Barking dog next door

Milford_Cubicle

On the flip side of the coin... I am that owner with the barking dog. We rescued a Lab in January who had various health problems and would wake up somewhat frantic at around 5 or 6 am and bark for 1 - 5 minutes at a time. This carried on for around six weeks, I was absolutely knackered! I popped round to see my neighbour with a bottle of wine and apologies a few days after we brought our girl home, I truly did not expect it to go on as long as it did. I literally tried everything to stop the barking and also work out the root cause of it. Eventually it turned out she had a fungal ear infection (even though the vets had "checked" her ears several times :wall: ), a few days after the special drops and she's been fine ever since. Our neighbour was initially understanding, but as the weeks passed did begin to get somewhat peed off (her boyfriend mentioned it to me, she didn't approach me herself). I was at an absolute loss as to what to do and did feel very sorry for my neighbours (and myself!) but had my hands absolutely tied.

I can only echo what others have said and suggest earplugs, hopefully this will pass once the dogs have settled. If it continues and approaching your neighbours to discuss it doesn't get you anywhere, then you may have to consider contacting environmental health and keep a noise diary. Apparently I'm now getting my comeuppance as the neighbour has split with her boyfriend and is loving her newly single life, especially when she comes home very drunk at 3am!!

Ellie2758

Can you explain HOW you train your dog not to bark when left alone? My mind is boggling.....

Earplugs are brilliant - I use the silicone ones for swimmers from Boots.

Raggs wrote: »

The thing with ignoring bad behaviour is that it only works if the behaviour isn't rewarded in another way.

If they are barking at a car going past, then the car approaches, the dogs bark, and the car drives (flees) away. Same with people, cats, birds etc etc. Or the dogs may just enjoy being loud and rambunctious, especially since they have each other to react to and encourage.

The first thing I did when we got our dog was teach it not to bark when we left it alone etc. I live in a flat with a family below and an old lady (moved now) opposite. It wouldn't be fair on anyone to have a barking dog. Within 20 minutes he was greatly improved, within 2 days he knew not to bark when alone. He now doesn't bark at all except when playing rough, or dreaming (which is a high pitched, quiet bark, too cute to wake up ).

Definitely tell them, and ask them if they are doing anything about it (other than just telling the dogs "No, stop, shut up, stop." without actually achieving anything.

uolypool

I feel so sorry for the person who posted about their neighbours dog barking all the time. It's terrible that the owner thinks they are above the law. I just don't understand how they can tolerate it either.


She used to play her music very loudly all day and night as well prob to drown out the sound of the dog barking.I have a Rottie and he occasionally barks , 9times out of 10 its when a dog appears on the telly or I don't let him out to see the Iceland delivery driver when he delivers my shopping.:rotfl:He gets told to ssshhhh and he does just that.

iamana1ias

I love dogs but could quite happily shoot the ones that live around me. Next door have a lab that they keep outside, never walk and who has no entertainment. As a result he barks at anything and everything at all times of the day and night.

This usually sets off the giant black dog that lives in the corner. He has a really deep bark.

Next door to him have 2 hunting dogs and a rescue dog that they took in at Xmas 05. Their Xmas card that year apologised for the barking and that it would stop when the dog was settled. 5 years on it's still barking excessively. Luckily they are selling up so that will be one less to keep me awake all night :mad:

Lance

With all the Council Wardens and Police Community Support Officers costing a fortune there is virtually nobody to deal with this type of anti-social behaviour which causes so much disruption to peoples lives. My neighbours walk their two Alsations every 6 months or so and let them out a few times a day to pee for less than a minute. After a month of all night barking I asked for some of what they are on as it is obviously good stuff to block out the world. It has mostly stopped, last night I screamed rather abusively for them to shut up, which woke her up and she shut them up. Noise Abatment are available during the day, big deal, and Friday & Saturday till 1am but they are pretty toothless although they did prosecute my exs neighbour for loud late night and all day music....... after 3 years of 'investigation'.

Basically OP put up with it or keep complaining, in the middle of the night if neccesary and complain to Environmental Health and you Councillour if no action taken. These people know exactly what the problem is but are too stupid or ignorant, probably both, to sort it out so to hell with being a nice neighbour, go to war!

Teapotty

Ellie2758 wrote: »

Can you explain HOW you train your dog not to bark when left alone? My mind is boggling.....

Earplugs are brilliant - I use the silicone ones for swimmers from Boots.

Stupid question .... but how do you hear your alarm in the morning?

sophieschoice

Lance wrote: »

With all the Council Wardens and Police Community Support Officers costing a fortune there is virtually nobody to deal with this type of anti-social behaviour which causes so much disruption to peoples lives.

The only people with the power to deal with this problem are the landlords of the tenants.
These neighbours will be on a probationery tenancy so the OP needs to report EVERY incident to them.
Keep diary sheets, enlist the other neighbours to keep them, ask for noise monitoring equipment to be installed.
Bother the life out of the landlords and the Anti Social Behaviour Unit which I believe most Councils have these days.

I greatly sympathise with the OP because I was driven to distraction by the same thing myself. In my case, a word with the neighbours, along with a recording of the dog barking, solved the problem.

[Deleted User]

sophieschoice wrote: »

The only people with the power to deal with this problem are the landlords of the tenants.
These neighbours will be on a probationery tenancy so the OP needs to report EVERY incident to them.
Keep diary sheets, enlist the other neighbours to keep them, ask for noise monitoring equipment to be installed.
Bother the life out of the landlords and the Anti Social Behaviour Unit which I believe most Councils have these days.

I greatly sympathise with the OP because I was driven to distraction by the same thing myself. In my case, a word with the neighbours, along with a recording of the dog barking, solved the problem.

The local Environmental Health dept. will be able to help. Like other posters have said, you'll need to keep a diary for them to do anything.

The Police can only deal with noise occuring from a public place - they have no "power" to force someone keep noise levels down!

From personal experience the best thing to do is talk to the neighbour and be honest about the problem. It might feel uncomfortable at first but most people are reasonable!

Fingers crossed for you!

NoAngel

woody01 wrote: »

Sorry but this made me laugh.

Just because you could muster a few pennies to buy a council box, it makes the people next door to you possible 'riff-raff'?

Look at yourself first.....if you were any better, you wouldn't have to buy a council house.

What's the need? Why be so rude?

Teapotty wrote: »

Stupid question .... but how do you hear your alarm in the morning?

Earplugs probably wouldn't stop you hearing your alarm if you have normal hearing anyway- they don't exclude all the noise. If it was something that were an issue (i.e. you really had to wear earplugs because of an annoying noise but could never hear alarm clock) you could look into a vibrating alarm clock, like those that deaf/hard of hearing people use.

PasturesNew

Consider yourself lucky they can settle down. I've got a holiday let next door and, again, this week, the s0ds have got two dogs. They barked continuously - and howled - for four hours after they were left in there alone. Had this the other week too, as soon as the holidaymakers go out, the dogs howl incessantly until they return.