Neighbour throwing chocolates over the fence for dog to find

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Mellymell123
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Neighbour throwing chocolates over the fence for dog to find

Postby Mellymell123 » Tue Oct 22, 2019 10:15 pm

Hi all

A bit of early advice before things escalate.

We have a border terrier who gets very over excited by a squirrel going through our garden. As a result, she always barks excitedly as she goes into the garden.

We are conscious that this might irritate, so we try to quieten her down as quickly as possible.  She does not continuously bark.

We have already had a text from our immediate neighbour about our dog's irritating yapping which was responded to politely referring to the squirrel.

However, tonight, I was supervising the dog (to ensure she was quiet) and two snail like objects came over the fence. I subsequently discovered (once I had fished one of the objects out of the dog's mouth) that they were chocolates which as most dog owners know are poisonous to dogs.

I went round immediately to knock on the door to explain how this might poison the dog, but despite ringing twice, he did not come to the door.

Any advice?

Mel
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chorister
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Re: Neighbour throwing chocolates over the fence for dog to find

Postby chorister » Tue Oct 22, 2019 11:16 pm

The only possible solution is to speak to your neighbour - may be text, and ask them round for a drink, acknowledging that they do have a legitimate grievance.

Did you try to meet them after their text?  If not, why not - is it only when you have a complaint that it merits a meeting?  If they are not dog owners they may not even know about the issue with dogs and chocolate.  Dogs, especially small ones, can be maddening, even if they don't bark continuously.  The fact that it's because of a squirrel doesn't make it any less maddening.

Sorry to sound unsympathetic, but we all live cheek by jowl in a huge city, and need to find compromises to live together happily.
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Lulubear
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Re: Neighbour throwing chocolates over the fence for dog to find

Postby Lulubear » Tue Oct 22, 2019 11:27 pm

I would be surprised if he didn't know what he was doing.  Noone just throws chocolates over a fence without a reason do they?  However, the problem is unless you appease him it is going to be hard to keep your dog safe (wrong though his behaviour may be).  I would definitely try to talk to him again and make sure you apologise for the noise rather than just launch into a discussion about the chocolate, tempting though it may be to do that!  Have you considered installing a bark deterrent outside?  I have no idea if they work but there are various devices available which are supposed to discourage dogs from barking.
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Mellymell123
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Re: Neighbour throwing chocolates over the fence for dog to find

Postby Mellymell123 » Wed Oct 23, 2019 9:03 am

Just to add, yes of course - I immediately responded to the text acknowledging the issue and said we were working on trying to calm the barking. We are also seeking help from a trainer, but it's not going to be an immediate fix.
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chorister
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Re: Neighbour throwing chocolates over the fence for dog to find

Postby chorister » Wed Oct 23, 2019 10:13 am

Given that you have done all of that, I really think you have to try to engineer a meeting.  Are there other issues with the neighbours?  Have you just got the dog?  Unless they are complete pyschopaths it seems very unlikely that they would deliberately try to harm your dog unless they really are close to the end of their teather, so it probably needs sorting out before it escalates.  Good luck.

PS - I've been both a dog owner (small and large dogs) and a neighbour of a yapping dog.  It's difficult.
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pkmang
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Re: Neighbour throwing chocolates over the fence for dog to find

Postby pkmang » Mon Oct 28, 2019 6:16 am

Call the police before you have a dead dog.
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magnificentseven
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Re: Neighbour throwing chocolates over the fence for dog to find

Postby magnificentseven » Mon Oct 28, 2019 6:44 am

TThe suggesetion to call the police - what an absolute waste of police time - its NOT a police matter and no-wonder we havent enough police to stop these stabbings if you involve them over a dog.  I can completely understand your neighbour disliking yappy dogs, no matter the reason - and I didnt know chocolates are now poison to dogs. Our dog (25 years ago) couldnt be more happy of he discovered a box of chocolates and ate the lot - he lived to a good old age. 

So go round to the neighbour with a bunch of flowers, apologise, and promise to try to keep the dog quiet. You should not have a dog in cramped housing with noise travelling between the houses.  You are the one in the wrong to me !!!
 
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hal
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Re: Neighbour throwing chocolates over the fence for dog to find

Postby hal » Mon Oct 28, 2019 8:01 am

the dog barking is obviously an inconvenience and an issue you’ll need to address with your neighbour - something you clearly recognise. And trying to speak to them is a good idea. As they should have also if they are your immediate neighbour rather than send a passive aggressive text.

However I don’t agree at all that throwing the chocolate over is either innocent or not a police matter - poisoning someone’s pets is a vile act and, more importantly, a criminal offence. It’s no more a waste of police time than theft of a car or criminal damage to property.

Chocolate being poisonous to dogs is pretty commonly known. We don’t even own a dog and are well aware of how dangerous sufficient quantities of theobromine (the active ingredient in chocolate that is poisonous to dogs) can kill a dog. Similarly raisins, green algae and a bunch of other things in sufficient amounts...the fact that a dog ends up ok will be down to the dose - size and weight of dog vs concentration of theobromine in the chocolate. High quality dark chocolate will have more of it. Milk chocolate less.

So for a small dog like a terrier you don’t need as much for it to make the dog sick or to kill it, whereas a big heavy lab might get away with a lot more.

The suggestion that the neighbour didn’t know about chocolate is unconvincing - the only reason to throw the chocolate over, particularly if the dog is barking, is as some sort of treat or as a poison in the hope it might make them sick. The former is highly unlikely given he obviously doesn’t feel positively towards your pet; which leaves the latter. It may be that he didn’t intend to kill your dog but to make it sick but either way, completely inappropriate, reckless and potentially criminal.

So I would go round, speak to them, tell them you’re doing your best about the noise but press them on the chocolate. I would consider calling the police or so as not to escalate at least telling them you’re giving them the benefit of the doubt about the chocolate in an attempt to move things forward but that you take it very seriously.

You aren’t “in the wrong” - we all have to try to live with one another. Like many, we have kids who play in the garden and can be noisy at times when left unsupervised For too long; similarly other neighbours have barking dogs, crying babies or loud house parties. We all try to accommodate each other. Your neighbour should have done the same and spoken to you - you will have to be the grown-up.

But don’t be afraid to contact the police about this as you may end up with a dead dog - a willingness by your neighbour to resort to that kind of anti-social and criminal behaviour so quickly is not a good sign.
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Kirstie’s Mom
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Re: Neighbour throwing chocolates over the fence for dog to find

Postby Kirstie’s Mom » Mon Oct 28, 2019 8:22 am

You were very lucky then because my dog did the same thing and almost died . Frankly I don’t think it’s a waste of police time - you pay taxes so you have the right to use public services .
However I think that softer tactics should be used first . Can you buy perhaps a muzzle would that work ? But yes go over with a bottle of wine and ask for patience . We lived next door to a barking Westie it can be annoying but this is LONDON and something always is .
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dudette
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Re: Neighbour throwing chocolates over the fence for dog to find

Postby dudette » Mon Oct 28, 2019 8:44 am

I love dogs (although don’t own one) so I have a lot of sympathy but I also understand why your neighbour is being driven to distraction (or poison in this case) by the dog barking. As the previous contributor suggested, why don’t you get one of those soft muzzles to put on him when he goes in the garden, at least at anti-social times like early in the morning or late at night. That will stop him both barking and eating the chocolates. Make sure you take him for lots of long walks to compensate. I suggest writing a friendly note saying this is what you will do and mention the chocolates but don’t accuse him of trying to poison the dog since not every knows that chocolate is poisonous to them. Just point it out gently. You don’t want this escalating as you have to disclose disputes with neighbours when you come to sell the house. Calling the police at this stage is ridiculous - he may well turn the tables and do the same thing to you when your dog barks at anti-social hours.
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Mellymell123
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Re: Neighbour throwing chocolates over the fence for dog to find

Postby Mellymell123 » Mon Oct 28, 2019 9:28 am

Thanks for all your comments.

I have acknowledged his complaint and am getting a trainer in to help.

However, couldn't help end my text to him with a slight dig about happy to have any spare chocolates passed to me directly, since they're not very good for the dog (and won't stop her barking) ;)
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Netstars
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Re: Neighbour throwing chocolates over the fence for dog to find

Postby Netstars » Mon Oct 28, 2019 3:35 pm

Hi
We have a dog (a Labrador who fortunately doesn’t bark) and live close to a family with a sweet terrier who also barks whenever let out into the garden, particularly at night. We’ve spoken to them and they often try and take the dog out in the evening for a quick walk instead of letting the dog out into the garden. The barking is antisocial for sleeping children or if you’ve an early start and wanted an early night! I would never let my kids run around in the garden early in the morning or in the evening for the same reason.
While throwing chocolate over the fence is truly awful and very dangerous it also shows how frustrated your neighbour must be ... honestly I don’t think a text cuts it, I’d go over and apologise in person, maybe as others have suggested take a peace offering and explain what you are doing with a trainer and to be honest, take the dog out for a quick walk rather than letting it out into the garden to bark each day.
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jtreliving
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Re: Neighbour throwing chocolates over the fence for dog to find

Postby jtreliving » Mon Nov 04, 2019 11:18 am

In sufficient quantity, chocolate can kill a dog rather unpleasantly. (Uncooked onions too, by the way.) This is relatively common knowledge, so this neighbour almost certainly knew what they were doing.

The muzzle definitely sounds like a good idea for the short term, if only to protect your pet. I can understand your desire to get along with your neighbours, but I would be wary of your pet's safety around this person.
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