Like a fishwife

I feel reduced to a screaming fishwife. The neighbours who swear their dogs never bark - who do so constantly and have ongoing battles with other neighbours (and are quick to blame our pups who don't bark) :

a. went away for 3 days and left the dogs without a sitter or anything, so they of course barked all weekend. Who knows if they were left with food but I certainly didn't see anyone coming and going.
b. They've just got back and their kid who must be about 4 came up to the gate stamping at the pups and putting her fingers through the gate, making all sorts of noises. Of course this got Rox and Vin excited and they were jumping with all their might at the gate getting riled up to play.... which could be taken completely the wrong way and should they become mouthy with the kids, then what!?!?!
c. The kid then stood at my gate screeching her lungs out for her friend down the road.

I was so angry I went outside and shouted at her...the one kid who must also be about 4 was so rude to me telling me "but your dog barked at me when we went up to the gate." I told them to "go home now, this isn't your house so my dogs are telling you off. I'm phoning your mummy." I feel like a right eejit fighting with kiddies but those neighbours rile me up as it is

Those people should start setting a proper example for their children. Makes me sick to think of the environment that child is being brought up in - what hope does she have for the future when her parents are like that? What parent lets their child go up to two dogs in their own territory, unsupervised?

Irresponsible parents that's who. The parents are never home. The other night the one dog was locked out the house (not the first time, they just drive off and don't bother to check that the dogs are inside the gate). When phoned, they were too busy at gym to come home and safely put the dog inside - and took it as a complaint. So the dog had to wait outside, during traffic time, chasing kids on bikes etc until owner was quiet done with their all important workout. The next day the maid locked the kid out of the house for over an hour. I'm at my wits end. And I dare not complain since they are so quick to blame everything on my pups.

Wow, they sound horrendous. Some neighbours are just a nightmare

Your neighbours sound awful, poor you, it's not nice. Why on earth would they allow a small child approach your gate Big hugs for you, rox & vin ><

Thanks Hayley. Shame, Roxy has never known me so angry before that she walked in quiet gingerly and sat on the sofa next to me until I was ready to move again

Nightmare, no wonder your frustrated ><

Neighbours from hell by the sounds of it ><

I must say that you where more polite than I would have been! Xx

Thanks for the >< everyone. Yes, Have to be polite, they're so quick to blame my pups and their attitude is "if everyone wants rid of their dogs they will make sure there are no dogs on the street." It's disgusting.

Horrible people

I think know how you feel as I have also had neighbours from hell and still have them again now, only different place now.

Is moving an option for you, thats what my Mum and Dad had to do in the end it was causing so much stress and making my Mum ill.

Do you have anything like the Citizens Advice over there ? would you be able to talk to anyone about it.

I remember you saying about your neighbours Kathy.

Sadly moving isn't an option as we only bought the house a year ago and we unfortunately have nothing like Citizens Advice.

We live in a gated community (called a complex here) and I am a member of the board of directors who look after the complex. I've decided I am going to send out a general housekeeping type of newsletter to all residents asking them to be more vigilant with their children and to please explain to young children the dangers of going up to other gates and dogs. I'm also going to request that residents be more careful about their dogs running out and about.

It's the best thing I can think of right now as those particular neighbours are unapproachable and feel "victimized" even though they lock both kids and dogs out of their property!