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He's kind of like one of those funny garden gnomes: the neighborhood pooch who constantly wanders away from his own home and feels most at peace coping-a-squat in your yard. So, how do you tell your neighbor that this furry yard furniture has overstayed his welcome?

We asked dog etiquette expert Charlotte Reed, the author of The Miss Fido Manners Complete Book of Dog Etiquette, for her best advice for addressing this dilemma. She says it's important that all dog owners stay abreast of how their dog's actions can affect others.

"The rules of canine etiquette extend far beyond the home and out into the neighborhood and community," says Reed. "Dog owners must recognize that their behavior, and that of their pet affects their neighbors -in this case, you- whether they live in a house, a condo or apartment."

Your relationship with your neighbor dictates how best to approach her, Reed says. "If you are friendly, go see her; If not, address a friendly note to her on your best stationary," she suggests. "Either way, you should express the problem succinctly, offer a solution to show concern for her and the dog. By doing this, you show you care about the dog and your relationship."

Asking the neighbor to take care of the problem as soon as possible by repairing or installing a pet fence is well within your bounds, Reed says. It's important to convey that the dog's safety is ultimately at risk.

"Mention that a roaming dog could get hit by a car, snatched by dog fighters or others with bad intentions, become ill from eating garbage or plants, or be picked up by animal control," she says. "Moreover, always try to maintain a cordial relationship with your neighbors because there is a chance that you may be living next to them for a longer than the life of your dog!"

How would you deal with this situation? Leave your suggestion in the comments below!

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More Petiquette on PEOPLE Pets:
How to Tell Your Upstairs Neighbor that a Pet's Too Loud