The neighbour's dog went for us again...

[honeybadger]

Is there anything in that house that doesn't want to harass me?

You probably won't remember, but some time last year when I was walking down my driveway two dogs on my neighbour's property ran from his (unfenced) front yard onto my drive and started attacking Jack. Luckily they are smallish/medium pitbull/staffy type dogs and I kicked them away (not roughly, more like shoving) until the neighbours came out.

For ages and ages I didn't see his dog (one of the dogs was the same type but I don't think lives there) loosein the front yard. Actually, it stopped barking at 3am so I thought maybe it had gone.

Welp, today we were walking past the neighbour's house and the dog came running out of his garage, barking. I freaked and started running down the road with Jack, past their driveway and ours. It stopped once I was further away, but it was scary. Tail upright. Neighbours didn't come out at the barking, so obviously wouldn't have helped if anything happened. I think they let the dog run loose when they're working on cars in the garage. I waited for ages until the dog had wandered away.

Gahh. I don't even want the neighbours to come out when that dog acts scary, because then he'll have an excuse to talk to me and this is the neighbour that left me a weird "love" letter in the mail. I don't want to talk to them about it, because again, I don't want to give him any reason to talk to me or come to my door. I don't know what to dooooo. We don't have pepper spray here. Is there something I can... concoct, just in case?

[Sophiesmama]

Do they have leash laws in NZ? We have them here, and it is illegal to let your dog run loose. You can call and report it and the people would get a ticket.

[Alphie]

Do they have leash laws in NZ? We have them here, and it is illegal to let your dog run loose. You can call and report it and the people would get a ticket.

Same thing happened to my daughter where we live in Michigan. We do have leash laws and as soon as a dog steps off its owner's property it's a violation. The first offense gets a warning from the police and the 2nd gets a ticket. It gets more serious after that, but I can't remember what happens. The owners seem to catch on pretty quick when they have to pay money when their dog leaves the yard. Pepper spray would probably work, but the spray could end up hitting more than just the other dog, so calling the authorities worked for us.

[MicksMom]

...We don't have pepper spray here. Is there something I can... concoct, just in case?

Sure! A squirt/small water pistol filled with vinegar and water. Aim right for the face. The noise from a small air horn might stop them, too, but I'd go with the water pistol. Also as hard as it is DON'T RUN!!! Most dogs will chase anything that runs. Instead, either turn around and walk calmly away, or back up slowly. If I were you, I'd also be filing a report with the police or animal control.

[BauersMom]

Sure! A squirt/small water pistol filled with vinegar and water. Aim right for the face. The noise from a small air horn might stop them, too, but I'd go with the water pistol. Also as hard as it is DON'T RUN!!! Most dogs will chase anything that runs. Instead, either turn around and walk calmly away, or back up slowly. If I were you, I'd also be filing a report with the police or animal control.

^^This! Definitely file a report (even though I understand not wanting to do so), you should be able to come and go from your house without fearing the neighbor's dog(s).

[BigBrownDog]

I'd do straight vinegar or straight lemon juice. A dog with a high prey drive needs more than a dilute solution to be dissuaded. He won't be injured but he will absolutely get the message.

[joflake]

I'd do straight vinegar or straight lemon juice. A dog with a high prey drive needs more than a dilute solution to be dissuaded. He won't be injured but he will absolutely get the message.

I'd do hot sauce! or pepper in water, make your own pepper spray.

[Golfgirlrobin]

I'd definitely report it. If anything ever happens, on their part or yours, then you want a history of the dog's aggression already established. Otherwise, if something happens, the neighbor gets to stand there and claim he never had any notice there was a problem. It costs nothing to file a report and you aren't worried about ruining an otherwise good neighbor relationship, anyway.

[kaisdad]

I'd definitely report it. If anything ever happens, on their part or yours, then you want a history of the dog's aggression already established. Otherwise, if something happens, the neighbor gets to stand there and claim he never had any notice there was a problem. It costs nothing to file a report and you aren't worried about ruining an otherwise good neighbor relationship, anyway.

This.

[gundog]

Pepper spray.......bear spray actually.