Should we buy a house with aggressive dog next door?

I don’t like the sound of the neighbours either

Yes, that would put me off.

The dog isn't going to live forever. So long as their dog does not come in your garden what's the problem?

If it's the perfect house and they love it then of course they should buy it. Dogs don't live forever and of course the neighbours themselves might move at some point.

Staffies aren't by nature aggressive dogs - very few dogs are - it is usually the owners that make them so.
If they said it jokingly that might be ok. But if their is any doubt at all, I'd pull out of the sale - aggressive dog, aggressive owners and there may be problems with their attitude to their neighbours further along the line.
Suggest that your DD see if they can have a chat with the other neighbours to find out more that will be unbiased and possibly ask the estate agent the reason for the sale, before anything is signed.

I think they should assume that this was a somewhat off-colour jest.

But they should ask the sellers whether there has been any trouble with these neighbours or their dog.

They are also justified in asking the local police whether there have been complaints about the dog.

A good strong fence round their garden is a sensible precaution in any case when they have a dog.

You don't mention children, so I assume they don't have any or are planning to do so. Obviously, a fence would protect young children too.

I used to have a Staffie he was pts at Christmas aged 15, he was a loving gentle soul who adored my 3 Pugs. People talk a load of tosh about Staffies, that's a fact. Sure some are dog aggressive but far from all and it doesn't always depend on their owners.
Personally I'd go back for a sensible chat with the neighbours and also try to talk to their neighbours and find out if the dog is actually aggressive or did the owners think they were being funny.

It would put me right off. Not just that they have a big aggressive dog, but that they said such a thing to their prospective new neighbours. It shows what kind of people they are, so who knows what other things they will do? We once lived next door to a couple who had two very large unruly bull mastiffs that ran riot all over their back garden and sometimes got out, jumped over our fence and ran all over the street . We had 2 cats who occasionally went out in our garden, and the woman next door once said casually to me that if our cats ever got killed by their dogs, "well, it's just nature, isn't it?" They were horrible people in many ways and thankfully we moved.

No no no!

I wonder if it’s a registered dangerous breed.......... perhaps have word with local police as it maybe being kept illegally

As an ex Staffie owner it appals me that they keep a dog who could be a danger to anyone. Our lovely girl was gentle & loving & totally bullied by our cats. I would have trusted her never to hurt anything. She adored our 6 grandchildren who were young at the time & I was never worried she might hurt anyone or anything. We got her from a rescue centre where her previous owners had sent her as they were too old to give the the long walks she needed & they made a mistake in buying a puppy.
All dogs need love & affection & good training.

There are few bad dogs, just bad owners.
Watch Graham Hall on "Dogs Behaving Badly"

Putting in a word for Staffies; we had one. He was a wonderful affectionate, but fiercely loyal dog. Had an enormous zest for life and fun.
Never picked a fight, but woe betide anyone who looked likely to threaten any family member. His stance and his steady bark was a good deterrent.

If they say their dog will kill their smaller dog what are the chances if a toddler being in the garden if the neighbour's dog got in? An old lady has just been killed by dogs that got out of their garden. Solicitors get paid to make sure their are no problems with neighbours etc when buying a house. I would go back to them in the first place to find out the true nature of the dog (and the neighbours!!).

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

What impression of the neighbours did they get? Were they pleasant to talk with? Unsociable and aggressive? I’m surprised that your family didn’t follow up their comment with some serious questions about the dog, and their security measures. Perhaps they should knock on a few of the other neighbours’ doors and find out, first hand, what the people and dog are really like. Only then can they make a rational decision.
When I walk my daughter’s two small dogs the owners of larger ones often jokingly remark that they would make a tasty snack for their own dog. Your family should do some research before losing the house, the money they have spent, and having to start searching all over again.

If thats what the prospective new neighbours said then I would definitely NOT go ahead and buy that house ! Having said that of course, they could find another and then their new neighbours could go out and buy a huge dog .....that may then be a problem, but with no crystal ball who can tell !

When my cousin was getting divorced and the house had to be sold, her ex was really rude to prospective buyers and he would have sucked the joy out of any transaction.

I’ve just moved but not because of this. Our old neighbours had two elderly staffies who
used to snarl, growl and bark at the fence which made me see a different side to my Bichon Frise. My two hated these staffies despite never meeting them, they used to bark and growl back. Bichon Frise are so soft and friendly personality wise so I was really shocked by their reaction to these staffies next door.

I would cancel the purchase. I had a kitten killed by neighbours aggressive dog many years ago. Also I don't think they would be good neighbours with that sort of attitude.

To be honest without knowing the context and tone of the conversation, it would be difficult to suggest that anybody pulls out of the sale at this late scale, not least because there will be a bill to pay. Presumably there is also a "chain" involved so other people will also be let down. I think it would be better for the buyer's solicitor to check with the sellers that there is no trouble with a barking, vicious dog and the neighbours first.

Dogs aren’t created aggressive. Dogs want to give love and be loved. If their dog is aggressive they have encouraged that. Much like humans....generally...not born bad....it’s how they are treated that creates that.
We can’t chose our neighbours....but we can ignore them or be receptive to them.
Also.....they may move, their dog may pass on....anything can happen in time.
I would certainly ensure their dog can’t get into your garden and would, also, ensure you’re lovely isn’t left alone in the garden.
Good luck... I’m sure it will all sort itself.

eazybee I don't agree with your statement at all. Every staffie I've known (quite a few) have been very friendly with other dogs! And people.
These neighbours sound like they may be a problem though....
If you don't feel happy about the situation are you able to speak to the sellers about these people? Or the neighbours the other side of the staffie owners for a unbiased view?
Good luck with your decision ?

I lost my staffie after 16.5 years on Xmas Eve. She was sweet natured and adored humans and children, but she hated other dogs I never let her off the lead when there were other dogs around. Some staffies are like this with other dogs. My advise would definitely not move to that house, honestly the staffie will sense and smell straight away your DD dog and it will for ever be barking or growling at the fence. Can you imagine what summers in the garden will be like, it will be stressful. I’m aware they have a bad reputation but in general they are loving loyal breed. But she has already warned your dd so I’d take heed if I was her.

How old is the aggressive dog? If it is over 10 it will probably die within 2 years. But it would put me off buying the house.

Sounds as though the dog has learned it’s aggression from its owners. I think I’d cancel the move. Did the sellers mention this dog on the long questionnaire you have to complete when selling a house?