I have to agree with Snakecharmer on this one. Your dogs were in your house, on your bed. The kids aren't to be blamed for the dogs' barking. Either move and get a larger property with double fencing up so nobody can get anywhere near to your private yard, or train the dogs to bark only when someone actually invades their territory, and learn how to control the barking so that you can stop it once you find out that nothing is actually wrong. Swearing at a bunch of highschool kids because they're loud is, well, over the top to say the least. I could see if they were out at 1am smashing beer bottles in your driveway, but walking down "your" sidewalk in the afternoon, talking in loud voices? If you don't like it, you need to move to a more secluded area. To have your dog "attack" a kid is even worse yet. What if your dog had actually gotten through the fence and attacked the kids, all because they were walking by? You would have a fine and your dog would be in court for being a "vicious dog". Even worse yet, you go out to the public walk and attack the kid. Yes, I say YOU attacked the kid. If I were walking down a public sidewalk with friends, then had some nutjob storm out his door and cuss at us because we were too loud, then tried to have his dog attack us yet, I would defend myself if you came at me too. It doesn't matter if this kid threw the first punch, with what happened, it could be considered self-defense. If some madman came after you, wouldn't you try to keep yourself safe? These kids don't know if you're some crazy psycho on drugs, after all, you did come flying out of your house like one.


As far as other peoples' dogs, if kids are walking by, and you know that your dog goes nuts with people walking by, then training is necessary. If you don't feel like training the dog for whatever reason, then at least bring the dog in if it is creating a scene.