are your dogs barking at your neighbors and their dogs over a hidden/invisible fence???? If so, no wonder they are intimidated. You might consider putting up a privacy-type fence between the properties, that neighbors and dogs can't see through. That would cut down the barking, and the intimidation/fear factor and still allow your dogs to do what they are supposed to do - bark at people that are outside their property, within reason.

molly

I don't know if this will be the most popular thought on this thread, but...

David Lattall's description of the neighbor is more or less like this:

"My issue is with a neighbor who is an attorney, he has told me I have 2 weeks to get rid of my dogs or he will do it for me."

And this neighbor's issue is:

"my dogs bark at him and his wife when they take out their dog or get close to my fence, he claims they are vicious and a nuisance."

At the risk of sounding prejudiced (which I am not), from this description, I feel like I might have met the type. Some lawyers are amazing A-holes with a huge, huge chip on their shoulder, and they like how it feels to intimidate people and mess with their heads. I've had to interact with several attorneys (not in court or anything), and some of them just had those psychologically abusive characteristics. The description of this situation plus the specific demand "get rid of your dogs or I will do it for you" gives me that impression. It's very bully-like in what is basically a non-nuisance situation with two reasonably normal-sounding german shepherds.

David's dogs have actually done next to nothing wrong - barking at a neighbor once in a while, from the owner's own property, isn't that just what dogs do?

The suggestions here for David to try no-bark collars to silence his dogs in an effort to pacify the neighbor are understandable. But at the same time, I ask myself, is it fair for a dog to have to wear a no-bark collar every minute it is outside for fear that the bully lawyer neighbor will poke his head outside and hear a bark? And is it fair for David to have to deal with this kind of intimidation?

The world isn't always a fair place and I know that. In real life, sometimes you have to cope with things that shouldn't be, and do things to pacify bullies.

Having said all of that more abstract stuff, I did have some concrete ideas that might be useful.

Personally, if I were you, I WOULD get a consultation with an attorney (which was your first idea when you came onto this board). I googled and found one that might work for you: http://www.speerlaw.com/index.htm . He's in Georgia and he handles civil litigation. Maybe your own lawyer will tell you that when your neighbor talks about taking your dogs away from you under these circumstances, he's full of sh-- steam. Or maybe your neighbor shuts up and leaves you alone when he gets a letter of representation from your own lawyer. Or who knows what legal options are open to you. There are a lot of variables here, and talking to your own lawyer sure sounds like a good option. It evens the playing field a bit between you and the neighbor.

The keeping of logs in order to fight your neighbor in court sounds great, but once again, a lawyer of your own who understands this stuff might have suggestions on just how to do it, and other stuff.

Second idea: I wonder if one of those 6 foot wooden privacy fences would help? Maybe not even all the way around the yard, but at least on the side of the yard where the problem neighbor is. If the dogs can't see the neighbor and don't bark at him in his yard any more, let's see what he can base his barking and viciousness lawsuit on then?

Third idea: if you keep your dogs or don't move to get away from that neighbor, you might want to poison-proof your dogs, IE: train them to refuse to eat food just thrown into your yard. This INCLUDES if you do something to pacify the neighbor such as no-bark collars or a privacy fence. I am not trying to sound paranoid, but you see, my childhood best friend dog, a harmless Golden Retriever, was murdered while in his fenced-in yard by an A-hole with some rat poison. In that case there was no overt pissed-off neighbor and no warning. There's information on the leerburg.com web site on how to poison-proof dogs.

Hope it works out ...

thanks all very much,i live in a subdivision with strict codes my fence is a 5 ft high spear top rod iron,we were prevesly only allowed 2 types of fences and finally the board approved this type,so i jumped on it it was 10k,we are not allowed a privacy fence here,during or confrontation the neighbor suggested i put one up in addition to the one i allready have and he stated he wouldnt say anything to the homeowners ass,but i can t take his word,1 complaint it would have to come down or id be fined per day. ur summerization of the events is correct.....the dogs are not left out for long periods....its just they cum out to do there dog thing wich is fine.....ive tried to alternate my times when i get mune out,but some how the neighbors are always doing there thing at the same time......right now ive hired a contractor to install an invis fence on wed with hopes it wil solve there fear...and with any luck it may curd the barking at them...i have done some research and have found mixed reviews on the effective ness and humanness of the no barks

As much as I dislike lawyers that use their law degree to intimidate people I would try to see his side. Dogs can get through or over fences if they wanted to. If they did and his kid or dog was injured he wouldn't be your neighbor anymore b/c he would own your home. Him being a lawyer, he has probably heard about many dog bite cases. Better to play it safe and protect your assets and your dogs.


I dont know what your lot is like but I would consider building an enclosed cyclone dog run on the other side of your back yard. Put bark collars on your dogs and your problem is solved.

It will be cheaper in the long run and far less stressful.

Sorry to hear neighbor stories like this. Good luck.
Vikki

 Quote: laura herrmann

At the risk of sounding prejudiced (which I am not), from this description, I feel like I might have met the type. Some lawyers are amazing A-holes with a huge, huge chip on their shoulder, and they like how it feels to intimidate people and mess with their heads. I've had to interact with several attorneys (not in court or anything), and some of them just had those psychologically abusive characteristics.

i know the kind, and while i definitely would try to work this out, i just thought i'd add this:

any time someone immediately threatens legal action, without first asking politely, i'm personally less inclined to do what they're asking.

if you want something from me, ask nicely. if i'm a dick about it, by all means exercise your legal rights. but ask first.

to the OP: it's my experience that your dogs will very quickly figure out that "collar on equals no barking" - give them some credit. the first time one of them lets out a bark with the collar off, they'll start figuring it out, and it's my very-uneducated belief that it won't hinder their ability to operate as a crime deterrant.

good luck.

I suppose the bottom line is just do what you have to do to keep your dogs safe from your neighbor (in case of the poisoning which is a very good idea to watch for and train), if indeed he would be willing to go that far. Not to be rude to Laura Herrman, please do not be offended, but we only have one side to the story and that is all we can go on. No offense to David Lattal, either. I learned from my sister to take what she says with a grain of salt (and with some sympathy to the other person) and try to analyze the situation from both sides. Maybe I am wrong and this guy is a total jerk like Laura said (I think it was Laura? Anyway), but even if he is a total jerk, for some stupid reason he feels like he has been wronged in this situation. I always feel bad for people like that. Maybe he was wronged or not, but in his mind he feels that way. Even if he is a total jerk (not saying he isn't or is-I have never met the guy) you do still have your rights as a dog owner, and that is part of living in America. I guess all I'm saying is that I truly hope you can work this out with the lawyer neighbor and fix the problem before it escalates into something really bad, like what happened to poor Laura Herrman's best friend (I'm very sorry about that-it may have happened a long time ago, but I know how painful that is to lose your best friend). That poor dog and her family probably never saw it coming. I hope nothing like that happens to your dogs. People that do that to other people's dogs should seriously be shot.

Again, I got sidetracked, dang it. Sorry.

If you can't make peace with your neighbor (and you never know until you try-he has only seen people war, he might not think about someone actually being kind about a war he started), at the very least, as Laura Herrman said, protect your dogs. If you think a bark collar is inhumane, it's much more humane than having someone poison your dogs. My dog had a shock collar and it was much more humane than the underground fence thing, I thought. She would yipe when she got too close to the fence, but she had to learn to stay off the porch (we had to get the underground fence to keep her away from the house instead of in the yard-we have lots of acreage and she could go anywhere she wanted so long as she stayed off our newly carpeted porch, lol), which didn't last long. Anyway, she wasn't much of a barker so when we put it on, it didn't really make a difference (we only did it because our neighbor's dog barked a lot and we wanted to use something to start a conversation that I am a light sleeper and we heard dogs barking-he never got the hint and his dog still barks, but he is a great guy and we chose not to battle over it and made sure our dogs were kenneled in the house so we knew it wasn't our's, lol, we aren't fighters, we can live with the barking because our neighbor is my husband's best friend). She would bark when people came over and she didn't care if it shocked her. We kept the frequency (for lack of a better word) turned very low so it was uncomfortable for her to have on but it was worth it if someone came around (which we knew long before she did, lol because of our long winding driveway). Perhaps you should buy one, read the manual, try it out for a week or so, and if you still think it is inhumane (which I totally love it when I lived in an actual neighborhood and people put those things on their stupid Yorkies-no offense, I can't stand the little yappers unless they're well mannered-and I have yet to meet one that is-of course, I have only ever seen 2, lol), then send it back and say you are not happy with the product. But regardless, you should definitely think about the safety of your dogs first. And keep in mind that it is much more humane to have a turned down, low voltage, bark collar on than to have your dogs poisoned or something close to it.

Again guys, sorry for the novel..........lol! No offense meant towards anyone out there who might like Yorkies, I'm just not one of those people...........lol

It seems to me this is an easy fix. Make sure you have some great dog training in place (if not, find a trainer) so you have dogs that WILL come to you when they are in the yard, and WILL stop barking (or not start?) when you are in the yard.

And then, this is the important part, the part that will hopefully save your dog's lives...... when the dogs are in the yard, SO ARE YOU! At least until this gets all straightened out and calmed down with your neighbor. If the dogs in the yard, barking at your neighbor are the problem, than REMOVE the problem. And that's the barking dogs.

I agree that I would want my dogs to still bark in the house. Cause the house is where I am and my valuables and what I want protected (or at least people scared away from). The yard? Don't care about my yard. Nothing in my yard. And if my neighbors are bothered when my dogs DO bark in the yard, I can fix that.

Be cheaper than buying another fence and bark collar(s) too. And help work with the relationships with your dogs. As well as showing your neighbor you are taking his concerns seriously and dealing with the situation in an immediate and mature manner. Another responsible dog owner, who doesn't love that!?

Never forget the old adage: "Good Fences make Good Neighbors". If your fence is flimsy or see through, you may want to put up a better fence, as previously suggested. And as another poster noted, a tired dog is a quiet dog - make sure your dogs are getting enough exercize!!

lol! Good way to put it!

 Quote: Jenn Kavanaugh

It seems to me this is an easy fix. Make sure you have some great dog training in place (if not, find a trainer) so you have dogs that WILL come to you when they are in the yard, and WILL stop barking (or not start?) when you are in the yard.

And then, this is the important part, the part that will hopefully save your dog's lives...... when the dogs are in the yard, SO ARE YOU! At least until this gets all straightened out and calmed down with your neighbor. If the dogs in the yard, barking at your neighbor are the problem, than REMOVE the problem. And that's the barking dogs.

I agree that I would want my dogs to still bark in the house. Cause the house is where I am and my valuables and what I want protected (or at least people scared away from). The yard? Don't care about my yard. Nothing in my yard. And if my neighbors are bothered when my dogs DO bark in the yard, I can fix that.

Be cheaper than buying another fence and bark collar(s) too. And help work with the relationships with your dogs. As well as showing your neighbor you are taking his concerns seriously and dealing with the situation in an immediate and mature manner. Another responsible dog owner, who doesn't love that!?

I couldn't have said it better.