Neighbor dog on my property harassing wildlife

[plowhog]

My neighbor has two dogs. One of them likes to run. None of our properties are fenced. He has about 5 acres, I'm closer to 100. I know his dog is frequently on an obscure part of my property, as my trail cams catch pictures of him.

Yesterday, the dog was in my pond, chasing the ducks and geese and barking. I both chased it away and tried to pepper spray it. It ran home but not before barking at me.

I've mentioned this to my neighbor before, and things got better for a while. Last time we spoke, it was left up to me that I would contact him again if the problem persisted.

I need to contact the neighbor again. He is friendly and responsible. But he is gone a lot for work, and I'm pretty sure it is his wife that lets the dog loose. Every time I visit their home the dogs are in the yard unrestrained.

I need to keep on good relations with this neighbor, as we have shared interests in something. So, what would be a good approach to solving the dog problem, without creating a neighbor problem?

I do realize I could shoot a dog harassing the wildlife. But I did agree to communicate if the problem continued, which it has. Ideas?

 

[defranks]

In my experience, there IS no good solution to a neighbor who won't control his dog(s). I've finally come to the conclusion that I will never again complain to a neighbor about a dog. Instead, if a dog is threatening my livestock or, as in your case, the wildlife, it will simply fail to go home.

I had a real problem with a neighbor's dog that was constantly on my property (I had 10 acres, he had 5.) Many attempts to get him to control his beast failed. One day his dog chased my cat up onto my deck. The cat was able to get to the next level and avoid the dog, so no harm there. I was going to shoot the dog, but it came up to me wagging its tail and I realized the problem really wasn't the dog's fault, so 357 in-hand I grabbed the dog by the collar and started to walk it back to the neighbor's house. The neighbor happened to be coming down my driveway, saw the gun and the dog, and I told him that I was within seconds of killing the dog. After that the visits almost stopped. That same dog chased another neighbor's cat into her home and killed it in her living room. If that had been my dog I would have put it down that day. And by the way, I like dogs, but dislike irresponsible dog owners.

So... if I were in your shoes and found that dog on my back forty I'd kill it, bury it, and never mention it to anyone.

 

[Peter 315]

Its not the dog's fault it's the owner I would feel better if you shoot him and buried him in the back yard ......:2cents:

 

[Jstpssng]

Its not the dog's fault it's the owner I would feel better if you shoot him and buried him in the back yard ......:2cents:

Amen to that. It's too bad that is socially unacceptable... so the dog pays for the actions of an irresponsible owner.

 

[Redbug]

Its not the dog's fault it's the owner I would feel better if you shoot him and buried him in the back yard ......:2cents:

I fully agree.

 

[Fuddy1952]

A few years ago a dog started hanging around here. Seemed friendly, a Husky, but I told wife don't pet or feed it!
It became a nuisance tearing up things in the garden shed. The last straw was coming home finding downspouts ripped off the house. I called police department, deputy came out, said if I could find owner I could sue them.
When they left, I went around neighborhood and found owner who came out later replacing downspouts.
I wanted it to remain civil. Then I remembered I had this large dog pen I stored, so I gave it to him. That solved the problem.
Now we have new neighbors other side who's four dogs don't tresspass but bark incessantly. Thankfully houses aren't close.
I sent them a text which helped for a while, but started again.
Based on the owner's age and rap ("music"?) I heard I got out a huge boom box, playing 60s rock aimed at their house...well over 100db. We left a few hours. That's been a couple weeks ago. I think they got the message. It's been very nice and quiet here.
In the OPs case I would check with animal control. And/or simply call or if you see them out go over. Explain in a nice way we have a problem. What can we do as a solution? Maybe have a few pictures to show, someone with you good as a witness also. Emphasize you want to remain good neighbors while protecting and enjoying your property.
I know it's an expense on your part but I solved animals coming over with an electric fence, wire about 6"-8" off ground.
Groundhogs, dogs, cats get zapped and don't cross.

 

[Gary Fowler]

Good fences make good neighbors. One of the first things I did was fence in my property with net wire and chain link fencing. It not only keeps other things out but keeps all my animals in (except my pea cock who flies over it like it isn't there).

 

[RickB]

Shoot the dog then report it as you promised.

 

[buck12]

On the road where my rural property is located there is one house. The home owner has a few acres. I own 72 acres. Various family members own approximately 500 acres and we lease hunting rights on another 750 acres. It’s turkey season and twice this season the neighbors dog has messed up my hunts. The other day I pulled up to my cabin and dog was standing there. I retrieved something from under the truck seat and thought about taking care of the problem but decided to give the mutt a warning instead. I haven’t seen him since.

It’s not the dogs fault his owners are selfish and don’t care about others. It’s amazing that some folks could care less about other people but that’s the world we live in.

The dog was given his warning next time I won’t feel guilty. We have two pets and they don’t bother a soul off our property.

 

[plowhog]

I told the neighbor I would communicate again if the problem arose. So shooting the dog without doing that is not right. I need to stay true to what I agreed to.

I am hoping to figure out a diplomatic way to communicate that the problem needs to be solved. And there will not be any more warnings if it is not, since I would become the one solving it at that point. Again, I have other things in common with this neighbor. If I act heavy handed about this, it could create other difficulties which I don't want. I think the neighbor will be cooperative, and I am just trying to figure out the best approach.