"perrylep" wrote in message
.. .
Thanks...flick..that's the kind of approach I was looking for. I am
usually very direct...but these neighbors, I'm afraid, if I come off like
a roaming dog nazi to them, it will damage good neighbor
relationship...and this seems to be the only sticking point...They seem to
be really great neighbor material so far.
I'm hoping to lead by example, by keeping my critters penned and leashed.
And when the opportunity arises gracefully, then mention positives
(thanks, guys for keeping Josie out of our hair) or negatives (gently)
"darn that Josie, he pees on everything"....

I wholeheartedly agree with Lynne's approach, but I'm afraid with my
forwardness to begin with and then to spout off about their dog, I would
come off too bossypants and do more harm than good at this point...

I don't know what it is about some people in the country, with their
wandering dogs. Old-timers seem to be the culprits as often as newbies.

If you're going to have pets of your own, your best bet is probably to put
up your own "yard fence," where you surround your house for a total of maybe
half an acre, an acre, two acres. Whatever size you're comfortable with
and/or can afford, if you can't put up dog-proof fence for the entire
perimeter of your property. Inside the fence is where you put the nice lawn
furniture, the barbeque, etc. It's slightly harder to steal that stuff from
inside a fence, too, if you lock the gates when you're out.

If you'll be acquiring any kind of livestock, from chickens on up, you will
of course fence that in. Depending on what it is, you may want to surround
their pens with a couple hot wires (electric fencing), which will help keep
all kinds of four-legged predators at bay.

flick 100785