Barking dogs.

Benthosboy

Hello all.

My OH and me bought a house in rural East Yorkshire last April. Due to my changing jobs not long after (I'm now back driving LGV's again) I have to leave my dogs (7 year old Border Collie dog and 8 year old Springer Spaniel) at home during the day. I know it's not ideal and I'm trying to find a "regular" job with normal hours where I can take the dogs with me in my campervan, so if anyone feels the need to give me the "how dare you......" routine, please save it for some one who gives a :eek:

The problem I have is that our immediate neighbour was taking the dogs for walks when we first moved here. I stressed to her numerous times not to put her face near the Collie's face but she didn't listen and he bit her. I told her not to take them out again but she did while me and OH were out and it happened again. She claims something spooked him and she was trying to comfort him!! With hindsight I should never have let her near them. She hasn't worked for a couple of years due to being suspended from the college she lectures at for alledgedly assaulting a student, she's had at least two seizures since we moved here, one in the hospital which according to her OH took 4 policeman to restrain her. She drinks heavily, they have frequent rows which are plain for all to hear and her OH quite often walks out and spends the night in his lorry, just to get away from her.

Two weeks ago she stormed round to us as we were having some work done to the fireplace whilst being generally "out of it", she threatened us with all sorts of legal action, made some incredibly random (and untrue) accusations, and finished off by saying, in front of our builder, that she had never set foot in our house. This from the woman fitted all new central heating in the house after we moved in!! We gave her a key and left her to it but in the end we had to get someone else to finish the job. We wouldn't see her for weeks at a time, and many time she came round in the morning the worse for drink. Now she's reported us to the council saying that the dogs are barking all day :mad: and I'm not sure what to do about it. Some other neighbours, a great couple who are sadly leaving the area soon, have told me that she wanders up and down the road all day, peering through our fence and making the dogs bark!! They've also said that yes, the dogs bark but generally only when a car/lorry/tractor/postman goes past and then only for a short while. I spoke to the woman from the council yesterday but she sounded like judge, jury and executioner rolled into one. The dogs are in a wire mesh compound at the rear of the house with a big kennel for shelter, but other boarding up the fence, I don't know what else to do. I've even been on the 'phone just now to the rescue shelter wrhere me and my !!!!! of an ex-wife rescued the dogs from to see if they'll take them back if it comes to that.

Apologies for the long post but this is breaking my heart and I don't know where to turn. I'm extremely grateful for any suggestions.

Martyn.

Forgot to mention that we had a visit from a very nice PCSO last saturday. I asked them to call because to be quite honest, I'm worried what the neighbour will do next. Because of the nature of my work, I'm sometimes away overnight and I don't trust the woman as far as I can see her. The PCSO went round to see them after she spoke to us but they didn't want to know and basically said that the dogs' barking is constant.

tanith

She sounds bonkers to me and why you ever got involved with someone with so many problems , who knows.. if your dogs are safe and secure and no one else complains then I don't think anything will happen so stop stressing and let her do her worst... I'd seriously have nothing whatsoever to do with her if I were you..

bugslet

Can you rig up a video camera at the kennels area to show that your dogs only bark occasionally. If it happened to show your neighbour peering through the fence and deliberately aggravating the dogs, well it would be accidental filming obviousl but useful as well. It would only have to cover a few hours and if the worst came to the worst then you would have some evidence.

CFC

Get a statement and an address from the good neighbours who are going away. This will be invaluable to you. Dogs are 'expected' to bark for short periods, it is in their nature, however their statement that they do not generally bark apart from when the loonie is trying to make it happen will give you some defence if needed.
The first step would be the loonie being asked to record how often the noise happens and potentially a tape recorder being rigged up in her home.
Personally I think your dogs may not be safe being left outside where she can tamper with them. You might want to consider letting them into the house instead while you are out.

brokenant

I wouldn't worry yourself about the barking issue, dogs are allowed to bark, its only a problem if its constant and continues long after the warden has been out to visit. (I can imagine that if when they visit a crazy nutjob is swinging of the fence making the dogs bark they will ignore the complaint completely).

border_collie

How about getting a proper dog walker in? It would be a lot more peace of mind for you and some company for the dogs.:beer:

bagginslover

Why was she fitting central heating in your house? Do you rent from her or is she a plumber?

Why does she think its acceptable to carry on taking someones dogs out after she has been told not to?

I'm sure I must be misunderstanding or missing some info somewhere, cos neither of those statements sound quite right to me (from different angles mind you ) She does sound totally batty, and at the very least you need to make sure your dogs run is padlocked, and put up 'no trespassing' signs in an attempt to warn her off. Definitely get statements from the nice neighbours, and a forwarding address for when they move.
It also might be worth calling the dog warden yourself for advice-we did this when we received a complaint from a neighbour. The warden was very pleased we contacted them before a complaint was made, and gave us excellent advice to help. They also officially recorded we'd been in touch so that when our neighbour did complain they just told them that they were aware and we were working on the problem. Get the authorities on your side before she complains and it'll be much easier