Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To still expect neighbours to sort it?

80 replies

Chefpig · 21/06/2026 11:31

My neighbours have a dog that barks at regular intervals through the day. No longer than ten minutes goes past without her barking. She sits in the window and is triggered very easily by anything that goes by. It drives the owners mad because the man and woman shout at the dog and then the woman ends up screaming at her too. They're always in and the dog barks when they're home. If they go out it tends to be silent after a few barks. I was due to send council logs to the environmental noise team today.

Things have been frosty for ages but the other day we finally got talking. I was invited in and the dog barked at me non stop for half an hour. It didnt take a breath. I also found out during that visit that the woman has cancer and the man has heart problems. Really sad. He also takes shopping round daily for his MIL who is elderly and frail. The woman also said the dog loves to sit in the window watching the world go by (where it barks at everything and nothing). Female neighbour also said dog is untrainable now. We left on a good note. This.was friday. Yesterday I was out all day but there was some barking in the evening. Its fine, I dont expect silence. Today is a different matter. Since my weekend visitors have left, the dog has been barking a lot. They always quieten it down when I have visitors.

I cannot go on like this though. I pay a shitload for the property and can't watch TV, read, relax in the garden or eat a single meal without it being interrupted by the damn dog barking. My mental health is on the floor to the point I've almost quit my job and I've gone on antidepressants.

Today I saw male neighbour out and asked in a very friendly way if they've done any training with the dog (I've been there a year and the dog has always barked but lately its just awful). He said no because of their health and his MIL but that he'd start this week. I did say that my compromise is that I don't mind some barking, after all its what a dog does but they need to meet half way and offered to get some dog training resources if needed. I also said i really didn't want to take this further with the council and appreciate anything they can do, but I reportedto the council mid may and nothing has yet been done by them. I was really upbeat and friendly but he was obviously pissed off.

Aibu to expect them to train the dog in light of their health?

OP posts:
Pamelaaaaaar · 21/06/2026 12:34

How enriching this dog must be to their lives 😕

MrTiddlesTheCat · 21/06/2026 12:33

At a minimum they need to block the dog from looking out the window at passersby.

Preditorysounds · 21/06/2026 12:26

There health issues are sad - but not an excuse to not train the dog.

I am a massive dog lover and owner. Training the dog is as essential to their wellbeing as feeding, walking, taking to the vet - as a well socialised pet and a trained pet that is under your control is a happy pet.

they are being pretty negligent / if you take in an animal you take in their care and that includes training it.

lifrbis tough and their illnesses sound awful but it doesn’t mean they can neglect the dog and cause a nuisance to everyone around them.

thesnailandthewhale · 21/06/2026 12:23

Do they walk it regularly?

Chefpig · 21/06/2026 12:21

Its been barking this morning too. My days off make me really nervous.

OP posts:
Swipe left for the next trending thread