The Yellow Dog

[mackico]

Okay. So, it isn't really a major problem, but it does bother me on occasion.

There is a dog, which we call The Yellow Dog, and it comes onto our property, pees on Archie's compound -- sometimes when he's in it -- and steals his bones. It's a medium/large dog, yellow in colour with really pale yellow eyes, hence the name. Might be some sort of lab/rhodesian ridgeback type mix, I don't really know. It's male, however.

Anyway, this dog comes onto our property, and poor old Archie gets all riled up. His hackles go up, his tail goes up and he does that very deep, growling bark. He'll be sitting quietly in his compound, or in our lounge, and The Yellow Dog will come up off the beach onto our lawn and wee all around the outsides of his compound. If Archie's inside our house, and I've forgotten to latch the compound door, it will go into Archie's compound and make off with anything of interest in there. A toy or a bone or a treat.

Oh, we've spoken to the owner, frequently go racing outside bellowing at The Yellow Dog at the tops of our lungs and chase it off the property, but the owner is pretty lax and never seems to take it to heart.

My problem is that sometimes we meet it on our walks along the beach. If I see it, I'll put Archie on leash well before we meet it, and that's okay. The thing is, though, that The Yellow Dog is very stealthy, and has an annoying habit of coming up behind us without us knowing. Archie recognises it, and more than one he has jumped on it, snarling and growling. Never actually hurt it though, no punture wounds or anything, but I'm always afraid that he might injure it, or the other owner will report Archie or something.

Now, this is the only dog he has ever behaved properly aggressive towards. He's met hundreds of other dogs and been completely fine. A sniff, a wag of the tail, perhaps a game of chase and then they part ways. He had a growl at a couple of small dogs when he had a sore on his shoulder and they went in close to it, but didn't make as if to harm them, just warned them really.

But what should I do about The Yellow Dog? The three times Archie has jumped on it growling he had been immediately pulled off, told "NO, bad dog" firmly and taken away from the situation. However, I'm about as annoyed at The Yellow Dog and it's owner as he is for stealing all his toys and bones that we actually paid money for, and I'm pretty sure he picks up on that.

So, what should I do about the entire situation? It's not too bad at the moment -- like I said, Archie has never physically damaged The Yellow Dog. But I'm worried about it escalating in the future.

[zetstaff]

It's difficult isn't it, firstly if the yellow dog gets a pasting it's their fault as yours will be on a lead, not ideal I know as you want to avoid that.

I'd send the other owners a bill for the replacement toys + things

How does it get onto your property, is there any way you can secure your garden so it can't get in?

I don't know the layout of where you are but securing your space would be a way round it if you can

And just tell them they've got to get a grip of their dog as you won't be responsible if anything happens whilst it's trespassing

Not much help but hope you find a solution

[Tedsmum]

I think the important thing is to secure your property if you can and make sure there is no way he can get in.
I would maybe resort to water pistol or claxon when you see him on your property meantime and I again would talk to the owner when you see him out and about.
Besides the theft of toys etc, I would not be at all happy for another dog to be peeing all arond my property. You have justification to be annoyed with him.
It is no wonder Archie is aggressive with him when they meet, it must be very frustrating - a bit like someone parking in your driveway without permission?!?

Archie might be thinking That's the b*stard who stole my bone! And he'll know his scent if he's been weeing in your compound. I'd try and secure the property so the dog can't get in. Can you talk to the owner about the situation? If they're not willing to help you with this then I'd be contacting a dog warden or similar and reporting Yellow Dog as a stray, maybe some 'authority' will make the owner more responsible.