Just broke up a dog fight. Neighborly help needed :)

[Wolfwoman]

Here's the bottom line as I see it, there is only ONE irresponsible dog owner here and it's NOT Boyd. I abhor people that cannot/will not control and contain their dogs ON PURPOSE. I realize that crap happens at any given time with dogs, but these people ARE irresponsible dog owners that should not be allowed ... IMHO.... to have a dog. They don't CARE about it. If they did, the dogs would not be allowed to run free where they please.

Boyd, I agree with what Redhen says about what you should do.

 

[KinderKorner]

I am sorry this happened to you Boyd. I'm really glad your daughter and dog came out okay.

I don't think anyone was suggesting your dog was uncontrollable. I think they were suggesting that maybe a little girl wasn't the best one to be controlling a large, protective, trained dog. Same with my horses. I have a really fancy trained horse. Can do anything. But you get a person who doesn't know what they are doing on her, and both horse and rider are going to get hurt.

But it's clear that you already realized your mistake, I think it's great you were responsible and want to make things right. Even if it was only partly or not even your fault. I completely understand about watching a foster child feeling sucess from doing the little things. Everyone knows you meant well. Usually things like that would go fine. But there is always the off chance of an accident.

I agree with Redhen. I would go over there and just kindly suggest that you both don't want another accident.

Sounds like you handled things very well. I wish all neighbors would try to work things out instead of causing trouble.

Have a nice night, and congratz on your new baby.

 

[Mattemma]

I would not offer to pay any vet bills. Your trained dog was doing his job. I WOULD mention what you said here "If these were 3 stray dogs I would shoot them*

For safety sake you may have to shoot the dogs one day,because as we have read here the pack mentality can make dogs do things they normally would not...things that put you and yours at risk.

Hopefully the neighbors will realise that letting the dogs run loose is really no longer a good idea,and they will come up with a good way to contain them.In the least a cheap dog run right off their home.

Hope you are getting some sleep despite this ruckus!

 

[SillyChicken]

I think the altercation would have taken place regardless of property lines.

I would offer to work with the neighbor toward a solution to prevent the problem from happening again, but I wouldn't offer to pay for anything unless they asked for your help. (and it would be under conditions that they contain their dogs).

I commend Boyd for the training put on the dog. I love a good pp dog! As I see it the dog was doing his job. He deserves a big ol juicy steak (not you boyd the dog!!

)!! I would suggest, that you work with your DD and the dog so that she can handle him better, my guess is that it all happened so fast that she didn't know how to respond, so she needs to be taught how to respond in a forceful way under stressful conditions. (it'll help her in more ways than one, a great confidence builder for her too).

 

[mamagardener]

I don't know about this situation. It seems like if the dogs are on their property, than they are not responsible for this situation. It does not matter if they are not leashed or fenced, they are on their own property. If they left their property, than they would be responsible. Also, if he is that strong and aggressive that your daughter can't control him, than maybe she should not walk him.

And I am not saying this in a mean way, I have much respect for Boyd, I am just playing devil's advocate and treating this as it would be treated in the court system.

 

[lishah2000]

I would be worried about what might have happened if she didn't have the dog with her. It sounds as if your dog was doing what he was trained to do - protect his kid. Something the other dogs owners need to consider. I would say both parties are equally responsible and need to make some changes, but your dog did what it was trained to do.

Legally I still think they would be at fault if you have a leash law. Your dog was leashed and theirs were not. I don't think it matters if they are on their property or not, they were not in control of their dogs and this happened at the property line, not a distance into their property.

I think you teaching the kids to work the dog is a good idea.

 

[greeneggsandham]

Boyd you are not at fault. The neighbors dogs rushed yours and your daughter. Your dog was protecting her. I shutter to think what would have happened if your dog was not with your daughter.

My daughter was bite in the face by a stray rottie when she was three. She was also saved at the same time by another rottie that she knew and was visiting. Long story on that one, but the rottie that saved her killed the other one.

Dogs being let loose on their own property need to be contained in someway. To many reasons for a dog to leave their own property.