emcap Posted October 29, 2015 Share Posted October 29, 2015 I'll start off by saying that I don't really like dogs and am not that familiar with them. Neighbors have a Rottweiler, got him as a puppy maybe 18-24 months ago, I don't really remember. Neighbors have only adult children. When my children go outside and play he freaks out - jumping, growling, barking. They have a four foot tall split rail fence with chicken wire, when he jumps it reaches the middle of his belly. I have my kids stay away from the fence and never tease or talk to it the dog at all. The fence is about 10 feet from the edge of our driveway, this morning I walked half way into the grass between the driveway and fence to pick up a piece of trash and he growled, jumped and ran back and forth. If we get out of the car or have guests come over and get out of their cars on the driveway by the fence (still about 10 feet away though) - more freaking out. Animals typically love my mom, but she came to visit and talked to him through the fence and he growled at her and he hair on his back raised a bit. He sometimes runs toward the fence when we come out and sometimes walks. Will often lay there watching us then do his thing when we get within about 20 ft or so. Wehave big yards ( neighbor has two acres we have over three) so ive just been having the kids play far away from the fence, but the garage with all their rollerblades, bikes, scooters, etc and the hard surface to ride them on is all on that side. I've tried to include as much information as I can think of. I'm not sure if I should approach the neighbors or not. We're not on bad terms, but they keep to themselves. We've spoken with them twice in six years of living here. We do try and wave and stuff but no talking. I HATE to approach them about it, but the dog does scare me. Does he sound dangerous? Should I talkto them? What should I say? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goldberry Posted October 29, 2015 Share Posted October 29, 2015 Four foot tall fence is not high enough to contain a rottweiler if he decides to go over. 17 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katilac Posted October 29, 2015 Share Posted October 29, 2015 We are not dog people but have been in your situation. We knew we were never going to be comfortable about them keeping the dog trained and secure, so we built a new fence on our side - we already had a wooden fence, but we made it taller and sturdier, with overlapping planks and cinder blocks at the bottom to block digging. It was an expensive pain in the butt, but it was the one thing we could control. I felt like they could reassure us all day long, but if they had the inclination and ability to control the dog, they would be doing so already. The biggest plus was that we felt confident that the dog could not get into our yard, an added bonus was that he barked a lot less when he couldn't really see us anymore. 33 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katilac Posted October 29, 2015 Share Posted October 29, 2015 Four foot tall fence is not high enough to contain a rottweiler if he decides to go over. Definitely not! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pawz4me Posted October 29, 2015 Share Posted October 29, 2015 Does he stay outside all the time? If so, it's possible (likely) that he's bored out of his mind and has developed the habit of jumping/lunging/barking as kind of an entertainment thing. If he's outside all the time and never gets taken on walks or car rides he's probably also very under socialized, which could also account for a lot of his behavior. A bored, under socialized dog isn't necessarily a mean or dangerous dog. I could be wrong, though. Rotties are guard dogs, after all, with all the instincts that go along with that. I don't know. All I can tell you is what I would do, which is buy a box of dog biscuits and start tossing him one or two every time I went near the fence. I'd try to make him my friend. But I'm 52, adore dogs and have yet to meet one I was truly scared of. So that obviously may not be the right thing for you to do. Building a taller, sturdier fence is certainly an option. 13 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bibiche Posted October 29, 2015 Share Posted October 29, 2015 Have you talked to the neighbors about it? Have you and the children been introduced to the dog? Would the neighbors be willing to let the dog know that you are not intruders? I would get familiar with the dog. And also build a fence. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emcap Posted October 29, 2015 Author Share Posted October 29, 2015 A fence isn't possible with our yard set up. Our yard is 3+ acres over a creek, down a steep hill etc. I'm not sure if a partial fence would help? I've thought about taking the kids over and asking to meet the dog but wasn't sure if it would help. I have an aquantance who was recently bitten by a friends dog that he's known for years, however If it will help I'll certainly do it. It might be a friendly way to let the neighbors know that we're worried about their dog I think he is outside most of the time. I can't see their whole yard to know for sure. He may well be under socialized, he seems alone in about a 1 acre fenced yard most of the time. Thanks for the advice and maybe I'll pick up some treats next time I'm at the store 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katilac Posted October 29, 2015 Share Posted October 29, 2015 A fence isn't possible with our yard set up. Our yard is 3+ acres over a creek, down a steep hill etc. I'm not sure if a partial fence would help? I've thought about taking the kids over and asking to meet the dog but wasn't sure if it would help. I have an aquantance who was recently bitten by a friends dog that he's known for years, however If it will help I'll certainly do it. It might be a friendly way to let the neighbors know that we're worried about their dog I think he is outside most of the time. I can't see their whole yard to know for sure. He may well be under socialized, he seems alone in about a 1 acre fenced yard most of the time. Thanks for the advice and maybe I'll pick up some treats next time I'm at the store If they have a 4-foot fence all around their yard, I do think a partial fence on your side might help because the dog wouldn't be able to see/hear you as well, and wouldn't be likely to be able to jump the fence at that area. Of course, he could still jump it from other areas of the yard, but if he mostly barks and jumps in that one area when he sees you outside, it might be worth it. Dogs can definitely bite people they know, so I wouldn't let my guard down if you all meet the dog, but I do think it's a great idea to go over there and meet him with the owners to 'vouch' for you (and the kids). 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Element Posted October 29, 2015 Share Posted October 29, 2015 I agree that you need a taller fence. You can build a fence down a steep hill. You just have to build it stick by stick rather than using pre-built panels. Perhaps the neighbor would split the cost with you? Probably not, but you could ask. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ktgrok Posted October 29, 2015 Share Posted October 29, 2015 Ugh. Dogs love to guard fences, especially bored dogs. They really should bring the dog in as soon as it starts barking though. Ugh. You could ask if you can feed it treats...I've had tha work for a fence guarder before. I would throw it treats every time I saw it outside, until after a while instead of barking they would wag their tails and drool every time they saw me :) But get permission first, just so you don't get in trouble wiht the owners. And make them REALLY good treats. 10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emcap Posted October 29, 2015 Author Share Posted October 29, 2015 Ok, so meeting and asking about treats is the first step on my to do list. Thanks everyone. I wasn't sure if it sounded aggressive, playful, or guarding. Like does it want us to keep off or is it going to come get one of the kids, you know? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AimeeM Posted October 29, 2015 Share Posted October 29, 2015 Four foot tall fence is not high enough to contain a rottweiler if he decides to go over. This. My late GSD could have (and did, if I recall) a similarly sized fence. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AimeeM Posted October 29, 2015 Share Posted October 29, 2015 Ok, so meeting and asking about treats is the first step on my to do list. Thanks everyone. I wasn't sure if it sounded aggressive, playful, or guarding. Like does it want us to keep off or is it going to come get one of the kids, you know? The hair standing up (that you described) concerns me far more than the barking and jumping. Our current GSD barks, lunges, and jumps - but he is probably the most friendly dog I've owned once he's face to face with most people. He just wants you to pay attention to him and despite training, is also the most hyper dog I've owned (lol). He does NOT like people who are afraid of him. He can sense it and it makes him nervous. He enjoys people who are firm, but friendly. There are a couple of people I definitely do not ever let near him - one is a young man who is verbally, and visibly, terrified of him - Obi (our GSD) gets downright skittish around this young man. I wouldn't recommend bringing your kids over to meet him. Certainly not if you have even a feeling that he's aggressive. I don't care what the owners say ("He wouldn't hurt a fly!") - what matters is YOUR gut feeling here, and if you feel like the dog is nervous, scared, or aggressive, don't ask the owners to meet him unless it happened to be in a completely controlled environment (i.e. a trained handler). 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ktgrok Posted October 30, 2015 Share Posted October 30, 2015 It's hard to say. My dog and the neighbors dog will bark back and forth at the fence, fur raised, but as soon as I yell to knock it off my dog happily prances off to do her business. It's all a game. Lots of perfectly nice dogs will bark and gaurd a fence. But...some actually will back up that bark with a bite. I wouldn't chance it. I would ask nicely about feeding treats and then start tossing them over yourself. i'd keep the kids away until you manage to establish a rapport with the dog. And I would absolutely put up a higher fence. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muttmomma Posted October 30, 2015 Share Posted October 30, 2015 I agree about asking to meet the dog. If they agree, it should be well controllers in a leash and NOT at their house. We have five dogs currently and they are all sissies, but we had a fence guarder once. It was horrible for us, a she seemed so aggressive. Rotts are known for aggression. I knew a girl who raised one from a pup and one day it took off part of her cheek. I also second the tasty treat idea. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muttmomma Posted October 30, 2015 Share Posted October 30, 2015 Also read up on how to approach a dog. It will help with the meeting and the treat tossing. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
texasmama Posted October 30, 2015 Share Posted October 30, 2015 He may have barrier aggression. My Pyr could do a standing jump over a four foot fence easily. I would talk to the neighbors and ask to meet the dog myself alone first. Treats would be good, like small biscuits dipped in peanut butter. I would ask before giving these out of courtesy. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melmichigan Posted October 30, 2015 Share Posted October 30, 2015 Do you call the dog by name? We have a dog behind us that comes running and barking up to the fence every time someone goes near it. Once you say "hi Max" he's calm with his tail wagging. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emcap Posted October 30, 2015 Author Share Posted October 30, 2015 Thanks everyone. Can I just yell about how much I DONT want to deal with this? We want to move in a year or two anyway need another bedroom) can't we just do it now?😀 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spryte Posted October 30, 2015 Share Posted October 30, 2015 Thanks everyone. Can I just yell about how much I DONT want to deal with this? We want to move in a year or two anyway need another bedroom) can't we just do it now?😀 I wouldn't want to deal with it either. And you are right to be concerned. If it helps, you can think of the work you do now (meeting the dog, tossing it treats, possibly fence building) as work towards selling, since a snarling dog would be a turn off for potential buyers. Good luck! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellie Posted October 30, 2015 Share Posted October 30, 2015 Thanks everyone. Can I just yell about how much I DONT want to deal with this? We want to move in a year or two anyway need another bedroom) can't we just do it now?😀 I don't blame you for not wanting to deal with it. o_0 Y'all might want to practice ignoring the dog. No eye contact, no voice, don't approach the fence. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clear Creek Posted October 30, 2015 Share Posted October 30, 2015 Get a bigger, protective dog. At our last house, our neighbors had a rottie that would bark and growl aggressively at my small children when they played in the back yard. The dog was chained to a post that was cemented in the ground, and every few months it would either break the chain or pull the cement block out of the ground and pull it around behind it as it ran around the yard. Twice when it broke the chain it climbed the fence in the corner of the yard (it used the chain link on both fences like a ladder) and jumped into my yard. Both times my dog (a rottweiler/lab mix) attacked it to protect me and my kids since we were outside when it came over the fence at us. Both times I called animal control to have it picked up. The first time the owners got the dog back; the second time they did not. ETA: those two times were the only times that our dog was agressive against any other animal. She had no problems with our cats, the other neighbor's dogs, the dog we would occasionally dog-sit, etc. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kewb Posted October 30, 2015 Share Posted October 30, 2015 A 4' fence is not tall enough for that dog. We have a 4' fence and we ended up putting a 6 ' chicken wire fence around the inside of the fence to keep our dog from sailing over the fence to greet everyone who came near the house. For his safety and pedestrians. Do they ever walk their dog? From what you are describing it sounds like it could be yard aggression. Dogs that are not walked/exercised enough cna develop protective behaviors towards their yard. If you put a taller fence on your side it may lessen or stop the dogs behavior. Out of sight, out of mind. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ktgrok Posted October 30, 2015 Share Posted October 30, 2015 The more I think about this, the more worried I am. PROBABLY the dog is not a real danger to you or your kids. But you know, that's not enough for me. I'd demand a higher fence, or contact animal care and control, or put up a higher fence myself, like this weekend. Seriously. It's just not worth the risk. That dog could seriously cause permanent disfigurement without even really trying. And I say that as a woman who grew up with English Mastiffs, has a pit bull sleeping on her bed right now, and worked with aggressive dogs as a trainer. 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 30, 2015 Share Posted October 30, 2015 No way in Hades I'd start feeding a rott that scared me, nor ask to meet it. If they were going to be conscientious neighbors and dog owners, they'd be doing it already by not letting their dog stand there and bark at you and your *kids!* I'd be on the higher fence idea. After combing through the dog and fence ordinances for your town looking for anything they are out of compliance with... Like some pp's I am also not afraid of dogs, even aggressive breeds, in general. But little kids and aggressive dogs with a bone to pick (protect the fence//get the neighbors...really in this case who CARES why the dog is upset!!) do not ever ever ever ever ever mix. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lllll Posted October 30, 2015 Share Posted October 30, 2015 (edited) nm Edited December 2, 2015 by ^ 022 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seasider Posted October 31, 2015 Share Posted October 31, 2015 We are not dog people but have been in your situation. We knew we were never going to be comfortable about them keeping the dog trained and secure, so we built a new fence on our side - we already had a wooden fence, but we made it taller and sturdier, with overlapping planks and cinder blocks at the bottom to block digging. It was an expensive pain in the butt, but it was the one thing we could control. I felt like they could reassure us all day long, but if they had the inclination and ability to control the dog, they would be doing so already. The biggest plus was that we felt confident that the dog could not get into our yard, an added bonus was that he barked a lot less when he couldn't really see us anymore. This is exactly what we did when in a similar situation when someone moved in next door with two aggressive pit bulls. Honestly, the neighbors understood our concerns and took some measures to contain the dogs, but the dogs would occasionally escape. Short of them getting rid of the dogs, things weren't going to change. So, we installed a fence. It was the only way we had any measure of peace about the situation. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emcap Posted October 31, 2015 Author Share Posted October 31, 2015 The more I think about this, the more worried I am. PROBABLY the dog is not a real danger to you or your kids. But you know, that's not enough for me. This is where I am right now. I was just keeping the kids away from the fence. But the longer this goes on the more worried I get. Not a real solution I know, but whenever we ge t home or go outside and he starts going at it i say loudly, "kids get away, the dog scares me!" He seems to have been out less lately 😀. Hopefully if nothing else I've let them know he scares me. I guess I'll be looking into fencing. Super duper UGH. I guess that means we'll need a survey too, UGH 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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