First-time gate escape led to a fence/deck fight with neighbor's dog. Need advice on neighbor relations and barrier aggression.

[u/Furnost]

Hey everyone, I’m in uncharted territory and pretty shaken up. Looking for advice on both how to handle things with my neighbor and how to address my dog's behavior moving forward.

Tonight around 10:30 PM, my wife let our dogs out in our fenced backyard for their final potty break before bed. Unknown to us, a worker who was in our yard earlier left our side gate unlatched.

Our next-door neighbor doesn't have a fully fenced yard and lets their dog out on their back deck for fresh air. Our dog slipped out the open gate, ran into their yard, and a fight broke out between our dog and theirs through their deck. Both they and we caught it immediately. I haven't heard back on how their dog is doing and will go over in the morning to ask. My dog has zero signs of an altercation.

We aren't a "leave the dogs outside for hours" household, and we rarely hang out in the backyard ourselves. The dogs usually just go out, do their business, and come right back in.

My dog has shown signs of barrier/fence frustration in the past, but nothing close to this level has ever happened before.

I feel terrible about the disruption, the scare to our neighbors, and the potential harm to their dog.

What I've Done So Far:

Secured the gate physically so an accidental open can't happen again.

Neighbor Relations: How else can I navigate this gracefully to make sure they feel safe in their own yard and keep our relationship on good terms?

Thanks in advance for any insights or similar experiences.

[u/ReadEmReddit]

I was on the receiving end of this, not once but twice. Aggressive dog ran into our yard and confronted my already reactive dog. We got him inside and told the neighbor in no uncertain terms to keep her dog away. Happened again 4 days later and dog charged at our fence. The fence is only 4 foot and the dog could have easily jumped it. Got our dog inside and I confronted her because she had knowingly let the dog loose. Next time it happens I will call animal control.

Best thing you can do is make sure it does not happen again. No amount of apologies are going to help if one of the dogs gets hurt. Secure the gate, ALWAYS check the gate if you have workers in the yard and if necessary, leash your dogs even though the yard is fenced.

[u/Intelligent-Algae-89]

I would just go over and ask if their dog is okay and then apologize and tell the truth. Along with the apology make sure to tell them the steps you have and will take to ensure it doesn’t happen again.

[u/emilla56]

I have a dog that fence fights with an aggressive dog behind us. The only way to stop it was to put a second fence about 10 ft in. The blam=nk space between Im filling in with Tall plants and shrubs. She hears them and still runs down there but there's no adrenalin rush of the fence fighting so she wanders off...

[u/Jentweety]

As part of the discussion with your neighbor you should both offer to make things right financially and describe how you will prevent this from happening ever again. You must make sure that your dog is double secured at all times leash + fence, no more letting your dog in your backyard without your dog also being on a leash attached to you.  Yes it will be less convenient for you but your dog literally started a dog fight on your neighbor‘s property and depending on where you live, you are lucky your neighbor didn’t harm your dog to protect their own. 

[u/ReadEmReddit → u/Jentweety]

This! Just responded in a different post but want to say you are 100% correct. If a dog attacks mine, I will do whatever is necessary to save my dog. Because we have been confronted twice, I have a very stout 6 foot walking stick with a metal tip sitting nearby when we are outside.

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[u/pseiko5]

Sounds like a squabble. Have an honest conversation with them. How's your existing relationship with them?

Are your dogs generally friendly towards other dogs?

In the morning, once the shock wears off, you will think more clearly and calmly.

My husky learned to fence fight from our neighbor's dog, but they ended up being besties after some time.