my neighbour never walks their dog - who do I report them to?

[rosandjohn]

my neighbour never walks their dog - who do I report them to?

[woofgang]

is the dog unhappy?

[commoner]

If you want my honest opinion from past experience I would be more than inclined to keep out of this.......bad feeling amongst neighbours, be it on a personal or national level,  is one of the biggest blights on earth.....no offence meant, just friendly advice........

[chazza]

The dog could be old  or ill and unable to walk or it could be one of those ones that doenst need much exercise

[Dark Angel]

The RSPCA probably.

[FP]

As long as the dog is fed, has access to water and has shelter, is not tethered on too short a rope or is not suffering from any ailment that is not being tended to, and as long as it is not creating a neighbourhood nuisance then I am afraid that there will be no intervention from any authority.

Not all dogs are walked for various reasons.

I am a dog lover and can see why you are worried.   Could you not broach the subject in some friendly way, eg.  tell your neighbours you would love to walk their dog if they would allow you to.  That is only a suggestion.

Best wishes.

[maggie01]

I wouldn't be too quick to report it. As the other reader says it depends on the breed and or age etc. My dog is 6yrs old and its very hard to get her to come for a walk. She is happy and gets her excercise in the garden and home. Do you see it in the garden and does it look happy? Perhaps if you are on speaking terms with your neighbour you could bring it up in conversation.

[Laura-sakura]

I can imagine the net curtains twitching round your place....Maybe they walk the dog first thing in the morning or late at night.

[rosandjohn]

its a 12 month old labrador. the garden is all concrete. I am unable to offer to walk the dog myself. I asked on this forum for advice and am grateful for those of you who have posted honest, helpful responses. Laura-sakura I dont undertsnd your response but if you are just being rude its not very helpful.

[woofgang]

and I ask again, is the dog unhappy?

[FP]

I must admit rosandjohn, that I would also be concerned about such a large, young dog not getting the attention is should be having.  Unfortunately, so many people take on animals and haven't got a clue how to look after them.  If you know your neighbour well enough perhaps my earlier suggestion about walking the dog yourselves (if you are able) might help.  You needn't tell them you are worried about the dog, you could just say that you are looking for a dog to walk and would they be interested.

[littleoldme]

Labradors are not generally a breed that require an awful lot of exercise, to be honest. In fact, they're right lazy beggars if you allow them to be! I should know, I've got one :-) If the dog gets exercise inside the house or garden, playing with toys etc, he'll probably be satisfied. At 12 months, a labrador is still really a puppy (they mature quite slowly by dog standards), so plenty of sleep is more important at that age.

That's not to say a walk now and again would do him any harm, of course, and he should have a little more exercise as he grows up, but I'd agree that broaching the subject in a friendly and sensitive manner (assuming your neighbours are reasonable people) would be a far better approach. As i say, if he's getting some degree of exercise and play at home, I wouldn't worry too much for the time being.

[b13thy]

My neighbours probably think i don't walk my dog but although i never walk up my street with her, she goes out in the car 3 or 4 times per day for walkies. I do this because although i live near some fields i also live near some areas of outstanding natural beauty - why should the dog have all the fun? Seriously though, if you are very concerned contact the RSPCA - the dog may be living in unsuitable conditions indoors and then they would be able to take action.

[dothawkes]

I was starting to panic reading this until I found out it was a lab., my staffi is huge and fat and everyone that visits the house says 'you should give him more exercise'

I take him out late at night as I am embarassed to have such a fat dog, but he has been able to open the fridge since we brought him home from the rescue place, even when we put a child lock on it, and he eats whole tubs of margarine, slabs of cheese, packs of bacon and sausages and anything else, he can even open a fruit corner yoghurt!  We had only just got the fridge when we got him and it is a 50/50 with fridge on the bottom half, that is the problem, when we replace it in a few months time, it will be an integrated fridge freezer, I am hoping he'll not even know which cupboard it is behind!

But if my neighbour reported me for apparently not taking him for walks, I think I would feel I was on Big Bro!

[sistar]

I rarely walk my dog, I feel guilty but I dont get that much time, however, I always make sure we have a run around the guarden and play when she doesnt go out, or we take her to see my mother in law's dog and they run around together, so I think she doesnt do too badly on the exercise front, my neighbours however, might think she doesnt get any exercise.

[Emily Ball]

Unless you are in the habit of keeping watch on the comings and goings of your neighbours 24 hours a day, which I trust you're not,I fail to see how you could possibly know that they never walk their dog. And unless you have witnessed actual neglect and/ or downright cruelty which leaves the dog in a distressed , fearful or starved  state, then to report your neighbours to the RSPCA is to waste the time of the inspectors who have real cases of cruelty to attend to and also to set yourself up for what could turn out to be a very nasty feud with your neighbours.

[Kev_UK]

Le's face facts here.. people work in order to live. In an ideal world the man would work and the woman stay home and do housework, etc, so a dog would never be left alone.
But this is the REAL world. most couples both work, also a lot of people live alone and have a dog as a companian, but they do have to go to work. Taking a dog in a field where other dogs go can actually be worse for the animals helath.. picking up fleas, ticks, etc. I have 2 dogs who run each other around the yard, if I take them out one of them (a rescue dog) has to be kept on a lead as she tends to wander.. so less freedom.
I walk my dogs when time permits, but generally they get all the exercise they need and are very healthy.
CHILDREN.. would you report someone to the NSPCC if the kids never went out and exercised.. if they stayed home watching tv and playing computer games? We all know that meddling in other peoples lives can make things worse.
Are you a dog owner? ever owned a dog? I'd say that unless the dog is overweight, looking distressed, or shows signs of cruelty, then just butt out and mind your own business. (sorry if that sounds harsh, but it has to be said).

[andyjevs]

we was advised by our vet not to walk the dog in hot weather or just a quick walk either late at night or early morning....and we have a springer !!!

[cazz218]

Our dog doesn't get walked often. She is quite happy and healthy. She is not a very energetic beast and is in her element out in the garden sleeping.  I would hate to think of someone reporting us just because in their opinion we didn't walk her enough. Shes very well looked after and an extremely loyal dog. 

Unless you can see your neighbours dog is being mistreated I think its best to leave well alone.  Obviously if there is evidence of neglect/abuse then thats a different matter and you should inform the RSPCA.

Cazz

PS our dog is an Akita