idea, Toker! Just so crazy it might work…
…but the one time I’ve been mauled by a dog was when I was seven, and the dog thought I was withholding meaty treats from her (I’d just eaten a turkey sandwich and had gone outside to play). I’d be a little bit afraid that some dogs, having associated you with meaty treats, might be nasty if you stopped offering the meaty treats.
I’d check with a dog behaviorist before doing this. If the dog is trained, you could use a similar trick to establish dominance: require the dog to sit before you give it a milkbone or whatever, so that it recognizes you as its pack superior.
In practice, I have found that dogs are really sensitive to pepper spray. After spraying one, the threat is usually enough after that. If it isnt, spray it again.
Call the press. Show them the videos. Show how you have called the authorities. Get them to stop the news wagon in front of the house and step out, with any luck rover will come after them. Give them the name of that kid who was harassed when he was walking his dogs.
Trial by popular press could embarrass enough people involved so as to do something. I can see it now:
**Vicious Rotwiler terrorizing Elm Street fails to elicit response from it’s owners OR local authorities – film at 11… **
A 3 minute spot of concerned law abiding neighbor, traumatized neighborhood child, footage of dog coming to greet news crew
(ignoring invisible fence) maybe even a spot of the owners saying
“Oh come now, fluffy wouldn’t hurt anyone” with a quick cut back to you explaining how their Ikita already ate your cat. That might help move things along in your favor and no one gets hurt, not you, not the dog. If that doesn’t work, then just haul off and shoot the mutt, there will be lots of evidence on your side after the press gets involved.
A big ol stick will just piss it off, It will take a huge stick to knock out a 120lb dog. Try getting close enough to a viscious dog to use a tazer. Heh.
Nametag: see in your quote where it says :
It says animal cruelity is casing undue suffering and pain. killing by means causing undue suffering. Not just killing. Taking the dog, tying it up and stabbing it repeatedly would be cruel, shooting it in the head with a 30/30 wouldn’t be causing much pain at all.
It is best to check with your area though. For the record I know it is legal to shoot an animal if it is on your property in my area. Friend got his dog shot when it jumped the fence, he complained, the police and animal control said the guy that shot his dog was well within his rights. My friends dog was nowhere near a big and vicious dog. Of course I don’t live in city limits, just county, but it is a suberb.
Or I would let it bite me, kill it then, and then press charges on the owner.
I don’t know what it would take, thus the “whatever it takes.” If you’re dealing with a dog who is actually in mid-attack, a stick isn’t going to do the trick, but if he’s just approaching in a menacing way, a good loud yell and a sharp whack across the nose with a good heavy broomstick might do it–not knock him out, but send him scooting back home. It depends, of course, in the dog…it’s worked for me, but I don’t know if it would work for this particular pooch.
If, on the other hand, the mother is hanging off your arm and you have the werewithal to use bear repellent on him, he should back right the hell off.
Plus, spray has the added benefit of not having to deal with a big bloody carcass lying on your drive–always a good thing in keeping one’s Bubble of Serenity intact.
I would like to point out right up front that I am not suggesting that YOU do this but there are much more discreet ways of dealing with annoying animals than taking out a gun and shooting them (although I have been doing just that for about a month now).
When I was growing up and living in town one of our neighbors had a dog that was a lot like the dog you describe. At some point I had bought a crossbow just for the fun of having one. I went outside one night and to my surprise was met in the front yard by the neighbors dog. I simply turned around went inside and loaded up the crossbow and went back outside. I put the bolt right through that dogs head. He never once yelped or made a sound. I loaded the dog into the back of the truck and disposed of it. Never heard another thing about it. End of problem.
Really I would suggest you go to the local farm supply and ask for a cattle prod. When the dog comes out to chase your car roll down the window and give him a shot of that those damn things hurt like hell.
Crossbow, huh? Funny, we had a kid do that here in Asheville, round about the time I started working for the Humane Society. Put a crossbow bolt right through a dog.
Problem was, the dog didn’t die. Within two hours of learning about the case, we’d scared up a $500 reward for information leading to the arrest & conviction of the person who did it. Turned out to be a kid who did it, so his case went to juvie court, and we didn’t learn of the outcome.
I guess, nswgru1, you missed it when we were asked to keep the discussion to the legal solutions to the problem. Not getting caught does not equal legal. Pussyfooting around with “not that I’m suggesting you do this or anything” does not equal not discussing.
I agree with the suggestion to send a certified letter. Be firm but polite and very specific: “On December 6th at 3:08pm, I stepped out of my car in my driveway and was again harrassed by your dog.” Blah blah blah.
Well, this is a non-solution. How does this solve the problem of being potentially attacked while walking down the street? What about people coming to visit? And are you offering to pay for this fence?
PLEASE document the dog’s behavior, your neighbors’ response (and lack thereof) and CALL THE COPS.
You don’t deserve to be harrassed by this dog. Nobody wants to heaqr about a big Rotty mauling someone. Your neighbors don’t deserve to own a dog if they won’t take responsible care of it. The dog doesn’t deserve to be neglected to the point where it poses a hazard to the neighbors.
We have two young children and live in a rural area of west central Ohio. Needless to say, I dread the thought of either of them getting bitten by a !@#$% dog.
A few months ago I noticed a dog in the back yard, and promptly called the owner (who lived down the street). I told him matter-of-factly that I will shoot the dog next time I see in our yard. (And I was serious – rifle in hand.)
I haven’t seen that dog since.
Others have already mentioned this, but I’ll say it again: if the dog gets in your yard, shoot the damn thing. Tell the authorities you were scared for your life, and you have nothing else to say without your lawyer present. Sure, they’ll sue you. But who cares? You were scared for your life. Let the chips fall where they may.
Would there be any point in informing their insurance company? I was required to have homeowner’s insurance paid along with my mortgage or I couldn’t qualify for the mortgage. And my insurance was lower because I didn’t own a dog, which lowered my potential for a damage suit. I would imagine that an insurance company would be interested in knowing that your neighbor in endangering their bottom line.
Have you ever shown up in an ambulance, only to climb out and find your good friend holding his daughter, and what’s left of her face? I have. It’s not pretty.
Buddy, you love dogs that much? Go find some state where the humans are food and the canine’s reign supreme. Otherwise, get your attitude adjusted. You actually said, " Now, that is just cruel"???
Feh. :mad:
The State of New York has a One Bite Law. You the Victim are held to the burden of proof, you have to prove that the dog was dangerous, and you know it could maul or kill. Basically, a dangerous dog gets the first mauling or kill for free. Once you have proved that it did it once, the second one is cause for destruction.
Kind of a tough sell for the surviving family of the first mauling/ death victim, isn’t it? :rolleyes:
This will vary widely depending on your State, County, City, and Homes Association (God forbid). For example - where I live, a dog that threatens you by coming on your property and chasing you gets two cops and an animal control officer out, a ticket, and a stern warning that “the next time the dog is on the property, the dog will be destroyed - period”. I know this from personal experience.
I’ve also been bitten three times by large dogs that “never bite”. Many dog owners, unfortunately, Just Don’t Get It. :rolleyes:
They just do not understand how much injury a dog can do to a child - or a small person. Dogs are pets, yes, but they are also animals - sometimes very large animals with teeth and claws, that outweigh you.
pohjonen I saw something at PetSmart after reading this thread last night – did you know they have a remote-activator for those shock collars?
I had a friend who had two labs and they both learned to ‘ignore’ the electrical fence - they’d get a running start to minimize the length of time they would get ‘buzzed’ and go frolic in parts unknown - until a neighbor brought the friendly clowns home. She says it’s the biggest waste of money she’s ever thrown away.
BUT… with these remote controlled buttons (looks a bit like a garage door opener) seems like you could just carry it with you and HOLD THE BUTTON anytime the dog looks like it’s going to approach you. He’ll get the message quick enough with a continual feed - and while it hurts them, it does no lasting damage…
Just a thought - but you should also have a written, documented record (I’m sure other neighbors are experiencing issues with this animal also). And call the cops EVERY TIME this dog gets on your property.
We can choose our friends and sometimes even our family - but neighbors–!!! Good luck…
Okay, I admit, I’m still giggling at this image, as serious as the situation may be this is just FUNNY.
However… I’d like to point out that most dogs would ‘bite’ the hand waving around on a stick - I know mine would and she hasn’t got a speck of aggression in her. She’d relate it to the ‘tug-a-rope’ game we play. She’d take then hand and sit, wagging her tail until someone came to wave it at her again!
Anyhow, IMHO this would not be a ‘selling point’ to AC; I’ve seen dogs whose favorite toys are baby dolls, and it’s vaguely alarming to watch but these dogs are the biggest babies themselves…
Casper, the point wouldn’t be to show that the dog bit the hand; the point would be to show its manner as it bites. A dog who grabs at it playfully will have entirely different body language from one who bites at it intending harm.
And again, whether or not you think this won’t prove useful to AC is immaterial: as I stated before, the use of fake hands is well-established in performing temperament tests with dogs. Animal Control is hopefully well-trained enough that they’ll know this.