Beware of Dog Signs

[knightrider]

So…I recently wanted to put a Beware of Dog sign on my fence in a couple spots because I have an overly protective dog. He is older now at around 11 and his protectiveness has gotten worse as he’s gotten older … or rather since I’ve moved to my farm and he has a yard and house to protect.

Prior to moving I really didn’t have many situations for this to be as noticeable because I walked him in the neighborhood or took him everywhere with me and he was the perfect love bug when meeting people out.

Now hes ultra protective and has proven to be a little nippy when new people step over the threshold of the gate/yard or in my door. We’ve got it under control and now just tell people to not look at the dog and he has to be sitting or one of us holds him until the person is in the house or yard. Then he’s wonderful.

At any rate, my dog groomer told me to not put those signs as it could introduce more risk of getting sued if someone came through without me and got bit and I had that sign. So she recommended to put Do not Touch the Dogs signs up instead. I’m not sure I really see the difference. Isn’t that kind of the same thing?

I’m totally capable of managing this dog and there have been times where a contractor has walked into my yard with the dog and been fine but they didn’t make eye contact and ignored him…

I’m in VA if that makes a difference… what are the thoughts behind the signs? Should I put something up to protect me or is that really introducing more risk? I figure I don’t have too many years to worry about this issue as he’s getting old. Never thought a standard poodle would be this protective but he is.

[Bluey]

“Do not touch” seems to be an invitation for people to want to do just that, human nature gone awry there.
People’s brain take “do not” as a challenge first, a warning doesn’t even register.

Example, if you put a sign, “do not touch - electric fence”, you can’t believe how many will touch it before they think.
The same with “fresh paint”.

Try to find some other way to state that.

[Paks]

The issue is this. Beware the dog can be twisted by a lawyer as proof you knew your dog was dangerous. That makes your liability more in a biting situation.

[Chall]

Dangerous, dog bites, beware of dog implies you have foreknowledge of the possibility of a bad outcome or that your dog was a menace. It does make your more responsible in a law suit (says I, a non lawyer, snort).
Hence the plethora of humorous or less direct signs, dog at play etc, that make the point but don’t say the dog himself is dangerous.
http://www.google.com/search?q=funny+beware+of+dog+signs&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=LlGJVY39HIfnsASd2IOQDQ&ved=0CD8Q7Ak&biw=981&bih=619

Your friend is correct. But I’m sure actual lawyers will post here.

[Casey09]

What about putting a lock on the gate? Or a sign that says something to alert a visitor to wait to enter until you are there?

[mommy_peanut]

Depends on how your state, county, or township view the signs.
Where I live having any type of “beware of dog” sign has little to no outcome or influence on dog bite cases. In a select few cases it actually helped the owner of said dog.
So best to know what the laws are in your area.

[jherold]

I had ones made up that say, “Warning, guard dog has vicious attorney on retainer” and “Beware of the Collie, She’ll wake up the shepherd” My vet loves the second one! How about Do Not Enter? Those should be easy to find.

[TrotTrotPumpkn]

I bought lovely signs that said “Dogs in Yard”
Then, after the alarm salesman left one day, I put a “My Doberman is Smarter than Your 2nd Grader” or whatever, sticker in my window inside my porch by the front door. I figured it got the same point across to anyone who may venture in.

Don’t use vicious dog type signs. Those can be evidence.

[knightrider]

So it sounds like I’m better off doing nothing I think. Most people who come to visit know that I need to grab the one dog and will wait for me to get there. Even the vets know not to stick your hand over over the fence to “pet” them unless I’m there.

He’s such a good dog otherwise…a 3 year old can climb all over him and tug his head, his ears, his tale, no problem whereas my younger dog will scurry away and run from the same child. I’m sure as he gets less agile, it will become less of an issue.

But at 11 years old, he’s still pretty nimble and agile.

[sid]

Why not a sign that just says “Caution: Dogs”? That be construed to mean for someone to be careful not to hit the dog with a car, not that the dog is menacing.

There is a great sign website that also does custom signs inexpensively.

I may do one of these myself. The “Caution: Horses” doesn’t seem to slow anyone down.

[trubandloki]

@Chall;8202272

Dangerous, dog bites, beware of dog implies you have foreknowledge of the possibility of a bad outcome or that your dog was a menace. It does make your more responsible in a law suit (says I, a non lawyer, snort).

I will second this.
A lawyer friend suggested the same thing to me several years back, no Beware of Dog sign and some cutesy sign about the property is owned by one grumpy old dog or something like that.

[Nezzy]

you think you are protecting yourself by warning people, and it has the opposite affect? Jeez.

[Bicoastal]

Locks on gates & Dog in Yard sign

[QUOTE=knightrider;8202934]
So it sounds like I’m better off doing nothing I think. Most people who come to visit know that I need to grab the one dog and will wait for me to get there. Even the vets know not to stick your hand over over the fence to “pet” them unless I’m there.[/QUOTE]

The issue is the people you don’t know are coming to visit and/or just don’t know. Install locks on your gates. This is the easiest insurance and extra 30-seconds you can buy. I like the “Dogs in Yard” signs; some are rather classy.

[RPM]

[QUOTE=Chall;8202272]
Dangerous, dog bites, beware of dog implies you have foreknowledge of the possibility of a bad outcome or that your dog was a menace. It does make your more responsible in a law suit (says I, a non lawyer, snort).
Hence the plethora of humorous or less direct signs, dog at play etc, that make the point but don’t say the dog himself is dangerous.
http://www.google.com/search?q=funny+beware+of+dog+signs&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=LlGJVY39HIfnsASd2IOQDQ&ved=0CD8Q7Ak&biw=981&bih=619

Your friend is correct. But I’m sure actual lawyers will post here.[/QUOTE]

I love your link, Chall!

This one takes the prize IMO:
http://funnypicture.org/funny-beware-of-dog-signs-28-free-wallpaper.html#.VYrEf0avtyk

[danceronice]

[QUOTE=RPM;8203629]
I love your link, Chall!

This one takes the prize IMO:
http://funnypicture.org/funny-beware-of-dog-signs-28-free-wallpaper.html#.VYrEf0avtyk[/QUOTE]

ROFL!

I think my favorite is the one in Chall’s link: “Beware of the Dog. The Cat is Not Trustworthy Either.”

[pAin_t_Misbehavin]

This is an issue completely and totally dependent on the law in your state.

In some states, an injured person has to prove you either knew or should’ve known your dog was likely to bite someone before s/he can get a judgment against you. In these states, a sign saying beware of dog might furnish some evidence of this knowledge - or not.

In other states, like mine, if your dog bites somebody the injured person does NOT have to prove anything of the kind. It’s called “strict liability.”

So a bunch of people on the internet really can’t help you with this question, sorry. Call a lawyer in your state. Or google your state’s bar association. They might have some information on their website. Mine has downloadable pdfs of FAQs like this.

[Blinky]

I have one that says something like “My Rottweiler can make it to the gate in 10 seconds. Can you?”

Enter at your own risk.

[amastrike]

[QUOTE=Nezzy;8203238]
you think you are protecting yourself by warning people, and it has the opposite affect? Jeez.[/QUOTE]
This is what is wrong with the world. You tell someone not to do something, they do it anyway, and you’re to blame. WTF?

[Foxtrot_s]

"Keep gate closed - dogs loose in yard? ???

[maunder]

I’ve had to warn utility workers that my big black sheep is too friendly. They think he’s going to “attack” but what he really wants is a bum scrub. The goats will dash over because they want the utility worker to pass over fresh greens when they are working outside of the fence.

One day I looked out the window to see the meter reader trotting by in a rather frantic way. Since I knew the goats and sheep weren’t in that area I wondered what he was afraid of…

my chickens were racing after him in the hope of treats. hee hee hee hee

He got out the gate and let out a huge sigh of relief, while they hopped up and down on the other side of the fence like little velociraptors.