Hi,
Do you have warning signs on your property?

We had a discussion at our club on this and there was a difference of opinion as to whether you would be more or less likely to be charged by the police if your dog attacked someone on your property if you had a warning sign or not.

I'm in the UK so it may be different over here.

I'd be interested if anyone knows anything on this

thanks

John

In the USA where lawsuits happen more often than people eat, and we eat a lot... It is suggested that you post your house/yard whatever, if there is any risk.

Unfortunately, if I posted Golden Retriever On Duty, I think the burglars would line up to rob the house. :-)

I think you'd be better off by a No Trespassing sign. Otherwise it might be interpreted that you were aware you had a dangerous dog and didn't take proper precautions to restrain/contain them.

I like the idea someone posted on here before: Have a No Trespassing sign AND a sign on the door/window that says, "In Case of Emergency, Please Rescue German Shephed."

That makes people aware of the fact that they're trespassing AND you have a guarding-type dog.

Well the reality is that you can post a No Trespassing Sign and you can Post that you have a dog ... but no matter what, they can still sue you and possibly win.

That is litagation for you... :-)

Of course you could always sue them right back for traumatizing your dog.......

Mr. Thomson,

This question and/or variations is/are asked and discussed often here.

Bluntly, no matter how often it is discussed, the same ranging opinions are offered. So, I'll toss in my opinion...

No sign. At least no sign that warns you have a dog, or boa constrictor, or Yeti, or whatever. In theory such a sign is an outward and visible admission on your part that your dog, snake or Abominable Snowman might cause injury or be threatening. In the US, such an admission is a very bad bit of information for some one to wave around at either trial - criminal or civil.

I don't know what the rules of evidence are in GB but in a US civil trial - the one for damages - a lot of stuff can come in that might not make the cut in a criminal proceeding. In either case, why provide additional 'evidence' by posting a sign?

A no trespassing sign is fine. It is your property, and it is fair to advise people to stay away.

Or maybe a sign like: "I am praying for you that my dog won't be preying on you." Tongue-in-cheek.

"Signs, signs, everywhere there's signs
F'n up the scenery, breakin' my mind
Do this, don't do that, can't you read the sign"
The Five Man Electrical Band

I admit it... I'm tired and out of coffee!

Thank you very much for all your posts guys, My input into the discussion at the club was that I had read posts and the general jist of it was if you place a warning sign you are ackowledging/admitting that your dog is dangerous.........clearly a big grey area.

I have no signs ( and my wife is a signwriter) but two territorial GSD's!

thanks

John

No opinions needed on this one guys...I took in a dog a while back that was roaming the streets. Actually, I didn't even really take it in, I would just give it water and food out in the garage. So it hung around my house...guess it decided it was home. Anyhow, one morning some dumb woman was walknig her dog off leash in front of my house and her dog attacked it in front of my house. Well, the rescue dog was no stranger to conflict because she ended up taking care of business, protected her territory ferociously. Good thing my son was watching from the bedroom window. Anyhow, she called the police on us, make a long story short. The dogcatcher came to comfiscate a vicious dog (whatever) and when he got to our house and I explained she wasn't mine, he made mention of my sign posted on my fence that says beware of dog. Well, my dogs aren't going to do anything but together with the sign and their barking I would hope it would deter a trespasser. He told me that having that sign posted would automatically admit guilt in court. How bout that? I told him to come meet my dogs and of course they licked him half to death so he was assured that it wasn't because of any threat they might cause. I told him I would have taken in the rescue dog but already had two and was afraid to put the two females together. So, we tried it and the rescue dog about ate my border collie for lunch (she was some kind of Boxer/Amer. Pit mix). Fortunately, I had posted flyers all over the neighborhood. He ended up taking that sweet dog away and I never knew what happened to her. Anyhow, that is straight from the policeman's mouth. There is no doubt that posting these signs will and can cause issues. Funny isn't it? Someone stupid enough to go through a sign like that and they have the right to sue...welcome to the Criminal Justice System...justice for the criminals.

I have a sign that simply says "Dog on Premises". My feeling is that it makes it clear there is a dog, but makes no warning statement. It allows a potential intruder to infer what they will while implying nothing about the dog's temperament. Hopefully a safe choice.

Well how ever many times this subject has come up it is new to me, but it is timely as I was actually thinking about this earlir today. Thank's for the info. Many are the times that reason and logic take a back seat to reality, when it comes to legal matters. Obviously this is one of those subjects-Knowing this-I am not now going to admit to anyone of the dangers that lurk in my backyard.