The possibility of befriending their neighbors vanished when a couple decided to install a fence between their properties. OP, her husband, and their two dogs had lived in their house for five years.
The new neighbors moved in over a year ago. Their two young children, both under five, quickly developed a habit of harassing OP’s dogs whenever they were in the backyard.
The kids would dash outside whenever they saw the dogs, banging on the chain-link fence and shouting at them.
Her large dogs, once content to lounge in the backyard for hours, became increasingly hesitant even to step outside for a bathroom break.
Despite witnessing the children’s behavior through the window, the parents didn’t see a problem and never intervened.
OP tried to handle the situation diplomatically by speaking to the kids and explaining that they were scaring her dogs. She also approached the parents, who either dismissed her concerns or made vague promises to talk to their children.
Frustrated with the ongoing disturbance, OP and her husband applied for a permit to install a new fence and were put on the waitlist. When they were notified that their turn had come, they seized the opportunity.
OP and her husband were thrilled to be next in line for the fence installation.
u/Aggressive_Oven_6265
They took their dogs to her sister’s farm, where the dogs could run freely and enjoy themselves.
u/Aggressive_Oven_6265
OP didn’t inform her neighbors about the new fence since it was entirely within their property and didn’t require access from the neighbor’s side.
u/Aggressive_Oven_6265
The neighbor should have discussed the children’s behavior with OP before it escalated.
u/Aggressive_Oven_6265
OP mentioned that her large livestock guardian dogs were not suitable playmates for such young children.
GothPenguin
OP’s dogs behaved better than the neighbor’s children in this situation.
Aggressive_Oven_6265
The parents failed to teach their kids how to treat animals properly.
Thick-Finding-960, Aggressive_Oven_6265
OP’s dogs returned to their happy, outdoorsy selves and were busy marking their new fence, ignoring the petty human drama.
pug_grama2, Disenchanted2, Aggressive_Oven_6265
The new fence was the best solution since the neighbors didn’t attempt to teach their children how to treat animals.
ThatBFjax, Aggressive_Oven_6265
OP and her husband aren’t to blame for the situation.
sillyteacup
They now need to ensure their neighbor doesn’t try to harm their dogs further.
mladyhawke, Material_Mushroom_x
