What is classed as excessive barking?

picklepick

So they only bark during the day? And when in the garden?
Do they bark when your friend goes out and leaves them alone in the house, that perhaps she isnt aware of? And this is maybe what is disturbing the neighbours

callywally

The worst thing is that the dogs really dont bark much. I know I keep saying it but if they do bark in the garden they are brought back in straight away. My friend is now trying to stop any barking at all.

She has a good idea who is complaining and the persons children make far more noise than the dogs.
my friend has lived there for two years with no problem at all so she does not know why they are suddenly complaining now

Sunnyday

If the dogs are not barking early or late then i would really try not to worry too much about it. Trying to stop a dog from barking altogether is unrealistic and the dogs will sense the stress felt by the owner and it will be passed to the dogs. Does the neighbour live next door or further down the street?

I personally would have a word with some of the other neighbours and ask if it is a problem for them, i get the impression that if its only bothering one set of neighbours then its maybe another issue altogether. Once you have a some info from a couple of other neighbours you should have a clearer picture of whether or not there is really a problem, i have seen the wrong people blamed for dogs barking in the past especially at night when sound carries further.

HTH

SD

marcowil

A constantly barking dog, if you are at home and trying to relax, is a nuisance at any time.

A house near me had a dog that was put into the garden anytime from 7.30am every day and left there until midnight or later and from that moment on it barked at anything that moved, including the wind!
After trying to get used to it for a couple of months, i contacted the Council and eventually they issued a noise nuisance warning. Other neighbours started to complain too but the owners refused to acknowledge a problem.
I had the noise monitor, kept diaries but, in the end, because the other neighbours wouldnt keep diaries, we got nowhere. Thankfully, the dog has stopped (or they have moved!)

Despite nothing happening, I would still contact the Council if it happened again. Some dog owners just dont seem to accept that a barking dog is a nuisance, and what the OP's friend may regard as a few mins could feel like an age to those having to listen to it again and again

callywally

my friend is now going to keep a record of how many times the dogs bark and what time etc. so far in the last 24 hours one has barked once. the other has not barked at all.
She is doing this for her own satisfaction so that she can be sure its not excessive. I dont think one bark in 24 hours could be classed as a problem by anyone.

callywally

The neigbour that is complainig lives a little way down the street. the strange thing is that there are at least two other dogs in the houses around one is a jack russell who is very yappy.

My friend said that so far today one dog barked once at 8am 1 woof at miday and thats it.

joan_brennan

I have posted a very similar problem and although i got lots of support and comfort from posters, what actually helped was sorting out the problem.
I suggest that she takes the dogs for a good long walk then when they are tired give them the biggest juiciest bone to eat in the garden that way they get garden = lay down and feed - if necessary chase away anyone who might steal said bone but ... mostly eat and guard. n.b don't leave them too long i.e not so long that they get bored or jaw ache. Then take the bone away and bring them in.
All this adds up to garden = place to eat not chase
Naturally this needs to happen on a daily basis until it becomes a ritual then the norm, over time the bone can become less juicy more of an old thing.

callywally

Thanks, I think my friend is more upset that it was reported rather than them coming to her and talking about it.
I will tell her your suggestion. so far today one dog has barked twice and other dog not at all.

Did environmental health get involved in your case and if so what happened. would be intersted to know thanks

gettingready

I personally would have a word with some of the other neighbours and ask if it is a problem for them, i get the impression that if its only bothering one set of neighbours then its maybe another issue altogether. Once you have a some info from a couple of other neighbours you should have a clearer picture of whether or not there is really a problem

Very good advice here.

My Zara was supposingly "barking all day long" while I was at work and one set of neighbours were driving me up the wall with worry till I finally spoke to other , 4 sets of neighbours who said .. something else.

I had finally lost my temper and had a go (won't quote here.. would get banned) at the people complaing, we have not spoken since (wohoooooooooooooo great) and left it at that.

I also had a go at "a little old lady" (if you saw he that is the way to describe) who does not even live in my block but "has an opinion" (peopel who work should nto have dogs) and was making my life a misery by walking about and talking rubbish about me, verbally attacking my dog walker etc etc.. Put up with this for about 18 months but finally lost it and told her to stop "worrying" about the "welfare" of my dog and try to get in touch with the 4 kids she had and dumped all in childrens homes (beauty of living an on estate - everyone knows everything) and see if they are ok now as adults...

What I am trying to say is....ocassional dog bark may not be what is the REAL problem there. As your friend to talk to other people - if only one lot is complaining there may be other reasons...

Good luck anyway - I had a nightmare with neighbours opposite and "the little old lady" for a long time before I opened my eyes and put my food down.

All the best

callywally

I will suggest that she speaks to other neighbours, trouble is the one thats compaineds mother also lives down the road so they be bound to stick together. the one next door has a baby which often screams at all hours of the night my friend has not complained about it because she knows babys do cry as dogs bark. they also have wooden flooring which is very noisy especialy when they run up and down stairs.
Again my friend has never complained as she is very easy going and says live and let live, shehas always kept the dogs as quiet as possibe out of respect for neighbours etc but it seems they dont show the same respect.