A woman has described how her neighbour's harassment over her dogs has left her scared to use her garden. She detailed the ordeal on Reddit, saying she has spent the past 10 months treading carefully and worrying about what might happen each time she lets her two young dogs outdoors.
Neighbour's actions
The troubles began after the neighbour built a makeshift patio just a foot from the shared fence. Due to its proximity, she can overhear every conversation, and the neighbour's dog routinely barks along the fence line. Her own dogs are still in training and occasionally bark in response, though she is working to address the behaviour.
She says the neighbour has yelled at her dogs to "shut up", hurled objects and rocks through gaps in the fence, sprayed her dogs with a clear liquid on several occasions, and even sprayed her while she was standing in her garden. She also alleges she has overheard him muttering "f***ing dogs" whenever her pets are outside.
Police involvement
Initially she avoided confrontation, but after being sprayed herself, she reported the incident to police. Officers attended, but the neighbour did not answer the door. He later claimed it was his children playing with water. Months later, the same incident occurred; the neighbour said he was emptying pool water, despite knowing she and her dogs were on the other side of the fence.
Her husband then approached the neighbour, explaining the dogs were still in training and asking him to stop throwing items. The neighbour seemed to agree, but days later his children were again hurling rocks through gaps in the fence while her small dogs were nearby. Concerned a rock might strike them, she asked the children's mother to intervene.
Ongoing anxiety
She says she accepts routine noise in a neighbourhood: "Their kids make noise, their dog barks and my dogs bark sometimes too." She contends that because they built their patio right next to the shared fence, they cannot expect complete peace when she uses her garden. She has warned the family she will call police again and has already lodged one formal report. Without security cameras on that side, she fears she has little evidence. She now only lets her dogs out long enough to relieve themselves, monitors them constantly, and steers them away from the fence.
She said: "I genuinely try to be considerate. Their noise doesn't bother me - it's their attitude that they can be loud but I can't." She is asking for advice on how to stop the alleged harassment and feel at ease in her own garden.
Reddit responses
One user said: "Cameras are guaranteed to escalate this further. I'd say put up a privacy fence or plant a climbing vine in a trellis to block the view/provide some sound privacy." Another added: "Your husband doesn't sound very supportive. Go buy the cameras and install them yourself." A third suggested: "Get a camera and document everything, it'll help if you have to report them." While a fourth slammed: "Your husband is part of the problem. Put up the camera."
How to handle neighbour disputes in the UK
Dealing with neighbour disputes can begin with a simple conversation. Have a polite face-to-face talk when both are relaxed, write down exact dates and times of every incident and how it affects you. Check property deeds or Land Registry titles if the argument is about a boundary or fence. If that doesn't work, ask a neutral third-party mediation service to help reach an agreement without court.
