"My neighbour's dog keeps breaking through the fence and attacking my dog"
"My neighbour's dog regularly poos outside my gate and she refuses to clean it up"
"A neighbour has an aggressive dog that he uses to intimidate all the local residents"
These complaints are common. The first step is always to speak politely to your neighbour, explain the problem, and try to agree a solution. But what if they refuse to cooperate?
Who Can Help with Dog Related Disputes?
Your local authority and police may assist with dog related disputes and anti social behaviour. Measures they can use include:
- Acceptable Behaviour Contracts
- Community Protection Notices
- Public Spaces Protection Orders
- Civil injunctions or Criminal Behaviour Orders
Check your legal rights in any neighbour dispute. Takes 1 minute.
Try our Neighbour Rights Checker free, here on this site →The Anti Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014
This Act gave police powers to tackle dog related problems early. It extends the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, making it an offence for a dog to be dangerously out of control anywhere, including in the owner's home. An attack on an assistance dog is an aggravated offence.
Acceptable Behaviour Contracts: These contracts (ABCs) aim to prevent issues through early engagement and education. They are not legally binding and breach is not an offence, but may be used as evidence in later prosecutions.
Community Protection Notices: Used for lower level incidents such as failure to control an animal where no one has been hurt, or where an animal is causing a nuisance. Only organisations or those over 16 can receive one. The test requires the behaviour to be detrimental to local quality of life, persistent, and unreasonable.
A notice can prohibit or require specific actions: for example, banning dog walking near a school at drop off times, requiring muzzling, neutering, fixing fences, or properly disposing of waste. Breach can result in a £100 fixed penalty or prosecution with fines up to £2,500 for individuals or £20,000 for organisations.
Your situation may be slightly different. ask a question below ↓ and our editorial team will reply with our advice.
Public Spaces Protection Orders
Under the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005, local authorities can make Public Spaces Protection Orders. These can require dog owners to keep dogs on leads in certain areas or clean up faeces.
The order applies to any land open to the air where the public have access. This could include shared residential passageways. Breach brings a fine specified in the order, or £75 if no sum is stated. A Community Support Officer can require a dog owner to provide their name and address: refusal or giving false details is itself an offence.
Other Legal Requirements
Collars: Under the Control of Dogs Order 1992, any dog in a public place must wear a collar showing the owner's name and address including postcode. Failure to comply can result in fines up to £5,000. Exceptions apply to police dogs, working sheepdogs, guide dogs, sporting dogs when competing, and emergency rescue dogs.
Microchipping: All dogs in England must be microchipped and registered. Puppies must be chipped by 8 weeks old. The only exemption is dogs that cannot be chipped for health reasons, certified by a vet. If an owner fails to comply after receiving notice, they have 21 days before facing a £500 fine.
If none of these measures resolve the problem, local authorities can pursue civil injunctions or Criminal Behaviour Orders in serious cases, particularly where there is a high risk of physical harm.
Could you please advise me on what to do. I'm going out of my mind!
Thank you so much
My local park is full of dog walkers letting their pets run riot, they run in circles around you when you just want to sit on a bench and take in the quiet. Dog sh1t is everywhere, it is time for the government to start issuing licences for these pets, dogs are high maintainance domestic animals and working people with families should not have them. They need to be trained and managed well which most people don't do. Arrogant.
I've no idea what else to do
Has dog that smells bad dog poo
It leads into my bottom floor apartment
Silent but clear and deadly , covering all areas
Tennant upstairs doesent give two hoots
About dirty virouses and fecies plus dirty dog pee ?
If dog is filthy owners must be filthy
Report is being evaluated about the area
my neighbors have 3 dogs dogs all the time barking noises and the neighbors' daughters bring their dogs. the smell of dog urine from the neighbors' garden is so strong that I can't open the kitchen windows.
The most I have seen in the garden is 16. The smell of dog dirt and dog urine means I cannot sit out and relax or eat, there are so many flies I have to keep the house windows closed.
How can a business be allowed in such a tight area, there have been a lot of complaints and nothing seems to be getting done about it.
She's just in Allen rd, 3 bungalows, and she's the last one before you turn into Morgan Way. Any advice please. None of us will knock as she sounds a very loud mouth person, and I can't go as I've got bad mobility problems. Thanks.
the dog is outside mostly all the time anyway the police have been out and are doing nothing
I contacted the police who advised me to contact the council and they advised me that its not really something they can help with
My neighbour has 2 police dogs which are kennelled outside and bark non-stop (at seemingly nothing), as a result they are destroying mine and my partners mental health.
We have a dog, as do every single other one of my neighbours, so I fully appreciate it is normal for dogs to bark sometimes...but this is relentless.
We have tried shouting over the fence when we have all been in the garden and asked them to politely quieten their dogs down, which they do, but it lasts all of 5 minutes and then they resume. I work from home full time and did prior to Covid-19 so this is not only affecting my personal well-being but also my ability to complete my job.
My question is, being as they are police dogs, is the government advice still the same or do we have some grounds to complain given the fact they are working dogs being housed at home? We live in a new build development and the neighbours only got the dogs last year but I can honestly say I would not have purchased my home had I have known that we were going to have to put up with this, we have even discussed selling the home. So sad as it's our first home as well and we love it here despite the pesky dogs next door!
I really am at the end of my tether and would greatly appreciate any advice from anyone.
Thank you.
My next door neighbour door no 11 dogs always leaving without led the dog charge on me couple of time today he charges on my daughter she was get scared keep running jumping behind on her.
What should I do? I suffer from anxiety, depression and PTSD so I'm petrified of even talking to her.
So my opinion this dog need a lot of space and exercise biggest concern is the boy of 18 and is lazy and they never take it for long walk or run at the park what is at the end of my road, this boy sooner lay in the bed and keep letting the dog out into the garden.
They rent the property and I do know there landlord , but I feel he likes a easy life. I really feel sorry for the this breed need outside space. So I would appreciated your advice and help and support.
I would never entertain a dog in these small flats
They have not really trained it and have let it get away with murder. The only person that is now paying the price of this is us next door to them. It is driving me insane and I dread it when they are going out as I know we are going to have to listen to it barking and running around the house for hours on end. Doing a noise diary and looks like an official complaint is going to have to go in now as nothing is changing with this dog!! Some people just shouldn't have dogs!!
Usual methods of reporting are not viable as the owners are involved with drugs (cannabis and marijuana). I don't particularly want to have a visit at 2am from someone trying to take my kneecaps off if I put in a complaint about their dog.
What can I do?
The dog hasn't physically attacked me but my wife, when passing by on a horse, has had the dog hanging from the horses tail.
I have reported it to South Somerset District Council who are seemingly not interested.
Do I take it up with the police?
1 to keep my doors closed so the dogs could not come into the house? - what the heck sort of answer is that it is MY house.
2 Did I have fencing in order to keep said dogs out (yes I do) but again is that my responsibility.
3 That cats are classed as feral and therefore dogs are allowed to chase them.
I cannot carry on like this, I am afraid to let my cats out. The dog warden maintains it is not there problem (it is the Police's) the Police say it is not, the RSPCA are not concerned. PLEASE someone who do I turn to for help.
We regularly get our neighbours aggressive staffy enter our property (Via our driveway) and have a go at our dogs through our garden gate! The owner currently thinks it is acceptable to walk down the public path along the back of our driveway with this dog off a lead and blames us for not closing our gate rather than admitting that she just needs to have her dog on a lead when walking home behind our properties. Just to make matters better we have been making a conscious effort to shut our driveway gates but now this dog (off a lead) is entering our driveway via our neighbours land and not only going at our dogs but the neighbours dog too! I also have two children and do not think this is acceptable as a daily occurrence and worry for them! The owner is very unreasonable and thinks there isn’t a problem and that our dogs bark first but my dog only actually barks aggressively back when that dog enters our land! Otherwise there is no problems! (We have also been told, that this specific owner has been told numerous times that her dog needs to wear a muzzle let alone be off a lead) Who do I speak to about getting this reported ? Had enough now so wanting to take it further! Many Thanks!
I did speak once this year regarding the dogs barking and was told I am harassing her. What are my rights as the smell is now a huge problem to my wellbeing and I can even smell it in my home. Also unable to eat outside on warm days.
Please advice...
Liz
These dogs are hunting animals, the owners need to control there pets.
I am so saddened after creating a wildlife haven.
I used to always notify the Owners but I receive verbal abuse.
They also have other dogs we tolerate as they don’t hunt .
Any advice would be appreciated
I moved because either side of me had dogs baking constantly and the only way out was to move to a 2 bed no pet policy flat with no garden. Then a year ago I contacted genesis housing to say my neighbours above moved in a dog which they denied they had after a year of being investigated they had to admit they had a dog. Now they are calling it a support dog (young fit family) I am climbing the walls on lock down listening to this large dog running around the flat all day barking. My partner and I are the most volnerable because of our ages and find ourselves breaking the lock down rules because we are so stressed out with this constant noise. I turn my tv to drown the noise and they stamp on the floor. Can anyone please help me what I can do?
It seems that I’m the problem neighbour with the bad dog, and the last thing I want is for people to upset and annoyed in their home all because of my dog. So I’m really wanting to know what advice you would give me, and any suggestions to settle this argument and the barking dog?
Thanks
When I go outside or let my dog’s out the barking is worse they also attack my fence with fence frustration. It’s hard not letting my dog’s retaliate, I stand outside trying to train them out of it. But these neighbours don’t do a thing, sometimes I hear them in the kitchen or bedroom (or the kids) watching me or acknowledging me and enjoying it. These people are council and I have made complaints for over a year now - morning. It’s causing me to delay letting dog’s out if they are outside, causing me to not want to use the garden, headaches and tension causing stress. Is there anything else I can do.
For 5 years now I've been complaining about the barking, the thumping on the floors as apparently they are constantly scratching, One of the dogs has bitten a friend of mine also myself in my own property, it has also bitten a work man and a neighbour, yet nothing is being done by the council or the police
The question i have is regarding a nuisance neighbour who teases his dog purposely to constantly bark indoors, knowing full well i can hear it in my property next door (terrace house, thin walls!)
This particular person never walks their dog, they just leave it indoors all day with access to a dog flap in the back door.
In my opinion, the said person doesnt deserve to own a dog and seems to get great enjoyment out of chastising the dog as mentioned as some way of entertainment.
My question is, is there any decent reliable electronic device i can invest in to stop the dog barking ?
Any ideas would be welcome.
As for ear defenders for me, i have some already.
As for trying to move house, my house is on the market.
As for buying a bigger dog, with a louder bark, well that wont solve anything.
In the meantime i would like to try and remedy the problem another way.
As for talking to the neighbour about it. Theyre unapproachable and I dont want to give them satisfaction in knowing what theyre doing is causing a problem.
Thanks for reading
They believed that the dog was barking due to lack of company so they bought another. We now have a barking chorus.
Is there any advice or help you can give us.
Thanks
It is your responsibility to keep your dog in your property, so if your dog can get into the neighbour's field, then you need to improve the fencing. Likewise, your neighbour's will have an obligation to fence their own property sufficiently to keep the sheep in.
ProblemNeighbours - 12-Sep-18 @ 9:56 AM
Thanks for your answer, very helpful. Just want to be absolutey sure, - so even though it is their fencing, it is OUR responsibility to improve THEIR fence......
Summer has come and this woman constantly keeps the dog out, but with the heat, we want to keep our french doors open too. We can’t however, as this dog continuously barks and growls at us through the window when the curtains are open, and snarls and tries to get in whenever the doors are even a little open. Today her door was shut, so I opened both doors - She opened her door 15 minutes later and the dog shot out and actually got half into my property snarling at me. She yelled at it (there's no real training, just yelling its name all the time) and I went to close the doors. She said oh don't close your doors, he's alright and I tell her that the dog continuously tries to get in, and my partner has dog allergies so I can't risk it (also true). She shrugs and walks back into the house mumbling to herself with the dog, 5 minutes later he's back snarling at my window (with the door only a fraction open).
It's happened nearly every day last 2 months or so, it growling and her yelling at it to stop, for it to do it again later. I know it's lack of training and the dog isn't used to us, but what can I do? She's aware of the issues but doesn't address them - What are my rights?
However ... someone keeps bringing their dog for a walk, and like clockwork allows them to poo on my front garden lawn when i’m out. I love dogs, but i’m not willing to clean up after someone else’s dog on my lawn. I have a suspicion of who it is as I was preparing to cut the lawn 2 weeks ago and a lady and her dog crossed the road and avoided talking to me when she seen me come out my house and allowed her dog to poo on the field nearby, but can’t be certain.
I haven’t made any enemies, have excellent neighbours and am a very unconfrontational professional! What should I do on this very difficult matter as I don’t want to accept having to constantly clean dog poo from someone else’s dog every day!
Unfortunately the dog barks constantly whenever someone enters or leaves the block of flats. All us other 5 residents work so this is frustrating. The sad thing is the dog is dangerous and has attaked 4 other dogs and nearly killing 3 of them. The council, rspca and police have all been contacted on numerous times and by many different people concerned for there pets and especially concerned about our children over the last 3 years and guess what...nothing has been done. Will it take a child to be seriously harmed before action is taken? The owner still lets the dog out without a lead and no mussel and it’s owner is unapproachable. Help!
I run a small building company. Where I presently work, the house owner has a beautiful dense tree lined garden. the Neighbour has two dogs, and there has always been a problem with these dogs entering my clients garden and defecating on their lawn. They also escape through the rear boundary, into another garden and then onto the road. The older dog also growls at me when I try to chase him back into his own garden, but I don't think he would actually attack anyone.
Now that the rear of their house is a building site, I've done my best to erect a temporary fence but the dogs still keep finding their way onto the road. The neighbours are insisting that my client instruct us to put up a permanent fence which would mean either losing several feet of their garden or cutting back the trees significantly. Aesthetically it will not look pleasant in my Client's garden.
I'd love to know legally the rights of the dog owner (as the building site could be dangerous for the dogs) and for my client. Who is responsible for keeping the dogs out of the garden and how can it be enforced?
All help appreciated!
Thankyou.
But we have a dog as well. She never did anything wrong to our neighbours, we keep her on the lead but sometimes she jumpes on the neighbours concrete fence. I guess she doesn't like it but never mentioned anything as she doesn't even say hi, just ignores us for no reason.
Today I found out she sprinkled some yellow stuff over her fence which looks like a glue. Very nasty thing to do as she has a little one year old boy who walkes around that fence, while holding it and they own a cat as well. But worse thing is there are kids playing around all the time.
Is there any place I could report this nonsense? I'm sure that's illegal. Thank you
We are now scared to take our dogs out which we’ve never been in the almost 14 years of having dogs, they are in a very set routine of having 5/6 walks a day. Something needs to be done if the owner even says ‘one is out to kill’, ‘next’ time we fear it could be much worse and don’t know how much more our old dog could take, please help as we’re sick of living in fear. What can we do and who can we report it to?
Kind regards
We live in a row of terraced houses with shared access to the back via a gennel.
The dog howls constantly whilst the owners are out, all of which I've been logging. The dog has also gone to bite my husband three times now and our neighbour has no control over the dog. We reported this to 101 and had a visit from PCSO's which wasn't helpful as the male PCSO dismissed the dog's behaviour as it is a JR x.
The neighbour on the other side of our next door neighbour has also complained to the local authority as the problem neighbour has a broken fence which she refused to repair. The problem dog has also tried attack our other neighbours dog.
The problem isn't getting any better and the neighbour now deliberately lets the dog out to chase our cat and the neighbours dog, this has been corroborated by our other neighbour.
I'm not sure where else to go as the problem neighbour owns their house.
I’m 6 months pregnant with my first and I’m really fed up of picking up dog poo Iv got so annoyed about it now Iv started to throw it back over but there Gardens still a building site so they down give a damn. What do I do?!
She has threatened to complain to d council about d dogs escaping- I have apologised. I don't want to, but I feel I will have to get rid of d dogs. I can't get rid of d husband as yet as I have 12 year old & I can't leave her home alone when I am at work. What can I do??
I've told them about it but their not bothered.
What can I do about this?
Who can I contact next?
They have a rotweiler. The couple both work all day and the dog is locked inside. It barks when anyone passes the front of their house. When they are home and the dog is out in the back garden which has a 6' fence the dog barks aggressively when any other dog walks along a nearby footpath. The dogs owners never tell it to be quiet . Worst situation is when we are in our garden the dog goes ballistic and charges at the fence and starts scrabbling under the fence digging a gap which eventually it will be able to get under. What can be done when owners cannot or will not train or control their dog. Any suggestions please.
Tonight alone I was heading out to gym when had to come back in as they were both stood at my car for over 40 minutes its becoming ridiculous. They are all over the road running across the street until eventually a passer by put them back in but couldn't lock the gate so after him knocking & me shouting over the fence & no one responding, they were back out in my drive again. Help
I have 4 dogs all very well behaved . But they do occasionally bark during day time hours . When some one visits or deliveries and when my aggressive loud /foul mouthed neighbour pulls up outside in her car with her terrier cross !! She's very aggressive and shouts a lot my dogs are actually scared of her . She has complained repeatedly that she can hear me and dogs running up and down stairs , general banging about( including closing cupboards , washing up , washing and sweeping back yard and dogs playing not barking but making growling play noises . Never after 9pm or before 7am . I never leave then I garden unattended and if they do bark i immediately stop them by saying calmly "enough " and they stop !! Her little dog yaps all the time and cannon balls fence in mini attack mode !! She exercises it in the communal back lane by repeatedly using a ball thrower to through ball up and down behind mine and other properties at 10.30 pm and let's get dog poop at will never cleaning it up !! Whereas my dogs are never off the lead out side of my garden . And never use it as a pooping ground . My father is a dog trainer so my dogs are well trained but dogs do bark at times !!
Recently one of my dogs has had a TTA serious Orthapedic operation to right a cruciate ligament rupture . Which means as we live in a three storie town house we are all living on the ground floor in utility room . As she can not go up and down stairs !!! I've explained this to her as sometimes because of pain and very strong painkillers that leave her confused and uncomfortable . So she's does quite vocal yawns .Through the day !! Not barking . And is cumbersome in her crate as she's on strict crate rest . Which means crate rattles etc .....she has sent me the most disgusting foul mouthed text messages which for 7 years j have always acted on and tried my best to live as silently as possible . Recently I replied that I was sorry that my dog had barked at her ! Once . But I added I thought she was being a bit unreasonable as was after 9am in the morning and I'd been present and the dog in question had stopped immediately . She went mental at me threatening me and lost her temper and sent more than 10 messages swearing at me etc.... Now I don't reply at all . She is very noisey but I've never complained when her and her teenage son have massive swearing shouting full blast at all times of day and night . Now she has reported me to council who are monitoring me that's what she said?!! At first I thought great as know dogs and myself live a quiet life . But she taunts dogs spraying fence white hose pipe , throwing bones etc ... Into my garden and blowing a whistle . Dropping pans in floor by fence which startles dogs causing them to bark . But they stop when instructed . She has caused many other neighbours problems and is well known as is the local hairdresser with a reputation of having a fiery temper !! It's ruining my daily life as can't relax or sleep pro
My next door neighbour got a dog last year and it never stops barking and growing when
I go into my garden. The owners know about it but hardly tells the dog to be quite. It only happens early morning and day time but it causes My depression to worsen due to the stress. My house is privately owned and there is community Holmes. I can't talk to them since they just either sit in the garden and stare at us when we go into our garden or shout
at the dog from inside there house. Any advice would be welcome.
and loved it here, my problem is my neighbours but one a younger couple no kids but 2 dogs onre of which is a English bull terrier. I have a large front garden and my house is situated on a beautiful corner plot in a sought after area there is a park across the road but these people prefer to open their door let the dogs out and off they go pooing all over pathway my grass as its all open not gated it ends up looking the pits my kids who are grown up cut the grass every couple of weeks and have to pick up all the dog poo befoe they start we tried to talk to them as it and its caused major problems were police have been called as ive been threatened to have dogs poo rubbed in my face its got so bad I live alone and work , the stress of this has made me put my house upp for sale even though there wont be enough funds left to buy anythink else once I payed the mortgage up and debts help 58 nowere to turn will my local council put me in a safe over 55 s accommodation any storys or advice appreciated
Next door have a dog it's a large male border collie and it is out in the front garden everyday the owner of it is also in the front garden on a night fixing cars along with his friends 3-4 of them, I have had 2 incidents where the dog has ran at me the 2nd time it went to bite me but the owner called it off before it could get to me, Yesterday it ran at me and bit my leg I tried to kick it, the owner saw it and called it off again, It left a red mark on my leg but didn't draw blood? If I report it they will know it was me who did it, They are not the type of people I want to have problems with, I have no idea what to do? what if it was a child it went for instead of me? Could anyone give me any advice as to what to do? Thankyou in advance, I appreciate it.
Have said to her before about it on numerous occasions, no joy
Now she looks after another dog as well & the barking is more than twice as bad, especially when she lets them both runabout outside
Whether they are inside or out, have to close Windows when they start
Plus, despite us both having our own garden, they use the communal drying green (out two flats only), for the dogs to do their business & if it was an extension of their property as they are on ground floor - especially if doing a washing, she'll use my washing lines to hang her washing & often there is no room to hang my own
Let's got get started on them claiming both parts of my land & the communal ground as theirs & building a shed on it
All of which is driving me crazy - they seem, especially her, that because they have lived there longer, then she can do as she likes.
Unfortunately we are both homeowners.
She can hold a grudge if you fall out or question her on something
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