Neighbours dog left outside starts barking at 6.42am every day waking me up.

coffee_king

Hi all

Before I state anything else, please know that I am a dog lover. But I've never owned one myself, as my lifestyle and the properties where I have lived previously simply havnt allowed it.
I guess I'd like to know what my rights are here in the UK about all this, so apologies if this isnt the correct forum for this, but I really do need some help, so maybe anyone can suggest other forums I can post this on?

I have ongoing issues with my renter neighbours and their 5 year old dog.
They only moved in a few weeks ago and used to keep their little dog out in the back garden all day and all night (Im not sure why you'd have a dog and not want to enjoy it, they don't sound like the kind of people whose lifestyle fits a dog?) so it would bark off and on all through the night.

I went round and spoke to them and they said they "Didn't realise that their dog was barking as they sleep at the front of the house". Personally I find it hard to believe that they don't know their dog is a constant barker, and this is no doubt why they sleep at the front of the house and kept the dog OUTSIDE round the back at night time. (We sleep at the rear of the house)
They apologised and said they would try to sort it out. They then bought the dog in at night, so the barking stopped in the middle of the night.

But the barking continued to start at 6.42am every day waking myself and my partner up. So I had to go round again and speak to them again. It turns out that this is the time they both leave for work and they put the dog out ALL DAY in the back garden at this time until they get back from work at about 5.30pm every day.
They say there is "Nothing else they can do about it now" as its happening when they are not there. I said that we would have to keep our eye on it and see how it goes, but again they stressed there is "Nothing else they can do about it". They say they have white carpet in the house and the dog would just mess up the house if it was left in all day. They have moved the dogs kennel and the little plastic shack the kennel is in round to the side of the house from the back garden, but its STILL right next door to my house.

So, its still going on now 2 weeks later and I'm going to have to get something sorted about this.
Any suggestions? I guess I could speak/complain to the letting agents and even Environmental Health (I Have been making notes of the times and dates the dog has been barking) but I'd rather try once more with the owners themselves.
Does anyone have any suggestions on how to approach this?
I actually feel really sorry for the poor little dog being kept outside for nearly 12 hours a day in the cold/rain etc (Although he does have a little kennel), but I'm coming to the end of my tether now and don't see why I should have to put up with this.

Thanks

vuvuzela

You shouldn't have to put up with it. If the owners says there is nothing else they will do, go to the council Env Health. I certainly would in your position.

vax2002

Tie it up in your garden !
see how they like it !!!

littlemissfrugal

I am sure they are not supposed to leave a dog out for that many hours with no-one in. Does it have a kennel or similar? I remember my aunt had the RSPCA round once cos someone had reported her dog being out in her garden for hours on end - maybe that would prompt them into action.

elsien

Is he just barking at 6.42, or does he carry on barking all day? Environmental health are more likely to take it seriously if it's a regular nuisance, not just 5 minutes (or whatever) in the morning.
Carry on keeping a record. I'd normally say talk to the neighbours, but as you've already tried that, I'd suggest your next port of call be the council dog warden, as this is likely to be within their remit. Then if that gets you nowhere, keep environmental health as plan B.
Do you know who the landlord is, as you could also put pressure on them by complaining to the landlord.

Finally, from a purely dog welfare point of view, if it's outside all day in all weathers you could contact the RSPCA. They can be a bit useless at times but if your neighbours keep getting visits from assorted officials it may prod them into action. Could you (or the dog warden) suggest to them that if they paid for a dog walker to come in for half an hour every lunch time then there should be no need to turf the poor animal outside all day.
Also if you want to give the neighbours one last chance, suggest this and tell them that if they don't get it sorted then you'll have no option but to take if further, via landlord, council and anyone else you can think of!

fluffnutter

Barking dogs are a problem that your council should take seriously. They should have noise abatement officers who will come and assess the problem and speak to your neighbours. There are lots of things that can be done, your neighbours' excuse that 'there's nothing we can do about it' is rubbish. They have an obligation to ensure that their pets don't cause a nuisance to others.

Speak to the council.

System

problem with these sort of things is if you complain to the council and the owners get into trouble they may just decide its not worth it and have the dog put down.

I must admit I would never keep a dog outside during the day or night but the RSPCA will do nothing about this. As long as the dog has a kennel then it is not really being mistreated as although alot of people think its unacceptable to keep a dog outside they are at the end of the day animals with fur and as long as they have shelter from the rain (e.g a Kennel) they are not seen as being maltreated.

fluffnutter

goater78 wrote: »

problem with these sort of things is if you complain to the council and the owners get into trouble they may just decide its not worth it and have the dog put down.

Why would a vet agree to putting down a perfectly healthy animal? I think the idea that people should put up with dogs barking all day 'just in case' the owners put the dog down is crazy. It's not the OP's responsibility to worry about what happens to this dog. They have a right to peace and quiet.

System

yeah they probably wouldn't, first they would try to rehome the dog of course and there are sanctuaries/charities that take them in (e.g the dog trust). However unfortunately vets do have to put down perfectly healthy animals from time to time if they can't find a home for them.

coffee_king

Hey All
Thanks for the input.
Anyway, a little further information for you all.

I said "Renters" just so you know if necessary I can complain to their landlord. I do NOT look down on renters. Up until 2 years ago I rented for 10 + years, but was never allowed pets under T&Cs.

The previous tenant had two small dogs, who wouldnt bark in the morning/at night, but would go CRAZY BARKING/ EVIL STYLE anytime I walked down my garden path.
This, I put up with as I know its just the dogs being protective.
I'd even suggested for my neighbour to give me some treats to feed them through the fence so that they got used to me walking by (this was never done though).
Funny thing though when I'd bump into my neighbour walking the dogs they were always as soft as sh*t with me and loved a good stroke.

So this leads me to believe what I have heard from both tenants that the letting agency is one of the only ones in the area that allow dogs.

The dog there now is a little tiny scruffy mixed bread that I see shivering out in the garden all day long.

I enjoy watching dog training programs on TV so like to think I know a very small amount about what can go on in a dogs head. The owners have stated to me that in their last property the dog was always kept inside, so I fully understand the way the dog must feel about the TOTAL change in lifestyle, but again enough is enough.

Initially at 6.42am the dog generally barks off and on for about 15 minutes then shuts up, so he's obviously NOT being liked the initial "I'm left all alone again" feeling. But by this time Ive been fully woken up. He does then sometimes bark a bit in the daytime, but I can put up with this.

I can honestly set my alarm to the little blighter!
I own my property by the way (not that this matters).
I am not prepared to walk or look after THEIR dogs, its not my job to.

I'm sure my neighbours wouldnt appreciate being woken up an hour earlier than they currently get up with me playing loud music that I then leave on in the house for a set amount of time.

Norfolk_Jim

I own dogs and found out that they were causing a noise nuisance only when I got a letter from the environmental Health dept at the council. Sadly my neighbours never spoke to me first or I would have taken steps to address it - I really didn't realise there was a problem. It sounds like your neighbours are not that interested in being goods neighbours so you should keep a detailed diary of the nuisance and also complain to environmental health. They'll want you to keep a diary of the nuisance and can escaslate matters if they deem it warrants it, but barking can be a statutory nuisance and you should not have to put up with it. Unfortunately as is so many neighbour disputes its often not very pleasant and it can have consequences should you be a house owner and want toi sell, that theres been a neighbour dispute. In my case I've had to keep my dogs inside the house when I go out and for some months I had to sadate one of them. I sought advice from my vet and there was options for me, albeit costly ones, so you can only hope they love their dog enough and are responsible enough to go get some help so you can live at peace. As for me, I live with the constant nag at the back of my mind that someone has a gripe with me but dosn't feel able to knock on my door and tell me.

Oh and "Thumbremote", you are a tw"t - poisoned sausages indeed - cruel and criminal - shame on you