Lab Owners, I need advise

[ExLimey]

I have a six year old Black Lab who leads a pretty sheltered life. People in my neck of the woods don't fence their yards, so I keep him tied up when he's outside. (In the winter, he stays inside all day.) My property is 102 feet wide. He can get to within about 10 feet of the property line (He has a 30 foot steel cable he's attached to)

Anyway, my neighbors two doors down have several kids, two of which think they can run all over the place and do whatever the fuck they want. (Two girls 6 and 3). I was outside snowblowing a couple of days ago and he was outside with me, tied up as always. Anyway the girls saw me outside and came over for some reason. The dog went ballistic. I have caught one of them in my yard during the summer yelling at him threatening him with a plastic sword. I've never actually seen him be struck, but I can imagine that these two aren't his favorite humans. Anyway, while I was snowblowing they were running around just beyond his reach "playing" in the yard of the house between my house and their house. I yelled at both of them several times to stay away from him. Anyway the 3 year old obviously can't tell that he doesn't like them and she got a little too close. In fact she got within striking distance. My dog got ahold of the front of her jacket and yanked her down into the snow and was about to give her a good shake just as I got ahold of him. Needless to say I made it abudantly clear that his behavior was unacceptable. He didn't hurt her in anyway, she got up crying but didn't go home, they continued to fuck around in my neighbors yard.

My question is, does any other Labrador owner have one that doesn't like kids? Most I've known are very kind and gently. Mine is if you're in the house or if he sees that I'm not threatened by you. I don't really know what to do. It concerns me that he'd do something like this but I know that it has been provoked by prior contact. Everytime I see these kids anywhere near my yard I become the stereotypical old man (I'm only 29) and yell "hey you kids stay out of my yard!"

I just wish some people would tie up their kids too!

 

[OUTSIDER]

you could put up a few notices saying "beware of the dog" just outside of the reach of his cable and tell all the niebours around you that he doesn't like kid's then if anything happens it's up to them and not you, also you should tell the parents of the kids that they've been teaseing your dog....I don't think it'll get through to them but you need to cover your ass legaly in case anything happens

 

[Shy Tall Guy]

You have a problem (well duh! ); as you infer, these kids have most likely been teasing/taunting him. Labs are the most friendly dog breed I know; they are about the only breed I will approach with about being "introduced" to the dog. In fact they can just be too damn friendly and a lot of owners lose their labs because they will walk away with anybody - that is the way my brother lost his Lab.

There is little I can think of that you can do to train the dog if the kids keep taunting him - it would take a very disciplined dog indeed to sit there and just take it unless the owner was there too, and even then...

I think what I would do is this:

1) I would have a talk with the parents of the kids.

2) I would setup a video cam, if you can, that will video tape all of these kid's interactions with your dog, whether you are there or not.

3) I would have a talk with the animal control officer in your area - put it on record now that these kids are taunting your dog.

4) Write a registered/certified/notarized/whatever letter to both the parents and the animal control people apprising them of the situation. This is for your protection - not really to communicate with them; that was taken care of when you talked to them - but reference you verbal converstations in your letter. Keep documentation of when and who you talked to.

This is all leading up to the inevitable; one of these days you are not going to be there, or you won't be quick enough, and those kids are going to be hurt. It will be their parents fault, and to a certain extent the kids fault (they are kids after all), but you and your dog will be blamed. You may be sued.

You may wish to talk to a lawyer about this, but you certainly probably want to check up on your liability insurance and consider doing what I outlined above.

I don't think a fence to keep the kids out will help, but you might consider it. Oh, and I don't think it is that your dog doesn't like kids specifically as he doesn't like these particular kids, and he is doing what a dog in a pack would do to misbehaving pups - giving them a lesson in discipline. I don't blame him - if they were my kids I think I would toss them down and give them a good spanking too.

 

[ExLimey]

STG I think you're right. I do have "Beware of Dogs" signs up. I've told the kids many times not to come near him, that hasn't worked. Let's face it, if they let their 6 and 3 year old kids run around outside with no supervision, how are they going to like me telling them to keep their kids out of the yard? I'm very non-confrontational and don't want to come across like I'm blaming them for anything. I should probably go over there tomorrow and at least let them know to tell their kids to stay away.

I am concerned about the blame aspect especially. My dog means the world to me, more than my house, cars or any other possession I own. If anything happened to him I'd be crushed. I'd hate for anything to happen to those kids either, but mainly because of what would probably happen to him afterwards.

I really don't know if my county has an Animal Control Dept. I know the township doesn't. Folks up here aren't into "big government" and rules of most kinds.

 

[chanaud]

I feel for you ExLimey. STG is right, Labs are the most friendliest dogs and love most children. I don't blame your dog for going ballistic on them. I would too, if I saw them in action.

If what STG suggested doesn't work, have you considered keeping your dog inside? I know they chew a lot and tend to mess up the house, but at least he will be safe from the children and you don't have to worry about a liability case.

Good luck ExLimey!

btw: What is his name?

 

[ExLimey]

His name is Tuco, after Eli Wallach's character in The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly.

I know that during the winter this is not an issue because he's only outside when I am. I am worried about summer. I guess I could keep him inside, but that seems a little unfair, it is his yard, he has more of a right to be out there than those kids. But you're right, it's an easy solution to the problem.

His experiences with these kids have soured him to all kids. He didn't like the two hyper childredn that were at the vet last time I took him. However, he's not exactly in the right frame of mind at the vet. Probably the worst situation to meet a dog under, when they are incredibly stressed.

 

[SunnyGirl]

I have a three year old female black Lab. She's also been very sheltered, and was rescued from a neglectful family. I have the opposite problem though, she likes kids so much that she has a tendency to just sort of bowl them over when they're around. I don't think she realizes just how big she is, and just how small they are.

I keep her inside most of the time, and thankfully, all of the neighborhood kids will ask if they can come into the yard to play with her.

I would suggest you take STG's advice though, and find some way to keep your ass covered. Sounds like the kids are little brats and deserved some "pack" discipline, but I doubt the parents will see it that way

 

[chanaud]

Great name! I would rather see him hassle free in the house, than being tormented by kids.

Hey, I've been trying to get hold of you ExLimey, but you turned off your pm and didn't list your email. You mentioned long ago that you sailed. Where and what have you sailed?

Unfortunately, I'm going to the theatre right now. Please talk to me later or email me. I love to swap sailing stories.

 

[ExLimey]

SunnyGirl, I think most labs have that mentality. Mine seems to think that he's a lap dog. He also likes to stand on my feet, which drives me nuts! I also "rescued" mine. He was two, and you could see his ribs. He lived with other animals and nobody really paid too much attention to them. He's not overly aggressive towards other animals so I don't think he got to eat much, either that or there just wasn't anything to eat.

I do know that my dog acts differently outside than inside. Outside he's very territorial, inside everyone is there to play with him. Retriever, my god he is relentless. He could fetch for days on end. Most nights I end up hiding his ball just to get some peace and quiet!

 

[registered "^^"]

If he bites anyone.....your in deep shit.....even though the kids may deserve it for teasing him. Keep plenty of liability insurance .

 

[registered "^^"]

aanddddddddddddddddddddddddd

Labs need acess to water, and they need lots of room for running.
They were bred for hunting, not as house dogs, but most are very intelligent.

 

[Problem Child]

How about spending a few bucks and building a fence? It would give your dog more freedom and keep the little neighbor-beasts away. If you had a fence, the little rat-children would definitely be in the wrong if they came in contact with your dog on your side.

I hate to see any dog tied up all day.

 

[DejaVu]

Poor dog

All of the above is good advice, but you struck on something when you said he's very territorial outside.

Dogs on leashes and while tied up tend to be more aggressive because they are at a disadvantage. They cannot approach and investigate to their fullest extent, therefore become cautious and protective of their territory.

I sincerely think that fence would be your best bet, whether others have one or not. That way, the dog doesn't need to be tied up and if your fence is secured and high enough, usually you will have height regulations, then the children can't get in and he can't get them.

My parents bred Rottweillers and I presently own 2, I know all the necessary precautions that must be taken in order to make your dog happy and also protect him from the unwanted advances of others.

You should also socialize your dog with children while you are there, obviously, and teach him what is acceptable.

No child should ever be left alone with a dog of ANY breed or should be allowed to access one. The parents need to be informed and if they don't do anything, talk to your local police/sherriff whatever and ask them to have a talk with the parents also.

 

[Nobody Special's wife]

First of all get a sign that says beware of dog and no trespassing ..This will save your ass with those kids..

All dogs will react to things if they are getting tormented.. if your dog was tormented by those kids then it will act agressive because he or she feels threaten.....

I would go and tell the parent that you don't want there kids in your yard...

that would be there first and last warning so if something or some one would get hurt they have trespassed into your yard and has harmed your dog....


I caught a young boy shooting my dog with a water gun then he let my dog out of her pen.. because he wanted to... then he come to us an tell us my dog bite his sister and also she broke his gun.. now I told the kid that if he was seen shooting my dog and also around her pin that we are not going to replace his gun .. but we are going to file a tresspassing suite if he does it again ...

This kid just wanted to get something out of this obvously he didn't tell his parents either...


Just protect your animal the best way you can. Because people shoot and ask question later .. if you have signs then your not liable for what happens as well .. and try to watch what those kids do to your dog...also your dog shouldn't act that way with every child only the ones that has tormented him or her he will rember ... good luck


NSW

 

[jinnysub]

a sign could get you in more trouble...it indicates you knew the dog is a threat...

 

[LadyDarkFire]

I have a black lab who is now about 10 years old, and really dislikes kids. We got him from the vet, where he had been abandoned by a family that had beaten him so badly they had broken his leg in 3 places and never let it heal right. This being said, the leg is painful for him, and he will get especially edgy if it is bothering him. We had the same problem with Boomer about 3 years ago, with our neighbors grandchildren (4, 8, and12). They would be let loose to roam around the private road we live on, and they took this to mean they had permission to come into our property, and I found them taunting and even throwing dirt at Boomer. He lunged at one of them, but the leash I had put him on held him back. Needless to say they had taken this as an oppertunity to be cruel and mean to this poor dog. What I did was take the kids back to their grandmother with a black look on my face (this is My dog, not just a family pet, and to see him treated like that made me really angry at how badly these children were behaving) and told the grandmother in no uncertain terms that if I saw them doing it again, I would get picture evidence, I would take pictures of the mud on Boomer's coat, and I would call Animal Control, and report the abuse. I then took pictures of Boomer, and filed them away. The next day, I bought stakes and some bright yellow rope, and went down to our backyard with the map of the property lines. I corded off the area that Boomer is in and posted No Tresspassing signs. They actually did come back after that, and I called the cops on them for tresspassing. The Grandmother ultimately learned it was easier to exsert some control over these children than keep paying the fines that the cops would dish out to them. Since the youngest is now 7, they are still within the range, and we mainly have to worry about them in summer, when they will occasionally slip out, and try to get into trouble. They've done this to every dog on the private road, and got knocked down by our friend's dog, a German Shepard. This year, there was a watch set up for them, and the 2 younger ones have been hauled back to their grandmother every time. Just make sure that the property you post is your own, and talk to the parents. Don't be afraid to follow up threats of calling the cops for tresspassing, it might be the only thing that keeps them away, or gets a parental responce. Another thing, the video camera is a good idea, but there is also a wonderful gift in your neighbors (aside from the Parents). Ask them to keep an eye out when the dog is outside and you are not around. If they see the kids, and tell you that, then you have more help, along with witnesses of an ongoing problem if you need them. I love kids, I have alot in my family who I dote on, but when it comes to something like this, I won't accept parents saying "Kids will be Kids," and for the safety of your dog, and these girls, you shouldn't either.