Hi there, my neighbours children (probably around 4 and 2 years old) are CONSTANTLY making my dogs bark. They will call them up to the fence just to scream at them and bang/ shake the fence until my dogs are barking and then yell at them until they run along the fence with them. I’ve tried asking the children to stop and they just shout no back at me, the mother just sits there and allows it to happen after we have asked her to stop them. What can I do? They have already called the bylaw office once on my dogs for barking (at a time when they were not even outside) and now this. I have no idea where to go from here. Any suggestions??
Neighbour kids teasing my dogs??
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No really if it persists, maybe talk to the kids ask if you can help be NICE, make cookies, do something kids like ask them if they’d like to walk the dogs or play with them , be NICE, as my mom would say kill them with kindness, or love the hell right out of them, that’s what I would do people that behave like they are only react to anger with anger back so be NICE 😍 but that’s just me
Just me, but I don't think nasty kids with nasty parents respond to kindness - they just take it as a sign of wimpiness. I'd put up another fence far enough inside the one they're banging on to give the dogs some peace. And report the little buggers if they set foot on your property, for the teasing, which is dangerous, and for the trespassing. Report not only to that bylaw office but to whoever deals with juvenile crimes in your police department. And I wouldn't leave my dogs out when I wasn't home.
slightly different but my neighbours son who is grown-up arrives at her house...he bangs all his car doors and then instead of ringing the doorbell he slaps the door with his fists. this of course makes my dogs bark , when my neighbour mentioned to me that my dog barked I said I'll look at my video then and see why he's barking and pointed out a doggy cam .. The camera is not all the time but she doesn't know that , so when I told her I would check to see what the cause was she knew she was in the wrong and shut up I've never had a problem with her since.
if your neighbours complain again tell them you are filming their children running wild if they report your dog's you will report them to child services tit-for-tat but it might work
if your neighbours complain again tell them you are filming their children running wild if they report your dog's you will report them to child services tit-for-tat but it might work
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Set up a security camera looking down the fence line.
You should be outside with the dogs. Many times an adult presence will squash the behavior. If not, you are in a position to intervene.
Seems like the parents of the brats are supporting the behavior by non-involvement. Don't count on them for anything. Unless one of the brats gets bit by your dog. Then you can count on a lawsuit and possible loss of the dog.
My brother had an Alaskan Malamute. His yard was enclosed with a 5' cyclone fence. The neighborhood monsters took to teasing the dog. The dog eventually became aggressive towards kids, especially this batch of monsters. One day, the genius of the group climbed the fence to tease the dog. The kid was bitten. The following details are complex. But in the end, the dog was euthanized and my brother paid hospital bills and lost a civil suit. It was not a good lesson for the kids, but beneficial for that family although devastating for my brother and his dog.
You might consider contacting Animal Control in your area. They may have suggestions or be able to help.
Step in now before things get out of control.
You should be outside with the dogs. Many times an adult presence will squash the behavior. If not, you are in a position to intervene.
Seems like the parents of the brats are supporting the behavior by non-involvement. Don't count on them for anything. Unless one of the brats gets bit by your dog. Then you can count on a lawsuit and possible loss of the dog.
My brother had an Alaskan Malamute. His yard was enclosed with a 5' cyclone fence. The neighborhood monsters took to teasing the dog. The dog eventually became aggressive towards kids, especially this batch of monsters. One day, the genius of the group climbed the fence to tease the dog. The kid was bitten. The following details are complex. But in the end, the dog was euthanized and my brother paid hospital bills and lost a civil suit. It was not a good lesson for the kids, but beneficial for that family although devastating for my brother and his dog.
You might consider contacting Animal Control in your area. They may have suggestions or be able to help.
Step in now before things get out of control.
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Have you contacted your city government and asked them what you can do? If they can issue a citation? In some places, there are laws against "teasing or tormenting" dogs, but it depends on your location. The children are clearly causing a ruckus, as well, and if they're beating on your fence, which is destruction of property. A security camera is a good idea, as well, bonus points if you can film yourself asking the mother/children to stop. Getting everything on film so you have clear evidence of their actions is really the best thing you can do.
Ask the mother to make her children stop again, and let her know that if her children's behavior continues you will have no choice but to pursue the matter legally.
Ask the mother to make her children stop again, and let her know that if her children's behavior continues you will have no choice but to pursue the matter legally.
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Nothing to panic about. Try to keep your dogs indoor when the kids are around. Make them indulge in some playing activity. Talk to the children's parents about this issue. In fact, the best way is to make a friendly relationship with those kids and educate them with love. Nurture their instinctual capacity for empathy by teaching them to consider the dog's feelings. Make them realize that they are doing wrong. Or just threaten them a little by an act like calling the cops.
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It's a pain, but you have a few options:
1) keep your dogs inside when the children are out.
2) install a second fence a few feet inside the current one, so that the kids and dogs don't have any contact.
3) if the current fence is something like chain link or welded wire, install a solid fence, again to prevent contact, and also to provide a visual barrier.
4) plant shrubbery of some type inside your fence line, again as a visual barrier and also to prevent the fence running.
It's your responsibility to control your dogs, even if the neighbors don't control their children. I had a kid hating, fence climbing dog who wasn't allowed outside without either myself or my husband with her, and if the neighborhood kids were out, she got taken out on a leash. Yes, even in our own yard, with a 6' high fence. The last thing I wanted was for her to actually hurt a kid (which she was fully capable of doing).
1) keep your dogs inside when the children are out.
2) install a second fence a few feet inside the current one, so that the kids and dogs don't have any contact.
3) if the current fence is something like chain link or welded wire, install a solid fence, again to prevent contact, and also to provide a visual barrier.
4) plant shrubbery of some type inside your fence line, again as a visual barrier and also to prevent the fence running.
It's your responsibility to control your dogs, even if the neighbors don't control their children. I had a kid hating, fence climbing dog who wasn't allowed outside without either myself or my husband with her, and if the neighborhood kids were out, she got taken out on a leash. Yes, even in our own yard, with a 6' high fence. The last thing I wanted was for her to actually hurt a kid (which she was fully capable of doing).
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You have tried the nice route. You have asked. The kids say "no" and keep on. Mother says nothing. Kids have ZERO respect (I would have had my hide TANNED for talking back at that age!!
I would hot wire the fence. Kids touch it? They get zapped. Electric fence supplies are inexpensive and very effective. Tractor supply has many options. Be sure to use a 6 foot copper clad ground rod so that when the kid touches the fence they compete the circuit. Put the electric hot wires on the OUTSIDE for the fence so the dogs don't get zapped.
I would hot wire the fence. Kids touch it? They get zapped. Electric fence supplies are inexpensive and very effective. Tractor supply has many options. Be sure to use a 6 foot copper clad ground rod so that when the kid touches the fence they compete the circuit. Put the electric hot wires on the OUTSIDE for the fence so the dogs don't get zapped.
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In many, maybe most, communities, that would be illegal and you'd be the one ending up on the hot-seat.
Do not underestimate the litigious wrath of a parent hell-bent on blaming someone else for their children's bad behavior.
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Ever heard a marine air horn? A couple blasts from that would keep the kids away from the fence. Assuming your dogs can be kept away during operation.
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I like that! We did that, using a motion-detecting, deer repeller hose set up to protect our bird feeders. You might aim it over the dogs to just outside your property and set a remote control to turn it on/off. And, then apologize, oh so sweetly, that you're trying to train your dogs not to bark. ;-)
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