Our house back onto a residents green. I’ve just been out there to play with my grand daughter when I heard growling and looked to see what looks like an American Pitbull (no expert here)

Just concerned about the fence holding it in. It’s green pvc mesh about desk height and where there was once a gate there’s now just random wood blocking the gap.
I don’t know who lives there, it use to be a nice old couple.
I felt like it was licking it’s lips at the 2 year old so went in.

Staffie? They can be lovely dogs.

Staffie? They can be lovely dogs.

Can be. In the right hands. To their owners.

By the sound of it OP, I certainly wouldn’t be leaving my child out there unaccompanied until I’d spoken to the owners and sorted a secure fence/border.

Is there a residents’ association? Is there an annual maintenance charge for the upkeep of fences backing onto the common area?

iolo – Member
Staffie? They can be lovely dogs.

There’s one helluva difference between a Staffie and a Pitbull.

Is there a residents’ association?

Actually yes there is. The fences are our responsibility though, many of us have open access as well which is a minor concern, but a good avenue to express my concern.

Staffie/pitbull I don’t know, big bugger. Thought it was a Rotwieler at first, has those ‘snipped’ ears.

Sounds like an American Bull Dog if its a big tall thing. A lot of dogs will be barky about their territory without it being a problem. If it was growling though you are right to be worried imo.

Pics?

A lot of dogs will be barky about their territory without it being a problem.

It’s always a problem if the neighbours can here it.

Would the RSPCA offer advice on this sort of thing? I’d be asking.

Any breed can be a problem, and any breed can be fine stereotyping like in normal life will probably let you down. Bad owners are worse than bad dogs.

The grown up thing to do is to speak to the neighbours.

Any breed can be a problem, and any breed can be fine stereotyping like in normal life will probably let you down. Bad owners are worse than bad dogs.

All true and a small dog can be just as aggressive as a large one however a basic risk assessment tells me that a large dog is likely to cause significantly more harm in the event of an attack. IMO its not enough to say most dogs are fine or “he’s never done that before” etc etc. By stereotyping the above the worst you can do is be over cautious. The potential for incident given what you described would concern me. Speak to them yes but be prepared to escalate.

It won’t be a pit bull (especially as you’ve already said you’re no expert).

Staffy cross or American Bulldog.

American Bull Terrier

Go speak to the neighbours, please don’t go ringing the council or RSPCA without cause or speaking to them first.

We’ve had our neighbour’s Scottish Terrier break through the fencing and get into our garden. Not exactly a dog with a fearsome reputation but like other people have said, the breed isn’t really the issue. Any dog can be dangerous especially with a small child.

Good fences make for good neighbours.

I have a Lakeland Terrier and a young Cocker. Our Neighbours have the largest Bull Mastiff I have ever seen. They are experienced owners (this is their second) and the dog is well socialised and extremely well behaved and is always on the lead. He is totally non plussed around people and other dogs and as well as neighbours they are good friends.
However part of me always wonders if having a dog that large is wise.

Go speak to the neighbours, then please go ring the council or RSPCA with due cause for your childs safety.

FIFY

In our old place a young couple moved in next door, complete with a rather large Rottweiler and a not so large, but getting bigger bull mastiff, which were left outdoors all day. I had built a 6′ fence around our garden, but every time the wee one was out the back garden the two dogs were going nuts.

That was end of summer 2010, I did the wee jobs I had to do on the house, and then sold in October, when it was dark at night, so that viewers couldn’t see our ‘neighbours’. I had intended moving a couple of years down the line, this just gave me the push.

As said above, the problem was more the **** young couple rather than the dog, but it’s the dogs that do the biting.

Go speak to the neighbours, then please go ring the council or RSPCA with due cause for your childs safety.
FIFY

Why would he need to ring the council/RSPCA after talking to the neighbours?

“The dog in the garden next door was looking at me funny”

i went out of my door to be confronted by a dogue de bordeaux growling at me, ive never seen it before so i guessed it was a stray. I went and got the peashooter and it went away. Couple of nights later just about to get into my car and it started running at me growling, so I went back inside.
Now the dilemma, do I take some sort of hammer or baseball bat when I go in the garden just in case or do i just take my chances that its going to run at me barking and growling and then lick me?
It turns out its the new neighbours dog and they hadnt realised it could get out, even though the fence has been blown down by the wind recently.
It turns out the lady owner trains dogs for the police!! anyway she started calling the dog, it didnt take a blind bit of notice, unbelievable, it just stood there barking at me.
Eventually she got it to lay flat and stop growling. Im not scared of dogs, but i dont like them or some of their owners much, but I went and stroked it anyway, it was really friendly.
Thing is it might have been different if a small child had gone outside instead of me? Is there time to be passive and hope for the best outcome or should I be ready for confrontation with the dog and then the owner?
Either way someone innocent has been put in a place of uneasiness and potential harm by the lack of concern and responsibilty of the owner.
Owners know that their dog may seem intimidating and nearly every owner of a dog that has attacked someone, says its never done it before.
WTF what a way to risk someone else and your OWN FAMILY

part of me always wonders if having a dog that large is wise

THIS my rules are
1. never own a dog that would lose a fight with a cat
2. Never own a dog you would lose a fight with.

Why would he need to ring the council/RSPCA after talking to the neighbours?

“The dog in the garden next door was looking at me funny and I felt threatened for the safety of not only me but my family, so I’m calling you to see if the dog is on the dangerous dogs list becasue I’m not an expert. Whilst I’m on, can you recommend any actions I maybe able to take to ensure that dog is kept away from my family, I feel threatened ”

FIFY

here it.

Hear it, even.

Spelling 3/10. See me.

That’s an American BullTerrier is it? Looks like aPitbull to me. Ugly F***er all the same.
Just shows how complicated breed spotting is. Frankly, if something looking like that, or the two above, for that matter, was growling in a poorly fenced garden I wouldn’t let my daughter anywhere near it. Not because of the breed but the size. The poor fencing says the owner doesn’t really give a sh*t about the dog, about you,or anyone else.

complete with a rather large Rottweiler and a not so large, but getting bigger bull mastiff

talk to the owners, that’ll probably tell you all you need to know about the dog and whether it will be a problem

coincidentally our immediate neighbour has a rottie and a big pit bull / ridgeback / mastiff-of-some-kind cross – still a puppy now but the massive paws indicate he’ll be a big lad – both lovely dogs that are fine with us, our boy and our own dog – however they’re nice people and conscientious owners so never been a worry.

just because you are worried about a dog doesn’t make it dangerous or put you at risk. Dog attacks are still pretty rare, regardless of what you read in the dailymail.

you and your kids/grandkids are much more likely to be killed by cars so I would be more worried about the road running past your house.

Dog attacks are still pretty rare, regardless of what you read in the dailymail.

I dont read the dailymail but I have been bitten on 2 occasions over the years. Never been hit by a car so far.
If its all the same with you I would ignore your advice and consider the fact that just because you estimate them to be “rare” the potentially catastrophic or even life threatening consequences to my child are my main concern. I would err on the side of caution.
A responsible owner has nothing to fear.

That’s an American BullTerrier is it? Looks like aPitbull to me

The breed is “American Pit Bull Terrier” I believe.

They’re essentially a bigger Staffie, and are normally people friendly dogs. About the size of a labrador (medium) IIRC. They are not by nature so cool with other dogs – this is where you need a good owner who will socialise them with other dogs.

They are actually illegal to own without license – they’re on the dangerous dogs list.

Scottish Terrier … Not exactly a dog with a fearsome reputation

You know they were bred to kill badgers ?

I dont read the dailymail but I have been bitten on 2 occasions over the years. Never been hit by a car so far.

Well I’ve never been bitten by a dog, but I have been hit by two cars (one whilst on a pedestrian crossing) and I have had countless near misses over the years (wingmirror brushes), mind you I still don’t feel threatened by cars, so may’be I m a bit more rational than you.

Statically you and your children are much more likely to be killed or injured by a cars, so my point is it might be worth prioritizing your concerns to where the real dangers are.

richc – Member

just because you are worried about a dog doesn’t make it dangerous or put you at risk. Dog attacks are still pretty rare, regardless of what you read in the dailymail.

you and your kids/grandkids are much more likely to be killed by cars so I would be more worried about the road running past your house.

You are over 100 times more likely to be attacked by a dog than you are killed by a car.

Over 200,000 dog attacks each year, in England alone.

Statically you and your children are much more likely to be killed or injured by a cars, so my point is it might be worth prioritizing your concerns to where the real dangers are.

You really dont understand how a risk assessment works do you.

so may’be I m a bit more rational than you.

Or maybe you are not.

Edit: looks like you are not hot on statistics either.

Circa 1800 people killed on the roads.
Circa 200,000 people a year bitten by dogs.
Great advice.

But how many non-fatal traffic accidents and how many killed by dogs?
Let’s not forget how many hours spent on roads and pavements compared to those in the presence of dogs.
If you are going to have a stat war be armed with all the FACTS.

The pointless comparison was only brought about by richc’s poor English, but there are over 500 dog attacks a day; it isn’t a rare occurrence.

Reported Road Casualties in Great Britain, 2012
Killed 1,754
Seriously Injured 23,039
Slightly Injured 170,930
All 195,723

Although there’s reported to be 200,000 dog bites a year, only 6,500 a year result in a hospital admission, and there have been 17 deaths between 2005-2013. Still bad for those involved, but still not as dangerous as cars…

OK, lets be concerned about both then shall we?

As said a lot of dogs bite.
But its the attitude of the persons being bit that regularly contributes to this.
A dog can sense hatred and doesn’t like it.
This hatred is normally instilled into humans from an early age. When I walked my dog (rip jarvis ) the amount of people who would say to their toddlers stay away from that naughty dog he’ll bite was unbelievable. He was a lab/spaniel cross that was the kindest thing ever.
Grown men with this in their dna tend to get bit.

+1 /\

iolo – Member

As said a lot of dogs bite.
But its the attitude of the persons being bit that regularly contributes to this.
A dog can sense hatred and doesn’t like it.
This hatred is normally instilled into humans from an early age. When I walked my dog (rip jarvis ) the amount of people who would say to their toddlers stay away from that naughty dog he’ll bite was unbelievable. He was a lab/spaniel cross that was the kindest thing ever.
Grown men with this in their dna tend to get bit.

I had no fear of dogs as a child, and wasn’t brought up to fear them.
Every week I would visit someone with a dog and we would always run to greet each other, I loved that dog.
Every week until the day it decided to savagely bite me in the face.

I’m not scared of dogs now, my parents look after a lovely Staffie who is part of the family, but I probably am a bit wary. Whether this makes me more prone to dog attacks or not I don’t know, but then I haven’t been attacked by a dog since.

But in short, you can take your victim blaming and shove it up your arse you **** imbecile.
🙂