Noisy neighbours and their barking dogs

Lizmoretti

Our neighbours have around a dozen untrained dogs which bark as early as 6am and as late as midnight.  And when I say bark, it’s a very loud and chaotic chorus that cannot be ignored.  It’s like living next to kennels.

There are periods of barking throughout the day and evening meaning we’re unable to enjoy our garden or sleep with our windows open which, as the weather gets warmer, is extremely frustrating.

We’ve tried the nicey-nicey approach and have now tried the more firm “do something about it” approach, but nothing is working.

The next step appears to be the council, but I’d really rather avoid this as I assume that would be a “neighbour dispute”.  I’m assuming there’s no rules about how many dogs a person can have?  Can anyone offer any advice on a solution?!

theoretica

Do you have concerns about the dogs' welfare?

Slithery

Lizmoretti said:

The next step appears to be the council, but I’d really rather avoid this as I assume that would be a “neighbour dispute”.

It makes no difference whether or not you get the council involved as you already legally have to declare this as a potential dispute when you sell the property. The exact wording of the TA6 form is...

Have there been any disputes or complaints regarding this property or a property nearby?

Is the seller aware of anything which might lead to a dispute about the property or a property nearby?

koalakoala

What an absolute nightmare. I can’t stand barking dogs.They seem to be everywhere nowadays.
Too many selfish people who just don’t care about others

sheramber

if they do they own the property or rent it?
You would report the noise nuisance the environmental health department. They will ask you keep a diary of the noise . Time it happens and how long it lasts. 

Are there any concerns about the dogs’ welfare?

Are the premises kept clean?

andy444

Do the dogs have overhead shelter and are they given regular food and drink? If they're not given one of those then you could get the dogs taken away (and you should report it anyway regardless).

Lizmoretti

theoretica said:

Do you have concerns about the dogs' welfare?

Not really.  Although they never walk them (from what I can see).  They own a field next to their house and just release them into there a couple of times a day.

Lizmoretti

I think I’ve mislead people in my first post.  They’re not kept outside in kennels - I think they’re keep in the house. But there’s just an awful lot of them and the owners don’t appear to make any effort to keep them from barking.

Our dogs are known to bark, but it’s rare and, when they do, we make a point to telling them off and bringing them back inside.  Our neighbours seem to just leave them to get on with it.

How it doesn’t drive them insane I have no idea.

Lizmoretti

sheramber said:

if they do they own the property or rent it?
You would report the noise nuisance the environmental health department. They will ask you keep a diary of the noise . Time it happens and how long it lasts. 

Are there any concerns about the dogs’ welfare?

Are the premises kept clean?

It’s tempting to start a diary but, I can’t stress this enough, it’s essentially constant.  I’m sitting in the garden and the dogs (be it all of them or just one) have been barking constantly for at least half an hour.

canaldumidi

Then your diary will say " barking constant from X O'clock to half past X.

If you don't keep a diary how will you prove how constant it is.

Stubod

...modern times I am afraid, we have the same problem as everybody seems to want a small "yappy" dog and most of the owners that have them seem to have absolutley no respect for their neighbours...