Neighbors dog bit me...

[dxkj]

My backyard is fenced in, and when walking from the backalley to the house I either have to have the garage door open to enter my yard, hop the fence, or go through the small gate that is close to the neighbors fence.

I had parked behind the garage and didn't have my garage door opener, so I walked around to the gate and saw the neighbors dog was out. This dog barks like mad at everyone including me and my wife, and tends to jump up at the 3'? fence. He is a German shepard. I've walked this way a few times before a bit nervously (especially at night) beacuse he is an adult size dog and gets his face well above the fence. Squeezing in between a 2' gap and him can be a bit intimidating. My wife won't ever do it, and I usually try to avoid it

Long story short, I walked that way, he jumped up, reached over the fence, and grabbed my upper ARM and bit, then let go.

I talked to the neighbors and they were apologetic, and told me that he was up to date on shots, etc (pet fanatic family, I already assumed he was up to date).

What should I do now? I'm guessing ask for them to place a taller fence at least, because my wife has been worried for a few months now that he would leap over. Im not sure if the dog has a violent tendency, or is just very defensive of his backyard and proximity.

I don't want the dog killed, I don't want any money, I just want to make sure my wife doesn't feel unsafe, and I would like to be able to walk by without getting bit again, the whole area bruised up like mad and turned black and blue .


Cliffs
1. Neighbors Dog jumped and bit me from across fence
2. Dog is big and could jump fence
3. What is a reasonable request to make of the neighbors to prevent this?

 

[Oceandevi]

They should have no problems with installing a taller fence. You have the upper hand at the bargaining table here. If thats all you ask for they should be very relieved.

 

[xcript]

Looks nasty. I'd definitely ask them to put up a taller fence.

Also, remind them that their dog could be put down if it bites the wrong person.

 

[MmmSkyscraper]

Taller fence FTW.

 

[0roo0roo]

taller fence, they have no choice.

 

[dxkj]

Originally posted by: xcript
Looks nasty. I'd definitely ask them to put up a taller fence.

Also, remind them that their dog could be put down if it bites the wrong person.

Yeah I think he clamped on and hung on as he started to fall back down, but then he gave up and let go, so the bite turned into a tear/scrape.

 

[I Saw OJ]

It would have to be a pretty tall fence. An adult german shepard could easily jump over a 7 foot tall fence if it wanted.

 

[chusteczka]

An untrained german shepard can be easily excitable but is still a reliable and intelligent dog. Your reaction shows you are evaluating this situation in a reasonable manner. My reaction would be to request a larger fence. Additionally, I would have made friends with the dog a long time ago. The dog needs to understand you are a friend to be trusted. Talk to the dog. Let it smell your hand. Let it smell you and see you and your wife together with its owner who feeds it. If the person who normally feeds the dog treats you like a friend, then so will the dog.

You may have introduced yourself to your neighbors and you would introduce yourself to their children but did you introduce yourself to their dog? That may be the most important member of their family to make friends with.

 

[dxkj]

Originally posted by: chusteczka
An untrained german shepard can be easily excitable but is still a reliable and intelligent dog. Your reaction shows you are evaluating this situation in a reasonable manner. My reaction would be to request a larger fence. Additionally, I would have made friends with the dog a long time ago. The dog needs to understand you are a friend to be trusted. Talk to the dog. Let it smell your hand. Let it smell you and see you and your wife together with its owner who feeds it. If the person who normally feeds the dog treats you like a friend, then so will the dog.

You may have introduced yourself to your neighbors and you would introduce yourself to their children but did you introduce yourself to their dog? That may be the most important member of their family to make friends with.

The neighbors introduced me to the dog about 10 times, and since it was a puppy. It has always barked like crazy at us, especially me. I let it smell my hand through the fence and it would go friggin crazy. She can almost never get it to stop barking anymore even when she is telling it not to.

 

[Kremlar]

The neighbors introduced me to the dog about 10 times, and since it was a puppy. It has always barked like crazy at us, especially me. I let it smell my hand through the fence and it would go friggin crazy. She can almost never get it to stop barking anymore even when she is telling it not to.

It must sense your evil nature.

 

[Meatyone]

A taller fence and they should do it without having to be asked. After what has happened they should be falling all over themselves to solve this problem.

 

[Meatyone]

Originally posted by: Kremlar

The neighbors introduced me to the dog about 10 times, and since it was a puppy. It has always barked like crazy at us, especially me. I let it smell my hand through the fence and it would go friggin crazy. She can almost never get it to stop barking anymore even when she is telling it not to.

It must sense your evil nature.

This is true, most people who are bit by dogs deserve it. Dogs can sense if you are an evildoer. But nevertheless they can't just bite you even if you do deserve it. We have a legal system and a presumption of innocence and sometimes dogs are wrong. Pits, for example, are often wrong. German Shepards, almost never.

 

[rivan]

Originally posted by: Meatyone
A taller fence and they should do it without having to be asked. After what has happened they should be falling all over themselves to solve this problem.

Or an electric fence. They've got collars that will stop all but the most determined, most aggressive dogs - and if they're that bad, they should likely be put down.

My two dogs - both of which are pansies... persistent pansies, but pansies nonetheless, were both trained on the fence in two days. My brother-in-law's dog, which is about a 7 on the guard/agression scale wouldn't go near his (electronic) fenceline after three days, and he's among the most stubborn dogs I've ever met.

The up side to electronic fences? No 6' fence around your/your neighbor's yard, I've never seen any attempts to dig under/go over the electronic fence (after the first few tries where they get 'corrections') and depending on the size of the yard and your DIY capacity, it can be a LOT cheaper than a regular fence.

The down side to them? It's a buried wire - that can be broken, and the thing also goes out when the electricity goes off. Then again, the dog still won't go near the thing, since HE won't know it's off... you'll likely have a good amount of time to get it fixed (I'd say a week or more for my dogs - YMMV) before they figure it out.

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

Originally posted by: rivan

Originally posted by: Meatyone
A taller fence and they should do it without having to be asked. After what has happened they should be falling all over themselves to solve this problem.

Or an electric fence. They've got collars that will stop all but the most determined, most aggressive dogs - and if they're that bad, they should likely be put down.

My two dogs - both of which are pansies... persistent pansies, but pansies nonetheless, were both trained on the fence in two days. My brother-in-law's dog, which is about a 7 on the guard/agression scale wouldn't go near his (electronic) fenceline after three days, and he's among the most stubborn dogs I've ever met.

The up side to electronic fences? No 6' fence around your/your neighbor's yard, I've never seen any attempts to dig under/go over the electronic fence (after the first few tries where they get 'corrections') and depending on the size of the yard and your DIY capacity, it can be a LOT cheaper than a regular fence.

The down side to them? It's a buried wire - that can be broken, and the thing also goes out when the electricity goes off. Then again, the dog still won't go near the thing, since HE won't know it's off... you'll likely have a good amount of time to get it fixed (I'd say a week or more for my dogs - YMMV) before they figure it out.

This only works if the dog is not very smart. It took all of a week for our dogs to figure out they could just sit next to the fence while their collars beeped and walk across once the battery died.

 

[oynaz]

To me, it sounds like that dog should be killed. While a bite like you described only bruised you, it might have killed or seriously injured a small child.

 

[Meatyone]

Originally posted by: SarcasticDwarf
This only works if the dog is not very smart. It took all of a week for our dogs to figure out they could just sit next to the fence while their collars beeped and walk across once the battery died.

I heard about one dog that did this, and then later would replace the batteries in his collar to avoid detection. It was only when he was seen on a video surveillance tape at a check cashing joint that they figured out who was killing the evil people in the neighborhood.

 

[Meatyone]

Originally posted by: oynaz
To me, it sounds like that dog should be killed. While a bite like you described only bruised you, it might have killed or seriously injured a small child.

Dude look at the picture. That was not a bruise.

 

[allisolm]

Until a taller fence gets built or some other solution is presented, there's something you can do to help the situation. Have a garage door opener in the car. Anything to keep from having to squeeze by a big dog that's already bitten you and that could certainly bite your wife.
You can also ask them to keep him tethered when he's outside if there's a chance he can get at you.

PS: is your signature supposed to look like that? I'm cold <img******="i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif" border="0">

 

[quakefiend420]

Originally posted by: Meatyone

Originally posted by: SarcasticDwarf
This only works if the dog is not very smart. It took all of a week for our dogs to figure out they could just sit next to the fence while their collars beeped and walk across once the battery died.

I heard about one dog that did this, and then later would replace the batteries in his collar to avoid detection. It was only when he was seen on a video surveillance tape at a check cashing joint that they figured out who was killing the evil people in the neighborhood.

:shocked:

 

[oynaz]

Originally posted by: Meatyone

Dude look at the picture. That was not a bruise.

Well, that kind of supports my point, don't you think?

 

[Injury]

Originally posted by: oynaz
To me, it sounds like that dog should be killed. While a bite like you described only bruised you, it might have killed or seriously injured a small child.

That's ridiculous. You don't put an animal down because of the owner's inability to secure it and train it.

 

[Meatyone]

Originally posted by: allisolm
Until a taller fence gets built or some other solution is presented, there's something you can do to help the situation. Have an electric cattle prod and some mace in the car. Just clear a path with the mace and then zap the sob for good measure as you walk by.
You can also ask them to keep him tethered when he's outside if there's a chance he can get at you.

FIXED.

 

[Meatyone]

Originally posted by: oynaz

Originally posted by: Meatyone

Dude look at the picture. That was not a bruise.

Well, that kind of supports my point, don't you think?

Absolutely. I say eye for an eye. Neighbor should hold him down while OP puts a similar hole in him.

 

[allisolm]

Originally posted by: Injury

Originally posted by: oynaz
To me, it sounds like that dog should be killed. While a bite like you described only bruised you, it might have killed or seriously injured a small child.

That's ridiculous. You don't put an animal down because of the owner's inability to secure it and train it.

Actually they do that all the time.

 

[Meatyone]

Originally posted by: Injury

Originally posted by: oynaz
To me, it sounds like that dog should be killed. While a bite like you described only bruised you, it might have killed or seriously injured a small child.

That's ridiculous. You don't put an animal down because of the owner's inability to secure it and train it.

Right, you put it down for putting holes in people.