neighbors dog is threatening and loose

If he is out in the front yard and we (my son, two small dogs, myself) walk by, the dog (a golden retriever) lunges at us barking visciously and snarling. He is not playin' around. Almost everytime this has happened, an adult is in the yard with him. She calls his name repeatedly, sort of laughs, says, "He won't hurt you! His name is Buddy! Just call him by his name...." She's having to yell over the commotion... At first I was pretty good natured about it. After all, I have a little bad-ass, too, only she is small and leashed and I have control. Anyway, this has happened at least three times over the last week. It is apparent that this dogs owner does not control him nor does she take his behavior very seriously. I am becoming concerned. I have an eight year old son who is learning to ride a bike (I know, a little late:)) and he needs to feel safe. (He's like the family safety officer:)) When I first moved to this neighborhood I learned to avoid walking in front of this house because the dog would stand in the road growling and barking with teeth bared. Now I need to use this area because there is less traffic. Any advice?

I may take crap for this but pepper spray. They make safe, epa approved stuff that could be used. I don't suggest just shooting the dog with it before talking to the owner seriously first. Maybe your son could keep it with him while he is out riding.

IMO thats bs, if you cant be in your own yard or near it without being afraid of a dog there is something wrong. Honestly if I was out with my 3 and 9 year old sisters and a dog like that came around and contiued to even if the owner said it was fine I would have no problems shooting it after warning the owner to keep it under control.

You know, I do feel very angry, but I have to live in this neighborhood and walk in front of their house. Anybody have a very diplomatic form letter I could send 'em? I think I'll have to notify animal control, but I think its only fair to tell them know first. They're still going to be mad, though...

Oh, I don't see how I could use pepper spray with out it also getting on my own dogs. What if it just really ticked him off?

If you feel uncomfortable talking to your neighbor about it call the Police and tell them your concerns and take it from there.

Are you sure this behavior is coming from a Golden?? :O Very atypical for that breed.....

Arrange a time for a sit-down with your neighbor to discuss the issue and your concerns; I'm certain that this will help.

If it doesn't, and the dog is contained within its own yard, there's not much you can do. If the dog is indeed posing a threat outside of its yard, you could call animal control and speak with them.

However, I would most certainly speak with the owner first.

put the dogs inside.. try actually calling like she said.. when he comes.. feed him..get him comfortable..cage him.. call the pound. I love my bullies, and hate breed specific legislature but I also hate people who have vicious dogs and deal with with in the wrong ways.

I can't picture a Golden Retriever as aggressive either. Perhaps it is fearful. I would suggest asking the owner to introduce the dog to you so it would view you as a friend rather than a stranger. Give it a couple of dog biscuits.

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Originally Posted by starmom

Are you sure this behavior is coming from a Golden?? :O Very atypical for that breed.....

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I've seen it in that breed and everytime the owners were complete idiots. They had no clue what so ever about training or socializing a dog let alone an understanding of what kind of breed they have and what their daily needs are. It's really sad.

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Originally Posted by LAWReptiles

put the dogs inside.. try actually calling like she said.. when he comes.. feed him..get him comfortable..cage him.. call the pound. I love my bullies, and hate breed specific legislature but I also hate people who have vicious dogs and deal with with in the wrong ways.

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Thats a bit rash I think.. why would you call the pound over a neighbors dog.
That could technically be something similar to stealing the animal, the proper thing to do is to call animal control, and they will talk to the owners about the animal.

I don't know why it being a golden seems so surprising? Goldens (and Labs) due to their huge popularity in this country are grossly being overbred by every Tom, Sue, and Harry, and massive amounts of puppymills breed these breeds.

Which results in Goldens/Labs that are poorly bred and unstable. And of course, any breed of dog can become aggressive/fearful/unstable through poor ownership.

Let me just mention that while working as a groomer I was bit by far more Goldens and Labs than anything else. Except maybe Jack Russells...evil little things! (Just teasing, I promise!)

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Originally Posted by blackcrystal22

Thats a bit rash I think.. why would you call the pound over a neighbors dog.
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because you have a fear for you child, and his or her safety. personally if a dog was like that to me or any of my family members i would go and talk to the owners. and believe me i've had this experince with my own dog to. our neighbors complaned that our dog was vicious or what not. but when then actually got to know the dog it was quite friendly to other people. But god forbid another dog or cat comes around then all hell just breaks loose:taz::twisted:

Yea, I'm sure that its a Golden. I've seen a few that were psycho. I blame the owners, poor breeding etc.... There is no fence in the front yard and the dog seems to stay in the yard if we are in front of it before he sees us. He'll bark and growl and lunge at us, but rarely puts a paw in the road. Just after we pass he'll be in the center of the road in a defensive stance. Often see him before we get to the house in the road in this same posture.

Would really depend on the way the wind is blowing but the no fence part I may have glossed over. If it is loose and posing a threat then shooting it isn't something that should be overlooked, but being in town there are probably laws about firing handguns in town limits so...

If you don't want to personally talk to them then you can find another person or agency to talk to them for you, they will probably blow you off and ignore it because their cute little pup would do no harm. Take a video of your son riding his bike also showing the dogs behavior so you have proof to back you up on any of the routes you go.

Does the dog react the same way when you don't have your dogs with you? It would be easier to take a video if there is no animals around for them to blame it on.

Call Cesar Millan, the dog whisperer. He can fix any dog, or more likely the owner. lol

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Originally Posted by blackcrystal22

Thats a bit rash I think.. why would you call the pound over a neighbors dog.
That could technically be something similar to stealing the animal, the proper thing to do is to call animal control, and they will talk to the owners about the animal.

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lol. If you call Animal Control, where do you think they will take the dog? Not Chuck e cheese :D When theres a child involved, and fear for that child. You're consideration for the owners dog goes out the window.

Its not a nice feeling having a dog being aggressive to you even as an adult, having been bitten a couple of times from dogs on the loose I can understand the concern here.

When there is kids concerned I would deal with this urgently as the last thing you want is a mauled kid after a problem or potential for one has been identified. The 1st port of call must be the owner regardless of how safe she thinks it is the animal is showing hostility which is a potential for someone being bitten and a kid is far more likely to be bitten on the face than an adult.

If you dont get any satisfaction from the owner which is a very real possibility as I have encountered the "oh it wont hurt you" owner types before, then you need to either get the police or animal control involved.

Its pretty ridiculous if you cant let your kid out to ride a bike without worrying about a dog attacking them something needs to be done soon.

I have 2 kids the youngest being 3 next month and if I am out with him and someone has a dog thats not on the lead I pick him up and in no uncertain terms tell the owner to get a lead on it.

I had to beat a German Shepard almost to death once to stop it from savaging a little boy although this was a gaurd dog that escaped from its pen, dogs (violent ones ) can inflict serious long term damage which can leave permenent scars etc.

Dogs more often than not that are aggressive have not had a proper upbringing or training, the owner doesn't bother with them or train them accordingly. Dogs that are looked after and trained properly can be the most loyal gentle animals on earth.

Its a shame in this case the dog seems to have had no direction or training as a pup and ultimately the owner will prove to the dogs demise.

Lets take a step back... what one person sees as just a dog barking in excitment, someone else may see a large threatening dog aggressively barking.

Being around big dogs my whole life, I can see something like this going way out of hand and the owners dog being taken away for just being a dog. I've had friends worried about my GSD, when they LOVED people! I hate to see someone not understanding a large breed and assuming that the dog is aggressive because it's barking.

My point is, NONE of us were there except for the OP, so what do we really have to go on but what they say?

All dogs have different barks and levels of excitement, and if the owner says they are being friendly, perhaps they are. :cool: We shouldnt all assume that this one side of the story is the only truth.

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Originally Posted by palmer

Yea, I'm sure that its a Golden. I've seen a few that were psycho. I blame the owners, poor breeding etc.... There is no fence in the front yard and the dog seems to stay in the yard if we are in front of it before he sees us. He'll bark and growl and lunge at us, but rarely puts a paw in the road. Just after we pass he'll be in the center of the road in a defensive stance. Often see him before we get to the house in the road in this same posture.

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Are there leash laws in your town? A quick google search will tell you if you do, and if there are, a simple phone call to the Police telling them your concerns will make the right things happen.

That fact is you have to live with this neighbour and these sorts of situations (dogs, kids, etc.) can get messy and never ending.

Personally if you think you can speak with this neighbour I would ask her/him if you could sit down and talk. Don't take your kids or pets with you. Simply try first to talk to them adult to adult about the situation. Explain that if your child or pet gets hurt by their dog you will sue them, animal control will very likely seize and put down their dog and it will be awful for all parties concerned. Approach it from the view that you are trying to avert a problem before it occurs and for the welfare of both you and the neighbour. Be honest - tell them their dog scares people.

If you get no good response from this person then start carrying pepper spray and a camera. Take photos of the dog charging and barking or loose outside it's yard. Go down personally to animal control and show them your evidence and express your concerns. That way if your neighbour complains you can remind them you first tried to resolve this without involving the authorities but in the end you had to take the steps necessary to protect your young children.

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Originally Posted by dsirkle

I can't picture a Golden Retriever as aggressive either. Perhaps it is fearful. I would suggest asking the owner to introduce the dog to you so it would view you as a friend rather than a stranger. Give it a couple of dog biscuits.

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I second this thought too.

I have NEVER seen a mean golden, but i have met many dogs that snarl/growl and snap and bark, only to be angels when introduced. Excitement could be getting the best of the dog, and causing it to act that way.

I suggest going to petco or some other pet store and pick up some direct stop. It is a totally safe citronella spray. It works great for stopping aggressive dogs in their tracks. I have used it in the past and my wife who works at a dog daycare uses it for those trouble dogs that come for a trial day and start fights. It keeps everyone from getting hurt and gives you enough time to remedy the situation. This is not a cure for this dog. They cure is call you local city hall and ask about off leash laws and put in a complaint of an off leash and aggressive dog. Keep calling until it is resolved. This dog does not sound like he wants to play. Most dogs owners don't understand dog behavior and often mistake aggressive behaviors has I wanna play. There are clear differences, also alot of dog owners with dogs like that ignore it because they won't admit their dog has aggression issues. I would also try to talk with your neighbor one on one. It will be their worst day ever when this dog bites, has to be put down and they are sued for medical or vet bills. Good luck. If you have any questions pm. If I don't have a direct answer I can talk to my wife. She has several years in dog behavior.

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Originally Posted by littleindiangirl

Lets take a step back... what one person sees as just a dog barking in excitment, someone else may see a large threatening dog aggressively barking.

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True, but everyone has a different comfort level with different types of dogs and dog behavior. It is a dog owners responsibilty to control and protect the dog and strangers from situations that would be regretted. I own a rottie/st. bernard mix if I am walking her down the street and I notice someone who is nervious of her wiggly happy go lucky behavior I will cross the street and avoid that situation. Every person that owns a dog should not only be watching their own dogs behavior but also other dogs and people to prevent an uncomfortable encounter. Also I have encountered dogs with what was thought to be a happy greeting to find out it was the opposite. There are a lot of under socialized dogs out there that don't even know their own language.

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Originally Posted by littleindiangirl

All dogs have different barks and levels of excitement, and if the owner says they are being friendly, perhaps they are. :cool: We shouldnt all assume that this one side of the story is the only truth.

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I agree, but like I said before we should at respect the space of others. Not everyone is a dog person or comfortable with large breeds. We shouldn't say that the OP is wrong in his story. Yes it is his side, but his side is the most important. He doesn't feel safe with his kids and his own dogs. That is all that matters. I have work with dogs for a few years and my wife still does. Even though we feel comfortable with our knowledge of dogs and behavior we still find ourselves in situations with off leash dogs in public we don't feel safe in. Dog owners need to be responsible and respectful of others and obey the leash laws. They are their for a reason, and off leash dog parks are their so people have a chance if they choose to interact with other dogs and people in off leash situations. Dog ownership is easy it just takes a little bit of respect for the others around you.

We had a situation just yesterday with our female Labrador that might have scared someone. We were walking home from the park with her, she was on her leash and halti and walking along calmly at heel. As we approached a house with many kids outside playing on the porch and out in the front yard, Bella suddenly went nuts. She starting barking, yelping, lunging, etc. I couldn't get her to calm down and I knew she would scare those kids so I walked her across the street and away from them. She calmed down fairly quickly and I wasn't sure what had set her off like that (very out of character for Bella who loves kids).

My husband and son continued to walk by the house and realized that as you got closer you could hear young puppies inside the house whining. That was what Bella was hearing and reacting so strongly too (she had the same strong reaction to the sound of wolf puppies whimpering on a recent tv show).

You have to have your dog under control, you have to be a responsible dog owner and you can't just let your dog scare people. Even in this case, where Bella's maternal instinct was driving her to act up and she wasn't being aggressive - she still could have scared those kids with her behaviour. She's a fairly big dog and all that noise and lunging is scary looking. It's a dog owner's responsibility to ensure your dog doesn't hurt, scare or bother other people. If you can't do that, you simply should not own a dog.

cannot agree more with the comments above about taking responsibility for your dog, thats what an owner should do at all times.

You have to think of other people its part of being a responsible dog owner.

If an owner is not prepared to think about the implications of their dogs behavior and the effect it may have they are putting their dogs at risk and really should not be in the position of owning one.

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Originally Posted by wishexotics

Dog owners need to be responsible and respectful of others and obey the leash laws.

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Correct me if I'm wrong, but I read that this dog was in the owners yard, and the OP is walking in front of the owners house.

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Originally Posted by littleindiangirl

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I read that this dog was in the owners yard, and the OP is walking in front of the owners house.

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I think it was also on the road here is a quote from the 1st post

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I learned to avoid walking in front of this house because the dog would stand in the road growling and barking with teeth bared.

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Originally Posted by snakey68

I think it was also on the road here is a quote from the 1st post

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Then why didn't anyone take action then? That is what most laws consider a stray dog, and animal control could have been called then to seize the dog.

However, if this animal is only in the owners yard, what can animal control really do unless there is some small snippet of law saying the animal has to be on a lead or leash in the front yard? (assuming it is the front yard)

I guess I am not satisfied hearing one side of the story, having seen the results of "misunderstanding" threaten the entire pet trade, I'm not going to be easily persuaded in this case. SO, with that in mind, I know my comments will only be seen as irresponsible or ludacrous by many.

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Originally Posted by littleindiangirl

SO, with that in mind, I know my comments will only be seen as irresponsible or ludacrous by many.

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I certainly dont think your comments are ludicrous or irresponsible I think we need people like you questioning both sides of the story to get the truth.


I hope the dog in question is not overly aggressive and I hope that a good solution can be found for all concerned.

The argument about the dog in its own yard is ludicrous. It doesn't matter, most laws state dog must be under control within city limits. If there is a leash law where they live the dog has to either be on a leash, tethered or contained within a fence. I consider myself a very responsible dog owner and one of my dogs has very good voice control. I still don't let her wander out in the front yard unattained or unattained too. It is my responsibility as a pet owner to control my animals in order to keep the common public safe.

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Originally Posted by wishexotics

most laws state dog must be under control within city limits.

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I think your wrong there, you may have meant to say, most counties, or perhaps most cities... but not most states, as only Michigan and Pennsylvania have leash laws blanketing the entire state.
Only about 10 states have laws in regards to loose dogs, and they do not all require a leash

http://www.animallaw.info/articles/ovusdogleashlaws.htm

I have seen just about every breed and mixed breed out there that has at least one bad apple, maybe it was just that dog or maybe it is because I work for a water company...

He said "Most laws state..." not "Most state's law".
I think a lot of places do have leash laws that require the animal to be contained in some fashion.
I think the dog is probably being protective of it's territory, and is only coming out of the yard on occasion, especially after having "chased" a intruder away. If so, it would be hard to have it picked up as a stray, because by the time the animal control is there, it's back on it's own property.
I personally would attempt talking with the owner in a calm fashion. If they are unwilling to fix the problem in some way, then I would definitely go to the police, or animal control, with video of it's behavior.
Yes, it could be just a big dog who is overly excited, but it still could bite someone, just because it is overly excited and NOT contained. No one wants a child mauled just because it MIGHT not be a problem dog.
I've seen several goldens that were nasty. I saw one that even had 'springer rage' and attacked me with no warning, two seconds after wagging his tail happily. Less than five minutes after the attack, he was wagging his tail again while I bled.
The legal issue will probably hinge on how much OUT of the yard he is, and the video proof of his actual actions.
Good luck.

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Originally Posted by starmom

Are you sure this behavior is coming from a Golden?? :O Very atypical for that breed.....

Arrange a time for a sit-down with your neighbor to discuss the issue and your concerns; I'm certain that this will help.

If it doesn't, and the dog is contained within its own yard, there's not much you can do. If the dog is indeed posing a threat outside of its yard, you could call animal control and speak with them.

However, I would most certainly speak with the owner first.

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I know a girl that when she was about 4, was with her mom minding her own buisness, and was attacked by a golden. She still has bad scars on her face to this day.

And when I was like, 8 or 9 a black lab, "great family dog", attacked me out of the blue. I LOVE dogs, and they LOVE me- well, or maybe respect me, I dont know- but I was doing nothing wrong, I was walking towards my step-dad and it came out of no where and tore up my hand. THEN, went after it's owner, for no reason... So trust me, it dosnt matter what breed it is- it's how its trained, raised- and it's own personality. An animal is an animal.

On another note, I have two dogs- a pit bull mix and a husky. The pit mix is almost three, and when we got her (she was between 3-4 months), she had been abused and had A LOT of issues. Luckily though, me and my family are very dominant people, so training wasnt hard and she can now be in the front yard with us, with no problems. BUT, when we first got her, we went from having no fence, to a six foot privet fence because of how aggressive she was to strangers. We didnt wait for any complants- the first time she "went at" someone, she was in the house or out on a leash until the fence was up. If you have a "aggressive" dog, learn to contain it, and conrol it. Simple as that. If you cant, then why do you have a dog?

Wow, thanks everyone for all of the detailed responses. I, too, take this issue very seriously. I understand the implications for the dog owner and owners everywhere. I have had dogs all my life- big and small-and sort of consider myself a "Dog Person" and have read and researched endlessly for as long as I can remember. I have waited to act because I needed to make sure that my actions were well thought out and not impulsive or entirely fear-based. Asking the opinions of intelligent people that care about animals is apart of that. I haven't walked past this house for the last couple days while I mulled over the issue. I believe the dog was behaving threateningly- head lowered, teeth bared, hair standing up, front legs apart... I am confident that the dog is not under the control of the woman that I am assuming to be the owner. There is no fence in the front yard and the owner persists in allowing the dog to be in the yard with her and sometimes without. I am unable to feel safe in the neighborhood because of this. I think the dog did not step out of the yard as we walked by because I was trying to claim the space that we were in without challenging or backing down and the dog was unsure- my son may not be able to do this, and we shouldn't have to. If I had let my gaurd down or made some unintentional move the dog may have come out and attacked. I think the most intelligent thing to do is go by myself and talk to the owner(s)-deep sigh- and expect to be blown off. I'll figure out the law first and discuss the issue with animal control before I go. The problem I have is that I am less confident talking to the owners than I would be facing the poor Golden.:rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by palmer

Wow, thanks everyone for all of the detailed responses. I, too, take this issue very seriously. I understand the implications for the dog owner and owners everywhere. I have had dogs all my life- big and small-and sort of consider myself a "Dog Person" and have read and researched endlessly for as long as I can remember. I have waited to act because I needed to make sure that my actions were well thought out and not impulsive or entirely fear-based. Asking the opinions of intelligent people that care about animals is apart of that. I haven't walked past this house for the last couple days while I mulled over the issue. I believe the dog was behaving threateningly- head lowered, teeth bared, hair standing up, front legs apart... I am confident that the dog is not under the control of the woman that I am assuming to be the owner. There is no fence in the front yard and the owner persists in allowing the dog to be in the yard with her and sometimes without. I am unable to feel safe in the neighborhood because of this. I think the dog did not step out of the yard as we walked by because I was trying to claim the space that we were in without challenging or backing down and the dog was unsure- my son may not be able to do this, and we shouldn't have to. If I had let my gaurd down or made some unintentional move the dog may have come out and attacked. I think the most intelligent thing to do is go by myself and talk to the owner(s)-deep sigh- and expect to be blown off. I'll figure out the law first and discuss the issue with animal control before I go. The problem I have is that I am less confident talking to the owners than I would be facing the poor Golden.:rolleyes:

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I understand your prediciment, I would advise you to take a family member of friend with you when you go round to discuss the issue, both for additional support and a witness.

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Originally Posted by littleindiangirl

I think your wrong there, you may have meant to say, most counties, or perhaps most cities... but not most states, as only Michigan and Pennsylvania have leash laws blanketing the entire state.
Only about 10 states have laws in regards to loose dogs, and they do not all require a leash

http://www.animallaw.info/articles/ovusdogleashlaws.htm

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He didn't say "most State laws", he said "most laws state".Oh Oh. Sorry. I see Wolfy-Hound already noted this.

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Originally Posted by palmer

There is no fence in the front yard and the dog seems to stay in the yard if we are in front of it before he sees us. He'll bark and growl and lunge at us, but rarely puts a paw in the road. Just after we pass he'll be in the center of the road in a defensive stance. Often see him before we get to the house in the road in this same posture.

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I'm surprised no one has commented on this part yet. It should be pretty obvious what is happening. The dog makes a big racket, and you leave, so it gets positive reinforcement. Of course it keeps happening. That cycle needs to be broken for something to change.

Also, this sounds like a dog that is more motivated by fear than aggression, because of the way it retreats to the safety of its yard when you get closer, then only goes back out to the road once you have moved on. That doesn't necessarily mean it can't be dangerous... frightened animals can be very unpredictable and bites motivated by fear are still bites. However, it does change how I'd handle the situation.

My first step would still be to approach the owner, and plenty of people have had good advice there. Once you have the owner's permission and cooperation (if you can get it, if not your choices are pretty much live with the situation or contact the authorities), I'd arrange a time when you can go over without your kids or your own dog, bring some dog biscuits, and try to make friends with the dog.

WARNING! What I am about to suggest has the potential to be dangerous if not done correctly. Make sure you understand, and also read the additional warnings I added at the end.

Approach the dog directly, with confidence but without aggression. If you've ever watched Cesar Milan, keep his "calm assertive" mental image in mind. Most likely the dog will make a stand, but when you get close it will back off, just like it does if it is in the road when you approach its house. Just continue towards it.

I've done this with a few different dogs, and they have usually attempted about 3 times to buff and scare me off, then they realize I'm not fooled and they retreat for real, stop the racket they had been making, and go lie down in a place they feel safe. This is when you need to stop also. Stay close to them, but do not chase them once they stop bluffing. In my experience, it has not taken long before they come check me out, and then I can pet them and/or offer the biscuit.

During the entire time, you'll have to pay close attention to the dog's behavior. At times, if it seems to be getting more excited, you may want to stop and stand still, but do not back down or move away from it. If it corners itself, do not chase it into the corner, make sure it always has an escape route. If, at any point, you have any doubts about the dog's frame of mind, it is much safer to take a bit of a time out (again don't back down, just stop pressuring the dog by moving forward). It will take longer, and perhaps more repetitions, but you'll still get the same results as long as you stop reinforcing the behavior by allowing the dog to believe it has run you off.

For a while, you will need to approach the dog every time you see it, especially if it starts into its "I'm going to scare you off" routine. Otherwise, you are just teaching it that it can scare you off, and reinforcing the behavior.

WARNING! There is potential for this to go very wrong and the dog could end up attacking you. This should not be attempted by someone who is not familiar with dogs, but since you say you are a dog person that has had dogs your whole life and researched them, you can probably pull it off without an issue. Do not do this if the owner is not "on board" with it, because the dog will react to the owner's cues (including ones they are giving off subconsciously). Do not do this if you are not confident of your ability to stay calm, neither fearful nor aggressive. Do not do this if you, having seen the dog in person, think I am wrong about it being fearful and bluffing and think it is truly aggressive. Do not do this if you believe the dog is fearful enough to be mentally unstable.

Also, although I have emphasized how important it is not to back down, if you get in the middle of this and decide you are in over your head, you might need to stop because if the dog detects your lack of confidence, that will make the situation more dangerous. For example, if the dog does not follow the pattern of making a stand to try to bluff you, then retreating when you get close, I would abort because that might mean the assumptions about why it acts the way it does are incorrect, and then who knows what you are dealing with.

I'm pretty sure his behavior is fear-based. I am very familiar with Cesar Milan, and as I've said before, I, by my self, maybe able to handle the dog. I don't have too much confidence in my ability to maintain calm energy with the owner(s) around... People kinda change my energy-know what I mean? Besides, what you're talking about is a longer term project that I am not up for. I suppose I could attempt standing in place out in the road and wait for the dog to retreat, but then the owners might report mefor my strange behavior.:P Even if I were successful with this technique, it doesn't guaruntee my sons safety, does it?

Just out of curiosity- is the back yard fenced?

Yes, it seems to be.

talk to the owner. if you're in fear for your childrens safety, i dont care how shy you are, they should give you the strength you need to approach the owner. i think calling animal control/police w/o talking to the owners first might make hard feelings. I know i'd be mad if someone called on me w/o trying to talk to me first.

especially since we all dont know the dog in question, and we have no idea if it's just an overly excited friendly bark or not. My dogs when they play, to the untrained eye, most people would think they were attacking each other because of the noises they make.

give the owner a chance.. if all else fails, there are other options.

another option would be, maybe take your son to a park to ride his bike. i wasn't allowed to ride in the road until I was 14, even if my mother was right there with me lol, the driveway wasn't as much fun. but my mother made sure she kept me safe..

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Originally Posted by palmer

If he is out in the front yard and we (my son, two small dogs, myself) walk by, the dog (a golden retriever) lunges at us barking visciously and snarling. He is not playin' around. Almost everytime this has happened, an adult is in the yard with him. She calls his name repeatedly, sort of laughs, says, "He won't hurt you! His name is Buddy! Just call him by his name...." She's having to yell over the commotion... At first I was pretty good natured about it. After all, I have a little bad-ass, too, only she is small and leashed and I have control. Anyway, this has happened at least three times over the last week. It is apparent that this dogs owner does not control him nor does she take his behavior very seriously. I am becoming concerned. I have an eight year old son who is learning to ride a bike (I know, a little late:)) and he needs to feel safe. (He's like the family safety officer:)) When I first moved to this neighborhood I learned to avoid walking in front of this house because the dog would stand in the road growling and barking with teeth bared. Now I need to use this area because there is less traffic. Any advice?

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You should most definitely speak to the owners, because I bet they have no idea that the dog's behavior is even offending you or making you uncomfortable at all. Definitely speak to them (don't write a letter, it can be misconstrued by them) in person and voice your concerns. Ask them to keep the dog on a leash, or be with the dog when he's outside. You should definitely inform them that the dog's behavior is making you worried for your child, and I'd be willing to bet that they'd make appropriate changes.
I wouldn't recommend calling the police or animal control or shooting or pepper spraying the dog when the neighbors don't even know you're concerns in the first place. That's just asking for bad blood between neighbors.

My landlord's dog is a bit outlandish with new people. I cuffed her with my hand Once (grabbed and squeezed the scruff of her neck pretty hard but not enough to cause serious damage.) She has never, ever jumped on me since.
That said; if this happened to me I would nip it in the bud. Get mad; yell, let your neighbor know that this can NOT happen. Someone is going to get hurt.. if your neighbor can't train her dog, someone needs to train her! Don't laugh along with her; that is just saying that you're fine with this all.

That it isn't charging you I would think that the dog may just be "defending it's territory"? I am wondering if maybe they have one of those underground electric fence systems around their yard that zaps the dog if it gets too close to it and she thinks that is enough to contain the dog?

From the sound of it the owner doesn't think her dog has any issues or doesn't get that your kid could be afraid of the dog and you might have concerns over the safety of the neighborhood with her dog on the loose and she might just need someone to point it out to her. :gj:

Wow, what a great group of folks you are... I am going to talk with her. I didn't today because stuff came up- probably go over tomorrow afternoon. Thanks for all the great comments!

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Originally Posted by palmer

I'm pretty sure his behavior is fear-based. I am very familiar with Cesar Milan, and as I've said before, I, by my self, maybe able to handle the dog. I don't have too much confidence in my ability to maintain calm energy with the owner(s) around... People kinda change my energy-know what I mean? Besides, what you're talking about is a longer term project that I am not up for. I suppose I could attempt standing in place out in the road and wait for the dog to retreat, but then the owners might report mefor my strange behavior.:P Even if I were successful with this technique, it doesn't guaruntee my sons safety, does it?

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Well, if you are successful, the dog should have more respect for you and just be more accepting of you. It should recognize that you won't tolerate it messing with your son any more than you tolerated it messing with you.

I totally understand what you mean by thinking you might be able to handle the dog but not the owner. And in that case, I wouldn't try it, or as you said, if you just don't want that big of a project.

No matter what, talking with the owner should be the first step, and I see you are going to do that tomorrow. I hope it goes well for you!