Neighbors Who Need to Get a Life?

[kkrieg]

Hi all

I hope this post is alright, I'm new to this forum. I have two rescue pit bulls, one an American Staffordshire, the other a mix of AmStaff and Ridgeback (I think?). We had an unfortunate incident where my dog bit another dog, maybe four to six weeks ago. I took care of everything with the other owner, paid for everything, went out of my way to do the right things.

It is the only time my dog has bitten, it was a bunch of circumstances, unfortunate, but I hold myself accountable for it.

Now my neighbors are spreading malicious rumors and gossiping about the dogs, even though they have become even more behaved (I do a ALOT of dog training and they go to daycare when I can afford it to keep them socialized in a supervised situation) They rarely bark except if barked at. They rarely look at other dogs except to say hello to them. Most of the time barking, if it does occur, is a reaction to the other owners dog barking or lunging at us.


What can I do? I don't want to muzzle my dog, it's not fair. I don't let my dogs run around off leash, they get regular exercise. We do classes one to two times a week. What else can I do?

How do people just cope with ignorance and bias? I find myself getting upset all the time at the ignorance. Do I just toughen up and get used to it?


thanks

[HugoBoss]

If all they are doing is talking, I wouldnt worry about it, there is a saying "dog that barks, doesnt bite", I found it to be true more times than not, on the other hand, in your post you said you have pitbulls, none of your dogs are pitbulls , you have a mix and a Staffordshire.

[ABK]

kkreig: I am sorry to hear of your unfortunate incident. Sadly all you can do in situations like this is toughen up. Some folks are real freaks about our breed & nothing we can do will make them acceptable to some folks. However keep up the classes & responsible ownership & maybe try out for your CGC or TT if you can. That will help.

HugoBoss: I have to respectfully disagree with both of your points. When dealing w/ our breed, the "dogs" who bark can & will bite. People have gotten petitions up to have dogs removed from neighborhoods & the more heartless ones have even outright killed dogs.

As for the OPs dogs, yes, they are technically pit bulls. Are are not of the breed "American Pit Bull Terrier" BUT when it comes to legality, AmStaffs, APBTs, StaffyBulls, American Bullies & crosses thereof are all classified under the general term "pit bull" & can be prosecuted as such.

[bullydogs]

Hi all

I hope this post is alright, I'm new to this forum. I have two rescue pit bulls, one an American Staffordshire, the other a mix of AmStaff and Ridgeback (I think?). We had an unfortunate incident where my dog bit another dog, maybe four to six weeks ago. I took care of everything with the other owner, paid for everything, went out of my way to do the right things.

It is the only time my dog has bitten, it was a bunch of circumstances, unfortunate, but I hold myself accountable for it.

Now my neighbors are spreading malicious rumors and gossiping about the dogs, even though they have become even more behaved (I do a ALOT of dog training and they go to daycare when I can afford it to keep them socialized in a supervised situation) They rarely bark except if barked at. They rarely look at other dogs except to say hello to them. Most of the time barking, if it does occur, is a reaction to the other owners dog barking or lunging at us.


What can I do? I don't want to muzzle my dog, it's not fair. I don't let my dogs run around off leash, they get regular exercise. We do classes one to two times a week. What else can I do?

How do people just cope with ignorance and bias? I find myself getting upset all the time at the ignorance. Do I just toughen up and get used to it?


thanks

It sounds like you are doing the best you can. Dealing with ignorant/biased people are part of owning this particular breed. IMHO you kinda have to learn to cope with all the ignorance. If that means toughening up...then by all means do it. Living in an urban area i deal with this on a daily basis. It took me a long time to learn how to deal with certain situations. I still get sick to my stomach at some of these uneducated ignorant people, but i just roll with it.

I say if possible sit down with these neighbors and try to educate them a bit. One bad neighbor will have the whole block thinking you got some killer dogs. I really try to stay on good terms with all my surrounding neighbors. I do not have much of a choice. They can make our lives a living hell if they wanted too. I try to introduce the dogs to all neighbors, i tell them about recent shows/pulls that we have participated in. I let the dogs give me tons of kisses on the porch...esp. when the nosy neighbors are watching. I want them to see the soft side, and how much i love my dogs.

Hopefully, everything works out for ya.

[simms]

Welcome to the forum

Here it is, you set your dog up to fail. Yes you are trying to correct your mistake,however your niebors are within thier right to be concerned. IMO, you need to suck it up and hopefully with time you might beable to educate them.

Remember that APBT dont need k9 friends....

[frenchie1936]

kkreig: I am sorry to hear of your unfortunate incident. Sadly all you can do in situations like this is toughen up. Some folks are real freaks about our breed & nothing we can do will make them acceptable to some folks. However keep up the classes & responsible ownership & maybe try out for your CGC or TT if you can. That will help.

HugoBoss: I have to respectfully disagree with both of your points. When dealing w/ our breed, the "dogs" who bark can & will bite. People have gotten petitions up to have dogs removed from neighborhoods & the more heartless ones have even outright killed dogs.

As for the OPs dogs, yes, they are technically pit bulls. Are are not of the breed "American Pit Bull Terrier" BUT when it comes to legality, AmStaffs, APBTs, StaffyBulls, American Bullies & crosses thereof are all classified under the general term "pit bull" & can be prosecuted as such.


i'd give you some rep, but you already have WAY TOO DAMN MUCH!!! lol, good post :)

[bahamutt99]

I would ignore the rumors, but correct them if you are asked. Don't give them any weight by worrying about them. Other than that, just make sure you're keeping your dogs out of harm's way. If they're irritating the neighbors, they may try to take matters into their own hands, which wont end well for your dogs.

Bear in mind, it sounds like you're describing a situation where your dogs are out in the yard when they're barking and whatnot. (If they're barking from inside the house, I'd honestly tell your neighbors to go screw themselves.) So, operating under that assumption, take steps to keep them quiet and happy. Kennel or tie them where they can't see other dogs outside their fence, or put up privacy fence. Give them something to chew on, and make sure they get enough exercise to at least take the edge off their energy. While I'm pitching out suggestions, make sure you don't let your dogs get loose, and keep your yard clean.

If you keep your dogs in such a manner that they aren't making any problems for your neighbors, eventually they will find something else to talk about.

[kkrieg]

thank you for the comments. I do alolt of the recommendations here, we run up to 7 miles a day together, walk at least an additional 2-3 miles, they do not spend time unsupervised outside in the yard and have so many toys I'm afraid they have more than a small child in this area!

Just thank you for the support and ideas. It just means a lot knowing that there are others out there that have gone through the same thing. I definitely need to toughen up!

Any other thoughts or ideas are welcome to me.

Thanks!

Karen

[HugoBoss]

HugoBoss: I have to respectfully disagree with both of your points. When dealing w/ our breed, the "dogs" who bark can & will bite. People have gotten petitions up to have dogs removed from neighborhoods & the more heartless ones have even outright killed dogs.

As for the OPs dogs, yes, they are technically pit bulls. Are are not of the breed "American Pit Bull Terrier" BUT when it comes to legality, AmStaffs, APBTs, StaffyBulls, American Bullies & crosses thereof are all classified under the general term "pit bull" & can be prosecuted as such.

Abk, i been lurking around here for some time now, and i gotta say you are very knowledgeable about the breed, but i have to disagree with some things you said, In Az where i live a pitbull is a pitbull a mix is a mix , a staffy is a staffy, unless they got solid proof, they will loose , atleast thats how it is here, how can you say a mix breed dog can pass for a pitbull lol, and about the "dog that barks dont bite" i was refering to the curs of neighbors the OP has.

[TheVictor22]

How do people just cope with ignorance and bias? I find myself getting upset all the time at the ignorance. Do I just toughen up and get used to it?


thanks

Hugo said it. If all they do is talk don't worry. You seem like you learnd from the sittuation and are on the right track..... But to answer your question "How do people just cope with ignorance and bias?" I can tell you how not to deal with it. My neighbor called AC on me last week told them I was a dog fighter. They came to my home and checked everything out. found nothing wrong. AC told me who made the call (I don't think he was supposed to) Anyway I confronted the neighbor and it ended in blows because he called me an unfit parent for allowing my dogs around my baby. Now after kickin his ass I have busted knuckles (from hittin him in the mouth) and a bad rep in my neighbor hood along with my dogs. If your are goin to own these dogs then you have to have "thick skin". You can try and educate but when that fails, just let go. And let them wollow in ignorace. It ait worth the stress........ My neighbor deserved that AW though :D.

Victor