Do I report my neighbour's aggressive dog?

www.animalfriends.co.uk/blog/what-should-i-do-if-my-dog-is-attacked/

"You should never pick up your dog in an effort to protect them, as this will encourage the attacking dog to leap at you".

The OP says the other dog harassed her dog, worried her dog, not that it had teeth into her dog.

Yes most definitely. Should it attack in the future you know you did all you could to avert it.

Hi there
I agree with Welbeck...
My concern is particularly with children...imagine if the dog was was feeling hot and bothered so therefore turned ..there maybe no second chances....

My dog was recently attacked by an American bulldog that flew through a thick privet hedge to get at him. Owner who was in the garden at the time kept shouting, she’s fine she won’t hurt your dog as it was grabbing my poor terrified dog by the neck. She was full of apologies. He was fine physically but was like a nervous wreck for hours. Why people have these type of dogs I’ll never know. Just last week there was a post on Facebook where a 15 week old cockerpoo puppy was attacked and killed by a loose staffie.

something should be done, its strange how many people are oblivious to their dogs faults , so many say, my dog would not do that, ,, till it does, I do feel for you because am not sure which way to go ,

I think their statement “to let the dogs sort it out” says it all! Clearly these owners think a fight between two dogs - one of which appears to be quite aggressive- is fine. They say it’s usually the owners at fault when dogs attack and these two very irresponsible people would bear this out.
In this country (U.K.) it’s definitely worth reporting so that there is a written record of the dog’s behaviour then, if something awful did happen, the owners can be prosecuted and can’t claim that they ‘didn’t know’ or that it was the ‘first time’.

What would your neighbour do if when allowing two dogs to "sort it out" one is mauled and seriously injured? You should try to discuss how they allow their dog to run free when knowing how it behaves. Not everyone likes dogs indeed some people are scared of them and having a dog run at them could be quite distressing. If they are not receptive to you telling them about your concerns we'll just report them. How would you feel if you leave it and someone is injured.

I have a friend who reported an aggressive dog, and owner, to the police who took no action.

A week or two later it attacked and killed her dog, and then turned on her causing her to fall and shatter her shoulder. The police then took action and the dog was destroyed - far too late.

A dog showing ANY aggression towards another dog or a human being is a menace and potentially downright dangerous. No owner can safely say "oh he wouldn't hurt anyone". They have and they do. It is an animal first and foremost and the owners are being irresponsible and thoughtless

If your child ran at someone using threatening behaviour, yelling and screaming and bearing their teeth you would soon get complaints

I am a dog lover and welcome friendly, well trained, obedient dogs (or owners) but this dog needs to be on a lead and have a muzzle until it learns some manners, as do the owners

We had a similar problem in my town, not next door to me thankfully but this dog was left to roam free everyday and whilst it was out it killed a large number of local cats and injured dogs on leads. The neighbours got together and reported it at every opportunity but it took a while because the dog warden, police and council would do nothing. Eventually the dog was taken off the couple by the police and warden but it was a long fight.

for sure a little dog cannot properly defend itself from a big one there have been many small dogs killed by out of control big ones. The small one might fight back but a staffie sized dog can pick up a yorkie or dachshund size dog no problems and shake them to death. Good to report it

Yes, make the statement the officer you reported this to suggested.

Otherwise you will get nowhere and still be worried whenever you encounter this animal.

It sounds to me as if the owner has made no effort to train the dog properly, and you obviously fear the dog will attack someone some day.

Yes.

its the owner who needs reporting not the dog , sounds like the dog has not been socialised with other dogs or trained, if you are sure its a pit bull you should report to police as they are a banned breed in uk and if the owner is not keeping on a lead and dog is harressing others how long befor it bites and maybe kills a dog or person

Sorry can't advise but surely a muzzle needs to be used when near children and in open spaces. I would hate a tragedy to happen

Some years ago, a very aggressive dog came out through her (not very secure) wire fence and sank her teeth into my dog's back. The police weren't interested because I hadn't been bitten, but the dog warden got involved. It transpired that the dog was a Pit Bull and not a Staffie, so the owners had to pay £750.00. I think this was a licence to keep a "dangerous dog". I asked them to have their fence strengthened in lieu of paying my vet's bill. Which they never did. I was so pleased when they and their dog moved out of the area.

LondonMzFitz

Just adding grabbing your dog and lifting him up into your arms is about the worst thing you can do. It leaves your dog in a vulnerable position - unable to run, unable to fight back, exposed underbelly - and makes you part of the target. Walk in the opposite direction - and you have the right to be angry at that point and make your anger known! You had the opportunity then to make it very clear that you find that sort of behaviour, from both dog and owner, unacceptable.

I disagree. The Staffie that went for my dog went for her back legs. Walking away would have just enabled it to do so. These attacks happen in the blink of an eye and you don’t know which part of your dog the other dog will go for. And once a dog of that kind has a grip on your dog it’s game over. It’s terrifying.

Give a statement and to hell what they think, it's better than having regrets that you didn't if it attacks a dog or a child. There's a chance any dog can turn, I've scars on my face from a little Westie that bit me when I was a child. I have always had a dog myself, but you have to be a responsible owner.

Just adding grabbing your dog and lifting him up into your arms is about the worst thing you can do. It leaves your dog in a vulnerable position - unable to run, unable to fight back, exposed underbelly - and makes you part of the target. Walk in the opposite direction - and you have the right to be angry at that point and make your anger known! You had the opportunity then to make it very clear that you find that sort of behaviour, from both dog and owner, unacceptable.

My FiL adopted a rescue dog which was part staffie and according to him had a lovely nature and when he growled and terrorised everyone else it must have been their fault!
Eventually the dog, which was like a Jack Russell but with broad shoulders, turned on him and bit him quite badly. Only then did he take it seriously and the dog was destroyed.

I would not hesitate to give the council a statement, before someone, possibly a child, gets hurt.

It sounds like it needs a muzzle as well as a lead. Why people like these aggressive dogs beats me.

I’ve decided I WILL make an official statement, but making the point that while the dog has not actually injured anyone/any dog, or rushed at a person (these are our council’s definition of a “menacing” dog), it has caused panic and distress to three dogs and their owners. And expect the dog should be on leash at all times, even when on the beach, which has leash-free times. A big thanks to everyone, for helping me think through a tricky situation

Sorry Reader. I didn’t notice that you had reported it to the council. We were happy to report the one near to us but it wasn’t the same as it being a close neighbour. Having said that the dog in question had attacked another dog the week before and almost killed it and it’s owner felt awful that she hadn’t reported it to the police at the time and it could have gone on to attack another dog. I think that, a year on from the attack the vicious dog now wears a muzzle when being walked but it took a long time for it to happen. Dog attacks happen in the blink of an eye. My dogs have been attacked several times, always when they’re on a lead and we sometimes get blamed for the fact that our dog is on a lead and that’s why the other dog attacked. Thankfully they’ve never been injured but it’s left us very shaken and I still panic if a dog runs up to us.

A dog that is aggressive should be on a lead and with a muzzle on in any public area.

If the dog is allowed off the lead then report it and make a complaint and the council will investigate, that may just encourage the owner to be responsible.

Do be careful with dogs and babies, even a small dog is a threat if it is jealous of the baby - and they do get jealous!.

Contact the safe neighbourhood officer( or something like that) at the council. I’ll dig out the proper title...it’s in my dog drawer somewhere. No one should feel unsafe in their home or district. Our local one was really helpful when our dog was attacked. But you don’t have to have been attacked. Just feeling unsafe is grounds for complaint. We only met ours by accident when he asked us for directions when there was some flooding.