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Original poster

Barking in evening from neighbours dogs

33 replies

ElTortilla · 11/06/2024 22:42

I've spoken to my neighbour before about her dogs barking for prolonged periods. It then goes quiet for a few weeks and always starts up again. After some polite notes through her door and me actually knocking on to speak to her, it's never really been resolved. Dogs have massive anxiety being left.

Eventually I went to the council. It was destroying my mental health that everytime I sat down for a meal or opened a book or logged on to a meeting, the barking would start and wouldn't stop for upwards of an hour sometimes. Same if she went out. Barking constantly without dog stopping for breath. Could be a few hours. Could be 5 hours and longer. She once started a nightshift and the dog barked constantly without stopping all night. That was hellish.

I recently wrote off to the council again.

Now, the past few nights one of the dogs has been barking constantly from just before 9pm to just gone 10pm. That's my down time and my nerves can't take anymore. I really don't want this to be a regular thing, especially after a hard day at work.

I've emailed the council again. Can the council actually do anything?

OP posts:
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Steakandwine · 13/06/2024 17:26

ElTortilla · 13/06/2024 17:04

Hello @Steakandwine the council have been in touch and are going to get in contact with the neighbours so I'll be seeing what changes, if anything over the weekend. My mental health is wrecked. I hate going home.

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Got everything crossed for you, I understand completely what you're going through. I've had problem neighbours, barking dogs, raves etc and it's given me anxiety even years later I get triggered.

I remember crying before going home and I'd get a knot in my stomach.

Can you stay over at a friend or family member now and then to have a break from it?

If it continues and it's affected you like this if you can I would look into moving, although you can get dogs everywhere but scout out the neighbours etc and hopefully you will get your peace. It's not fair at all but it might be better for your mental health which is more important than bricks and mortar.

There's some coaches on YouTube re anxiety that might helo you in meantime please know you're not alone massive hugs

stayathomer · 13/06/2024 17:12

Unfortunately as long as the dog is fed, has access to water and isn’t physically injured the RSPCA are unlikely to do anything.
The other side of this is that some dogs are yappy/ barky and others aren’t. Ndn always comments on how quiet our dog is because there’s a really loud dog a few doors down.. We’re just lucky with our dog, we don’t do anything amazing that makes him not bark, and he’s a cs so is a clingy dude and I leave him alone at times because he would never sleep or eat if I stayed around all the time- he literally just wants to be all over you all day!!

ItsNotAShopItsAStore · 13/06/2024 17:09

Oh god OP, my sincere sympathies. I’ve been there and the persistent deep gruff smattered with high pitched yapping really is like a form of torture and neighbours are just expected to put up with it because ‘fur baby’.

I also think dog owners tend to have a level of delusion when it comes to how noisy their dogs are. I recently stayed at a relatives where the dogs barked all night and relatives couldn’t even hear it!! The ear equivalent of nose blind

To put it bluntly - the dogs will probably snuff it before any action happens.

Original poster
ElTortilla · 13/06/2024 17:04

Steakandwine · 13/06/2024 14:23

You need to contact the local dog warden explain what's been happening and they should come out to investigate it (number should be on your council website)
Hopefully that might push more action.

You have my sympathy it does wreck your mental health and even when you get bit of quiet you're waiting for it.

For now might help to play some background noise, heavy rain apps on YouTube are helpful also fans, just anything to try distract your attention to the barking it does help a bit.

Hope it gets sorted.

Hello @Steakandwine the council have been in touch and are going to get in contact with the neighbours so I'll be seeing what changes, if anything over the weekend. My mental health is wrecked. I hate going home.

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Steakandwine · 13/06/2024 14:23

You need to contact the local dog warden explain what's been happening and they should come out to investigate it (number should be on your council website)
Hopefully that might push more action.

You have my sympathy it does wreck your mental health and even when you get bit of quiet you're waiting for it.

For now might help to play some background noise, heavy rain apps on YouTube are helpful also fans, just anything to try distract your attention to the barking it does help a bit.

Hope it gets sorted.

Original poster
ElTortilla · 13/06/2024 12:46

And also how quickly the council will act.

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Original poster
ElTortilla · 13/06/2024 12:46

I was going to speak to her last night when she opened the back door but then decided against it and leaving it to the council. Just not sure of how much more I can take.

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Beautifulbythebay · 13/06/2024 11:06

My 14 yo ddog is still open to training.. Your neighbour is just a twat..

Original poster
ElTortilla · 13/06/2024 08:43

The dog that's barking constantly is elderly now so they're unlikely to be able to change its ways. It's always been left to bark all its life with them. They didn't train it. Still, I am mighty unhappy about them swanning off somewhere for more than an hour in the evening, each evening til past 10pm.

I've had these issues with her and her dogs for three years now and I'm tired.

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StormingNorman · 13/06/2024 07:44

There are plug ins she can buy for pet anxiety. Maybe suggest this? They are on Amazon.

Gizlotsmum · 13/06/2024 07:42

Copperoliverbear · 13/06/2024 07:38

I'd report her to the RSPCA too, if a dog has separation anxiety she shouldn't be leaving it alone to bark for hours, she shouldn't have animals.

Unfortunately as long as the dog is fed, has access to water and isn’t physically injured the RSPCA are unlikely to do anything.

Copperoliverbear · 13/06/2024 07:38

I'd report her to the RSPCA too, if a dog has separation anxiety she shouldn't be leaving it alone to bark for hours, she shouldn't have animals.

GoneFishingToday · 13/06/2024 07:17

Make sure that you tell the council officer that this constant barking makes you not want to go home, and that it has frequently reduced you to tears, as it's like constant torture. I would also be inclined to write to your MP if the council take too long to do something.

Failing that, could you consider moving if you're in rented accommodation OP?

Original poster
ElTortilla · 13/06/2024 05:15

JoniBlue · 13/06/2024 04:38

Recordings of the dog barking should help prove the barking is extreme. I feel sorry for the poor dog. Good luck.

Hello @JoniBlue. I take lots of recordings, otherwise I know the neighbour will deny it when the environmental health officer contacts her.

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JoniBlue · 13/06/2024 04:38

Recordings of the dog barking should help prove the barking is extreme. I feel sorry for the poor dog. Good luck.

Original poster
ElTortilla · 13/06/2024 04:21

Ilovegoldies · 13/06/2024 04:15

Yes, the council DO have to do something. I used to be a noise officer. Try and speak to someone and ask for your complaint to be fully investigated.

Oh, thats reassuring @Ilovegoldies. I will be phoning the housing officer who's dealt with my case before. He seemed OK when I phoned him a time after I had meeting after meeting disturbed by the barking.

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Original poster
ElTortilla · 13/06/2024 04:18

tillyandmilly · 12/06/2024 22:01

I really sympathise - must be horrible - and also for the dog - sounds like the poor dog has anxiety - some people should not have dogs! Needs rehoming in a happier environment

The dog definitely does have anxiety. She told me when I first moved in that unless she's got the dog sat on her knee, it barks and bark it did. So much when I first moved in.

When I've complained to her and the council it's gone quieter but then seems to start back up to a degree but not to the level and frequency it was before. I know that she has to go out sometimes but then I don't want to be hearing her dogs constantly for hours when she does go out. It's not my responsibility and the fact she got another dog when she had one with anxiety who obviously wasn't trained at all was such a dick move. It was a nightmare after she got the other dog. So much noise. That's when I complained to the council for the first time as talking to the neighbour didn't work for very long.

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Ilovegoldies · 13/06/2024 04:15

Yes, the council DO have to do something. I used to be a noise officer. Try and speak to someone and ask for your complaint to be fully investigated.

Original poster
ElTortilla · 13/06/2024 04:13

nobeans · 12/06/2024 21:55

Can you go round and ask what's happening in that hour? Does it maybe need the radio on?

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I've been to speak to her so many times now and nothing ever changes for long. It might go quiet for a while but then starts up again. I'll just go the council route everytime now.

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Original poster
ElTortilla · 13/06/2024 04:12

shittestusernameever · 12/06/2024 21:53

My neighbour across the road was forced to rehome her dog due to the noise by our housing association

Is yours/hers rented

Here's hoping but then imagine living next door to someone after that had happened. It would be even more hellish them knowing it was me who ultimately caused their dogs to be rehomed?

I'm rented and I am not sure about her. I don't know how to find out.

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tillyandmilly · 12/06/2024 22:01

I really sympathise - must be horrible - and also for the dog - sounds like the poor dog has anxiety - some people should not have dogs! Needs rehoming in a happier environment

nobeans · 12/06/2024 21:55

ElTortilla · 12/06/2024 21:45

Tonight barking is the same. Starting before 9pm and I expect (hope) for it to finish after 10pm. The barking does not stop during this time.

Can you go round and ask what's happening in that hour? Does it maybe need the radio on?

shittestusernameever · 12/06/2024 21:53

My neighbour across the road was forced to rehome her dog due to the noise by our housing association

Is yours/hers rented

Original poster
ElTortilla · 12/06/2024 21:46

Do the council have to do something? I'm losing all hope. I ended up crying tonight. I work so, so hard. I want my home to be a place of sanctuary when I get home. I hate it here though.

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Original poster
ElTortilla · 12/06/2024 21:45

Tonight barking is the same. Starting before 9pm and I expect (hope) for it to finish after 10pm. The barking does not stop during this time.

OP posts: