Barking Dog

pbhb

Hello, I’ve posted in here a lot but will put a quick back ground regardless.

currently in the process of buying a house (just waiting on searches to come back then hopefully ready to exchange), this is the third one as the previous two fell through. Everything was going smoothly, any queries were quickly answered. It’s like it felt too good to be true.

However, I have visited the house on three different occasions, today was the fourth. It is a semi detached, listed home and the attached neighbour’s dogs were barking. I was there for 20 minutes and the dogs barked continuously for 20 seconds, they were in the room that adjoins the study, where I will be working (I work from home).

After 20 minutes I burst into tears and left. The estate agent didn’t ask if I was okay, she knew I was getting upset at the noise. The issue is I have a dog, and I love dogs and these dogs sounded like they were in distress due to being left home alone, and that’s why I was upset, I felt sad for the dog.

But also, it is just myself and my dog, and it has taken me a long time to find a home suitable for us both. He is not a barker; I have a camera at home and when I leave the house he is fast asleep the whole time. My main concern, other than being driven insane, is that the barking will disturb my dog and leave him unsettled. He is 20 months and is settled and happy, but I know if he could hear dogs barking all day, he would not be happy.

On the previous three times (all during the day) I have visited, I have not heard the dogs and didn’t know they had dogs. We found out the owners both work full time. 

Am I over thinking this? Could the dogs have just been unsettled today? I feel sick to my stomach that I have spent lonely on solicitors, searches, surveys, tradesmen 3 times and might be left with nothing again. I split up with my husband in May which is why I’m moving, I’m currently living with my parents and it’s just not going well so I desperately need to move.

I will be visiting the house every day for a week at different times to see if I can hear the dogs. But I know I won’t sleep tonight with worry. If they continue barking. What would you do? Pull out? Speak to the neighbour? I don’t want to be an a*s but I also don’t think it’s fair to subject anyone to a continuously barking dog! 

Aranyani

The dog barked for 20 seconds?  or 20 minutes?  And this was the first time in 4 (4!!!) visits where you've heard a dog?

You are going to hear the noise from people and dogs wherever you move to, you need to get used to the fact that nowhere is perfect. 

camden_kid

It's tough, but being brought to tears when looking at a property is a huge red flag. You wouldn't be able to do anything about those dogs. Move on and look elsewhere. Sorry.

pbhb

Aranyani said:

The dog barked for 20 seconds?  or 20 minutes?  And this was the first time in 4 (4!!!) visits where you've heard a dog?

You are going to hear the noise from people and dogs wherever you move to, you need to get used to the fact that nowhere is perfect. 

The dog barked none stop for the 20 minutes I was there, the heating guy was there another hour and said it was continuous the whole time. I don’t mind hearing noise but constant barking dogs would drive me insane 

hazyjo

It's obviously not going to be a one off.

Please please please buy detached if sounds like that make you cry. You are VERY unlikely to live next to the same person forever.

What will you do if these or other dogs bark? Or you have a screaming baby, or kids, or a rowing couple, or someone who plays an instrument (or tries to!) - maybe even the drums(!), or works nights and makes noise when you're silent, plays loud music or has their TV loud, snores even?! The list goes on!

You will prob say you can't afford it.

So the location will have to be the compromise so you can buy detached.

Good luck!

NameUnavailable

OTOH you could offer to dog sit for them, if your dog gets on with theirs, take them in during the day so they're not alone and won't bark. Just a thought. Maybe the neighbours could then look after your dog if you have to go out or on holiday etc.?

Davesnave

I wouldn't lose sleep over this. Either the neighbours leave dogs barking for hours while they're at work, or what you heard was a very occasional thing, or a one-off. You might not have heard it before, but you've heard it now and that might be something you're thankful about further down the line, despite the cost implications.

If your staking-out of the property reveals this as a common occurrence, forget speaking to the neighbour or telling them it's unfair on the dog/other residents, because nothing is likely to change. Accept that you had a lucky escape and move on.

You like dogs and so do I ,so trying to ignore what's actually a form of abuse is impossible. Whatever you and I think, it's likely to be legally impossible to sort it too. Been there and got the T shirt.

pbhb

hazyjo said:

It's obviously not going to be a one off.

Please please please buy detached if sounds like that make you cry. You are VERY unlikely to live next to the same person forever.

What will you do if these or other dogs bark? Or you have a screaming baby, or kids, or a rowing couple, or someone who plays an instrument (or tries to!) - maybe even the drums(!), or works nights and makes noise when you're silent, plays loud music or has their TV loud, snores even?! The list goes on!

You will prob say you can't afford it.

So the location will have to be the compromise so you can buy detached.

Good luck!

I have lived in a semi detached for years and never had issues, the kid in the room next to me had a drum kit and it didn’t bother me, it’s purely the sound of barking dogs I cannot deal with. I am not looking to buy in an expensive area, but you’re right, I can’t afford a detached house. I live in Northamptonshire, property isn’t hugely expensive but a detached house is a step up in price for sure, I don’t even live in the more expensive part either 

pbhb

Davesnave said:

I wouldn't lose sleep over this. Either the neighbours leave dogs barking for hours while they're at work, or what you heard was a very occasional thing, or a one-off. You might not have heard it before, but you've heard it now and that might be something you're thankful about further down the line, despite the cost implications.

If your staking-out of the property reveals this as a common occurrence, forget speaking to the neighbour or telling them it's unfair on the dog/other residents, because nothing is likely to change. Accept that you had a lucky escape and move on.

You like dogs and so do I ,so trying to ignore what's actually a form of abuse is impossible. Whatever you and I think, it's likely to be legally impossible to sort it too. Been there and got the T shirt.

Thank you, you’ve hit the nail on the head on the last paragraph, I can’t stand the noise because I can’t bear the thought of the dog being in distress. If it’s continuous I will give up and move on 

pbhb

 

NameUnavailable said:

OTOH you could offer to dog sit for them, if your dog gets on with theirs, take them in during the day so they're not alone and won't bark. Just a thought. Maybe the neighbours could then look after your dog if you have to go out or on holiday etc.?

I did think this but my dog doesn’t like other dogs much, he’s not aggressive but he is a scaredy cat and he’s never been interested in playing with other dogs so wouldn’t like two new dogs being in the house at all

greatcrested

Some people will not worry about this at all and will buy the house.

But you do.

Find another house.