neighbor dog problems

[denowt]

And let me add, some of the most aggressive dogs I've encountered were labs. Seen more aggressive labs then pits for sure. My friends lab would get out and kill anything it could get its teeth on.

Labs usually have a high prey/retrieval drive.
They are a natural bird retriever. Anything small that moves quickly usually puts them into catch mode.
I've had labs or lab mixes since I was about 8 years old, I'm almost 42 now.
Every one of them killed chickens as soon as they were old/fast enough to catch them. Rarely ate them, just caught and killed them.
Every one of them were also trained to not kill chickens though.
I would bet the neighbor's lab simply sees your small dog as something to catch.

The constant barking would suck though, so I feel for you there. Not much you can really do about it though, especially when your dog barks back, effectively challenging the lab.

[denowt]

I agree with you, I'm not putting all the blame on their dog as ours bark too, but we've just had numerous dog problems in the past with one neighbor who let his dog roam the neighborhood in the evening so animal control couldn't pick it up,it would bark in our yard through our window harassing our dogs, it would crap in our yard and even our driveway! Other neighbors would take in all the strays, think they have about 5-6 now and they leave their back door open all day long and let them run around in the front yard and have had them charge us and our dogs before. Now this one just likes to bark I guess people dogs cars doesn't matter he's always barking at something. Just annoying because he's new I guess.

Totally different scenario.
That dog was trespassing and should have been killed if it was aggressive to anyone while it was roaming.
This lab is in yard. Barking sucks, but that's what dogs do.
I would ask the guy if you could help him move the fence away from your driveway a little bit.

[Horitexan]

No offense meant but posting on here before even bothering to talk to the neighbor was kinda jumping the gun.

I think you're on the right path, talking to your neighbor. Sounds like he's perfectly willing to contain his dogs and isn't aware that his dog is "squeezing through the gate." I'll be he makes a little adjustment to the gate to solve the problem. Maybe y'all will get to know one another and a little socializing of the dogs will solve the issue. From the lab's perspective, he's just guarding his owner's property from the dogs that don't intimidate him - possibly.

I feel ya about having gotten used to one situation, after years of having things one way and enjoying it; but that's the reality of living in an urban environment where your neighbors are so durn close - inevitably things change. Short of a gate that doesn't quite seem to work, though, it sounds like you have a pretty responsible dog owner for a neighbor. Where people (on the outside of the situation) are being unsympathetic are:
1. You're complaining about a dog doing what most people want their dogs to do (protect the property) behind a fence, mostly.
2. You ranted BEFORE you even bothered to avail yourself of a little common sense communication with the folks that live a few feet from you.
3. You're complaining about someone utilizing the property line (that's theirs as much as yours) because you got used to it not being utilized.

I don't know how long you've been on the GS but you should have been aware that "dog" threads always generate a disparity of opinions that always includes those that want to kill dogs and those that want to justify every dog's behavior. If you think that the GS is any different than FB these days, you're fooling yourself - it's no different. Social media is social media.

It's not fair to judge one dog because of the actions of another- especially when the situations were so different. If you're this worried about your dogs, I'd suggest building a fence. Even if it won't work to fence your while place, because of the proximity of other homes, you CAN fence in a portion to allow your dogs a safe place to roam. I can sure sympathize with the hassles of living in a urban environment, having tried it; but it sure sounds like you're more suited to a rural property without neighbors close enough to bother you. Just sayin.

Good luck with your situation - I hope your talk with your neighbor works out and your concerns are lessened.

[Burntorange Bowhunter]

It's really hard to pin actions on a specific breed. Within most breeds there are differing lines and breeding programs. Show dogs and pets generally tend to have less "drive" and more health issues than true working dog lines.

[Bily Lovec]

OP
if your neighbor has an invisible fence, the dog shouldnt be able to get with in a few ft of the border of it, depending on the settings. He should never be able to "hang his head over the line" w/o repurcussions.

[Burntorange Bowhunter]

Somewhat similar situation at our house. New people moved in to the house at the back right. They built a pool and a fence. Our fence is about 1/3 of their fence now. They have these dang yipptiy yappity little dogs. The minute they let them out they rush to our fence and start that yappity crap. My dog goes over and acts like he will eat them for lunch but if I tell him to stop he ignores them until the next time. I really dislike little yappy dogs. LOL.

[HoustonR6ryda]

stamp aint came yet

so....

[muzzlebrake]

Ankle biters and Cha-bow-wows are irritating little vermin but are some of the best deterrents to would be burglars and thieves. I still can't stand the evil little things. Thank goodness for Red Ryder BB guns

[denowt]

so....

The OP is worried that his little dog will cross the property line and be killed by the neighbor's dog.
Why would he want to shoot his little dog?

[bowhunter0]

No offense meant but posting on here before even bothering to talk to the neighbor was kinda jumping the gun.

I think you're on the right path, talking to your neighbor. Sounds like he's perfectly willing to contain his dogs and isn't aware that his dog is "squeezing through the gate." I'll be he makes a little adjustment to the gate to solve the problem. Maybe y'all will get to know one another and a little socializing of the dogs will solve the issue. From the lab's perspective, he's just guarding his owner's property from the dogs that don't intimidate him - possibly.

I feel ya about having gotten used to one situation, after years of having things one way and enjoying it; but that's the reality of living in an urban environment where your neighbors are so durn close - inevitably things change. Short of a gate that doesn't quite seem to work, though, it sounds like you have a pretty responsible dog owner for a neighbor. Where people (on the outside of the situation) are being unsympathetic are:
1. You're complaining about a dog doing what most people want their dogs to do (protect the property) behind a fence, mostly.
2. You ranted BEFORE you even bothered to avail yourself of a little common sense communication with the folks that live a few feet from you.
3. You're complaining about someone utilizing the property line (that's theirs as much as yours) because you got used to it not being utilized.

I don't know how long you've been on the GS but you should have been aware that "dog" threads always generate a disparity of opinions that always includes those that want to kill dogs and those that want to justify every dog's behavior. If you think that the GS is any different than FB these days, you're fooling yourself - it's no different. Social media is social media.

It's not fair to judge one dog because of the actions of another- especially when the situations were so different. If you're this worried about your dogs, I'd suggest building a fence. Even if it won't work to fence your while place, because of the proximity of other homes, you CAN fence in a portion to allow your dogs a safe place to roam. I can sure sympathize with the hassles of living in a urban environment, having tried it; but it sure sounds like you're more suited to a rural property without neighbors close enough to bother you. Just sayin.

Good luck with your situation - I hope your talk with your neighbor works out and your concerns are lessened.

Thank you for some of the best information I've gotten on this thread, the issue has been resolved in the best way possible and the neighbors are very nice people. When I made the first post I was going on a rant and I realize I pretty much set myself up for some of the comments on here. If I wouldn't have come here looking for advice I might have done something stupid I would have ended up regretting. We will be moving to the country someday but we just don't have he money right now, thank you all for helping out mainly calming me down.

To everyone else who gave good advice thanks again.

[bowhunter0]

Somewhat similar situation at our house. New people moved in to the house at the back right. They built a pool and a fence. Our fence is about 1/3 of their fence now. They have these dang yipptiy yappity little dogs. The minute they let them out they rush to our fence and start that yappity crap. My dog goes over and acts like he will eat them for lunch but if I tell him to stop he ignores them until the next time. I really dislike little yappy dogs. LOL.

Yeah the people behind us that take in all the strays have about 5 or 6 dogs that relentlessly bark through the fence non stop, I just don't get how some of these peoples dogs don't annoy them as much as they annoy other people haha, if my dogs were barking like that they know to at least shut up when I tell them.