Everytime this topic comes up, the major consensus is that putting a Beware of Dog sign is admitting you know the propensity of your dog(s) and could wind up hurting you legally if something ever were to happen.

But what about this angle; if you own a guardian breed, shouldn't you know what the dogs propensity is? Is pretending to not know kind of bogus? Does that automatically deem you a total loser? (morally speaking, not legally)

For the longest time I was with the majority, don't put up signs. At my house on LI I have no signs. I honestly don't care if an intruder gets bit trespassing here because the area is the pits and anyone that would get bit in my yard was up to no good. My opinion just changed in the area where I bought another house in the country. It's in the historic district of a town that probably hasn't locked it's doors since the Revolutionary war. It's common for kids to cut thru neighbors yards for short cuts. I just put a fence up but left an easement for the kids to still cut thru my yard to deter anyone from hopping the fence. I also put up Beware of Dog signs to further discourage any fence jumping. I think I would have been irresponsible not to. I was wondering if pretending to not know the propensity of ones dog is kind of seedy when you live in a normal area? Does it all depend on circumstance? If I was a judge and I had a case where a teenager was bit badly by a dog because he climbed over a fence, and the person didn't have any beware of dog signs, I would be a little disturbed by that. Thoughts anyone?

I think legally, it varies from community to community. Check with your city attorney for the information. Myself, I would put up "German Shepherd Crossing" or some other signs that advise of the presence of the dog without saying that the dog may bite.

I have signs that say "guard dog on duty" with no tresspassing and a picture of a dog growling. I figure it lets people know that the dog is guarding the house, that they are tresspassing, and IF they can not read thier is a picture. But I will be making up new ones (and I hate this) with it in spanish.

We had a guy thinking he was funny breaking in to my truck which clearly has K-9 and caution K-9 on it. Well the first night he could not get the radio out. So I figured he be back in a couple days. So I put my older female in the truck, left the windows half down and went to bed. couple days went by and then it happened. 3am the whole kennel went up in barking I ran to the door called my female she was GONE! went to the street and Lord and behold she had that guy on the run! Ha ha ha I called her back and she came right to me. I praised her up and put her back in the truck. I have not had any more problems since.
I love my dogs!!!!

A guy down the street has a sign that reads:
"I don't dial 9-1-1, I dial B-O-X-E-R"

Others have the olbigatory, "My dog can make it to the fence in 2.5 seconds. Can you?"

I myself plan on getting an Austrailian Cattle Dog on Duty sign for the gate.

I've heard that putting up a No Trespassing or Enter at own Risk sign is a better way to go than putting up a Beware of dog sign.

Although the Enter at own Risk is a bit like saying, sure, come in but be careful so I wouldn't go that route either.

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Presence of “Beware of Dog” signs standing alone are not enough to imply that dog owner knew of his dog’s vicious propensities. Altmann vs Emigrant Savings Bank, 249 AD2d 67, 68 (First Dept, 1998); Frantz vs McGonagle, 242 AD2d 888 (Fourth Dept, 1997); Arcara vs Whytas, 219 AD2d 871, 872 (Fourth Dept, 1995).

I like the idea of Mastiff crossing signs; but they sound too much like an attraction. Wherever there are duck crossing signs, there's always a group feeding them <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Guard dog on duty sounds too extreme for the area and conjures up images of crudely trained junk yard dogs to the average non dog layman. Barbara, it sounds like your dogs have things under control by you <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> lol Cool story <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

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"I don't dial 9-1-1, I dial B-O-X-E-R"

Others have the olbigatory, "My dog can make it to the fence in 2.5 seconds. Can you?"

I like those a lot too, but they sound taunting and I don't know how well recieved those would be.

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I've heard that putting up a No Trespassing or Enter at own Risk sign is a better way to go than putting up a Beware of dog sign.

Those sound reasonable, but I'm not 100% sure they have enough impact to keep kids out. The enter at own risk also sounds a little like I have the place booby trapped, lol.

Diane, I left them about 25 x 75 or so, which is more than ample space for them. The fence is 6 ft, which is the highest I can go. I like the "Be Aware" signs the best and I'll look for them, thanks! It's a subtle warning vs the black and orange crude Beware of Dog signs. Do you know where they sell them?

My only concern now is; am I incurring more of a liability by leaving the space open for kids to cut thru... Leaving an easement seemed to make more sense than daring them to hop the fence.

With my dogs I know kids under 14 have a sort of puppy license with them. I have no idea what they would do if they found someone older than that in the yard and I would prefer not to find out.

For normal, protective dogs, how about "Please do not enter, dogs in yard". But for dogs that you know may well bite, I think something stronger is warranted, in addition to a good fence. A picture of a snarling dog does not require translation into Spanish. The truth is that if a kid is bitten, and the parents sue, they will be able to find out about your dogs training and temperment, and bite history.

I don't put anything up that might attract attention. I don't want people in my yard but I also don't want the occasional nut case targeting my yard with poinson, just because I have a dog. I've heard too many horror stories I guess <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

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I was wondering if pretending to not know the propensity of ones dog is kind of seedy when you live in a normal area?

<img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

this struck me as kind of funny. glad you found an escape, barbara. it sounds nice. need a housesitter?

i live in a "normal" area--no doors locked, etc. lots of people here have "beware of dog" signs on their gates, or even just a yellow highway type sign with a black silhouette of their breed, and no words, is effective.

you should be concerned about liability issues. either fence off the whole property, or make sure your household liability insurance is adequate if some kid hurts himself. or maybe both.

"no trespassing" signs are a sure way to mark you as an outsider who doesn't understand the local culture and will make you seem unfriendly to your new neighbors.