Anyone have any suggestions on how to handle this?

This afternoon I looked out onto my deck, because my lab had alerted to something out there--my neighbor's pit bull was on the deck, giving him the stare-down. When I approached the door, he started throwing himself at it, jumping up higher than my head (I'm 5'6). I tried opening the door just a crack and yelling, tried making some large, dominant gestures, no luck. Tried letting my dog (going nuts at this point)charge the door--not even a flinch. He just kept circling and coming back at the door.

Their land-line phone has been disconnected and I don't have a cell number for them. I wound up sneaking out the front door, running out to my car, and driving to the neighbor's. I had to lean on the car horn until she came out with a flexi lead designed for a poodle (!). I told her that her dog was on my deck and she needed to come get it now. I also told her that I have young children coming home and I'm fearful for their safety, and that she can't have a dog like that without getting some training. She seemed....puzzled. You've all heard it--"he's very friendly, just excited"

We have leash laws, and these people normally have the dog on a leash. It had obviously gotten out accidentally (of course, if it were trained, it wouldn't have left the house or yard without permission!) It's a small neighborhood, so I don't want to start a feud, but I need to know that I can step into my yard with my own dog and puppy without being attacked because these people lost track of their dog. I also no longer feel comfortable letting my older children (12 and 14) take the puppy out for his frequent potty breaks, which puts a serious cramp in my style.

Thanks for your suggestions, serious and otherwise :-)

You've given her a warning. Next time (hopefully there won't be), take a picture with your cell phone or camera, and call animal control or the police dept.

I think you handled it well. If it happens again, call animal control and tell the owners that next time you are calling the police. You said all the right things (you were concerned for the safety of children, etc.)

I'm not convinced that training alone is enough to keep most dogs in their own yards, but the owners certainly need to do something. It is irresponsible at the very least to let a dog wander into a neighbors yard.

Are you able to fence your yard? I know having a fenced yard (when I had one) saved me a boatload of stress and grief in terms of neighbors' dogs.

Better than a picture--I used my cell phone to take a 30 second movie!

I know training won't be 100% foolproof, but it usually serves to make clueless owners a little bit more aware. And, after all, that's the real problem here. Dog was just being dog.

 Quote: Kirsten Tolley

Better than a picture--I used my cell phone to take a 30 second movie!

Nice! Save it just in case...

I know this is a pain in the rear suggestion, but this is exactly the kind of thing that makes persuading your hubby to put up a (relatively speaking) cheap picket fence around the back yard a good idea. I think for most experienced owners who take the time to actually train their dogs, it tends to be much more a matter of keeping random creatures out of your yard than keeping your own dog in.

Now that we have a fence, I no longer get visitors at my sliders and for that matter our tick problem has diminished (no more deer in the yard) and I haven't had a dog with a mouthful of porcupine quills this year. The fence doesn't have to even be particularly sturdy if its main purpose isn't to keep your dogs in. I had a terrible time convincing my husband to put in a fence. Luckily he wanted a pool so we had to get a fence around the yard for that.

I wouldn't wait until next time. You have children and a dog. If this Pit didn't flinch as you described than his behavior is unpredictable.

I would call the local authorities just to pay a visit next door and make sure your neighbors understand the seriousness of this. No action needs to be taken on the part of the authorities. Just a stern warning about keeping their dog contained.

You putting in a fence is a great idea too.

Too many stories of loose dogs hurting or killing other dogs or children.

An ounce of prevention...