my newly moved inneighbors dog gets out fence and tries to jump me and my litte 13yr old dog in our fence?

I like Steve's answer.

I live in a rural area where there are no leash laws. I have had problems with many dogs, from the neighbors to strays being dumped near my home. (we are talking dozens of dogs over a period of years)

I have made all the reports with the sheriff department and have contacted the humane society they both have told me to do what I have to do to protect myself and my property.

Follow all the legal channels and do what you got to do.

I know that is a real pain in the butt. As usual, too many idiots own dogs. And in the end - the dog pays the price for having a stupid owner and the stupid owner goes and gets another dog that he won't take care of and the cycle starts over again. If both dogs, theirs and yours, are males and one or both are not neutered that is going to create a problem nine times out of ten, too.

Obviously these people do not need a dog. It is untrained and "whooping" it serves no purpose and is essentially animal abuse (which you could report them for). Another guess is that this dog may well not have had any vaccinations - it sort fits the pattern. Be sure your dog is up to date on all shots.

Above and beyond everything else, do not let your dog outside alone and if you fear for his safety be sure he is on a leash so you can get him in the house quickly if need be.

You say the dog tries to "jump" you and your little ol' dog - I guess I can envision two scenarios here. One is a snarling chomping aggressive killing machine and the other is an untrained hyper dog that is dying for some attention as well as human and dog contact. Has the dog bitten anyone - human or canine? I know that even a hyper jumping dog can do damage, even if it is unintentional. But is far less threatening than a dog trying to rip out your throat.

Go knock on their front door and tell them the dog is a problem - even though they already know it. Explain that you would like to avoid needing to get the dog catcher or law involved, but if they will not control their dog, you will be forced to take further action. (keep a piece a paper and write down the date and every contact you have with them and their dog).

From what you say about the owners of the dog, I would guess they are renters and not owners. If this is the case, perhaps you know the owner - if not you can find out at the courthouse. Once you know, contact the owner of the home and tell them the problem you are having with the tenants and their unruly dog. Many landlords won't put up with that, because they don't want to be bothered with phone calls from everyone in the neighborhood.

If it happens again, I would report the problem to the sheriff and/or animal control, if there is one where you live. (Get a written copy of the report each time. You may need them if this escalates and ends up in court.)

There may be laws against your wife shooting the dog, depending on where you live. Plus she always runs the risk of collateral damage, be it another person, a house or a car - and she would be held financially & criminally responsible, regardless of the animal cruelty laws and discharging a firearm laws. It's always best if you can get the powers that be to do the dirty work.

Good luck.

Mostly everyone gave good answers. DO NOT ATTACK THE DOG IF IT IS NOT IN SELF DEFENSE! I don't mean to sound like some animal freak (I've shot people's dogs before... shouldn't have growled at me...), but if you use a stun gun on the dog, mace it, or cause it bodily harm in any fashion, you might lose standing with animal control/police. Every time the dog tries to charge you, try to get away (I know, I know, wussy, yes I know), and call animal control. Take a lot of pictures, and present them to animal control and law enforcement. If nothing is done, and god forbid you have to shoot it, shoot to kill. If you wound the animal, you end up paying an expensive vet bill, and face a possible lawsuit. People who don't control their animals should lose them. There is no reason for a person to allow their pet to wantonly attack/aggress others. Sorry about your situation.

All of the above are good answers and your animal control may do something after he is out. Wait until he is out and call the dog catchers and police and explain he has charged you several times. Dog mace or bear mace may be a non-lethal method if he actually comes in your yard or jumps your fence. I know killing a dog is extreme...so go the Police/Animal control and county officials route first. When you are playing with your dog in back yard and he comes over fence and nothing else is done by police/goverment/animal control a nice gun handy will do the trick. Its hard for you to be charged if the dog jumps the fence in your yard and comes after you........Good Luck and with any luck the animal control people will handle it and fine them.

BTW Take lots of pictures!!!! Lots of pictures!! I had a few problems too with dogs and they always ran back in their yard or owners took them in before police and animal control would show up....so I looked like a fool.

You've tried to be the good neighbor. That didn't work.

This is so simple. Make a report with the police to document the problem, then shoot the dog next time he charges you. Kill it. Dead. Call the police, don't let the neighbor touch the dead dog until the police come so there is not question where the dog was when it attacked you.

Problem solved.

This is an easy one, call the cops/animal control. They'll come and make sure it doesn't happen again, but if it does, then the dog has a documented cause for concern and they will come and take the animal in custody.

Usually there is a law against using a firearm in such a tight vacinity to homes, but you know, you have the right to protect yourself. If your wife does shoot it, then make damn sure your other neighbors will support you and her, owners be damned, Personally if a dog acts like it is going to attack me, I kill it. No matter who it belongs to, but I am from the deep country.

A stun gun will solve your troubles. It won't kill the dog, but it will make the dog remember what happens when it comes at you. It only takes one time and the dog will avoid you like the plague. Pepper spray will also work, but the dog will carry the pepper spray residue into the neighbors home eventually and they will become affected by the spray as well. Animal control should become involved before you take any measures such as stun guns or pepper spray.

File a complaint with the police and animal control on every incident. Get the case numbers. After a couple, start calling the supervisors at animal control and your county representatives directly to do something. Be calm but firm and stress that you and your family are in danger. Make a pest of yourself, but always stress it's for your family's safety.

As I begin typing, the first two answers are certainly good options, however, the authorities may likely ask why you haven't improved your own fence on that border! Look into this the same way a lazy and pompous official may see it, and make sure there is no room for anyone to claim it is all your own fault for failure to protect your own property from goons.

Like they said call animal control and the cops. Document it with pictures and video's on all the incidents you have with them and the dog. About the only way you can get something done in court these days. Can't wiggle their way out of it then.