r/AmIOverreacting 18h ago

šŸ˜ļø neighbor/local AIO/should a neighbor being on my driveway bother me?

Okay let me provide context, I was coming home from the gym around 6:30 am and in our new neighborhood that we recently moved to, there are a lot of people always out and about either riding bikes or walking dogs and Iā€™m driving down my street to see someone with a flashlight standing on my driveway, I pull a little closer and itā€™s some man standing in my driveway with his dog sniffing my yard as if heā€™s about to let his dog take a shit in the yard which I guess if heā€™s willing to pick it up is okay but I just couldnā€™t fathom doing that to someone elseā€™s property because it feels almost like an invasion of privacy and space? And just respect to not? It really bothered me but I wasnā€™t sure who this person was and it was still dark so I was going to play it safe and didnā€™t really say anything other than good morning. After I pulled into my driveway he moved to the edge of the street in the grass still and off my driveway but still didnā€™t really move far. I guess if heā€™s going to clean up after the dog itā€™s not that big of a deal I just thought it was kind of rude because I wouldnā€™t do that just out of respect for someone elseā€™s property like I said. Am I making it a big deal? Just thought it was so weird. Idek which neighbor it is either bc I couldnā€™t really see his face but I can recognize the dog if I see them again. Should I just shrug it off? I just donā€™t want them thinking thatā€™s an okay thing to regularly do.

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u/Inahayes1 18h ago

Did he pick it up? If so no biggie. A dog goes when it goes. Try and get a good look at him bc the dog will go there again bc of scent. If he doesnā€™t pick it up say something and deliver the crap to him. I think itā€™s premature to get get upset about it though.

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u/cblaisedell 17h ago

Itā€™s a bit of an overreaction in my opinion. Sure itā€™s your property but that only goes so far as itā€™s also all a part of one neighborhood, and within that neighborhood people have dogs, and dogs enjoy pooping on grass. Of course the owner needs to pick it up, but assuming he does, I think this is just a part of having neighbors. You could have a conversation with him about it and maybe he listens, but would it reasonable for everybody in the neighborhood to have that rule? Where then would the dogs poop on their walks?

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u/Possible_Peak5405 12h ago

You can train a dog to use the bathroom before going on a walk, you could also take the dog to areas with public grassed areas to use or dog parks, there are other options as well.

I say this as someone who has a dog and have never had it go on someone elseā€™s property, while I canā€™t control wild animals who might use someone elseā€™s yard as a toilet I can make sure my dogs arenā€™t the reason they end up stepping in grass covered in piss they canā€™t see or their kids roll around in it while out playing in the yard.

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u/miaaariviiera 18h ago

Itā€™s definitely understandable to feel uncomfortable with someone on your property, even if theyā€™re just walking their dog. Iā€™d say if it keeps happening, it might be worth having a casual conversation with the neighbor, just to set boundaries. Youā€™re not overreacting, just looking out for your space!

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u/baes__theorem 18h ago

It's unclear from this whether the dog actually shat in your yard, and if so, whether the person picked up their dog's shit. If the dog did and the owner didn't, you're not overreacting and that's unacceptable.

If you're upset because a dog was sniffing around your yard, I think you may be overreacting a bit, but it's your property. You're free to tell your neighbor that you'd prefer if they and their dog didn't come onto your property without permission.

Just for context, dogs understand their environments largely through smell. I wouldn't find it rude for a dog to sniff around a yard or even use the bathroom there, as long as it was picked up afterward.

But I also like dogs and have one that had bathroom-related anxiety when I first got her, so I'm probably biased. I understand why other people would have issues with it and I don't let my dog on others' property for that reason, but I live in a city with a lot of parks and very few front yards.

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u/Possible_Peak5405 12h ago

While itā€™s true that wild animals will use your yard as a toilet without your permission (even if itā€™s not common depending on where you live) itā€™s different because they are allowing their pet to use your yard, it doesnā€™t matter if theyā€™re picking it up or not.

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u/lyingdogfacepony66 18h ago

Now you know tomorrow whom you will need to deliver the large pile of dog poop.