WWYD - Neighbor's Kids

Jules

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#21
Thank you

I am honestly very saddened by some of the posts here...just disturbing.

AND this is coming from someone who has lots of neighbor children who I DO have to watch and make sure they know not to come into the yard etc because one of my dogs is guardy and anxious around children.

RTH had awesome advice on how to handle it.

I dont know, I grew up in an actual NEIGHBORHOOD...which means being neighborly. We jumped fences all the time to retrieve things or just to shortcut. If anyone had asked us to stop, sure we wouldve. But as long as we werent hurting anything who freaking cares?

(Again, dogs bring a WHOLE different level and I totally understand that angle, I have the same issue. But just because its "MINE" to me is a silly and rude position...again, as long as its for something like ball retrieval etc)
The kids are old enough to understand that you do not wander into other people's fenced in yard. You can keep feeling saddened that people want to protect their property, I feel saddened that people don't care enough to instill respect for other people's property in their children.

Be it for dogs, be it for grass seed someone put down that shouldn't get trampled, it doesn't matter. I would have never done that as a kid.
 
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#22
Thank you

I am honestly very saddened by some of the posts here...just disturbing.

AND this is coming from someone who has lots of neighbor children who I DO have to watch and make sure they know not to come into the yard etc because one of my dogs is guardy and anxious around children.

RTH had awesome advice on how to handle it.

I dont know, I grew up in an actual NEIGHBORHOOD...which means being neighborly. We jumped fences all the time to retrieve things or just to shortcut. If anyone had asked us to stop, sure we wouldve. But as long as we werent hurting anything who freaking cares?

(Again, dogs bring a WHOLE different level and I totally understand that angle, I have the same issue. But just because its "MINE" to me is a silly and rude position...again, as long as its for something like ball retrieval etc)
This ^ they're just kids. I understand the annoyance but its not a huge deal. If you aren't actually worried about the dogs what's the problem? I agree that if you were nicer and the kids were totally comfortable approaching you it wouldn't even be a problem.
 
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#23
Yeah ... when I was a kid, we would go into others yards all the time to retrieve items. We were in the yard for 15 seconds to retrieve an item we on accident hit or kicked in there and then left right away, no big deal. We were aware if there was a dog outside, a flower bed here or there we need to watch out for, etc. so that we didn't cause any trouble or ruin anything for our quick skip into the yard. I don't know, I think thinking about putting barb wire, hot tape, an all out electric fence is a little extreme and ridiculous for kids just coming to retrieve something. I understand the concern with the dogs; but I just imagine they wouldn't willy-nilly just come into the yard if the dogs were out. I could be giving them more credit than I should be, though.
 
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#24
Yeah, not gonna lie, this threads and people's suggestions gives me the creeps. I find it vaguely disturbing that electricity and barbed wire are people's first suggestions. And this is coming from someone that hates the idea of people coming into our yard.

I like RTH's idea a lot though. I think you would get a lot farther by making them more comfortable with you and coming to your door. I know as a kid I would not have liked to go to someone's door anytime a toy got thrown into someone elses yard, it's much easier and indirect to just climb the fence.

But if they had made some gesture, explained why they don't want me jumping the fence and made it seem less intimidating to go to the door I would. Or I would just leave the ball.
 

Xandra

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#25
Thank you

I am honestly very saddened by some of the posts here...just disturbing.

AND this is coming from someone who has lots of neighbor children who I DO have to watch and make sure they know not to come into the yard etc because one of my dogs is guardy and anxious around children.

RTH had awesome advice on how to handle it.

I dont know, I grew up in an actual NEIGHBORHOOD...which means being neighborly. We jumped fences all the time to retrieve things or just to shortcut. If anyone had asked us to stop, sure we wouldve. But as long as we werent hurting anything who freaking cares?

(Again, dogs bring a WHOLE different level and I totally understand that angle, I have the same issue. But just because its "MINE" to me is a silly and rude position...again, as long as its for something like ball retrieval etc)
I think you're being a bit dramatic. At 8-13, we knew trespassing (especially when you've been told not to multiple times!!) was RUDE and a violation of privacy (for some people privacy matters).

Not saying that we didn't do it regularly lol but we knew better. At that age, if you'd been told several times not to hop the fence and one of you tried one time and got zapped, would that have been so bad? Maybe we were horrible and stoic children but I'm pretty sure we would've found that hilarious. I'm also sure we would have taken it as legitimate retribution for our crimes lol.

Barbed wire is a bit cruel, you can cut yourself on it and wreck your clothes.

I think the main thing here, is that if you even if you put up painful barriers, being kids, with time and resourcefulness they may just find away around your hot tape or barbed wire and continue on. They sure as hell aren't going to be more comfortable going to your door after you've electrocuted or skewered them with your fence lol
 
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Red.Apricot

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#26
I do have a dog that might bite if someone were unexpectedly in our yard, and frequently dog sit my dad's dog, who is even more protective than Elsie, and what I did (which works) is talk to my neighbors nicely when the ball throwing wasn't an issue--so like, not 'in the moment,' and it worked really well.

They come to the front door now and we go get it for them, and haven't had an issue.

I was just friendly and polite, and mentioned that we have dogs and would prefer people don't come into the yard, but we'd be more than happy to get the ball or whatever for them.
 
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#29
Greenmagik, I think they key you are missing is these kids have been asked to stop, and aren't.
No, I didnt miss it.

I was replying in general for most of my response.

I still think talking with the children and grandparents again, in depth, is the way to go...not barbed wire or hot tape.
 
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#30
We knew better then the go into people's yards, but if someone did something to prevents us...it was war. The one place that put up barbed wire was the one place we targeted. We peed on their wood fence, we spray painted their fence, we kicked their fence and we made sure to make the very most amount of noise around their place. Just a heads up. Maybe we were dicks. They also got huge fines for their electrified barbed wire when someone's cat almost died on it be cause its leg got caught on it so it got a good long zap.
 

MandyPug

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#31
I dunno where people are growing up but we knew if we were dumb enough to lose a toy over the fence, it was gone for good. Suck it up, kids.

I most certainly do not want kids in my yard "because they're only kids". Kids are assholes and love to destroy things and be idiots. Learn painful life lessons on your own property and get hurt there so I'm not liable.
 

stardogs

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#32
What about a bucket hung on your fence where they can reach that you just deposit lost toys in? Then no one has to climb the fence, they don't have to work up the nerve to go to your door, and you don't have to fetch balls constantly.
 
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#33
Maybe it's just me or just where I live, but I completely can not imagine anyone having barbed wire on their fence... especially with the purpose of keeping out children. o_O

Seriously other than talking I don't know what else could/should be done.
Me either, yikes! Of course, when our neighbor's kids were young enough to hit balls over the fence they always asked if they could come get it so I never really had to deal with this exact situation.

I'd be very, very careful about using anything like electricity or barbed wire unless you're absolutely sure you have no liability if someone gets injured by them. I like the idea of bringing them some balls and/or leaving a "collection bucket" hanging on the fence, though.
 

Xandra

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#34
On a city lot, I think barbed wire and hot tape is a bit bizarre... on an acre? I don't find that too strange. I'd guess if she happens upon their balls she chucks them back over, but unless they only hit them to one place or she regularly scours the yard, she's not going to find them very often, especially if she has any bush or long grass.
 
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#35
Well even on my city lot the neighbor kids' balls rarely made it halfway across my yard, I doubt that most kids are going to be peppering an entire acre with balls.

Or if they are... I'd buddy up to them and get in on that MLB career now, on the ground floor. :D
 

Xandra

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#36
Well even on my city lot the neighbor kids' balls rarely made it halfway across my yard, I doubt that most kids are going to be peppering an entire acre with balls.

Or if they are... I'd buddy up to them and get in on that MLB career now, on the ground floor. :D
I'll take your word for it. How far 8-13 year old boys bat their baseballs is definitely beyond the scope of my knowledge. :lol-sign:
 
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#37
Well maybe my neighbor's kids were just athletically challenged. :p

But seriously even for most MLB ballparks a home run is something like... 400 feet or thereabouts, I think?
 

~Jessie~

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#38
I would never put barb wire or hot tape on my fence- that's just asking for a lawsuit!

I like RTH's idea- give the boys a pack of baseballs and introduce yourself. Let them know you'll return any balls that land on your side of the fence. Put them in a basket or in a bag by your front door. If this doesn't work, I'd talk to the grandparents again.

I totally agree that it must be annoying to have children coming over your fence- that would drive me nuts! Hopefully you'll find a solution that works :)
 

Fran101

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#39
Perhaps a small sign that goes over their side of the fence.
"If one of your balls come over the fence, please come to the front door and ask and I'll go get it for you! We have dogs that are easily surprised and don't want you to get hurt!"

I love the baseball in a basket idea as well.. better to keep things friendly with the neighbors than anything.
Go over and talk to the grandparents or whatever again. Make it all about the kids "I would worry about them falling, them getting hurt, my dogs spooking and jumping on them by accident. WE HAVE LARGE DOGS, something could happen. "
 

Dizzy

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#40
Here lots of people put broken glass on the top of concrete walls! Well, I say here, I mean more inner city areas.

But barbed wire is a visual deterrent as is glass. How is that a law suit? It's perfectly legal here, and perfectly visible. It's there to make people not climb... It would be like trying to sue a farmer for climbing in their field and getting snagged.. And actually, barbed wire isn't that nasty. Razor wire is. Not barbed wire.

Or I'd put anti-vandal paint on the tops of the fence and sign saying, vandal paint. No one wants that sh1t on them.
 

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