Neighbor's dogs....

[cmjust0]

(...cross-posted to BYC's "predators & pests" forum...)

Sitting in the living room last night, watching TV...about 11:15pm. Our LGD starts barking. At first, it's just kind of a normal bark, but then it changed and became much more...acute? I dunno the word, but I knew immediately that he was MAD.

Went out the front door with one of my border collies. The gate to the barnyard (and the goats and chickens) is just to the left, so when I get past the vehicle in the driveway and can see the gate, I see a big boxer-type dog standing there.

I knew my BC would jump it -- and probably lose -- so I tried to hurry her back in the house before she saw it. She turned, but the boxer dog walked out toward the driveway. She saw him and started to run after him, but I called her off..

Well I'll be danged if ANOTHER dog didn't come out from the area around the gate...A BIG A** ROTTWEILER. That was too much for the BC, and she gave chase. I was yelling like a madman, and she actually did nip at the rottie's hind end but luckily he picked up the pace instead of turning to snap her head off. I was about 99% sure they were my neighbor's dogs, so I got my BC back in the house and called the neighbor's dad (I don't have the neighbor's number..never met him..seems like a jerk). Dear ol' dad didn't seem particularly happy to be awoken at 11:30pm, but he's super nice and said he'd call his son..

Anyway...the cool thing is that our big LGD -- a Sarplaninac -- stood his ground at the gate with a big boxer and an even bigger rottie staring him in the face. When I stepped out, I honestly thought there was a truck coming up the road because I could hear some sort of low rumbling sound. Turns out, it was the LGD growling. When he growls, the ground shakes....I kid you not.

If not for him, those dogs would almost certainly have been in the barnyard before I knew what was happening.

So, here he is....Big Ivan. We're so blessed to have him.

GOOD BOY!

 

[ohiofarmgirl]

as we say around here... "excellent, good dog!"

wow what a guy!

 

[lilhill]

Ivan is gorgeous! Give him a good rub or two from me on a job well done!

 

[ksalvagno]

Good thing you have Ivan. Always nice to know that they truly are doing their job. I think I would have the shotgun ready though. I'm not willing to put up with people's dogs just roaming my property.

 

[cmjust0]

As I got my BC back in the house, there was literally a loaded .22LR to my left and a phone to my right. I could have gone either way I wanted.

I thought I knew the dogs and to whom they belonged, so I reached for the phone instead of the rifle. Turns out, that was an OK call to make.

Had I not known the dogs, though, or had they been the other idiot neighbor's idiot dogs I do know.......S...S...S.

I think I might pull a RODAS on the other ones, actually.

Run over..drive away..shut up. They're always in the road, and they'll just stand there and challenge you.




(No..I wouldn't actually hit a dog on purpose. I'd LIKE to sometimes, but I won't...relax )

 

[no nonsense]

NO, SSS is better. You gave them fair warning. Luckily it worked out this time. If it happens again, even if you're within your rights, I'd still SSS. It'll be easier on you. People who are within their rights, still often have to go to court, or else have a lot of legal issues to deal with, to prove it in the end. Run them over with your car, and you can't claim that you're protecting your livestock. Could be a big headache for you. And remember, the last S is often as important as the other two, even online.

 

[cmjust0]

We don't have to worry so much with the big LGD out there.. Had he not been there I'm certain they'd have gone into the barnyard, and we'd definitely have been in a shooting situation. I wouldn't have shoveled and shut up, though....I'd have dragged them to his house with a bill for whatever they managed to kill before I killed them.

Thing is, we know dogs get out. We've had it happen to us before, and I'm thankful that nobody SSS'd any of ours. I would have understood, though, had it happened, which is why we try really hard to make sure we're keeping our own dogs safely fenced in.

To this neighbor's credit, I've never seen these dogs loose before. He's got umpteen horses on his own place, so it's definitely in his best interest to keep his dogs in the backyard. They could kill his stock faster than anyone else's, simply because they're right there.

Plus...anytime I can get by with NOT shooting someone's friend, I'm happy to have it that way. All's well that ends well.

Had they gained entry into the barnyard with the LGD....I couldn't have helped them.. Wouldn't have ended well. Glad they were smart enough to split.

 

[MrsCountryChick]

Around here in the country I always keep my camera handy too..... if I can "prove" with a "photo" someone elses dog dog is on MY PROPERTY (by photo) all I have to do is print the photo for the dog warden (who is way too busy to even return a phone call in the same day )............& he said he'll be GLAD to give the neighbor a visit, show them the photo & their $500.00 fine. Just because they didn't cause damage at your home didn't mean they weren't running "at large" on Your Property. I LOVE the idea of Hitting THEM in Their WALLET. Idiot that came from the city, live here now & think their dogs can be loose in the country "just because".