neighbor's leashless puppy
@3SnuggleBunnies (16374)
United States
December 1, 2009 1:35pm CST
We also recently had a couple incidents with our other neighbors puppy. The dog is being trained to go leashless. Well the minute the dog is outside and see's my kids he runs across the road to my kids. It's the cutest lil shiot of a puppy & soooo soft. Well DD1 (7yrs old) is smit'n w/ the puppy so she always picks him up to take him back to the neighbor. But over the weekend she picked him up to show to the other neighbor next to us the other neighbors puppy. Ok that wasn't her dog & I was talking with the owner/neighbors' wife when she did that. So then I make her bring the dog back over. My kids ran into the back yard then so did their pup. Well a rabbit made a hole thru the lil gap between the two neighbors diagnoal from us (all of our neighbors have fences up but us & between each of their fences is a lil gap we've filled in) dh blocked up w/ some metal stakes & fencing (we didn't realize there was a hole) the pup found the hole & ran thru. He made it to the house kitty corner behind us on the next block. So I look for a treat while the wife is trying to coax the pup back can't find one. Go to the neighbor/hubby and ask for a treat to coax him. He's po'd. He also just had knee surgery a lil over a week ago. The wife was able to coax the puppy back even w/o a treat. So we all walk back over w/ the kids & his wife w/ the pup. The neighbor was not happy & groweled at DD1. The neighbor has also groweld at DD1 for not placing the pup down gently, she let him go like you would a cat/jumped out of her arms a few weeks prior to that.
So hubby & I scolded DD1 for even playing with the puppy. He's a cute lil shiot and lots of fun but he's not our dog. The neighbor is trying to train him & she should ignore the dog when he's out. And for taking him by our other neighbor to show him the puppy that wasn't her's to show off. And I made her write the neighbor a short "I'm sorry note" because she should not of carried the dog to the other neighbors yard to visit.
So then today I take DD2 to school & that neighbor was out he said to tell DD1 he got her note and he shouldn't of been so harsh with her. I see his point on her mess'n w/ the pup wich is why I made her write the note BUT he shouldn't of scolded her. Afterall she's 7 & if the dog runs across the road to my 3 kids that's not their fault. Then he should leash train the pup IMO! His other dog is really well behaved off a leash but you can't expect this pup who isn't even a yr old yet. However I feel if he can't chase the puppy & the pup wants to sniff my dog or the other dogs on the blocks deposits or play with my kids the dog should be on a leash or am I wrong?
8 responses
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
1 Dec 09
You are bringing up your child to be a responsible citizen and it was good that she wrote a short note apologising and know you are right. The neigbour is wrong.
1 person likes this
@3SnuggleBunnies (16374)
• United States
2 Dec 09
The neighbor stopped us after school today to apologize for scolding her, apologized to her. He even said he yelled at his wife because she should of been watching the puppy closer rather than chit chatting with me.
@tcup345 (358)
• United States
4 Dec 09
The puppy owner had NO business scolding your daughter! The dog is HIS dog which should be TRAINED or LEASHED at all times. IT IS THE LAW! It is the owner's fault that the puppy is out of his yard! NO ONE but you has the right to scold your child!
I would remind your neighbor about the leash law, and remind him that your child is a 7 year old and puppies and children are drawn to each other. Remind him that your child is exactly that, your child, if he has a complaint to or about her, he is to come to you and you will handle it. Remind the owner that due to his failure to train the puppy, the puppy could have been injured or killed by a car. Who would he blame then? There are laws concerning dogs, some dog owners fail to realize that, we have a similar problem in our neighborhood. Many owners let their dogs run freely and their lives are shortened by cars. Not to mention the huge piles of poop scattered throughout my yard. Unfortunately, the dog warden is 60 miles away and seldom comes up here. Good luck, I have a feeling that this dog owner is going to cause a lot of upset in your neighborhood because of his negligence.
@EmtMom (27)
• United States
14 Dec 09
I totally agree with tcup on this one. If they aren't trained to be in an enclosed area, they should be left on the leash until the training has stopped. We kept our 2 big dogs on the long 20 foot leashes so that they got the length between us and them but, also got reminded of when to stop at the line they aren't allowed to cross. Once they were fully trained did we let them completely off leash.
@tcup345 (358)
• United States
14 Dec 09
I love animals. My belief is that the animal is in our homes because we chose them to be, they didn't choose us or to be here. It is our responsibility to take proper care of our animals. I can't always be outside with my dog so he gets tied out when he needs to be out. If we are walking, he is on a leash. The only time he is loose is if I or my husband are outside, and we keep a constant eye on him. I would be devastated if my dog were to be injured or would injure someone, he's not a mean spirited dog but I never completely trust an animal. I can't understand someone who gets an dog, or another animal, and shows no responsibility towards that animal's health or safety. I take my responsibility seriously, just like having a child.
@ElicBxn (63252)
• United States
1 Dec 09
He should have the dog on a leash until its trained.
Your daughter shouldn't have messed with the dog.
Probably the only that that isn't anyone's fault is the fact that a rabbit made a hole in the blocked fence spot.
I moved into this house with a chain link fence, that the former owner had started to take down, then didn't finish.
The people that moved in after the original owners moved out next door pulled down the wood fence and didn't tell us, so our dog got out. For the rest of the time that the fence was down, we kept our dog inside or on a chain - and fixed the hole in our fence.
But their fence didn't go all the way to the wood one across the back between our yards and the apartment complex so their dog was squeezing between our fence and the complex's wood fence. We took something and blocked that so the dog couldn't do that any more (because we didn't want their dog to get stuck back there.)
Fences are one of those things you have to keep after - when we had a border collie she was a digger, and the next door neighbor - the one who later moved out - put some concrete posts down to keep her in our yard because he realized (after grabbing her several times) that we didn't have a way to keep her from digging but putting her on a chain.
Good fences make good neighbors and sometimes good neighbors help keep the fences working.
@3SnuggleBunnies (16374)
• United States
2 Dec 09
The enclosure of our back yard is 95% done so our dog is always on a chain or leash unless supervised in the back yard by dh. That neighbor's yard isn't fenced in at all other than if you count one of his neighbors fences. I need to get hubby to look at that fence and see what he can do before the first snows hits.
1 person likes this
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
1 Dec 09
It's really hard for a 7 year old to resist, let alone ignore a cute puppy. You did well having her write the note, instilled respect for others' property. But if they're going to train the dog they will have to watch that it doesn't cross the road. It doesn't sound to me as if they're doing a very good job.
@3SnuggleBunnies (16374)
• United States
2 Dec 09
What little kid can resist a dog that they know is normally ok to pet ect. See previous responses in addition. But ya know when you are not feeling the best one tends to be extra snippy wich he was seeing he could barely walk decently to the mail box from his surgery. I just think they need to realize that until he recovers he should only take pup out on a leash. DD1 also know she needs to ask permission to pick up the dog or remove it from eye sight ect.
@bellis716 (4799)
• United States
3 Dec 09
You are not wrong. In our city, dogs and cats alike are requited to be on a leash or within an enclosed area at all times.
@bunnybon7 (50973)
• Holiday, Florida
2 Dec 09
why in the world would someone want to train a puppy off the leash? most places and neighborhoods have a leash law. looks like they would want to keep in on a leash when its outside any way. makes no sense. you are right. but then seven is not to young to teach a child how to treat an animal either. in fact i've taught my kids from as early as 2yrs how to treat them. you are doing very well with this i think. you are right.
@3SnuggleBunnies (16374)
• United States
2 Dec 09
We actually do have a leash law in our lil township. I've even called on it about another neighbor who's dog can be a lil scarey when he barks or runs around the neighborhood at times.
@EmtMom (27)
• United States
14 Dec 09
We have an underground fence for our dogs. So basically they are off leash but, still contained within the yard. It is a really wonderful contraption. They only needed the static correction once or twice and learned where the line was that they could not cross. Within a week they were able to be let out without supervision for over an hour and not leave the yard. Even when people would walk by, or even walk another dog by. They love to get out there and play in the open area. Plus, it has done wonders for my furniture being knocked over by 2 big dogs roughhousing.
@minx267 (15527)
• Hartford, Connecticut
2 Dec 09
You are absolutely Correct.. If is dog is off leash and going into other neighbors yard.. Whose fault is it? Not your daughters! How dare he yell at her. Do you think if the dog bit somebody or attacked an animal in the other yard (not saying he would) That a cop is going to hold your daughter responsible? NO...
You were too nice- I certainly wouldn't have made my child write an apology letter.
I would have demanded one from him.
If he has no way to chase after a loose dog -then it should be on a leash!
To properly train that pup to be off-leash he has to start on leash and let it know what is acceptable and what isn't (like running across the street when he sees kids) He needs to be corrected (on Leash) as soon as he starts to make a break for it - and praised when he finally ignores the distraction.. Who's he going to blame if the dog gets hit by a car crossing the street to reach your children? The children? you for allowing them outside to distract his dog?
Wow, the nerve of some people!
@EmtMom (27)
• United States
2 Dec 09
The neighbor was definitely wrong on this one. We have 2 adult dogs that are trained to be outside off leash and not in the fence when we are home. But, if they leave the yard because they saw someone they didn't know, it wasn't their fault the left the yard. It's my animal. They should accept responsibility for their own animals.
