Why A Dog At Large on My Property Irks Me





Bad picture of this dog, but the owner was able to identify as theirs.

These neighbors (who own this dog) complain about other dogs even when viewing them from 20 feet away, obeying the law and under voice control...because they are afraid of large breed dogs.   Yet they have no problem with their own large breed dog (or Jack Russel) being at large, unsupervised, on their neighbors' land.   This is not the first time either.  One year the Great Pyrenees that they had (and subsequently got rid of for aggression) was on our property with one of the Jack Russel.   Rather than admit that these were her dogs (and other trespassing infractions from her family and various ATV vehicles), I got this instead:

"As I have said from the beginning I have NEVER been on your property, even prior to you living there, so any claim of that is false and can never be proven."  Hence the necessity to carry a camera around, since if there is no documented proof, it simply did not happen.  Luckily, other neighbors reports and animal control reports proved this to be inaccurate.

"I have viewed your land lot and am now clear on where your lot is. I had no idea prior to today where you land lot was. Prior to our meeting last weekend I did not know you, although I have seen you out walking your dogs. Moving forward from today I will make a point that none of my dogs cross over the line during our walks in the woods.I do not ride the ATV's but when people do I will reiterate where they can and cannot ride and the property lines. I enjoy my dogs and walking in the woods but never intentionally have allowed them cross over into other people's property. Over the years I have had some disobey the rules from time to time and if they crossed onto your property I am sorry.I was not aware they were troubling you."  Her above words were amended only after much discussion and proof were presented.  Perhaps if she had been WITH her dogs, we could have discussed where my land lot was, and also dogs in York Maine are not allowed to be at large.  Thanks to "responsible" owners like my neighbor we lost our right to voice control and being out with our dogs without a leash.   Trust me, she could care less that her dogs were interrupting lessons or my personal dog training.

"We are all clear I will continue to walk on land I have permission to be on and will ensure none of my family 2 and 4 legged go onto your property."  Perhaps my neighbor does not know the meaning of the words that she writes.   That would mean that I would not have run into her dog today without an owner anywhere in sight.

"Hopefully it will be 5 more years before you and I or any of our 4 legged companions cross paths."   No sadly it will be in far less time than that. 

The below pictures were taken at the same time the strange dog appeared.  Here is what my dogs and my clients' dogs do on our property when a trespasser appears (whether a different species than human or not):

Very proud of two year old Boris listening without any type of training collar or lead on.

Murphy also listening and on long line only.

Leon and Tommy both being obedient.  Both do have training collars on, but not used.

Harley has no training equipment (the Great Dane), and he is not in a sit command due to his knees (but he is staying put).  And new e-collar client, Spencer, is staying put as well.

That sort of cooperation and trust from a group of dogs (to not interfere while I check out a situation) is why I do this. No drama, no pulling dogs off of dogs, ....   just go check it out.   Wish the dog had come to me so regardless of whose it was, I could have been sure it was safe.

I was a little worried for the dog, as I couldn't see if the electronic device around his/her neck was from a remote electronic collar or an invisible fence type collar (which could mean he was loose and lost).   It seemed he ran off towards a noise as if someone was calling him/her though.

Generally, I am normally not bothered when a dog is on my land.   With the "hunting accidents" lately however, and the way people will assume certain breeds of dogs are aggressive, I personally don't want a dog coming onto my land that I have to protect my dogs against (or against their owner who sees a sitting Doberman on our own land but goes into a panic getting out their gun).   This dog did not seem very social at all, and I really was not sure what his intent was.   I can't imagine having others responsible for guessing the intent of my dogs by leaving them loose and unsupervised.   I have had my dogs attacked when walking by Border Collies, Springers, Golden Retrievers, Pointers, Cairn Terriers, and it is not cool with me.   People think that since I have a Doberman or Bullie type breed attached to me (that is heeling, onlead, and minding their own business---my dogs that is not the attacking dogs) that this is okay as their dogs are not considered a "dangerous breed" of dog, as they endanger me and my dogs.

I put a lot of training on my dogs, act responsibly, supervise my dogs, and don't put client dogs in situations that they are not prepared for.  I don't do this so we can be attacked or be surrounded by people that do not take dog ownership so responsibly.  I am aware that it's not the dogs' fault, but the owners' fault in these situations.  Thankfully, some of these owners become clients, and not all of them are as uncaring and unempathetic as my neighbors regarding others.

A lot of dog owners are unaware that their dogs may make decisions (while unsupervised) that they normally would not with their owners there.   Not to mention if there has been no training in place or socialization and the dog is really scared and not perceiving the situation correctly.

Irresponsible dog owners are affecting my rights and my dogs freedoms as responsible dogs and dog owners in the community, and that is just wrong.  (and not neighborly) 

Next blog will be about why you should report these incidents to animal control when you have uncooperative neighbors.   Also, to expect your animal control department to follow their own ordinances as this actually protects your and your dogs rights in the community.  Last thing we need are more animal control legislations that take away the rights of responsible dog owners (you don't think the irresponsible ones actually adhere to the rulesdo you.   which is where the fines and civil penalties should come in)

http://www.mannerlymutts.com/

http://mannerlymutts.blogspot.com/