Don't want to fall out with neighbours!

bluebell13

The same thing happened to us only with neighbours we are not friendly with! They housed their 2 dogs all day in a shed at the bottom of our garden, which is not very big. The dogs barked constantly so the neighbours then decided to leave Radio 1 on all day, presumably to keep them company. I don't know which was worse! Situation was resolved but only when council got involved. However, I can honestly say there has never been any smell from the shed even in the heat of summer.

Neighbours have now acquired a rooster!!!

Penny_Watcher

Just a bit of lateral thinking here - could you plant some strongly scented shrubs next to the fence which may help to disguise the smell? My lavender bushes still smell even in October when we brush past them.

On a personal note - working dog or not, I think locking a dog in a compound all day by itself is cruel. Dogs are by nature pack animals. They will become stressed if they don't spend time with either humans or other dogs for company.

Bun

Hi, sorry you have to deal with this - must be almost as if the dog is in your garden by the way you've described it.

My point is regarding the number of dogs. Chances are this one is lonely but you have mentioned another one will be coming soon. I would use this as a way to broach discussion with the neighbours - either the crying will ease, or the noise will double, and the smell (if it does) will too.

In terms of the smell, I have seen previous threads where this has been a problem. Could you plant maybe some honeysuckle, lavendar or something strong smelling along the fence so a. dog can't see you through the gaps, and b. it may cover the smell somewhat.

If there is no way of moving this enclosure, maybe the neighbours could maybe help with the cost of moving the table etc?

BizzyBek

A tough call, I appreciate the difficult situation it has put you in.

I don't how you could word it to your neighbour by mine has two large dogs and if she is away from the house for a full working day she has a pet sitter who comes and lets them have a run out at lunch time - when they also do their business and it can be cleaned up. Or sometimes i pop round at lunchtime and let them out into the garden for half an hour. They've never had an accident in the house and usually when they go in the garden they just want a wee. So if they are getting decent walks and toileting morning and night hopefully that side won't be too much of an issue.

As for the crying - that is a behaviourial issue. And of course the owners are never as aware because they are not there! Perhaps you could word it in such a way that you'd note when it was crying as a way of feedback for their training of the dog?

Mojisola

It's difficult, not knowing the neighbours, but how would they react if you recorded the poor dog and played it to them? It's obviously in distress during the day to make constant noise and if they hear it they may be willing to make some changes.

Some relatives had a similar problem and contacted the RSPCA. An inspector visited the neighbours and talked about the dog's social needs - being left alone all day is not good for a dog! The neighbours were quite upset because they did love the dog but they didn't have to put up with its vocal anxiety during the day.

Another idea - are you a dog lover? Would you be willing to dog sit the animal in your garden when you're at home - for a fee, of course!

Angel777

Hi Muppet81, just to say that i think it is really awful that you have to put up with this. Especially as it has impacted on you lives.

I can understand how you feel as my neighbour has a dovg which barks and howls sometimes from 6.30am - 11am then again from 6pm - sometimes 1-2am. When i have calmy confronted them tey refuse to believe that such a 'placid' dog would make all that noise but she barks non stop and howls and is obviously unhappy. I didnt want to fall out with them so i have not done anything yet but i do think you should contact the council and see if they can do anything?

Hope you get it sorted soon.

Bogof_Babe

Could you buy a plastic or all-weather wood table that you can easily move around, and site it in another part of the garden to have your meals on, and use the existing stone table as a feature of some sort - maybe burn some scented outdoor candles on it or something?

Must say I don't like the idea of the poor dog/s being left alone for hours on end. Tantamount to mental cruelty imo. No wonder it howls.

oops_a_daisy

awww muppet81 (((HUGS)))

I had the same problem with my old neighbours - I ended up moving as I couldnt stand it any longer. One of the many problems with them was their dogs. They paved their garden and kept the dogs outside most of the day. The smell was awful but I also suspect that they didnt clean up after them every day. My old neighbours also never walked the poor things and they were bored so they barked and pretty much tore up their house. I was semi detatched to them and the noise was terrible.
Im sorry I cant suggest anything that hasnt already been suggested but I do hope you manage to get it resolved - for your own sanity. Keep trying to talk to the neighbours and If there is a smell you will then be able to talk to them about it. I wonder if they are already aware that the dog is whining during the day and if that is the reason why they are getting another one

all the best - oops

cazziebo

how awful for you... I do have a dog but I really sympathise with you.
Two ideas I had..

The dog probably only cries when the owners are away, therefore the owners are probably blissfully unaware that he's not happy. I'd tell them first before alerting any authorities. I'd like to think I'd be really grateful if someone let me know my dog was unhappy when left alone. (he's indoors and if I thought he was miserable I would have a dogwalker come in if he was to be on his own for any length of time)

Secondly, smell may not be an issue. if the dog is being walked twice a day then it's very unlikely he'll soil in the enclosure - mine refuses to either pooh or pee in the back garden and holds on, even to obvious discomfort, until we reach the woods.

I do hope you get your little idyll back...

XXX

moneysaver12

im sorry to hear about your problem, i don't understand how they can leave the dog out all day, i have a dog, and he lives in the house, he is house trained and never does anything in the house, they shouldnt' be leaving the dog for a long period. I think that it is cruel to keep a dog outside, i think that a dog should be allowed to live in the house. I hope that it gets sorted out for you