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To think my kids can bark in their own garden....

102 replies

Wobblewobblejelly · 16/09/2026 21:16

....If my neighbour's dogs won't stop barking in theirs... I'm so sick of their rat-like, yappy dogs (no idea of the breed, but certainly non- pedigree) and it is destroying my mental health. A DM and her DD live next door but one with their dogs. I think the mum works shifts, but the Dd doesn't leave for work so I think she either works from home or is on benefits. The annoying ratty things just won't stfu and I have admittedly said some things I'm not proud of about the family and dogs in front of my kids in frustration.

My kids (DS1 12 and DS2 10) have been barking back at the dogs. I'm not saying it's right, they are by no means angels, but the barking is relentless. Earlier this evening, the DD started mouthing off and swearing at my kids in the garden, saying that they need to stop aggravating their dogs and making them bark because it's upsetting her mum- excuse me?!?! I responded by saying her dogs were barking first and that she needs to watch her mouth around my kids. Unfortunately, my DS1 shouted back that her dogs have rabies- she started screaming at my kids again and went inside. We were so terrified and had to hide upstairs in case she came to the front door. Should I report this woman and her dogs to the council? She looks rough and I'm concerned about what she will do while I'm at work as she evidently has lots of time on her hands.....

OP posts:
MadellineBellPictureMeGoneNS · 17/09/2026 14:01

In the words of Alan Partridge
"You're a mentalist"

Tabbytiger122 · 17/09/2026 14:02

saraclara · 17/09/2026 13:53

why is ok for her mangy mutts to bark but not my kids

Because the dogs bark is their only form of communication. Your kids do not need to bark. Also your kids barking at then will make the dogs bark more, both at the time and in the future. Because those dogs will think there are dog neighbours that they have to bark at wherever they go in the garden.

@saraclara well said. The poster sounds as rough as a bears arse & is raising her kids in the most uncivilised manner.
I don't believe we are getting the full story from op.

Springtimeinsunshine · 17/09/2026 14:08

Isittimeformynapyet · 16/09/2026 21:27

You are also barking.

😂

Edit
Yes. Contact the council as it's classed as a noise nuisance. However they might report you to the council for being anti social (feral kids). I pity the rest of the neighbours on the street having to listen to you two.

Girlwithavibe · 17/09/2026 14:08

Wobblewobblejelly · 16/09/2026 21:16

....If my neighbour's dogs won't stop barking in theirs... I'm so sick of their rat-like, yappy dogs (no idea of the breed, but certainly non- pedigree) and it is destroying my mental health. A DM and her DD live next door but one with their dogs. I think the mum works shifts, but the Dd doesn't leave for work so I think she either works from home or is on benefits. The annoying ratty things just won't stfu and I have admittedly said some things I'm not proud of about the family and dogs in front of my kids in frustration.

My kids (DS1 12 and DS2 10) have been barking back at the dogs. I'm not saying it's right, they are by no means angels, but the barking is relentless. Earlier this evening, the DD started mouthing off and swearing at my kids in the garden, saying that they need to stop aggravating their dogs and making them bark because it's upsetting her mum- excuse me?!?! I responded by saying her dogs were barking first and that she needs to watch her mouth around my kids. Unfortunately, my DS1 shouted back that her dogs have rabies- she started screaming at my kids again and went inside. We were so terrified and had to hide upstairs in case she came to the front door. Should I report this woman and her dogs to the council? She looks rough and I'm concerned about what she will do while I'm at work as she evidently has lots of time on her hands.....

You sound just as bad
Your kids should not be barking at the dogs 🐕
Maybe going over in the first place and having a civil chat if that's doesn't work
Report to the council
You don't sound like a nice person thou u sound very judgemental

Anywherebuthere · 17/09/2026 14:10

You sound absolutely lovely OP. Your children have the best teacher in you and they sound like perfect students.

If you choose to behave the way you do at least have the guts to face up to it instead of hiding away upstairs.

Eightdayz · 17/09/2026 14:12

This is beyond petty. Grow up

gerispringer · 17/09/2026 14:15

Play “ Who let the dogs out” loudly in your garden.

fuschiaproudparrot · 17/09/2026 14:16

You need to think about what you want as a good outcome going forward instead of aggravating the current.

wildnwilde · 17/09/2026 14:35

Wobblewobblejelly · 16/09/2026 21:16

....If my neighbour's dogs won't stop barking in theirs... I'm so sick of their rat-like, yappy dogs (no idea of the breed, but certainly non- pedigree) and it is destroying my mental health. A DM and her DD live next door but one with their dogs. I think the mum works shifts, but the Dd doesn't leave for work so I think she either works from home or is on benefits. The annoying ratty things just won't stfu and I have admittedly said some things I'm not proud of about the family and dogs in front of my kids in frustration.

My kids (DS1 12 and DS2 10) have been barking back at the dogs. I'm not saying it's right, they are by no means angels, but the barking is relentless. Earlier this evening, the DD started mouthing off and swearing at my kids in the garden, saying that they need to stop aggravating their dogs and making them bark because it's upsetting her mum- excuse me?!?! I responded by saying her dogs were barking first and that she needs to watch her mouth around my kids. Unfortunately, my DS1 shouted back that her dogs have rabies- she started screaming at my kids again and went inside. We were so terrified and had to hide upstairs in case she came to the front door. Should I report this woman and her dogs to the council? She looks rough and I'm concerned about what she will do while I'm at work as she evidently has lots of time on her hands.....

You all sound vile . I have a happy little dog absalote pain in the arse . However I'm extremely mindful of my neighbours and do what ever I can when she starts . Her dogs are just as poorly trained and bought up as your kids it seems .

19lottie82 · 17/09/2026 14:37

Nah, your kids are being dicks. They’re going it for the sole purpose to antagonise the dogs.

LeaderBee · 17/09/2026 14:41

And here i was entering this thread expecting it to be about a lovely pet owner that considered her dogs her children and that a miserable neighbour was moaning at her to keep them quiet.

Letting your kids bark back at the dogs, despite how noisy they are being IS going to set them off, you should know better.

Givemeausernamepls · 17/09/2026 14:43

Wobblewobblejelly · 17/09/2026 10:59

I'm not knocking on her door, from the way she carried on at my kids, I don't want her squaring up to me plus she looks pretty rough! I don't know who she knows in the local area.....I don't know if she's going to set her dogs on me also- not sure if it's just a case of their bark being worse than their bite though. The way I see it, my kids were just being kids-why is ok for her mangy mutts to bark but not my kids who were just enjoying their garden?

you know fine well, your kids were not just enjoying their garden and were being deliberately rude and provocative.

I'm not convinced this is a genuine post... surely nobody is this snobby and deluded?

LeaderBee · 17/09/2026 14:46

Wobblewobblejelly · 17/09/2026 10:59

I'm not knocking on her door, from the way she carried on at my kids, I don't want her squaring up to me plus she looks pretty rough! I don't know who she knows in the local area.....I don't know if she's going to set her dogs on me also- not sure if it's just a case of their bark being worse than their bite though. The way I see it, my kids were just being kids-why is ok for her mangy mutts to bark but not my kids who were just enjoying their garden?

"The way I see it, my kids were just being kids-why is ok for her mangy mutts to bark but not my kids who were just enjoying their garden?"

But they weren't just enjoying their garden were they? they were antagonising the neighbours dogs, thus making them back, then barking back, thus creating an endless cycle? not really helped yourself here and the way you keep talking about the neighbour being "rough" as though its justifying your actions is just ridiculous.

AgnesMcDoo · 17/09/2026 14:51

You and your children’s behaviour is appalling

persephoneee · 17/09/2026 14:55

You're right, let the kids bark back. You sound terrified of the dog owner and are at the end of your tether now. People out there just do not realise how all pervasive a constant stream of dog yapping and barking can do to one's demeanour. I bet you are not antagonistic and violent in real life as a rule, this has tipped you over the edge.

Fighting fire with fire is one way. The softly softly diplomatic approach is not going to work with some assholes.

Gloves off, and on with the show.

comealongdobbeh · 17/09/2026 14:58

You had to hide upstairs in your own house after exacerbating the situation?? 🤣

DecisionTime123 · 17/09/2026 16:46

Wobblewobblejelly · 17/09/2026 10:59

I'm not knocking on her door, from the way she carried on at my kids, I don't want her squaring up to me plus she looks pretty rough! I don't know who she knows in the local area.....I don't know if she's going to set her dogs on me also- not sure if it's just a case of their bark being worse than their bite though. The way I see it, my kids were just being kids-why is ok for her mangy mutts to bark but not my kids who were just enjoying their garden?

Is anyone getting a whiff of troll here? Just constantly saying her kids can behave in any way they want to and it's not her fault (sad face) ...?

Whaleandsnail6 · 17/09/2026 16:48

persephoneee · 17/09/2026 14:55

You're right, let the kids bark back. You sound terrified of the dog owner and are at the end of your tether now. People out there just do not realise how all pervasive a constant stream of dog yapping and barking can do to one's demeanour. I bet you are not antagonistic and violent in real life as a rule, this has tipped you over the edge.

Fighting fire with fire is one way. The softly softly diplomatic approach is not going to work with some assholes.

Gloves off, and on with the show.

But op is now scared in her own home and hiding

The situation has massively escalated. If ops kids carry on tormenting the dogs and yelling insults at the neighbours, then its likely to make op even more fearful due to neighbours aggressive reactions

Best she and her family stop engaging and antagonising and go through proper noise complaint channels.

DecisionTime123 · 17/09/2026 16:49

Wobblewobblejelly · 17/09/2026 11:01

I'm hoping next door's cats do a giant poo in their garden as they do sometimes in mine, but that's another story.....

you'd be entirely within your entitlement to get your kids to shit in next door's garden, poor little irritated mites.

Apart from that I'm calling it.

maxslice · 17/09/2026 18:38

To be fair, letting your kids bark back at the dogs may feel satisfying in the moment, but it WILL incite their dogs to bark even more, not less. What did you think the outcome would be? Your neighbours are being annoying and frustrating, but there must be better ways to handle this.

maxslice · 17/09/2026 18:40

Wobblewobblejelly · 17/09/2026 06:26

I don't mean to benefits bash btw as I used to be on the dole for a short period in my 20's....But she has really terrified me, I'm too scared to report her to the council, I'm really worried she will start on me or post something through my door....

Like what? Dog poo?

PrincessOfPreschool · 17/09/2026 18:41

The dogs live next door but one. So your poor neighbours in the middle have barking from all sides!! 🙉

roxyro · 17/09/2026 18:50

It’s all very well posters on here judging the OP and her children and making snidey comments but barking, yappy dogs drive me mad. I love dogs but some people just allow their dogs to bark constantly when in the garden and it’s awful.

Maybe the Op and her kids handled it badly but she shouldn’t feel scared in her own home. Report if it carries on. Don’t antagonise and tell kids not to do anything. If necessary, record the constant barking.

Frequency · 17/09/2026 18:52

Would their barking be more tolerable if they were purebred Shih Tzus?

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 17/09/2026 18:54

I absolutely understand how irritating yappy dogs are, @roxyro - but what the OP’s children are doing is NOT going to make that situation any better - it will make it worse. The dogs are not going to stop barking - indeed, it will make them bark more.