Clyde Posted February 8, 2012 Share Posted February 8, 2012 Though, if a 5 yr old can climb your fence, I wouldn't consider it very secure. I'm wondering that too. Must be a very nimble 5 yr old! My 7 yr old can't even manage the lower gates :laugh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clyde Posted February 8, 2012 Share Posted February 8, 2012 and then to back it up I contacted the childs school (he was in uniform) and explained the situation and suggested it might be a good idea to contact the RSPCA Education Program ... they got back to me and were very concerned. They apparently regularly have the RSPCA out at the school and would ask them to reinforce no patting unknown dogs without asking, they were going to add a reminder in their newsletter and were going to mention it on their school parade (which I thought was fantastic). Brilliant course of action and result, good thinking! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ellz Posted February 9, 2012 Author Share Posted February 9, 2012 Though, if a 5 yr old can climb your fence, I wouldn't consider it very secure. I'm wondering that too. Must be a very nimble 5 yr old! My 7 yr old can't even manage the lower gates :laugh: Assisted by the trampoline and swingset that the parents have kindly installed in their yard, right on my fenceline and the fence struts being on their side of the fence as well. But believe me, it is secure under "normal" circumstances and gates kept locked as well. But that said, I also have teenage children so why do I have to "childproof" MY property?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ellz Posted February 9, 2012 Author Share Posted February 9, 2012 Dog owners must be realistic about kids. Sure, sometimes the judiciary takes a tough love attitude toward the bad/naughty kids. But that doesn't guarantee you'll go scott free if your dog attacks a kid who enters your yard. Even if you end out being found not guilty, being brought to court because your dog did major damage to a little bugger who snuck into your yard isn't going to be much fun. I have never been anything BUT realistic about kids AND dogs! And I've never said that I would be held unaccountable if one of my dogs did attack a kid entering the yard. That, if you recall, was my main concern. I'm not naive. I class myself as a responsible dog owner and a responsible parent as well. My dogs are healthy and well-socialised and in so far as they can be, childproofed. My fences are regulation height and well-maintained, my gates lock securely and yes, despite what others may think, my yard IS secure....for MY needs and those of my family and my own dogs. What other people (ie neighbours) do with their yards is their business and I class the kid next door as being their problem so they need to do something about THEIR security issues!!! It surely isn't however too much to ask that I can have a bit of a whinge about people who don't apparently even attempt to instill values of not trespassing, not stealing and not approaching strange dogs into their children? I have certainly had more than my share of battles with my own children and their behavioural issues and learning disabilities over the years, yet have still managed to lay ground rules for all of the above, so why would it be unreasonable to wish that other parents would/could do the same??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clyde Posted February 9, 2012 Share Posted February 9, 2012 But that said, I also have teenage children so why do I have to "childproof" MY property?? No I agree, you shouldn't have to child proof it. Dog proofing is usually enough to keep a small child out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Firestone Posted February 9, 2012 Share Posted February 9, 2012 (edited) Having had a child who who was a fence climber its the parents responsibitiy to ensure the safety and welfare of the child. They need to ensure the carer of the child is responsible and able to look after the child and if not they need to find someone who can. Todays back yard may very well be tomorrows highway and a funeral Edited February 9, 2012 by Firestone Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ellz Posted February 9, 2012 Author Share Posted February 9, 2012 But that said, I also have teenage children so why do I have to "childproof" MY property?? No I agree, you shouldn't have to child proof it. Dog proofing is usually enough to keep a small child out. Well given that I have a very gregarious and athletic Stafford that I manage to keep quite comfortably and safely at home, one would think that my yard is essentially dog proof. I'm certainly not in a position to make any great changes to my yard as it is now (fully fenced front and rear - separated with secure gates so even if front gate is left open the dogs are still completely contained, regulation height fences and gates, padlocks where possible, chains and metal bars where not possible). If my neighbours cannot keep their child in their yard, then that's their problem UNTIL that child comes into my yard and then I get pretty sh*tty! And that's the crux of this whole thread. The neighbours need to take some responsibility in childproofing their back yard, supervising their child adequately and if they can't do that, they need to teach the child that it shouldn't go into a backyard with strange dogs without permission and they could perhaps feed it fresh fruit once in a while so it doesn't have to resort to hunting and gathering for itself....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clyde Posted February 9, 2012 Share Posted February 9, 2012 (edited) Ellz, as per my previous post I am agreeing with you!!!! Edited February 9, 2012 by Clyde Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simply Grand Posted February 9, 2012 Share Posted February 9, 2012 Firestone I've been thinking exactly that through this whole thread! If the kid was able and willing to climb the fence into ellz's yard unnoticed by whoever was meant to be looking after him seems like he could just as easily have taken himself for a play in the middle of a road. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrinaJ Posted February 9, 2012 Share Posted February 9, 2012 About 2001 my hubby used to work from home. He had his apprentice there washing his cars getting them ready for the next day at work. Hubby and I were somewhere else (possibly bank?). When we got home I saw his 3 year old daughter there in my backyard with my 2 Rottweilers. I went absolutely ballistic at the apprentice! My dogs were fine with kids but that's beside the point. His daughter was in the backyard and he was in the front yard (driveway under carport) with a fence separating them. For a start, his child should not have been there and seconly she should not have been in the yard with my dogs (who she didn't know). I was so angry at him, not only could his child have been mauled (licked to death more like it), but he could have potentially put my dogs in harms way by them biting her and having to be destroyed. I was so angry I was shaking! he didn't get it. Hubby told him in no uncertain terms that no one is to go into our backyard without ether of us being there. It still angers me hen I think about it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rusty&biscuit Posted February 9, 2012 Share Posted February 9, 2012 (edited) oopsie double post Edited February 9, 2012 by rusty&biscuit Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rusty&biscuit Posted February 9, 2012 Share Posted February 9, 2012 Wow that's scary stuff :/ Definately give them a letter to notify them..people we knew had to put down their most beloved border collie simply because an un-educated (on dogs) un-suprvised child put their finger through the fence and it, of course, got bitten. Now this dog was far from child aggressive as they had 2 young children and the time as well who used to dress up the dog and have little tea parties with it. Once the neighbours child was bitten, the owners were sued and the dog destroyed. It is a cruel world we live in And as has been previously meantioned, if this child is able to get itself into someones elses secure backyard, whats stopping him from playing on the road? I do feel for you ellz, especially since the neighbours don't sound very approachable...hopefully the situation can be resolved. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrinaJ Posted February 9, 2012 Share Posted February 9, 2012 But that said, I also have teenage children so why do I have to "childproof" MY property?? No I agree, you shouldn't have to child proof it. Dog proofing is usually enough to keep a small child out. Well given that I have a very gregarious and athletic Stafford that I manage to keep quite comfortably and safely at home, one would think that my yard is essentially dog proof. I'm certainly not in a position to make any great changes to my yard as it is now (fully fenced front and rear - separated with secure gates so even if front gate is left open the dogs are still completely contained, regulation height fences and gates, padlocks where possible, chains and metal bars where not possible). If my neighbours cannot keep their child in their yard, then that's their problem UNTIL that child comes into my yard and then I get pretty sh*tty! And that's the crux of this whole thread. The neighbours need to take some responsibility in childproofing their back yard, supervising their child adequately and if they can't do that, they need to teach the child that it shouldn't go into a backyard with strange dogs without permission and they could perhaps feed it fresh fruit once in a while so it doesn't have to resort to hunting and gathering for itself....... Yes the neighbours need to watch their child and educate him about entering someones property without permission, regardless of whether they have a dog. Our neighbours child where we used o live would just walk into peoples houses without knocking imagine walking into he wrong persons house..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jumabaar Posted February 9, 2012 Share Posted February 9, 2012 I have had an ADULT come into my yard- disregarding the warning sign to go to the front door because there may be dogs loose. I do have a dog that is fear aggressive- but he is behind two fences which I thought was enough to keep him safe. When I rang up and blasted the individual they said it was fine because they couldn't see a dog loose and all dogs like him . Yup I was told by someone that had never met the dog that I needn't worry. Had I caught him in the act and heard that I can tell you that he would have ended up in hospital from ME attacking him!! I didn't particularly care about the individual but I didn't want my poor dog traumatised by some random invading his safe zone without me there to guide him!! A dog may have been asleep or anything and he didn't even shut the gaits properly behind him so when I did let the dogs out I nearly lost them out both gates. But I was told that couldn't possibly have been him, he always shuts gaits behind him- since the gaits have never magically opened before or after this individual violated my home I somehow don't believe him. My dog growing up scared the bejeebus out of my next-door neighbour who was only in his early teens. He jumped the fence to retrieve his ball and Kala just held his hand- there were no marks or anything but he didn't move until my grandfather heard him yelling. As soon as we came out she let his hand go and his parents told him that he went into the dogs territory and since there was no harm he had learnt his lesson. I can only imagine if this happened in todays society! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diva Posted February 9, 2012 Share Posted February 9, 2012 My dog growing up scared the bejeebus out of my next-door neighbour who was only in his early teens. He jumped the fence to retrieve his ball and Kala just held his hand- there were no marks or anything but he didn't move until my grandfather heard him yelling. As soon as we came out she let his hand go and his parents told him that he went into the dogs territory and since there was no harm he had learnt his lesson. I can only imagine if this happened in todays society! One of my Borzoi did that to a Tradie way back in the eighties. The guy had been organised by my roomate and told not to just enter the yard. But he turned up at 6 am on a Sat morning and just let himself in rather than wake us. I didn't even know he was coming or the dog would not have been out - just in case a gate was left open, he was a very friendly dog during normal visiting hours, LOL. The dog took the guy's arm in his mouth and just held him until the yells woke me, one word from me and the dog was happy to let go and come inside. The Tradie was sensible and blamed himself, there were no marks on his skin or anything. In today's environment the dog and I may well have been in trouble. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Atanquin Posted February 9, 2012 Share Posted February 9, 2012 Though, if a 5 yr old can climb your fence, I wouldn't consider it very secure. I'm wondering that too. Must be a very nimble 5 yr old! My 7 yr old can't even manage the lower gates :laugh: Assisted by the trampoline and swingset that the parents have kindly installed in their yard, right on my fenceline and the fence struts being on their side of the fence as well. But believe me, it is secure under "normal" circumstances and gates kept locked as well. But that said, I also have teenage children so why do I have to "childproof" MY property?? I dunno my brother was able to get of his cot when he was little and managed to get on the kitchen benches some how. He was just a climer my mum was always worried about him Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LizT Posted February 9, 2012 Share Posted February 9, 2012 (edited) Though, if a 5 yr old can climb your fence, I wouldn't consider it very secure. I'm wondering that too. Must be a very nimble 5 yr old! My 7 yr old can't even manage the lower gates :laugh: Assisted by the trampoline and swingset that the parents have kindly installed in their yard, right on my fenceline and the fence struts being on their side of the fence as well. But believe me, it is secure under "normal" circumstances and gates kept locked as well. But that said, I also have teenage children so why do I have to "childproof" MY property?? I dunno my brother was able to get of his cot when he was little and managed to get on the kitchen benches some how. He was just a climer my mum was always worried about him Apparently my older brother was the same. Mum was busy with me (baby)and he was only two and would climb the high side gate out of the backyard and was found playing with his little Flinstones car in the middle of Kent Road. Pascoe Vale. Luckily it was the 1960's and not today (less cars back then). But the point is even IF kids are little Houdinis and do get out of what parents believe are secure yards, the parents still needed to apolgise to Ellz, and show the child that what he did was wrong. Yes, incidents happen, it's what is learnt from them afterwards that is important. Edited February 9, 2012 by LizT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colliehound Posted February 11, 2012 Share Posted February 11, 2012 It is threads like this that remind me why we moved to really rural. Poor Elz. You handled yourself very well. I am sure it would have been tempting to grab said kid by ear and march him home. For those who remember how it "used" to be - come and live out in rural areas - it still is like that. Our local "copper" is known for giving certain rat bag kids a "kick up the arse" before sending them home. We have an older couple down the road with lots of Macadamia trees. They regularly get people jumping the fence nearest the road (usually tourists) to nick the nuts. The man of the house lets the bull out, opens a beer and sits back and watches. Bloody hilarious apparently. Why is it ok to let your "livestock" do what nature does, but not our dogs? Anyway - just wanted to add my support to you. Hope your neighbours move soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mita Posted February 11, 2012 Share Posted February 11, 2012 Just as a tip though, for if this happens again .... call your dogs to you first-off and give them a good and decent reward for coming to you. When you have them secured, then tell the child to knick off. Even the most socialised and well-behaved dogs can misinterpret what we're doing by telling off a (in this instance) stranger who is trespassing and think it would be the only right and proper pack thing to do by helping you deal with the situation. That's very good advice. I would have almost had a heart attack, too. Ellz, thank goodness your dogs lived up to how well you've socialised them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maddy Posted February 11, 2012 Share Posted February 11, 2012 Why is it ok to let your "livestock" do what nature does, but not our dogs? I think most people (and the law) would not be okay with that. Setting an animal to attack someone, regardless of species, is a stupid and dangerous thing to do. The human could get hurt, the animal could get hurt and in the case of a bull.. a person could very easily be killed. If someone was killed that way, "They were stealing my nuts" is not going to be much of a defence. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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