New Again Posted August 6, 2009 Posted August 6, 2009 I've always let my two dogs out in the yard to do their business after they eat - just open the door and let them out. They come back to the door when they're done to be let in. They are very well trained and I've never had a problem before. Tonight one of them JUMPED the fence - I ran outside because I heard him bark (once) and I wanted to make sure everything was OK - and there's my dog sniffing a neighbor (I don't know her, but she must live on the block somewhere) who's walking by. I called my dog and he came back to the gate to be let in; he knew he was in trouble as soon as he saw me. I apologized to the neighbor, but I didn't really know what to say to her. She told me about 5 times how he jumped the fence; asked if he'd ever done that before; asked if he'd ever bitten anyone (he hasn't)...I totally get that she was probably scared - I mean, he jumped the fence (which is over my head) and was sniffing her, he barked (it wasn't an angry bark, just his hello bark) at her, he's a medium sized dog, not everyone likes dogs to begin with...I get that it was an intimidating situation. I was embarrassed, and I felt for her. I kept apologizing, told her I'd have to start tying him up when he goes out, etc. I asked if he bit her, etc. But she just kept going on about it - and I had no idea what else to say. Any thoughts on what she was looking for?
sally4sara Posted August 6, 2009 Posted August 6, 2009 I kept apologizing, told her I'd have to start tying him up when he goes out, etc. I asked if he bit her, etc. But she just kept going on about it - and I had no idea what else to say. Any thoughts on what she was looking for? Some sort of offer I would guess. As to what? IDK, money maybe. Unless your dog causes harm, don't apologize as it can trap you into some legal obligation. Ask people if they are okay, ask if they require assistance in some way, but if no harm was caused, never apologize. It stinks and it sounds rude, but that is what happens when you live in a law suit happy country. Maybe it would be best to not leave him unattended in the yard now that you know how high he can jump. Or put him on a tethered lead. My mom's neighbor puts her dog's lead on the clothes line and lets him wear himself out running back and forth for a half hour every day.
MSUE Posted August 6, 2009 Posted August 6, 2009 well I'm a dog owner have my beagle and my big daddy yellow lab and live in a city highly populated...I let them go in the driveway offf leash however I do not lose sight of them whatsoever...you have to be extremely careful as some people are scared of dogs any size not to mention any dog is capable of snapping doesn't matter how well trained they are they are still a dog...your dog jumping the fence is legally considered animal at large and anyone has the right to call animal control on you and depending on the state and city the fines can be quit hefty where I live a 4th offensed means you lose your dog no questions ask...so advice keep an eye on your dogs at all times...and certainly familiarize yourself with the laws on your area
Author New Again Posted August 6, 2009 Author Posted August 6, 2009 well I'm a dog owner have my beagle and my big daddy yellow lab and live in a city highly populated...I let them go in the driveway offf leash however I do not lose sight of them whatsoever...you have to be extremely careful as some people are scared of dogs any size not to mention any dog is capable of snapping doesn't matter how well trained they are they are still a dog...your dog jumping the fence is legally considered animal at large and anyone has the right to call animal control on you and depending on the state and city the fines can be quit hefty where I live a 4th offensed means you lose your dog no questions ask...so advice keep an eye on your dogs at all times...and certainly familiarize yourself with the laws on your area Thanks that's good to know - I wonder if that's why she was asking if he'd ever done it before. Seems obvious to me that if he'd jumped the fence before I wouldn't let him out in a fenced in yard thinking it was safe - since that's the point of having a 6 foot high fence in the yard. I'm actually pretty shocked he jumped it; he's not that big.
Author New Again Posted August 6, 2009 Author Posted August 6, 2009 Some sort of offer I would guess. As to what? IDK, money maybe. Unless your dog causes harm, don't apologize as it can trap you into some legal obligation. Ask people if they are okay, ask if they require assistance in some way, but if no harm was caused, never apologize. It stinks and it sounds rude, but that is what happens when you live in a law suit happy country. Maybe it would be best to not leave him unattended in the yard now that you know how high he can jump. Or put him on a tethered lead. My mom's neighbor puts her dog's lead on the clothes line and lets him wear himself out running back and forth for a half hour every day. Also good advice. I had actually heard something similar, but only in reference to car accidents. He definitely won't be allowed to run loose in the yard anymore!
MSUE Posted August 6, 2009 Posted August 6, 2009 my lil beagle who is no taller than 15 inches and 30 pounds can jump 2 to 3 feet in the air just for the heck of it...you'd be surprised what our babies are capable of specially when no one is looking lol...good luck with your guy just keep a closer eye that's all
Author New Again Posted August 6, 2009 Author Posted August 6, 2009 my lil beagle who is no taller than 15 inches and 30 pounds can jump 2 to 3 feet in the air just for the heck of it...you'd be surprised what our babies are capable of specially when no one is looking lol...good luck with your guy just keep a closer eye that's all LOL yeah, now that I know what he's capable of he's definitely not ever going out again unless I'm right there to run interference, or tied up. Now I just have my fingers crossed that the neighbor doesn't get it in her head to try to sue or report me or something!
Thornton Posted August 7, 2009 Posted August 7, 2009 Given that the dog didn't bite her and leave bite marks or anything, ultimately it's your word against hers about whether the dog was even out. Even if she did report it, without evidence there's very little they could do other than give you a warning. I wouldn't worry about it if I were you. You need to prevent the dog getting out again though - if the authorities catch it out and about they might take it away, or it could be hit by a car or something.
MSUE Posted August 7, 2009 Posted August 7, 2009 in most states a police report can be made regardless as even if the dog didn't bite or hurt anyone it is still an animal at large and dogs are not to be off leash if not in your property or a state park that has a dog run in it
nobody's girl Posted August 7, 2009 Posted August 7, 2009 She may have just been freaked out. Some people aren't comfortable around dogs to begin with, to see a medium-sized dog come over a fence at you is bound to scare anyone. I had a foster dog that was a fence climber and the rescue that first had him just kept saying over and over again "He climbs fences!" like it was the strangest thing they'd ever seen. Ha, that isn't even the strangest thing my dogs do in a day. You can look into reinforcing the top of the fence. Some people run an invisible fence along the top. Or they get hot wire like farmers use for cattle and run it along the top. You can also invest in, or if you're handy make your own, coyote roller. If you make your own you can use wire and PVC pipe. Here's what it looks like: http://coyoteroller.com
Thornton Posted August 7, 2009 Posted August 7, 2009 in most states a police report can be made regardless as even if the dog didn't bite or hurt anyone it is still an animal at large and dogs are not to be off leash if not in your property or a state park that has a dog run in it So any random person who had a grudge against you could call the police and claim that your dog was out, even if it wasn't? Surely they would have to catch the dog at large or have multiple witnesses before they could really do anything?
MSUE Posted August 7, 2009 Posted August 7, 2009 in her specific situation plus all we know the neighbour could have taken a pix w a cell you just don't know w people specially those who are not pet fans to begin with and happen to live next to you...beter safe than sorry
sally4sara Posted August 7, 2009 Posted August 7, 2009 She may have just been freaked out. Some people aren't comfortable around dogs to begin with' date=' to see a medium-sized dog come over a fence at you is bound to scare anyone. I had a foster [b']dog that was a fence climber[/b] and the rescue that first had him just kept saying over and over again "He climbs fences!" like it was the strangest thing they'd ever seen. Ha, that isn't even the strangest thing my dogs do in a day. You can look into reinforcing the top of the fence. Some people run an invisible fence along the top. Or they get hot wire like farmers use for cattle and run it along the top. You can also invest in, or if you're handy make your own, coyote roller. If you make your own you can use wire and PVC pipe. Here's what it looks like: http://coyoteroller.com I had toy poodles when I was a kid that did that! They climb like people rock climb; one link opening at a time! Weird tho, another part of the yard had a solid wood gate that stood 6' tall and they could jump up and scramble over. Seeing as they could do that I never understood why they would bother with the climbing bit for a 4' link fence. I guess it must have been fun for them.
Author New Again Posted August 7, 2009 Author Posted August 7, 2009 I had toy poodles when I was a kid that did that! They climb like people rock climb; one link opening at a time! Weird tho, another part of the yard had a solid wood gate that stood 6' tall and they could jump up and scramble over. Seeing as they could do that I never understood why they would bother with the climbing bit for a 4' link fence. I guess it must have been fun for them. That sounds crazy to watch! I would never imagine a dog doing that! I definitely think that once our dogs realize they can do something, they start doing it just for the fun of it. Case in point: my dog has never in 5 years jumped a fence - since last night he's been out twice - I went out with him and stood right in front of the place where he jumped over, and I could TELL he was eyeing it and wanted to do it again!
Adunaphel Posted August 7, 2009 Posted August 7, 2009 Any thoughts on what she was looking for? She was probably distressed about the event and needed to talk/vent about it. Also, she probably insisted in pointing out that the situation is potentially dangerous to make you aware of it. I'm also guessing that anyone who gets scared by a medium size dog who jumped a fence is not istinctively going to believe that it is the first time the dog does it - it is not a personaly thing, it is just that the "it's the first time it happens" line is so overused that everyone has problems believing it, no matter whether it is dogs, getting caught at something or erection problems.
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