The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Community => Coffee Lounge => Topic started by: chris3000 on July 09, 2012, 02:56:01 pm
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We are having a real issue with our neighbours dogs.
Our smallholding is directly next door to a Barley Farm (the By-way separates us).
When we first moved in a few months ago his Jack Russell came into our garden and killed 3 of our hens.
I approached him and his reply was 'that's what dogs do' , he then went on to say that as the house and land had been empty for 6 months they were used to go and playing in it.
I, not wanting to be to much of a grump on first meeting our neighbour - said ok, well in future please don't allow them to come onto our garden and land (he has a collie too).
So as the months have gone on the dogs are still coming onto our land, they ignore commands to get out and just either lay there or bark at us. They have now started growling at my children (which has resulted in us not allowing them to play outside when they are about).
At this point I flipped, I spoke to the farmer for the 100th time to the same ignorance of responsibility.
I put up some stock fencing around the entry level - but within a few days they have dug under it - I complained again and he just looked at me blankly as if I was talking Chinese.
I need to invest in some better fencing (for the garden boundary) - but what more can I do?
Just to note they do not reside at the farm (it is the processing plant) and he brings them up and lets them roam free during the day and at weekends.
How can I deal with someone who takes zero responsibility for his animals?
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Will the dog warden/environmental health be able to help. If he is allowing the dog to roam, then he is either breaking the law, or a byelaw - not sure which one. If the dog is growling at your children, he is in trouble under the dangerous dogs act.
Might be worth ringing the council for a chat.
Helen
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Put up an electric fence. They will soon learn not to come anywhere near it.
Tell the owner that unless he keeps his dogs off your land you will take all steps needed to prevent them entering including force.
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If they are killing your stock on your premises , shoot them. >:(
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You've tried speaking to him with no reasonable response, I'd go for some electric netting fence across the area where the dogs are coming through, hopefully they'd get pinged quite soon and see it as deterrent.
I would be especially worried about the dogs growling at the children though :-\ seek advice from a local dog warden/police?
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He is surely breaking the law here. Definitely ring the council. He's had his chances to do something about it and it's not even as if you have to live next to him.
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I'd go for the electric netting too. If he creates about it (cos he sounds like the sort of bloke who might >:() you can say it is to keep the foxes from your chickens :-*
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Shoot the owner :innocent:
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Definitely 'phone the dog warden and if he won't help(though I'm sure he will) then 'phone the police. Your children and livestock are at risk!
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tell him next time the dogs are on your land you will shoot him, sorry, 'them'.
you are within your rights.
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The trouble with shooting dogs is that it isn't their fault.
The trouble with threatening people and trying to change their behaviour, is that they can get nasty back, and who wants someone who has a grudge around their property and animals, maybe when they're not there.
However much it feels as though this jerk should behave better it sounds as though he is unlikely to. Even if you get an 'order' of some description where are the Police/Council Wardens to enforce it all the time?
Which is why engineering out the problem is the more reliable and less stressful way to go, ie better fences.
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You are very wise jaykay :trophy: Please listen to her advice coopers :thumbsup:
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Get a baseball bat !
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Thanks to everyone for their advice
Jaykay - you are bang on, I will just get my new (better and more expensive) fencing up.
After another conversation with him about it today he really doesn't care - especially after he called me a hobby farmer - I will just block him, his dogs and his attitude out.
Why do large scale farmers detest smallholders so much?
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They don't all Coopers, really they don't. My big farmer neighbours couldn't be more encouraging or helpful.
But small minded idiots are small minded idiots, wherever you find them >:( And if you can do something he can do AND something else, where does that leave him. So he has to belittle what you're doing.
I'm sorry you have to spend money on fences but I think you're right about blocking out him, his dogs and his stoopid attitude :-*
You are very wise jaykay
I'm not sure about that :blush but thank you :-*
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the cost of fencing over my kids (and livestock) is a small price to pay :-)
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Absolutely but it still wouldn't hurt to get advice from the dog warden.
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Don't bother with electric chicken netting, we tried it our terrier got shocked, didn't like it and tore it to pieces.
We now use proper Electric Fencing for our pigs and once the dogs have been zapped they keep away from it. It's cheaper than post & rail and stock wire which doesn't stop a determined terrier/terrorist in our experience.
Perhaps you could try some Electric Fencing along with your current fencing.
HTH
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Why do large scale farmers detest smallholders so much?
You happen to have a nasty one, my neighbour couldn't be nicer - we are very lucky. Despite only owning 5 sheep compared to his hundreds. he still enquires how they are and offers me time and help. Its a shame you got an ar$e as a neighbour :(
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I'm afraid I'm in the shoot them camp, if your dog was worrying his sheep he would shoot it no question. If you spend a load on fencing they will dig under or jump over, if a dog wants to get in it will.
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I'd be tempted to pop them in the back of the van and drive to the local police station next time they arrive. explain that you have caught these loose and out of control dogs straying on your farm. ( no owner with them then they are strays).
Then if the owner collects them the police can warn him and if they are not collected hopefully they will be given a better home from the dog pound.
Either way at least you don't need to approach him face to face to listen to insult and ignorance again.
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i agree with bb, he needs to take resposibility for that dog. not you. i lost a few chooks to a dog earlier this year. i collared the dog, dragged it up the road and told the owner in no uncertain terms that if it did it again id shoot it. i havent got a gun, but he doesnt know that. since then hes been nice as pie, bringing wood over for me, and we actually get on really well. maybe standing up to your neighbour may well earn his respect.
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Initially as agut reaction I agree with Tizaala and Fowlman, but Jaykay's response is the sensible one. At least talk to the dog warden to know your rights. If my Jack Russel were killing somneone's hens and growling at their children I'd be horrified.
Are the offending creatures dogs or bitches? We once had a dog jump intl our goat compound. he got a nasty shock literally when he peed on the fence!!
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My first reaction was just to shoot them because they won't change. But on reflection if they can get in so can Foxes, so better fencing would be the way to go for long term peace of mind. I'd put an electrified strand at the bottom as well.
I thought dangerous dogs had to be destroyed anyway?
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Why do large scale farmers detest smallholders so much?
You happen to have a nasty one, my neighbour couldn't be nicer - we are very lucky. Despite only owning 5 sheep compared to his hundreds. he still enquires how they are and offers me time and help. Its a shame you got an ar$e as a neighbour :(
I'm very lucky too, can't remember how we first met now but my farmer friend is great.
Counting my blessings now.
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We have good neighbours and one bad - but I wouldn't shoot his dogs :dog: :dog: Another neighbours terrier was seen to be having great fun coming into our tup field and chasing the boys round and round, day after day. We worked out how he was getting in (under a gate) and blocked up the gap. Problem solved :thumbsup:
Tip top fencing is the answer to many problems and prevents many others. It is less easy to keep the dog away from our free range poultry (he is a known killer), but as our fencing is designed to keep our terriers in, hopefully it will also keep that one out :fc: .
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I was thinking electric fencing before I'd finished reading your first post, and it doesn't have to be large scale farmer who think they are better than 'hobby farmers'. Longtime part-time farmers forget they had to build up, and say the word 'hobby farmer' with disdain .
(but I would try and catch the dogs, take them to the RSPCA as strays, or if I couldn't catch them, spray them with something smelly ;D
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or if I couldn't catch them, spray them with something smelly ;D
Now that's a good idea ;D Something which really sticks and stinks. Long dead crow is a good one :P but difficult to spray. Fox dung is wonderful too....... (just thinking of what my dogs roll in which is impossible to get off)
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Tip top fencing is the answer to many problems and prevents many others.
As they say, "Good fencing makes for good neighbours."
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or if I couldn't catch them, spray them with something smelly ;D
Now that's a good idea ;D Something which really sticks and stinks. Long dead crow is a good one :P but difficult to spray. Fox dung is wonderful too....... (just thinking of what my dogs roll in which is impossible to get off)
...........or better still that cheap nasty scent your great aunt gertie sent you for xmas, my fave for stinkiness is calvin clines Obsession now that really hums! i was given it for xmas off OH's dad and i use it as kitchen bin freshner :innocent: farmer boy will really notice that!
Mandy :pig:
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or if I couldn't catch them, spray them with something smelly ;D
Now that's a good idea ;D Something which really sticks and stinks. Long dead crow is a good one :P but difficult to spray. Fox dung is wonderful too....... (just thinking of what my dogs roll in which is impossible to get off)
...........or better still that cheap nasty scent your great aunt gertie sent you for xmas, my fave for stinkiness is calvin clines Obsession now that really hums! i was given it for xmas off OH's dad and i use it as kitchen bin freshner :innocent: farmer boy will really notice that!
Mandy :pig:
:D :D It will offend him far more to have his dogs smelling poofy than of fox droppings ;D :thumbsup:
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Hosepipe!!
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|Anything from a certain high street chain L*sh. That aroma will linger for weeks and give the farmer a headache........... :innocent:
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My sister can't pass their shop without getting a migraine ;D ;D
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shake-n-vac...? :p
Imperial Leather talc?
:innocent:
(concentrate the stinky stuff on the back of the neck so the poor critter can't lick too much off and swallow it)