Neighbor's dog killing our lawn - wyda

[y4m]

Would you do anything?

We live in a complex with a mix of townhomes and condos. The townhomes have lawns in front (cared for by the HOA). The condos don't. Our block is mostly condos, plus two townhomes (ours and one further away)

So in short we are the closest grass to the condos. And our condo neighbors have a dog (female Doberman, purebred puppy, ears pinned--I judge those last two items very much) who they walk constantly without a leash. And she's killing our lawn. It has giant brown spots where she pees. I know she pees on our lawn because I work at home and watch it happen. Apparently female dogs are known for lawn damage. There's no damage where my (small male) dog pees.

Anyway, we don't really care for the lawn, but it does look fug because of this. Would you do anything? If so what?

[lime]

The HOA is responsible for maintaining the grass, right? Can't you get them involved to fix/maintain it in whichever way is the easiest/cheapest/best?

[Deleted]

I don't know what I'd do about the grass but I'd be all up in their shit about that off-leash nonsense. And a Doberman off-leash? I'm not breed-bashing here, but that dog is gonna grow up to be a hell of a lot bigger than the Tobester. That's some right bullshit.

[y4m]

Luckily she and the T get along decently. We've had several moments where I'm letting him out (off leash, but in my yard and completely under my voice control) and she comes rolling in.

[Deleted]

The only way to fix your yard without saying anything to them is lots of water to dilute the pee. That's what our HOA does. It overwaters the common areas so we don't get brown spots from dog pee.

Personally I walk my dog in the street because I know her pee can do damage. When she pees it is a lot. It isn't a squirt here and there like my male dogs growing up.

[Velvetshady]

I'd be more worried about the dog being off leash--never a good idea outside of a fenced area.

I don't know if they make something you can sprinkle/spray on your lawn that discourages dogs from wanting to stop there or not, but if there is, I'd try that. And tell the HOA so they can overwater the spots to dilute the pee.

[Deleted]

I'm in a TH development and I try not to let my dog pee in others yards (keep her to common areas), but it's not always possible. 80% of the time she goes in my own yard and other dogs/animals must too b/c it's always a sniff feet by the curb and fire hydrant. The HOA is responsible for my lawn, but most of my front grass is dead from my dog. Is it something you could raise to the board? I know we get emails/ notes in the newsletter about not letting your kids run amuck, pick up after your pets, etc.

[LoveTrains]

Who owns the land? The HOA or you? That changes my answer.
ETA: I am trying to determine if it is your yard for you alone (even if the HOA maintains it) or if it is community property that happens to be in front of your house.

[AAM2012]

Are you willing to run out there when you see it happening and asking them nicely that it's damaging your yard?

If not, you could: A) report it to the HOA and let them send a notice to her or B) send a letter to her yourself.

I know our HOA sends out a newsletter and it encourages people to report those who can't pick up after their dog and I am sure damaging the yard (that the HOA takes care of) would be a similar issue.

[y4m]

Oct 20, 2013 17:59:05 GMT -5 LoveTrains said:

Who owns the land? The HOA or you? That changes my answer.
ETA: I am trying to determine if it is your yard for you alone (even if the HOA maintains it) or if it is community property that happens to be in front of your house.

We definitely own the land

[LoveTrains]

Oct 20, 2013 18:13:16 GMT -5 y4m said:

Oct 20, 2013 17:59:05 GMT -5 LoveTrains said:

Who owns the land? The HOA or you? That changes my answer.
ETA: I am trying to determine if it is your yard for you alone (even if the HOA maintains it) or if it is community property that happens to be in front of your house.

We definitely own the land

Then put up a sign or a fence that says no dogs. 

[Balki.Bartokomous]

I'd talk to her directly or speak to your HOA & see what they can do.

Our HOA keeps a sign up saying to keep dogs off the grass because it's been treated with pet un-friendly chemicals. I'm pretty sure that's a lie, but it seems to keep the dog owners away.

[vanillacourage]

I would talk to them and ask if they can try to limit her stops at your lawn as much as possible. They're probably just clueless, like "oh, there goes Fluffy peeing at her favorite spot again!" without stopping to think about the cumulative impact. 

[shopgirl07]

I just moved into a townhome community where we all have lawns in front. Apparently the HOA was having the same problem with dogs peeing and ruining the lawns. They put up signs everywhere that say please keep dogs off grass. I guess it's mostly worked. They take really good care of the grass so it was costing a lot of money to keep replacing sod.

[Deleted]

I would call the HOA and ask them to treat the lawn. I won't comment on all the other ridiculousness in this post.

[y4m]

Oct 21, 2013 8:16:23 GMT -5 flygirl said:

I won't comment on all the other ridiculousness in this post.

Huh?  

[grk2012]

Oct 20, 2013 22:21:35 GMT -5 shopgirl07 said:

I just moved into a townhome community where we all have lawns in front. Apparently the HOA was having the same problem with dogs peeing and ruining the lawns. They put up signs everywhere that say please keep dogs off grass. I guess it's mostly worked. They take really good care of the grass so it was costing a lot of money to keep replacing sod.

Where are they supposed to relieve themselves?

[minniebee]

I would call the HOA and ask them to treat the lawn. It's their responsibility.

Personally, I think its dangerous to have any dog outdoors off-leash unless they're inside a fenced yard the dog isn't capable of jumping. I judge the doberman owner for walking that dog off leash, as well as OP who lets her own dog outside off leash. I don't care if it's in your own yard or if you think you have voice control over your dog, if there's no fence and no leash, it's not completely safe. It's not hard to put on a leash, why take the chance that something unexpected could happen?

[y4m]

Oct 21, 2013 10:34:18 GMT -5 minniebee said:

I judge the doberman owner for walking that dog off leash, as well as OP who lets her own dog outside off leash. I don't care if it's in your own yard or if you think you have voice control over your dog, if there's no fence and no leash, it's not completely safe. It's not hard to put on a leash, why take the chance that something unexpected could happen?

Judge if you want. My dog is a small, slow, senior with a throat condition that means he shouldn't wear a collar or have anything around his neck. We have a harness for walks, but even that causes irritation. So I choose to trust that he and I can make it through a pee off leash rather than furthering that throat damage. The risks go both ways in our case.

[calico]

I totally side-eye all the "no dogs" signs that I see when I'm out and about. I really can't control where my girl will decide to stop and pee, or poop for that matter. While I prefer that it happens on common area grass, fact is she's going to go when/where she wants to go while we are out walking.

Ask the HOA to treat the yard, since they are responsible for it's upkeep.

Unless you put up a fence that prevents entry to your yard from the sidewalk, you shouldn't expect that people or animals of any sort (dogs, cats, squirrels, etc) are going to stay off the grass.