Would you say something?

[Pilsy]

UPDATES IN REPLIES
No longer wondering if I should say something. 


*poof*

[dochas]

Is a fence not an option? I would be so uncomfortable in my home if I thought someone might pass my window at any moment, or be wandering around my property - especially with an acre, I would expect privacy.

Our cousin has neighbors on either side of him who are friends and they are constantly walking back and forth in front of his house right AT his house and his large dog goes nuts every time. Rude and annoying.

[Deleted]

Wait? This person has 1+ acre of land and instead brought her dog in to your yard? This does not compute. You need to tell her to knock it off asap, install motion sensor cameras, and consider putting in a fence.

Neighbors sometimes cut through our back yard, and I don't love it, but it's pretty rare so I just deal. Plus, they're putting their shoes at risk, I'm not really great about picking up dog poop LOL

[TR]

Well, I would have put a fence up a long time ago to prevent anyone walking through, lol. Could you put up a fence? If not, I’d say something, but want to die at the confrontation of it all.

[BaliHai]

So she didn't even go to the neighbor's house, she just took the dog for a stroll around your yard and went back home? How bizarre. I'd totally mention it like "I was working from home on Wednesday and I noticed you in our yard. Did you need something?"

[tracita]

I would say something, but I'm the neighborhood bitch. I literally have told kids to get off my lawn, on multiple occasions. Otherwise they treat the entire neighborhood like a playground.
I would also put up a fence. Good fences make good neighbors.

[TR]

I’d also like a drawing of how all of this is laid out because I’m also annoyed for you that they cross in your front yard at all. But I’m very “get off my property” as demonstrated by previous posts about neighborhood kids using the tree swing in our front yard.

[just]

I'd have gone out and said "Hey, can I help you?" and hoped she just died of embarrassment.

[isabel]

What on earth? Why would she bring her dog into your backyard to hang out and then leave? It sounds like you don't have a fence, so it's not like she's doing it so she can let him go without risk of him running off.

Yes, I would absolutely say something. Probably along the lines of "hey, I was working from home the other day and noticed you came over with your dog and hung out for a bit. Was there something you needed?"

I'd hope that she flounders a bit and then you can simply say, "I'd really prefer if you didn't enter my property through the backyard. If there's something you need, please knock on the front door or leave us a note."

[cjcouple]

Yeah, I would put up a fence if possible and just say you want privacy.

If that is not an option, I would say something while/if you see it happening again. I would open the door and say "Oh hi XX, If you could please cross in the front yard next time? We prefer our privacy back here."

[isabel]

May 8, 2019 11:42:26 GMT -5 just said:

I'd have gone out and said "Hey, can I help you?" and hoped she just died of embarrassment.

Doesn't sound like that was an option because she was on a conference call. I wouldn't have wanted to get into a conversation with a neighbor while I was trying to pay attention to the call.

[knx9211]

So in conclusion this woman brings her dog into your yard so he can shit and she doesn't have to clean it up.

Of course you should do something to stop that.

[Pilsy]

May 8, 2019 11:37:09 GMT -5 dochas said:

I would be so uncomfortable in my home if I thought someone might pass my window at any moment, or be wandering around my property - especially with an acre, I would expect privacy.

Exactly. 

We deal with it in the front because they can't see in the windows and we truly didn't know how to say no when they asked us. The way the houses sit - all far from the road, and one actually around a corner on a perpendicular road - it saves them a significant walk. Not our problem, of course, but it's a very small town and we don't want to be the asshold neighbors when everyone else seems to be comfy hanging out all the time. All the kids are outside anytime the weather is nice enough, and they go back and forth a lot. 

I'm going to talk with my husband about the possibility of a fence for at least part of the side/back, which would prevent access to the back. I'm so annoyed. 

[picaflora]

May 8, 2019 11:44:58 GMT -5 knx9211 said:

So in conclusion this woman brings her dog into your yard so he can shit and she doesn't have to clean it up.

Of course you should do something to stop that.

This is where I am.  She's bringing the dog over to potty in your yard instead of hers.  (Maybe to save her grass from turning brown if the dog is a female)

I would definitely say something - and most likely today since I know she's home. 

[Pilsy]

May 8, 2019 11:40:41 GMT -5 TR said:

If not, I’d say something, but want to die at the confrontation of it all.

That's just the thing. Small tiny, chummy neighborhood. I don't want to be a social pariah.  And yes, I should be able to ask since it's my property, but we all know how things like this work. People get defensive and somehow I'll be the bad guy. 


I may not be able to resist, though. I'm dying to know what she was doing. I should go make sure there's no dog poop out there...

[carmenere]

May 8, 2019 11:44:58 GMT -5 knx9211 said:

So in conclusion this woman brings her dog into your yard so he can shit and she doesn't have to clean it up.

Of course you should do something to stop that.

That's what it sounds like, and no way would I tolerate that. I would start with "Hey, neighbor, what were you and your dog doing in our back yard the other day? Last time we talked, I thought it was clear that we aren't comfortable with crossing through our back yard - let alone walking your dog there. Please do not enter our backyard again."

I know fencing an acre of land could be $$$ but could you at least fence around the part that you use to give you some privacy? If the neighbors have to walk all the way around the fence to cross, hopefully they just won't bother.

[Pilsy]

May 8, 2019 11:43:07 GMT -5 cjcouple said:

Yeah, I would put up a fence if possible and just say you want privacy.

If that is not an option, I would say something while/if you see it happening again. I would open the door and say "Oh hi XX, If you could please cross in the front yard next time? We prefer our privacy back here."

Yeah, I wish I could have addressed it in the moment, but I was on a call.  I couldn't pull it off.  

[cjcouple]

May 8, 2019 11:53:21 GMT -5 Pilsy said:

May 8, 2019 11:43:07 GMT -5 cjcouple said:

Yeah, I would put up a fence if possible and just say you want privacy.

If that is not an option, I would say something while/if you see it happening again. I would open the door and say "Oh hi XX, If you could please cross in the front yard next time? We prefer our privacy back here."

Yeah, I wish I could have addressed it in the moment, but I was on a call.  I couldn't pull it off.  

Understandable.  Perhaps a quick, by the way I was on a call yesterday (or whenever you see her) and spotted you crossing my back patio....  

[Pilsy]

May 8, 2019 11:44:58 GMT -5 knx9211 said:

So in conclusion this woman brings her dog into your yard so he can shit and she doesn't have to clean it up.

Of course you should do something to stop that.

May 8, 2019 11:52:59 GMT -5 carmenere said:

May 8, 2019 11:44:58 GMT -5 knx9211 said:

So in conclusion this woman brings her dog into your yard so he can shit and she doesn't have to clean it up.

Of course you should do something to stop that.

That's what it sounds like, and no way would I tolerate that. I would start with "Hey, neighbor, what were you and your dog doing in our back yard the other day? Last time we talked, I thought it was clear that we aren't comfortable with crossing through our back yard - let alone walking your dog there. Please do not enter our backyard again."

I know fencing an acre of land could be $$$ but could you at least fence around the part that you use to give you some privacy? If the neighbors have to walk all the way around the fence to cross, hopefully they just won't bother.

I'm going out now to see if there's any poop, but I highly doubt she'd leave it in the yard. We have no dog of our own and do have two young kids with a big swingset. She knows we play out there. Also, I regularly see her older kids walking the dog and picking up poop, so they're familiar with the practice. 

She could have been taking the dog to pee, though. And that's still nasty, entitled, and unacceptable in my book. I'm going to have to say something.  I'm just trying to figure out how to come across kind. I feel like you all do, but it's easy to say how you'd approach it when it's not your neighborly politics at play. 

[TR]

May 8, 2019 11:52:26 GMT -5 Pilsy said:

May 8, 2019 11:40:41 GMT -5 TR said:

If not, I’d say something, but want to die at the confrontation of it all.

That's just the thing. Small tiny, chummy neighborhood. I don't want to be a social pariah.  And yes, I should be able to ask since it's my property, but we all know how things like this work. People get defensive and somehow I'll be the bad guy. 


I may not be able to resist, though. I'm dying to know what she was doing. I should go make sure there's no dog poop out there...

Definitely check behind the shed. There might be a whole bunch if she’s made this a habit.

[knx9211]

Yes, if you're nonconfrontational (I am), I'd pull an innocent "Hey I saw you and the dog in the back yard when I was home earlier. Did you need something?" aka something must have been wrong because I have previously told your ass to stay out of my yard.

[onomatopoeia]

May 8, 2019 11:41:15 GMT -5 BaliHai said:

So she didn't even go to the neighbor's house, she just took the dog for a stroll around your yard and went back home? How bizarre. I'd totally mention it like "I was working from home on Wednesday and I noticed you in our yard. Did you need something?"

This is exactly what I'd say.  It gives her notice without being confrontational (even though you have the right to be, I totally understand why you don't want to be). 

[knx9211]

Oh. LOL. I see that BaliHai beat me to my exact wording. That's what I get for missing posts.

[Jalapeñomel]

Here’s the thing, if you don’t address it or you do it passive aggressively, they’ll still do it.

Just tell them you saw them in the backyard, and you don’t want them there.

They’ll talk about you behind your back regardless of how you address this.

[knx9211]

Now go look behind your shed and see if there's anything back there.

[Pilsy]

May 8, 2019 12:02:58 GMT -5 Jalapeñomel said:

Here’s the thing, if you don’t address it or you do it passive aggressively, they’ll still do it.

Just tell them you saw them in the backyard, and you don’t want them there.

They’ll talk about you behind your back regardless of how you address this.

Yeah, I know. I just hate that I have to be dragged into this. Like, is it not enough I already let you cross my front yard multiple times every day? I'm just annoyed that I have to waste my time, energy, and thought on this. I know you're right. Just lamenting. 



TR , I thought about posting a diagram.  lol

[puppylove64]

Do you have a dog? I’m so non confrontational, I would probably blame my dog. Tell them please stop because my dog goes crazy and it is a pain to calm her back down.

Or plant a row of privacy bushes on both sides of my yard and hope the get a hint.

[flygirl]

I get pissed when my neighbor parks his work vehicle in front of our house all the time, instead of his own. I absolutely would say something to this lady. You could even fib and say you were in a video call for work and everyone saw her walking through your yard and you’d prefer it if they wouldn’t do it anymore and used the street. I hate that people have to feel like their the ones doing something wrong by asking someone not to use something that isn’t theirs. I’m a curmudgeon though...get off my damn lawn

[Deleted]

May 8, 2019 12:02:58 GMT -5 Jalapeñomel said:

Here’s the thing, if you don’t address it or you do it passive aggressively, they’ll still do it.

Just tell them you saw them in the backyard, and you don’t want them there.

They’ll talk about you behind your back regardless of how you address this.

Exactly.

I know you are worried about keeping the peace, but these neighbors aren't worried about keeping the peace with you. If they were, they wouldn't be doing this since you requested them specifically not too. 

[icedcoffee]

It's never too late for a diagram!

Anyway--my parents neighborhood is kind of similar in that kids used to cross through the back lawns to get to their friends' homes more quickly. They never said anything (except once to some kids who used to ride their bikes through the lawns and my parents were worried they'd break a sprinkler head). They just let it go. With that said, I can't picture why they'd go through your patio versus your grass and that would annoy me, I think. Regardless, if it annoys you then say something. My current neighborhood I'd say 75% of homes have fences so it's a non issue.

I am curious as to what they were doing back there since she took him off leash. That sounds unusual. I might mention to them too that it's unacceptable to have an off leash dog in your backyard where your kids play.