Dogs In Front Yards

[JulesP]

So after a month of living in the burbs my current pet hate is dogs that are in front yards. This is contained dogs, not loose dogs. They all go totally nuts when you walk past, understandable. I wonder if this is building a level of frustration in these dogs that could lead to attacks if the dogs did get out one day?

I wouldn't have mine in the front garden as apart from anything else it would piss me off hearing them bark all the time.

One dog yesterday was very alarming. Definite desire to inflict injury. Would you report a dog like that?

The dog that has made me jump the most though was one that gave a massive big sniff as we went past :laugh:

[Dame Aussie]

Yeah we get a lot of this where we walk. There is one place with a dog (Ridgie Shepherd x) that goes absolutely mental, owner says it will never come out and it hasn't........yet :laugh:

Then there's the place with the two Spaniels that scare the absolute crap out of me whenever I walk past, I always forgte they;re there , an APBT, and a few SWF's that go nuts too.

I wouldn't do it, I think it gets the dogs too riled up.

As for reporting, personally I probably wouldn't as nothing has actually happened, but if you are really concerned I guess it couldn't hurt?

Edited November 8, 2012 by Aussie3

[Luke GSP]

Are you sure it had a definite desire to inflict injury? Are you sure it wasn't that it just had a definite desire for you to go away?

IME dogs intent on inflicting injury have tended to be silent, no barking, just straight down to business.

I know what you mean about the dogs in front yards though, it can do your head in a bit. :-)

[JulesP]

Are you sure it had a definite desire to inflict injury? Are you sure it wasn't that it just had a definite desire for you to go away?

IME dogs intent on inflicting injury have tended to be silent, no barking, just straight down to business.

I know what you mean about the dogs in front yards though, it can do your head in a bit. :-)

There is zero doubt in my mind that if it had got out that it would have bitten the dogs. It has been the only dog that has bothered me.

The rest have all been noise.

[Staffyluv]

Our next door neighbour has 2 GSPs that spend heaps of time in their front yard...

If you walk past with your dog, they lunge at you..They are not contained, the gate is open and the front fence wouldn't hold them if they really wanted to have a go... I don't think they do but it is still scary for others walking past not expecting these two big dogs to run at the fence and lunge at your dog through it...

He has been reported a loads of times but all council do is have a chat to him..

He culls kangaroos for the council, so knows them all..

Theses are the same dogs that have barked everyday for the last 8 years or so..

He is such a joyous person to live next door to.

[Jetpoint GSP]

I personally think that if they are in their front yard and you don't like their barking walk on the other side of the road. Not everyone has completely non-reactive dogs and lets face it people, dogs do bark. Short of having their voice box removed what do you suggest? I'm so tired of hearing people crap on about dogs and things they do naturally, some more than others. I have seen someone claim a d

[emgem]

I wouldn't necessarily assume that dogs barking behind a fence are aggressive. My Wheaten will fling himself at the gate in apparent fury if he happens to be out the front when dogs pass by, but he never exhibits anything other than his usual desire to play, play, play, even if we go out while the dog is still there.

[JulesP]

I personally think that if they are in their front yard and you don't like their barking walk on the other side of the road. Not everyone has completely non-reactive dogs and lets face it people, dogs do bark. Short of having their voice box removed what do you suggest? I'm so tired of hearing people crap on about dogs and things they do naturally, some more than others. I have seen someone claim a d

Most of the time you don't know the dogs are there until you are level with them so you can't cross the road. What I suggest is people don't keep their dogs in the front yard.

I wouldn't necessarily assume that dogs barking behind a fence are aggressive. My Wheaten will fling himself at the gate in apparent fury if he happens to be out the front when dogs pass by, but he never exhibits anything other than his usual desire to play, play, play, even if we go out while the dog is still there.

I have been a instructor for quite a number of years so think I have a fairly good understanding of an aggressive dog.

[Pretty Miss Emma]

Dogs behind front fences (particularly that they can see thorugh and get their heads through) drive me insane!!! There is one house I walk past with my 2 and they have a JRT who is just awful (I'm sure it's a lovely dog but when people or dogs walk past the fence it is the exact opposite!). And of course my dogs get riled up at it. kenzie now knows the house and is on alert everytime we are near it. the thing that bothers me with this one is that it can get it's head through the fence. I keep my dogs as fr from the fence as I can but I worry about what would happen if someone went past and didn't know the dog was there or what if a kid was running close to the fence or decided to put their hand through the fence. I just find it a scary thought!!! And agree Jules, I worry about the stress levels of the dog behind the fence in having to "look after" their space.

[Podengo]

They always manage to scare me, by letting out a big bark just as I go past :laugh: I would prefer if some of the dogs we have to pass were confined to a back yard though, scared they are going to break through the fence sometimes.... We usually cross the road. Our front yard is unfenced, so Elsie is only out there with us if we're gardening/drinking on the porch or something, and she is not allowed to bark or go past the lawn in front of the porch so she is never near the street, and our backyard has 6ft fences so she cannot see the street (not that she is ever left outside unattended anyway)

[megan_]

I'm on a corner block with the house in the back corner - so my front and backyards both face the road. The front is secure (gate is padlocked) and the fences are 6ft.

I'm sure Lucy has scared some people and I always apologize but the only other alternative is locking her up 24/7. We are on a quiet street and the regulars know that she's there.

Not ideal, but being on the corner I don't have much choice.

[minimax]

I'm on a corner block with the house in the back corner - so my front and backyards both face the road. The front is secure (gate is padlocked) and the fences are 6ft.

I'm sure Lucy has scared some people and I always apologize but the only other alternative is locking her up 24/7. We are on a quiet street and the regulars know that she's there.

Not ideal, but being on the corner I don't have much choice.

Same as me - being on the corner both my yards are on the street. And one of my pugs, the big brave puppy, barks everytime a leaf blows past, heaven forbid a person decides to walk down the street! We have solid, high fences so you can't see in (and the pugs can't see out), so you can't tell they are only small, so maybe people think they are agressive dogs. But ... in the end he's a dog and he barks at noises (sometimes even ones in his head). He doesn't do it all day every day, they are only in the yard when we are home, but people might have to understand that dogs are dogs. Dogs will spend times in yards. Dogs will bark or make noises. They are in THEIR house, THEIR territory, defending it from big bad things such as leaves and gumnuts and shadows and unknown noises beyond.

Edited November 8, 2012 by minimax

[chuckandsteve]

No behaviourists would judge a dog aggressive from behind a fence! Very unfair comment

[JulesP]

No behaviourists would judge a dog aggressive from behind a fence! Very unfair comment

Really? The fence was chain mesh by the way so I could see the dog quite clearly.

[Christina]

Yes it can be annoying & make you jump when they start, especially if its sudden however as long as the gate is shut & the dog cannot get out people are entitled to have their dog in the front yard of their own property.

Instinct makes a dog bark bark to protect its property in most cases. If we start banning dogs in secure front yards what comes next ?

You can't have children there or a family gathering or a tree that makes people sneeze ?

If the dog is 100% secure either walk past & talk to it every day as you do, it may get to know you & shut up, ignore it or cross the street. There is nothing wrong to report.

Living in the country can be as bad too. Loose dogs roaming, owners not caring, sheep mauling, jumping fences & no where to take cover if you run into one on a deserted road.

Swings & roundabouts really. Always take a big stick on a walk is a good idea.

[megan_]

No behaviourists would judge a dog aggressive from behind a fence! Very unfair comment

I don't know why it deemed unfair. Many dogs are territorial creatures and they don't know how to read titles down at the council - for many dogs, if they got out and someone was 1m away from their fence line they would deem the person person to be in their territory.

[Luke GSP]

No behaviourists would judge a dog aggressive from behind a fence! Very unfair comment

AGREE 100%

[JulesP]

No behaviourists would judge a dog aggressive from behind a fence! Very unfair comment

I don't know why it deemed unfair. Many dogs are territorial creatures and they don't know how to read titles down at the council - for many dogs, if they got out and someone was 1m away from their fence line they would deem the person person to be in their territory.

Yes and this has happened to me once at my last house and isn't an experience I would like to repeat.

The dog only has to get out once for there to be a tragedy. In a lot of the bad attacks the owners have said that the dogs haven't done anything before.

Being behind a fence and constantly having to defend their territory from people walking past must cause frustration in the dogs. I wouldn't want to put my dogs into a situation that caused them anxiety.

[Blackdogs]

Some people on this forum are pretty report-happy. Dogs bark at fences. The dog has not escaped and attacked you. You cannot possibly predict what the dog will do and the dog is obviously contained. You have nothing to report. Mind your own business and cross the road if you don't like it.

ETA: My dogs sound fierce behind a fence, but they're very well socialised and friendly dogs.

Edited November 8, 2012 by Blackdogs

[Luke GSP]

No behaviourists would judge a dog aggressive from behind a fence! Very unfair comment

I don't know why it deemed unfair. Many dogs are territorial creatures and they don't know how to read titles down at the council - for many dogs, if they got out and someone was 1m away from their fence line they would deem the person person to be in their territory.

Yes and this has happened to me once at my last house and isn't an experience I would like to repeat.

The dog only has to get out once for there to be a tragedy. In a lot of the bad attacks the owners have said that the dogs haven't done anything before.

Being behind a fence and constantly having to defend their territory from people walking past must cause frustration in the dogs. I wouldn't want to put my dogs into a situation that caused them anxiety.

How do you know they are defending their territory? I've heard plenty of dogs barking just to let other dogs know they are there. In certain suburbs I've lived in, you could actually hear the barks like a Mexican wave, one would bark and then the rest would take turns, probably until all were accounted for.

The majority of dogs that I have seen losing it from behind any type of barrier have quickly changed their tune once the barrier was removed. I don't see why on earth people on this forum would want to report a dog that is safely contained but barking???????

They are dogs, dogs bark where is the link between barking at a fence line and attacking humans?????? For goodness sake people, stop trying to be the world police and passing judgement because someone's dog farts in a different way to yours. Focus on keeping your dog safe from others, and others safe from your dog, if everyone did that 100% of the time there would be no attacks!