Milkman barking

[deedeemegadoodoo]

At the start of the lockdown, we started to get a milk delivery twice a week and we have continued with this as we want to support a local business.

The milkman drops off at around 4 to 4.30am. My dog starts to make gruffing noises when he hears him arrive (we can’t hear the milkman), oves onto the landing then does a quick couple of howls then stops. The dog is on the bedroom with us and the bedroom is at the back of the house.

This wakes me and DH up with a start. Our neighbours have a baby and two young kids so I don’t want to wake them either. Does anyone have any tips on stopping this behaviour or should I consider cancelling the milk delivery?

[Imissmoominmama]

Leave him a note asking him not to!

[Monkeytapper]

I would cancel milkman, if you teach him not to bark at someone coming to house early, then if you do have a potential burgler one day then he won’t alert you. He won’t know difference between milkman/burgler

[vanillandhoney]

Can you keep the bedroom door shut and stop him going out on to the landing? Would that perhaps help muffle the noise?

[Hoppinggreen]

Same here (dog barking not the milkman) but our dog sleeps by the front door so no chance of him not hearing the delivery
I have actually just cancelled it, it’s a shame but I don’t want to be woken up at 5 3 days a week

[deedeemegadoodoo]

@vanillandhoney I will try that tonight in preparation for The next delivery. We keep the door open as we also have a cat that likes to come and go. I am sure she will find somewhere else to sleep!

[ScarfLadysBag]

Contact his employers and get them to tell the milkman to stop barking

[ScarfLadysBag]

Could you ask for the milk to be dropped off further away from the door? Leave a box or something for it? Depends on how the front of your house is. Is it the sound of the vehicle that wakes the dog? White noise?

[vanillandhoney]

[quote deedeemegadoodoo]@vanillandhoney I will try that tonight in preparation for The next delivery. We keep the door open as we also have a cat that likes to come and go. I am sure she will find somewhere else to sleep![/quote]
Our dog sleeps in our bedroom and if the door is shut he's fine all night, but if it's open he goes in/out and up/down all night long - we only did that once

Might be worth trying it as it'll muffle the noise from downstairs, especially if you sleep at the back of the house. Let us know how it goes :)

[deedeemegadoodoo]

@ScarfLadysBag I think he is aware of the sound of the milkman (he can also hear the postie when he is in the next street). We have a typical 1930s house and small drive to park the car. He could possibly leave it behind the wall rather than our doorstep.

I’ll try closing the bedroom door first then see how it goes. I asked my DH if he hunks we should cancel. He looked alarmed as he also delivers ,two cinnamon buns as a treat for him for Saturday breakfast!