Kids teasing dogs. How to stop it?

[Jinglebob]

[FONT=Microsoft JhengHei UI, sans-serif]Three boys, ages 6, 8 and 9, live across the street. They have been running up and down the sidewalk banging on the fence and teasing my two dogs to make them bark. I’ve been training the dogs not to bark at people walking down the sidewalk and these kids are undoing the training.[/FONT]

[FONT=Microsoft JhengHei UI, sans-serif]I asked them politely not to tease the dogs but they continue on. I put a sign on the fence, “Don’t Tease Dogs, Stay Away From Fence”. I pointed out the sign to the kids when I caught them teasing the dogs yesterday. The oldest kid said, “We don’t have to do what that sign says.” I then walked across the street and spoke with their dad. His response was, “Boys will he boys.”
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[FONT=Microsoft JhengHei UI, sans-serif]Coming form a rural farming community I have not lived in close proximity to neighbors until I moved to the city. This is a new experience and I’m not liking it.[/FONT]
[FONT=Microsoft JhengHei UI, sans-serif]
[/FONT] [FONT=Microsoft JhengHei UI, sans-serif]If you’ve had a similar experience, please share how you resolved the problem.[/FONT]

 

[moralem]

Turn the garden hose on them.

 

[LoadedRound]

Get a dog that can jump the fence

That bites........

 

[bigwheelzip]

There is the "Eastwood option".

 

[Ματθιας]

The only thing you can do is bring your dogs in when they show up.

 

[dasnake]

Baloney

Boys will be boys is baloney, my opinion is talk to the kids again, level headed, level voiced, if it happens again, (and it sounds like will) talk again with the parents, explain what is being unraveled with your training with their actions, if nothing is done then contact your local police on their business line and tell them your problem and if there is anything they can do or your local animal people and explain to them what is going on, you can’t threaten or act inflammatory at all, the parent talk is the most vital the brats need parental supervision.

Good luck, your main problem is the idiot parents.

 

[ladder13]

Let em out.

 

[Protocall_Design]

An electric fence to "keep the dogs in" might give them a wake up call...

 

[jeffrefrig]

Local humane services, (Animal Control) can speak with parents. The water hose, via sprinkler system sounds like a good idea. They are only 6, 8, & 9 years old, but, you could ask their dad to the local gym to work it out. The kids could not give a care at that age in these times. I'm in a nice (people) neighborhood where dogs are fenced out back, but not all yards work out that way. I like to hit my speed bag in the garage just to keep my arms a little in shape. Go talk to dad about the gym thing after animal control services do nothing.

 

[hoosierone]

If one of the dogs bite a kid, the parents will no doubt make a big deal of it. I would talk to the police and ask for advice from them. Under no circumstances would I "hose" the kids or do anything else top them that can be deemed to place liability on you.

For now, I'd bring the dogs in when these idiots show up.

 

[MRB1]

Document it first, then consult the Police. Being a good neighbor only goes so far, and you shouldn't be held liable for their inaction.

 

[JcMack]

When I was married my wife bought me a German Shepard puppy for my birthday. Dog's parents were big and my dog was very big by a year old. "Wolf" spent his days in my fenced in yard. Neighbor brats used to come by and rake the fence to agitate the dog. It soon became apparent Wolf hated anybody under 3 foot tall. My son was 4 and the dog was good with him but I was afraid the dog would get out and attack a kid or my son would walk through the door with a little pal and he'd get mauled. After trying all kinds of solutions we gave Wolf to the Chicago PD. They were happy to get the dog but said they'd have to change his name.

 

[boykinlp]

Be careful, if you do something to the kids, they may do something worse to your dogs! Most kids these days have no respect.
Larry

 

[Mule Packer]

 

[quikdraw67]

I have a few opinions on the matter, but none are legal or politically correct.

 

[6518John]

My lord, these people are your neighbors, you don’t want trouble with them. The last thing that needs to be done is involve the government—the police and animal control have better things to do. Don’t hose or harass a bunch of little boys either.

You and your wife cook the family a nice meal and invite them over in friendship and fellowship. Introduce the boys to the dogs. Find out when their birthdays are and go to the Dollar Store and blow a dollar or two on some rubber snakes or spiders or little green army men—all young boys love them. Same at Christmas.

I bet you can turn this into lifelong friendship rather than make a family of enemies. I know I am eternally grateful to the adults that reached out to me in kindness when I was a kid and messing up.

 

[jscheck]

Sadly I don't see a real solution to your problem. I've met kids I thought were rotten little brats until I met their parents and learned where they got it from. Law or Animal Control "may" help if they will make the effort but don't get your hopes up. If you can put them in the back yard I suggest you do so.

P.S.-Do not, under any circumstances, hose the kids down.

 

[Rpg]

I suspect that you could solve the problem by befriending the kids. No way to make the kids disappear: they’re your neighbors.

Introduce the kids to your dogs. Make the dogs friends of the kids. Enlist the kids in helping with the dogs; you’ll change the kids’ perspective about you and your dogs.

Don’t be the spooky old guy across the street (there’s one on every block) that the kids both fear and delight in annoying. Be engaging. It’s not hard and beats being the crazy old coot everyone loves to hate!

 

[Clarke Hammer]

Regarding people here suggesting that you turn the garden hose on the kids, the last thing you want to be charged with is assaulting minors.

I think I would speak with the father more firmly and let him know that you do not regard this as a light-hearted situation, and that it is causing severe stress to your dogs. If that didn't work, I might try to get the city animal control involved and frame it as that the kids are teasing and intentionally riling up your dogs so much, that their behavior is bordering on cruelty. Hopefully a visit from the police or animal control would scare them straight.

I remember a time when a stern talking to from an adult would scare a kid straight.

 

[Doug627]

Do you know anyone with boys aged 10 to 12? Invite them over. If the neighbor boys get thumped, well "boys will be boys." On a serious note, set up a video camera to capture what the boys are doing. While on camera, tell the boys to stop teasing the dogs and why. Make sure you get on camera that you have asked them to stop before. Do this on several occasions. Show the tapes to the parents. If the conduct continues, then call the police and have them watch the tapes. The police can have a much better conversation with the parents after watching the tapes. Don't bribe the little hellions. This just rewards their conduct.