Neighbour's Aggressive Dog Reguarly Let Loose on Common Property

Lbarge-in hunter on 12/07/2020 - 14:41

Tldr;
Neighbour's let aggressive dog out unaccompanied on common property. I've tried to be polite and respectful but it's been going on too long. Any ideas?

I saw the forum post about "what to do to repel an aggressive dog", and it made me realize I'm in the awkward position of needing this advice too.

We live in a block of 10+ townhouses that predominantly house families with small kids, and there's a big electric gate up the front. One tenant treats the common property as their dog's personal backyard - letting it out by itself, basically whenever it barks at the front door. It's a mid size dog (some type of guard dog breed from Asia I think) so that's fairly often. Unfortunately the dog's pretty aggressive towards me, and a couple of other residents.

No matter how many times I've politely asked, the owners just won't stop letting it out, unattended and off the lead. I'm no longer polite, but still tell them to stop letting it out.

If I leave my garage open, it comes inside and urinates on my tools and bikes.

If I leave my side door ajar, it comes into my courtyard and barks at my toddler (who is terrified of it)

If I leave my front door open (eg, to let some fresh air in), it comes right into my lounge room.

This has been going on almost 18 months. This morning, I was grumpy and tried something different. The dog was barking while we were getting ready for a bike ride - so they let it out - it ran over and started barking at us, so I just pulled out my phone and started recording. No words or response to the neighbours

It's hard for me, as I usually love dogs and grew up with them… But I need to get this to stop. Any advice or strategies would be greatly appreciated

Honest things to note:

  • I'm a hypocrite. We let our cat wander around the complex garden during the day. I can tell you he's old & friendly, the neighbours go out of their way to pat him and our council by-laws say it's legal - but none of that changes the fact I'm a hypocrite. I'm chatting with our direct neighbours right now on ways we can cat proof our courtyard without making it an eyesore for them.

  • The driveway and shared garden area is privately owned common property. I'm not sure what or how council laws apply, and what I can or cannot do

  • our driveway is incredibly narrow and our garage faces their carport and front door. They have the ability to make our lives really difficult, and have down so in the past (don't think it was malicious though, just careless). All it takes is one of their cars to hang out of their carport 50cm, and we won't be able to get in.

Pets

Comments

  • [Deactivated] on 12/07/2020 - 14:52
    +2

    Buy a pressure washer and keep it primed. My dog is similar, will learn quickly. And ditch the cat.

  • jjjaar on 12/07/2020 - 14:52
    +7

    Sounds like you need to take it to the body corporate to elevate and potentially ban pets from common areas. Though if they’re on the committee, expect a fight. Also, they can just ignore new rules.

    I would probably find a (harmless) smell that dogs don’t like and spray it all around your boundary. This is what I did when my neighbours cats would constantly live in my old yard. Citrus everywhere.

    Or get a bigger, more aggressive dog.

    • dust on 12/07/2020 - 16:18

      Any recommendations for smells dogs don't like?

      • dins on 12/07/2020 - 17:02
        +1

        Google says that they don't like the smell of vets. Can neither confirm nor deny but I guess it makes sense.

      • jjjaar on 12/07/2020 - 17:03
        +2

        Citrus is usually one for dogs too. Get some lemon/orange/lime peels and just scatter them around.

        Vinegar or apple cider vinegar could also be used to deter them.

        There are also safe for pets products you can spray around your house to keep them out of certain rooms - try a pet store for these.

        Every dog is different though so you might need to try a few.

        • barge-in hunter on 12/07/2020 - 17:30
          +1

          Thanks @jjjar, that's really good advice. I'll try a few different sprays around the house/property

  • garetz on 12/07/2020 - 15:44
    +12

    Call the police, advise them the dog was aggressive towards your child, keep doing it, hopefully the police fine the owner, and they get the message.

  • funnysht on 12/07/2020 - 16:52
    +6

    I think letting your cat around the common property is a Big difference to letting an aggressive dog on common property- call strata and put in wording you are concerned for your/other kids' safety.

    • donga100 on 12/07/2020 - 17:02
      +5

      Exactly! Dogs usually don't kill native birds when they are let out. Please stop letting your cat outside unsupervised.

      • barge-in hunter on 12/07/2020 - 17:32

        Agreed @donga100. We keep him in at night, but that's definitely not 100%

        I'll make sure we have our courtyard cat proof asap so he has an outdoor space without access to trees etc.

    • jjjaar on 12/07/2020 - 17:07
      +1

      Cats can be a massive nuisance too. We had neighbour hands loiter our garden and piss everywhere which absolutely stunk to the point where we couldn’t be outside anymore.

      I also note: OP has not exactly defined how the dog is aggressive. Now, I’m not saying the dog isn’t aggressive, just that OP has only described a scared child and a barking dog. Annoying, yes. Needs discipline, yes. But barking does not equal aggressive.

      • barge-in hunter on 12/07/2020 - 17:41

        That's a good call @jjjaar. Tbh It was a bit of a relief to see someone making me challenge my assumptions over just suggesting something rash.

        So in terms of aggression, he's not the worst. He'll rush over at me barking (heckles on his neck raised etc) but won't come closer than 1-1.5m if I'm facing his direction. The moment I turn sideways or have my back to him he rushes at the back of my legs.

        I've always turned around fast enough for him to back off/quickly divert somewhere else.

        As much as I've had lots of dogs, I've never had to deal with this type of behaviour before - so happy to be told it's not being aggressive, or there's another reason/thing that's going on.

        • jjjaar on 12/07/2020 - 18:13
          +1

          I wouldn’t say that’s aggression, but it’s certainly unwanted behaviour. Especially within your own property (private or body corp). Then again, unwanted if you passed it on the street too.

          I’m the same, though. I’ve been around dogs a lot and one thing I cannot stand is dogs that don’t listen to human commands, or get too excited and rush up to me. It’s usually poor humans not teaching their dog properly. I have some friends whose dogs just don’t leave me alone when I’m over, and yes, they’re adorable, but I don’t need them near me all the time.

          In all honesty though, it sounds like this poor dog is neglected by its family and might not be getting enough attention/walks so is exploring for more love and also getting exercise :(

          Perhaps semi adopt the dog and teach it some commands that will help you out haha.

        • ssquid on 12/07/2020 - 19:45

          It's scared of/threatened by you. Trying to protect itself by making you more scared of it, but at the same time staying out of reach.

  • oscargamer on 12/07/2020 - 17:01
    +1

    What do your strata laws state?

    Are they owners or tenants?

    Why have you let this go for 18 months?

    Start a diary and video events (as you have now done).

    • barge-in hunter on 12/07/2020 - 17:45

      I'll have to follow up with the body corporate to figure out the strata laws - it's a good call. They're tenants, so complaining to their Rea is one option too.

      Tbh it's one of those situations that's escalated over time… You know, how a lot of tenants keep their place looking good for the first year then start slipping?

      Yeah, documenting these situations is going to have to happen. Maybe just by seeing me taking photos of their dog on common property, the owners will clean up their act.

      • RecklessMonkeys on 13/07/2020 - 10:42

        You're entitled to the quiet enjoyment of the property, whether common or not.

  • tallkid123 on 12/07/2020 - 17:09
    +2

    Why is this comment section a trash pile?

    OP - Keep making records and also look at your local council regulations for anything relevant. Also approach the police at this point since it seems inevitable that dog will hurt someone, based off your description. I've had a roaming, unleashed dog attack my dog on the street a few years ago. My father-in-law then made a report, a week or so later, that same dog attacked a child and then a week after that, we had council at our front door telling me the dog got put down.

    Also, talk to your other neighbours and pursue further action as a group. It's been 18 months. You're likely not the only one who has a problem now.

    • barge-in hunter on 12/07/2020 - 17:49

      Ah wow, that's terrible. I've been worried too, with so many young kids in the complex.

      One of the neighbours actually runs inside his house when the dog's let out. I'll have a chat with a few others too

    • tallkid123 on 12/07/2020 - 22:50
      -2

      Downvoter is a loser.

      • Jugganautx on 13/07/2020 - 00:25

        Username checks out

  • backpaqer on 13/07/2020 - 07:48
    +4

    I was riding through a park once and an aggressive dog started chasing me. His owner thought it was hilarious. So I taunted the dog and rode just ahead of him and the dog chased and chased. The owner suddenly sees his dog disappearing from sight and I could hear him getting really upset and screaming for his dog to come back. That dog chased me for 5km before he ran out of puff. I hope the owner realised that if your dog is off lead in a public space that it under immediate and effective control.

    My recommendation, take the dog for a walk. I'm sure you can find a council ranger. Hopefully the owner will learn something before the dog bites someone and is put down which would be the tragedy here.

  • buderim11 on 13/07/2020 - 07:58
    +6

    Next time it is out open the main gate and let it out in the street, then call the council dog warden and tell them there is a dangerous dog on the loose.

  • nonib on 13/07/2020 - 08:37
    +1

    Make friends with the dog - buy some dog treats and slowly teach it that you're safe and the source of good things. Might end up liking you more than it's owner.

  • Bob Svargis on 13/07/2020 - 12:02
    +1

    When it goes into your garage, that's definitely crossing the line. That's totally unacceptable (disclaimer: I am a dog fan and have 2 big dogs). If one of my dogs did that and the occupant told me, I'd be totally embarrassed.

    I'd consider lodging a complaint with the body corporate, but only after a written note to the owners first. Give them a couple of weeks to respond.

    • Love a bargain on 13/07/2020 - 15:01

      the owners haven't responded previous communication, hard to imagine they'd respond to another piece of paper

      • Bob Svargis on 14/07/2020 - 13:17

        Fair call. Oh well, up to you then I guess. If it were me, I'd probably go to the Body Corporate and lodge a complaint. Or do like others have suggested - accidentally leave the gate open to the estate.

        Kids shouldn't have to put up with a dog on the loose within their own property, it's not fair. OK, I get it, occasionally dogs might escape but that should be the exception rather than the norm.

  • dammit on 13/07/2020 - 12:40

    Which state / council area are you in?

  • jhlook on 13/07/2020 - 14:34

    When you say common property and a gate, it makes it sound like it would be under a body Corp? If this is the case then go down to the word ‘nuisance’ on the following link for more information
    https://www.qld.gov.au/law/housing-and-neighbours/body-corpo…

  • champstarr on 13/07/2020 - 17:08
    -3

    If any dog rushes me or my family out walking or out the front because it's not on a lead I give it a swift kick. It has happened heaps of time and the owners are shocked but I don't know if the dog is friendly or not and I'm not going to wait and see. Doesn't matter if they are big or small they get a boot and then they get to take their dog to the vet.
    Never ever act scared to a dog always walk towards it and yell if it's rushing at you. If it keeps coming give it a boot.

    • ozbjunkie on 16/07/2020 - 22:23
      +2

      Can't wait to see you get mauled on worldstar. Cannot wait.

    • coffeeinmyveins on 15/11/2020 - 08:45

      Doesn't matter if they are big or small they get a boot and then they get to take their dog to the vet.

      Then you get a punch to the face and get to go to the hospital, good luck with that mate.

      This sort of black and white mentality is terrifying. You'd kick a 3kilogram puppy if it came running at you, probably killing it? Depending on the owner, you'd be getting a few broken ribs and a court date.

      In reality I reckon you wouldn't do anything.

      • champstarr on 16/11/2020 - 11:37

        Lol. Calm down tough girl. So your one of these meathead owners that can't control their dog and let it off the lead then take no responsibility?

    • Bob Svargis on 16/11/2020 - 08:20
      -1

      What a cowardly act. One day someone will give you or your family a swift boot to the head too. It's called karma.

      I bet you don't kick dogs if their owner can see you because people with an attitude like yours are typically weak, gutless cowards.

      • champstarr on 16/11/2020 - 11:40

        Lol. Same as above. Look after your dog and be a responsible owner and it won't happen. Lots of wannabe jokers around here lately.

  • Laziofogna on 14/10/2020 - 12:35

    We all know there is only one solution to this.

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