Should we buy a house with aggressive dog next door?

No no no!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Yes, that would put me off.

I don’t like the sound of the neighbours either

I would explain to the proposed neighbours that it is an offence to own an out of control dog.

Oh dear, I really think I’d rethink if they have time! maybe try to talk to other neighbours to see if the dog has ever caused any problems, or if they were just joking!

Not all staffers are aggressive. Perhaps your daughter and son-in-law should ask other neighbours if they have any concerns.

Sounds like a recipe for neighbour problems...drop it like a hot potato....no house is worth that

I love the answers that say dogs don’t live for ever of course but it could be 2 years old and live 15 years!!! Would feel like forever if it was a nightmare
My biggest concern would be if the neighbours think that’s a funny thing to say what else might they find hilarious

Did your daughter etc see or hear their agressive dog ?

Did you view through an agent ?Then what ever you decide and I would be reluctant to live next door to any one with what sounds an aggressive dog (what's it's owners like) then make the Agent /Seller aware of what was said to you .

To be honest it would probably be the neighbour who would put me off!! Unless as others say he meant it in jest!! I'd have advised quick enquieies with the vendor about the neighbour but I guess as it is his heir who is selling he wont be able to tell them

No I would not think of moving in next to an aggressive dog.
A dear friend and I agreed to water each other's gardens when either of us went on holiday. I did a couple of times and then she told me her neighbour's alsation had got into the habit of leaving it's own garden and chasing her cats even to the extent of chasing them up the stairs in her house. My friend is lovely and afraid of nothing. She managed to get hold of the dog's collar and keep him held to the ground whilst her husband went next door and got the neighbours to retrieve their dog. It has happened twice since then until her husband was very clear that it must never happen again. I had to admit that I would possibly have a heart attack if a very lively alsation trapped me in my friends garden. Sadly we had to suspend the watering arrangement. I do actually love dogs but not fierce ones.

It may be why the current owners are wanting to move! I’d steer well clear

Don’t move there. You will regret it.

I know what I’d have replied to such a comment! What a horrible thing to say. I’d be inclined to ask present owners if they have problems with them. They’re obliged to disclose if there are issues.

Has your DD spoken to the present owners of the house she wants to buy about the dog. Could that be a reason they want to sell. I certainly would avoid moving next door to an aggressive dog. How many times have we read about the awful tragedies that have occurred with neighbours’ dogs.

Absolutely a no from me. The neighbours sound dreadful - if what they said was true they're utterly irresponsible, if not they have an atrocious sense of humour but would either way make problematic neighbours. Secondly, I just wouldn't be prepared to take tiniest risk with one of my dogs. I think that your DD and SIL have had a very lucky pre-warning and a narrow escape from a life of worry and upset.

Do not move there A problem before you get there will only increase when you do its an expensive mistake

MollyG

It may be why the current owners are wanting to move! I’d steer well clear

The current owner is deceased.

Not a chance, I wouldn't be moving there. I had little gaps between the planks in my fencing at my last house and found cocktail sausages hidden in flowerpots I had along it. My Chinese neighbours next door hated my little dog, she's the friendliest little thing too, but from the day I moved in the kids tortured her through the fence. The final straw was the hidden sausages, I honestly think they were trying to poison her cos why would you hide them and why would you feed a little dog you didn't like.