Help. At my wits end with the neighbour's dog!

sophieschoice

After being driven nearly insane by my next door neighbours dog barking constantly for hours on end, I bought a digital voice recorder and recorded the dog barking and played it back to her. Luckily I am on good terms with her and she didn't realise the dog barked incessantly when she left the house.
The playback volume is quite loud so I'd suggest buying one, (about £30) record the dog barking then place it as near to her house as you can and press 'play'.
All day and night if necessary.
I'd also report her to the RSPCA and the Noise Pollution office at the Environmental Department of your local council. Visits from them may do the trick.

screamer

FC, I will try as you say to inform the landlord, but it's done through a lettings agency and they truly are not bothered about anything. If I knew the landlord direct then it would be a different matter, but honestly, I can't stress how indifferent the letting agents are.

Sophie, OH has a camcorder. I can record him no problem. As for the council I have already contacted them. Strangely, the dog was going going at the window like his life depended on it at the time and although I was in the house the guy on the phone heard him and said, exact words, "that sounds like a bloody big dog!" I had to laugh through my tears!

UKTigerlily (you stole my name btw :-) I already have that one covered! I will inspect first, view the house during the day as well as the evening, and one of the reasons we'd buy the house we like is because there's space for a garage. I/we will ask the neighbours before we make an offer if it's likely to cause a problem. If they're not happy about a single storey garage on our own garden, behind their fence, then they are clearly not people we would want to be neighbours with and we will go to number 2 on our list, and so on until we find the right place.

So, I guess now I've just got to make it through the next few months. OH has downloaded some audio books and e books to take my mind off things, so all in all the day hasn't ended so badly.

I have thanked each one of you individually. I really appreciate every single bit of advice that has been given. Everything has worked out exactly as I thought it would, but at least I have been decent about it!

And I have also told the whole truth too. If anything I have understated things because I'm not good at explaining things sometimes! Thank you all for your patience and support!

I might need you tomorrow! :-)

1sue23

beachbeth wrote: »

I really can't stand german shepherds. Im sorry if this upsets anyone but they just seem like the sort of dog that is fine as a pup and then it grows up and decides its hates its owner/the other dog in the house/next door neighbour etc and wants to kill them! I have heard of so many instances of this happening. They are just so unpredictable.

Our next door neighbour has a german shepherd and also has 3 other big dogs of other breeds. She told us they all used to get on fine and then one day the german shepherd decided it didn't like the other three and went for them. She now has to keep the GSD completely apart from the other three, including separate walks. What a horrible breed! (I will now have people coming on here and telling me how great they are!:o)

I really feel for you, screamer. I think I would send my OH round to have a word. Sometimes men have more effect when doing this sort of thing. Then if nothing changes I would involve the council.

I own a german shepherd and a more gentle dog would be difficult to find ,she is now 14 and I have never seen her show aggression to any one or anything she lives with cats ,rabbits ,chickens and gets on fine with all of them ,as with all dogs there are good and bad and a well excercised ,well trained german shepherd makes for a very loyal pet .

mrtobs

Your OH sounds like a complete star! How exciting that you might be househunting! Sorry that your neighbour was so difficult and aggressive - she sounds like a very unhappy, angry & thoroughly unpleasant person. One way or another, it sounds like you & your OH will have sorted this out - and soon you'll be much happier and relaxed, whereas (I suspect) she won't (uncharitable though it is for me to say that!). In the meantime, is it possible for you & your OH to get away for a few days for a break? Even if it was just staying with some friends?

beachbeth

1sue23 wrote: »

I own a german shepherd and a more gentle dog would be difficult to find ,she is now 14 and I have never seen her show aggression to any one or anything she lives with cats ,rabbits ,chickens and gets on fine with all of them ,as with all dogs there are good and bad and a well excercised ,well trained german shepherd makes for a very loyal pet .

I know I was generalising when I spoke about German Shepherds. It really isn't the dog's fault when they are aggressive, it is down to the breeder and the owner. Even my little Pugs get stir crazy if they haven't been for many walks and one of them starts being naughty by grabbing things she shouldn't and running away with them (credit card, important receipt, dvd or cd etc!). All dogs need a certain amount of stimulation but different breeds will behave differently when they are bored or lonely. Screamer, it certainly sounds as though your neighbour's dog is being left alone far too long and is being driven bonkers by loniless and boredom. The poor thing.

1sue23, I would love to meet your GSD. Im sure she's lovely. I suppose you only ever hear the bad stories and not the good about these sorts of dogs.

screamer

Hi mrtobs. As for getting away for a few days. We have a holiday booked in November so OH is saving his holidays at work for that. If need be we have OH's parents to help out. I'm one of the lucky ones who loves her OH's folks and if we did so much as ask for help they'd know we needed it, but I'm not sure we'll need it.

I think she's done as she threatened and put the dog in the cellar. If it's anything like my cellar then I think she needs arresting for animal cruelty but have you any idea how nice it is to stay asleep until my body tells me to wake up. It's bliss, and not something I've experienced in the last 6 months.

I really feel for the dog. Some people have expressed their dislike for alsatians but personally I think they're beautiful. My nan had 2 ex police dogs when I was a child and I loved to cuddle up to one of them. The other one scared me to death but the girl was lovely, and my little protector. She wouldn't let anyone hurt me and god help them if she did. I think they're really gorgeous dogs but this dog just isn't being treated right.

I think it was FC who suggested the dog be confined to one room. When I go out without the dog (usually shopping) he's locked in a crate. He sleeps in it at night although it isn't locked then, and he's happy with it. According to a friend in my old town, my dog only barks when someone comes to the door and I'm in, but doesn't make a sound if I'm not in. I'd say that was the opposite of what this dog does. I'm pleased to know that my dog is my first dog (always had cats) and I've made a great job with him whereas the woman over the road has had loads of dogs so she apparently knows what she's doing and has destroyed this poor animal. I used my instinct to get my pooch trained, and he's AWESOME!! I wish I knew how to upload pictures, I'd show you!

So, for now, the dog is silent. But if he is in the cellar I feel even more sorry for him!

screamer

Hi beachbeth. And yes, you're right, you only ever hear horror stories about them. Misunderstood breed. But it's the same with every dog. If that dog has been allowed to behave like that then he will continue to do so. It is never the dog's fault, it's usually the human at fault! Maybe dogs aren't such great pets for some people.

If she talked to me like that last night then it's clear she has the same attitude as the dog!

screamer

Fortunately the dog isn't in the cellar.

Unfortunately he's not locked in anywhere. I guess I was just lucky this morning, managing to sleep past 8 as he's barking now.

I'm pleased he's doing this, I've proven she really doesn't give a monkeys and her dog is poorly trained.

SBOSlayer

screamer wrote: »

OK, here goes. We moved into this house 6 months ago, only renting, and was happy for a short while. I have a dog that is usually so well behaved you don't know he's in the house most of the time but now we have a new problem, and my poor puppy is getting the brunt of my anger.

There is an alsatian who lives in the house opposite that when left alone he goes bonkers. He barks and growls all day and doesn't let up. His owners leave him alone from 8am to 6pm and I'm sure it's just boredom or stress but honestly, this dog is driving me crazy. My pooch now thinks it's acceptable to sit on the back of the settee barking back at this dog. I have tried moving furniture but to be fair, even if he can't see this dog he still growls and barks back at him.

I have spoken to the owner who says she can't do anything about him, "it's how he was brought up", but the problem is now I'm not getting anywhere near enough sleep. I haven't been sleeping all that well recently and now this dog, combined with my dog, have been making sure I'm not getting any more than 3 hours sleep a night. It has come to a head, I had a seizure yesterday after staying grand mal free for nearly 3 years and now I'm very upset and very tired, as well as extremely annoyed. If this had happened 4 weeks ago I would have been on the waiting list for an operation to help with my Epilepsy.

My OH said we will only move out of this house when we buy one, but in the current market that isn't possible with me being unable to work. I cannot keep living here near this dog. Our relationship is suffering as I'm so tired and ratty, my health is suffering clearly, and my dog gets shouted at for responding to the angry barks from this stupid hound.

I'm unsure as to whether to report the dog to the council because he's as quiet as a mouse in the evening. Will the council listen to me because I'm just a little whingebag who's at home all day?

I really cannot take any more. Any advice or just a bit of reassurance would help right now. The neighbours claim not to hear anything but I don't believe that's possible.

Oh, and the owner has decided she wants another alsatian for company. Now, if my dog thinks it's ok behaviour to bark all day, I have no doubt that her new dog will do the same. I will end up committing doggycide before the year is out.

Please help. I'm in the mood for walking out right now and not coming back, all for a dog that no one else claims to hear.

Tired and ratty... aye so stop taking out on other peoples posts! I guess u get what you deserve sunshine.

septemberblues

SBOSlayer wrote: »

Tired and ratty... aye so stop taking out on other peoples posts! I guess u get what you deserve sunshine.

!!!!!!?