Neighbor hit my dog with a shovel

[armywalaby]

I don't understand. He has dogs, so there is an expectation that he knows how to handle animals.

I live out in the county, and people just let their dogs out around here. There is an ordinance in place, but nobody seemed to mind since I moved in in January, seeing how everyone lets their dogs out. "OK, cool" I said. "My dogs can have friends. I'm down with that"

Neighbor across the street - they have two daughters, whom I have seen playing with my Basenji puppy and having a gay old time at it. Tonight the county sherrif (who I happen to know personally, which probably why I did not receive a fine) knocked on my door to let me know that my neighbor across the street hit my dog with a shovel because she tried to bite one of his kids.

I have several problems with this story
1) As I said before I've seen my dog around these kids. Being that I am young (24) some of my peers elected to have children who are now toddlers, and Bambi (my dog) plays with their kids all day and they love her. She has never acted aggressive with anyone. If one of the mentioned children did something she did not prefer, she would simply walk away.

2) He just happened to have a shovel in his hand at the moment my pup decided to bite his kid? A Basenji isn't the kind of dog that is going to let you come at it with a weapon. She obviously did not think she was doing anything wrong if he got close enough to her to hit her with a shovel.

So, I'm lying awake planning out my encounter with this dude in the morning. I don't plan to start a fight. First off, I don't even know the dude...(warm reception in the neighborhood, they looked past us waving when we first moved in, several times) but I want to go tell him that he's the biggest coward I've had to live on the same block with, being he couldn't just come knock on my door and say "hey, get your dog out of my yard".

Or "hey, I just hit your dog in the face with a shovel because it tried to bite my kid".

Unfortunate the kind of a-holes in the world.

[Stumbo]

I'm a lot older than you. Been there done that with various things in my life.

Basically, puppies bite/nip. It's your dog. And your fault. And your responsibility.

Since you werent' there to witness what happened, making up scenarios/speculating on what went down, it doesn't help your situation. You have no defense. The risk is all on you. The neighbor was defending his kids.

It's not your neighbor's responsibility to tell you to keep your dog in your yard.

I suggest you keep your dog secured in your yard. End of story. End of problems with your dog outside your yard.

IME, if you cut unnecessary risks in life, you'll be much happier. Especially when you attempt to blame others for your problems and calling them names in the process.

[middlebit]

@armywalaby:
I also find it strange that your neighbour decided to get the police involved instead of just informing you of the incident himself. But that was his decision, and it does not make him a coward. What do you think will happen when you call him a coward? The situation will either get better or worse - which do you think?
You said yourself you don't know the dude...and so he doesn't know you either. You said you don't want to start a fight...and he probably feels the same, which is why he had the law inform you of what happened. Let me explain: I have kids. If a dog bit or even tried to bite my child, I would be mad as hell. Does a mad-as-hell father confronting a soon-to-be mad-as-hell dog owner that he just hit his dog with a shovel sound like a good time?! Predictable outcome?

And about loose dogs: I was recently bitten by one while out running. The owner was near by and he was shocked that it just went at me when I came past. I was just a cute smallish dog. The bite wasn't too serious - just punctured my left calf muscle in two places with a single bite. I hobbled over to the owner and we calmly exchanged details just in case. He was sorry and more shocked than I was. No problem, it took a few months to heal and I was able to run again a few days later. But I'm not going to let a dog at me like that again. Shovel in hand or not - that dog's biting career is over. Stumbo's advice about securing the dog is sound - both for you, the dog and your neighbour and his kids.

[madmatt]

I was bit by a neighbors' dog once. It was a little yappy mutt that used to bark at me all of the time on the way home from school, the owner just let it out to run around all of the time. So one time I am walking home and I yell at the runt to get it away from me, I turn around to start walking home again and the little turd runs up behind me and bites my ankle! I called the police and the woman stands there with her dog stating, "Oh my little dog isn't dangerous...". So the cop takes the dog from her anyway because I believe he has to by law. The next time I talk to the cop he says the dog escaped from him. Yeah it escaped right back to the owner, what a coincidence.
But anyway, do not let your dog run around the neighborhood, bad things can happen, especially out in the coutryside because some farmers will shoot first and not even ask questions later. I accidentally left my dog out one night because I thought my kid let her in and he thought I let her in, almost an hour later (thankfully) I had to get something out of my car and I went out and she was still there in the yard. I would of died if she got run over or ran off.

[Mike M.]

I had a real close call a week ago. My neighbor and his wife from across the street went out of town for the weekend while thier teenage daughters (17 and 18) stayed at home. Now, the girls aren't suppose to have friends over when the folks are one, but they did and unknown to me one of thier friends brought his dog over.

I'm a night owl (work nights) so of course I'm up late even on nights off. Stepped outside on my front deck at three in the morning to have a smoke when I heard what I thought was my neihbors dog barking. (I've never heard that dog bark). Couldn't really see him either because it was dark out. (Porch lights only shine so far). Out of nowhere this dark colored pittbull comes charing from across the street, barking and growling and charges right up to the steps of my front deck about a foot away from me. Ears back, hunched down, growling and barking at me with a look in his eyes that said "kill." ("W...T...F!!!!")

I didn't have a clue what this dog was going to do. Believe me, I'm not trying to be macho in anyway here, but for some strange reason I wasn't scared and felt no fear. Pissed? Oh yeah, I was pissed off like you wouldn't believe! Everytime he barked I yelled right back at him and waved my arms while making full eye contact with him the whole time. This little episode lasted for about a good minute and then the dog backed off and went back across the street.

The next day when the girls folks got back I had "a little talk" with them and with the girls. I told the girls to have thier friend "keep that f*****g dog the hell away from here, because the next person may not be so lucky." I heard the girls are grounded for a very long time.

Now, if I had shovel in my hand and if that dog came any closer to me then what he already was, I guarantee that I would have felt no remorse after I broke his skull in two. It's a damn shame when you can't even step out on your own front deck and you almost get attacked by some lunatic dog.

[guy n. cognito]

I wonder if he is on his forum asking for his advice on how to confront the ******* across the street that always lets his dog run loose?????

You're 100% in the wrong. You should go over there...... and apologize. You should be planning how to keep your dog in your own yard.

[emor]

My wife and I were walking our dog (on a leash, as always) a couple of years ago when a loose dog charged out of nowhere and attacked our dog (see pic). It was a pit bull mix and would not let go. The vet said that she's lucky to be alive.

I always carry pepper spray now.

[fhm555]

Originally Posted by Stumbo

I'm a lot older than you. Been there done that with various things in my life.

Basically, puppies bite/nip. It's your dog. And your fault. And your responsibility.

Since you werent' there to witness what happened, making up scenarios/speculating on what went down, it doesn't help your situation. You have no defense. The risk is all on you. The neighbor was defending his kids.

It's not your neighbor's responsibility to tell you to keep your dog in your yard.

I suggest you keep your dog secured in your yard. End of story. End of problems with your dog outside your yard.

IME, if you cut unnecessary risks in life, you'll be much happier. Especially when you attempt to blame others for your problems and calling them names in the process.

You should have been a carpenter...nail on the head and all that.

[Barkless Dog]

I have two basenjis one 11 & the other 10 years old. If Basenjis are handled improperly or feel threatened, they will bite. They have a high self preservation mode. On the other hand they would never outright attack someone.

I never leave our dogs unsupervised with anyone. You're just asking for trouble, in my opinion.


Not a dog that you want running loose either. They tend to run in front of cars & stand their ground, getting hit. They do this because of their background, being still ferral primative dog in Africa, they use the tactict of standing your ground againts a foe vs running & getting eaten (leopard). This does not work very well against cars.

They also have a very high "prey" drive and might view another small dog as a snack.

Another reason not to let them loose is they are very much a pack oriented dog, which means they need to establish who is dominent with other dogs they encounter, thus they get in fights. Some males will not tolerate other males & would fight to the death. They tend not to back down.

Negative training makes they aggressive & not trusting. Only positive training works with them.

Go here & look at the stories. They are a special breed of dog. Great dogs, but not an "easy" dog to own.
Behavioral Issues

[Phalex]

Originally Posted by Stumbo

It's your dog. And your fault. And your responsibility.

Unfortunately, I have to agree with this. Basenji's are great dogs, but they are also kinda excitable and high strung. When I was a kid my best friend was a Basenji. I really miss that dog, and think about him every time I look in the mirror and see the scar running down the bridge of my nose..........

I messed with my dog and he let me know that he didn't appreciate it at all. I'm not so sure I'd call shenanigans on your neighbors story.

[Relic]

a dog is an animal and will often do things that animals do - such as growl, bite etc. They're not little perfect fuzzy humans that will always act with logic and reason.. (not accusing anyone here of acting like that but I know people who do..) bottom line is that you should not ever let your dog wander freely like that.
The rub is that although a dog is an animal and therefore not always predictable, so are people and this crap can and does happen, especially when the dog is around someone's kids. I know that if a dangerous-looking dog moved threateningly towards my kids, I would kill it on the spot and not think twice if I had the ability to do so at the moment..
OP - just let it go. I know that it sucks and stuff but you're really better off just leashing your dog and letting this one go IMO. It'll save you a lot of trouble in the end

[runmikeyrun]

I just posted about my friend and his brother on another thread... they were riding their motorcycles last week and my friend was attacked by a german shepard at a stop sign. The dog started mauling his leg and he could not get it off. His brother got a ball pein hammer out of his tool kit and hit the dog on the head. It would not stop. He beat it to death right there in the street. When it comes to dogs or any animals you have to do what it takes to protect yourself and others from harm. You need to keep your dog on a leash.

[i_got_a_mohawk]

Love dogs, but it is your responsibility to keep them under control.

[faviobarrio]

My dog (my avatar) is a Doberman. Sweetest 98 lb. dog you ever meet...with most people. Always around kids never bitten anyone barks at most strangers and most dogs. He is scared or most other dogs even tiny one until he gets to know them.

I live in a suburban neighborhood, not too densely populated- generally 60'x100' lots, 20 houses total per block, 10 per aide of the street. Three houses to the right of mine there is a couple with three young girls. They ride their bikes, run around playing and make tons of noise as children are apt to do...drives my dog nuts.

My dog is NEVER out without a leash and only I will walk him unless my oldest son is around- not my wife, not my daughter, no one else unless I am there too. My dog is very friendly and has never even tried to bite anyone or any dog. Someone accidentally let's him out as the little girls are playing, he chases them back to their house, probably growled at them and then he ran back home. The girls father is an NYPD cop. He comes to my door followed by his wife maybe two minutes behind him- he is practically snorting like a bull he's so effin pissed. He was yelling and telling me i should keep the dog tied up and told me I was lucky he didn't shoot him.

I apologized profusely, explained that the dog was indeed friendly, he's always around children even toddlers, he doesn't and never has bitten anyone, etc. I also told him that I would have understood had he shot m dog protecting his girls and I told him I would do the same in his position. I brought the dog out so he could meet him, he realized that the dog is just a barker and he apologized to me for getting so heated. Situation diffused.

A few days later I'm walking my dog, on a leash of course, and he's in front of his house. They have a dog, a German Sheppard mix that NEVER goes out, only knows its family and stays in their gated yard mostly. This particular day, the guy left the gate to his yard just slight cracked open and not latched. As I'm talking with the guy, their dog pushes the gate open charges full speed and attacks my dog. Bit him five or six times drawing blood. My dog being the big baby that he is didn't even defend himself, he just cried and cried and tried to get away which of course he couldn't because he's on a leash. The while thing lasted about forty five seconds before the guy could control his dog. My dog was hurt but didn't need a vet...I freaked. Seeing how his dog just ravaged mine, the guy and his wife couldn't apologize enough about how their dog just got out and bit my dog. The other neighbors come out and see and hear this and later on, complain to me about his dog.

We still say hello to each other and haven't had any trouble with each other since. Every time I walk my dog by their house both my dog and I get a touch apprehensive and look to the gate to make sure it's closed.

I thought this story was appropriate for this thread.

[Barkless Dog]

Originally Posted by i_got_a_mohawk

Love dogs, but it is your responsibility to keep them under control.

1000+

[Dr. Cheese]

If your dog was loose and tried to bite me or my kids, I would kill it if needs be. I certainly would have no problem with knocking the hell out of it. Your neighbor probably called the police because he figured you might try to accuse him of animal cruelty. If you love you dog, keep it out of other people's property!

[bigthor]

Dig this: I was riding my bike back home. Live in the hills of CO. A dog came after me, grabbed a hold of my pant leg and started to tear at it. I got off my bike and yelled at him and tried to keep my bike between us. Grabbed my long kryptonite lock of my bike and commenced to swing it at the K9 with full intent to kill. I mean this animal was trying to eat my leg. The dog’s owner came out of the house and called the dog off and started yelling at me. I started yelling back and asked the non-caring K9 owner if he wanted some as well. If that, or any other, dog tries to attack me again I will kill it. Its an animal being cared for by a human. Keep your dogs under control!!!

[onosson]

Originally Posted by armywalaby

... If one of the mentioned children did something she did not prefer, she would simply walk away.

... She obviously did not think she was doing anything wrong if he got close enough to her to hit her with a shovel.

However much you think you might know your dog, you are jumping to conclusions here. You weren't there, and you have NO idea how your dog might react in every situation. You just don't.

[carl h.]

Your dog was not on your property or being supervised by you. You owe the neighbor an apology big time.

[C.Linton]

Originally Posted by i_got_a_mohawk

Love dogs, but it is your responsibility to keep them under control.

Especially if there's an ordinance (leash law) as the OP said, regardless of whether or not anyone pays attention to it, the OP is responsible for keeping his dog tied up, period. Anything that happens as a result of his dog being loose, he will be held accountable by law. If the neighbor's kid had indeed gotten bitten, he could have sued the oOP for medical expenses, and likely would have won., even if the dog had been killed by the neighbor.