I would assume that he is also feeling uncomfortable and out of control with his dog. The defensiveness indicates that he is not happy with the situation. There was a Cesar Milan episode that dealt with an entire apartment complex where many people had dogs and they were having multiple dog/dog issues.

How many people in your complex have dogs? Are they interested in improving the neighbourhood culture by working together to organize skills development and handler protocols? For example, rather than singling out the neighbour with the most problematic dog, could you make it a community activity for improving the whole dog handling culture in the complex?

I'm thinking of opportunities for pack walks, Sunday afternoon group training sessions, etc. At the same time, if this particular owner doesn't understand the magnitude of his dog's problems, he probably doesn't know what his dog needs to be calm and confident around other dogs. Exercise, discipline, training.

Concurrent with these activities, could you organize with your neighbour to avoid dog/dog confrontations? What times/routes does he usually use? And you? Is there a way to time your excursions to reduce possible contact?

Finally - do you have a hat cam? You could put a video on your head and start videotaping your own comings and goings. If he knows you are recording your activities, he will probably avoid you if he possibly can.

You have a baby mallinois, right?

Another thing to consider: it is very likely that some day in your future your dog will scare the crap out of someone by doing absolutely nothing.

There is even a potential that your dog may mature and one day catch you off guard with a surprise of an unwanted display of aggression. *

If another one of your neighbors felt worried around your dog, how would you want them to handle it?

The golden rule.

(*Because he is a young dog, regardless of breed)

As an owner of a dog aggressive dog I know the extra work it takes to manage those situations that are potentially dangerous.

I move to the other side of the street during walks to keep the peace. I am extra careful to make sure my dog is never loose in an environment where I am not in complete control. I have the necessary equipment (such as proper leashes, etc)and I carry a stick on walks to protect my dogs and any other dogs that might be loose and that may approach us.

In fact I have saved several dogs lives over the last year or so because people leave their dogs in unsecured yards or behind doors that open easily and if I didn't scare them away their curiosity would get them killed.

Your neighbor sounds like an idiot and the type of person that a-shouldn't own any dog and b-is just one incident away from a real problem. Unfortunately the price will be paid by his and someone else dog.

Its our job to protect our animals and your neighbor seems to be the type that doesn't use common sense. Good luck.

 Quote: lauren jeffery

You have a baby mallinois, right?

If another one of your neighbors felt worried around your dog, how would you want them to handle it?

Yes, baby Malinois. That sounds so cute, though people have stopped saying "OMG Look at the puppy" and have graduated to "Jesus, that's a big dog!"

I guess this is where my inner conservative comes out--I'd say "Well, they wouldn't have to 'handle' anything, because my dog is always on a short leash, not a 20-foot retractable, and is made to wait until I go through doors first. And he gets proper exercise and stimulation and doesn't want to attack other dogs." Long story short--barring a freak accident or a huge mistake on my part, no one is ever going to have to 'deal with' my dog. And I have Leerburg to thank for that.

Jenny--a lot of people in my complex have dogs, and many households have two. This is "the place to be" in Reston if you have dog(s) and don't own or want to pay a ton of $$ in rent.

As I've said here before (with mixed results :P), that attracts two types of dog owners: young, energetic ones who exercise a great deal of control and conscientiousness where their dogs are concerned...or older (40+) people who have resigned themselves to having zero control of unruly animals and are frankly too stubborn to make any Leerburg-style adjustments. My next-door neighbor falls into the latter category, as does the woman who lets her American Bulldog run off-leash, as does the gentleman who threatened to kill me after I took exception to him letting his Lab rush Roger and I w/no warning.

The guy next door actually complained to me about the difficulties of walking two dogs at once, especially when one of them is such a handful. I said to him, "This may be dumb, but have you tried walking them separately?" He looked at me like I was crazy, and said something to the effect of "I couldn't do that to the one that got left behind, they'd go crazy!"

He hasn't contacted me yet. But I'm open to using a different door and changing up my routine to just avoid contact. The ideas about really trying to help him and the community are good, and are the right, Christian thing to do. But I barely have time to train/walk my own dog, and it's much easier to just buy bear spray.

Alec--I wish this guy would take it half as seriously as you do.

Hi Ross,
I know how hard you're working on this situation to make it better and unfortunately it doesn't sound like you're getting much support (if any) from the other dog owners which is a shame (especially for all the dogs).

I'm just curious - what are the stipulations about owning dogs in your building? Is there anything written in the rental agreement that you can fall back on if nothing else seems to work?

I'll probably get grief for this, but if there are so many unruly dogs (and I know you can't possibly take on all of the owners to make the dogs a more pleasant pack) and there is something in the rental agreement about letting them run loose, etc., perhaps the rental office can send out a "general letter" reiterating these guidelines?

Again, I have never lived in a complex with my dogs, so I'm just trying to think about what I would do if I were in your situation.

I also think you're much kinder hearted than I would probably be given the situation I'm afraid you may end up having to take a tougher stand about this situation in order to keep yourself and your "baby mal" (I call mine a "mini-mal ) safe. I would truly hate to see anything happen to either of you.

Again, JMHO (humble opinion). Too bad Cesar can't come make your building a happy place for dogs!

I'm late on this subject, but it sounds like you rent, not own a condo or something. I also rent, and have 2 large dogs. (well behaved, under control, and non-dog aggressive)

I'm lucky, and I live in a very pet friendly complex (but if they knew what a DS was, I'm sure they'd be banned, just like GSD, etc) I've complained SEVERAL times to our management about other peoples dogs. For my neighbors, all it took was a 'warning' and wrist slap by the management. They got a letter, cautioning them that there had been complaints about the dogs being out of control while on leash, and that residents were worried about the safety of children and other pets.

Presto- dogs on shorter leashes. Still wild and crazy, but not within fight-range of my dog.

Ross - I have been reading this thread and sincerely feel for you. We have a neighbor that lives next door, granted we live on horse property and not a complex, with a dog worse than what you're describing, and no leash or fence to stop it. I have had to call animal control several times, the sheriff's dept and the livestock board because she refuses to control or contain her dogs. The worse one is a dogue de bordeaux who is now 8, she didn't spay, got pyometra last year so had to spay, and is a mean junkyard dog. This dog comes charging over when I get in my truck, ride my horse out of my yard, etc. I have lost goats, chickens, cats, and other neighbor's animals to this dog, but we can't seem to get anything done. Even shot the dog once when it attacked us in our barn. We finally had to pay to totally contain our property. I finally bought the $40 bottle of bear spray. It only took 1 time in the face. I now keep it at my back gate and grab it everytime I go in or out. She will run at me, bark but will not come within 100 ft of me. If your neighbor refuses to listen to you I would tell him you're sorry but you will have to utilize a means to protect yourself and your pet. Keep a can in your pocket, if the dog gets too close spray it. Everyone on here will slash me, I've said some real contoversial things here, but darn it, we have a right to responsible dog ownership. If others won't participate, you have to protect yourself. My rottie wound up in the vet ripped up from this dog once, do you think she apologized or offered to pay the vet bill? Even since the dog came on our property and tried to attack us? She tells all the authorities her dog is not vicious and short of a lawsuit don't know how else to handle it. We can't enforce her to keep dog contained, especially when she is never home.

Everyone on here will slash me, I've said some real contoversial things here, but darn it, we have a right to responsible dog ownership. If others won't participate, you have to protect yourself.

I won't slash you..I like what you say.

"Everyone on here will slash me .... we have a right to responsible dog ownership. If others won't participate, you have to protect yourself."


I am honestly puzzled as to why you say that. I can point to a dozen threads here about protecting our own animals from uncontrolled uncontained dogs.

Sorry but this makes sense to me too.
I fenced in my yard because one of my dogs is aggresive to other dogs. Since my dog was the problem it was my responsibility to secure the situation.
Your neighbor in your building is foolishly risking injury to himself and others (dogs and/or people).