If you have a dog, what do you do if they bark whilst you are out?

[TSSDNCOP]

I have a new neighbour. Their dog is barking constantly, and has been since I got in nearly two hours ago. I live in a Victorian Terrace with very, very thick walls. In the 20 years we have lived here I can count the number of times I've heard our neighbours or their kids.

I am sitting in my siting room, admittedly alone and quiet as I am doing paperwork.

As I said, the main dog is barking constantly and from time to time the other dog yaps along. Actually the yapper is louder and a lot more shrill.

If you have a dog does it bark whilst you are out. Can you do anything about it? What have your neighbours said to you?

It’s really stressful having a bloody yappy dog!

Mine has suddenly gone from never barking to constantly (baby’s arrival) and I’m not always able to get out and get her back into the house. I’ve taken to shutting all the doors mostly...

If she does it and I get her in time I shush her, if she ignores me I call her in, make her sit then allow her back out. If she continues she knows she’s getting shut in her cage for a minute (she then sulks with me).

But man is it embarrassing! She never used to do it :( and with the baby crying too I feel like a terrible neighbour

I have a great dane who used to whine and kind of howl when she was left alone. I invested in an anti bark collar, they also work for whining and howling, and within a couple of days she had stopped.
You could suggest one to your neighbour, or buy a dog whistle and give it a blast when they start barking.

I absolutely do not want to fall out over this, which is why I'm asking for suggestions and these are good. Thank you.

They are home now. Bellowed loudly and the barking/tapping as stopped. On the other hand I think one may have pooped as neighbour is going radio rental now.

Our dog used to bark when we're out. We now put him in the back bedroom where he can't see out and has a Kong toy that you put peanut butter in to keep him amused. That seems to make all the difference to him

How do you know they barked? Was it because a neighbour told you?

First house they text us the week we moved in. They asked us if we wanted them to check in on him as he was sounding upset.

The second house we stood outside when we left/came back to see if he was barking

What works with mine is shut all the curtains, leave the radio on and give a treat.
If it's seperation anxiety they need to do some training as in leave for 10 minutes and then return. Repeat this and leave for longer each time so they understand they are coming back.

You sound like a lovely neighbour.

Our old dog used to bark at the postman, our neighbours saw their arse about this big time. It was literally a minute, if that, when she barked then stopped once postie disappeared. My DH worked from home full-time and she was never left.

Same neighbours also complained about people on the other side of them as the lovely old man had a stair lift and they could hear it whirring as it went upstairs. We used to do some shopping for him and he was lovely. These neighbours were absolute wankers.

Have u told the neighbour he barks? They may not actually know their dog is upset when they leave

Some dogs can be trained through it, others can't....

When I only had 1 dog we moved house and he got upset being left to begin with. My neighbour politely mentioned it in a non moany way and I thanked him for letting me know and spent more time settling him in before leaving him again

About 6 months later he told me the dog had been "upset" while I was out..... I had to probe what that meant! And he made excuses for it saying there was a commotion outside and he was just reacting. Really sweet. Made me feel he was telling me out of genuine concern not moaning

Well that's the point of the thread. I'm trying to get some ideas and guidance on what I can say without alienating the new neighbour.

I absolutely don't want to upset the neighbour this early on; I know people love their dogs and might take umbrage if they think they're being criticised.

DH has met the neighbour and the dogs, he said they're nice even though he's a dyed in the wool cat man. Praise indeed for the dog.

Sounds like it could just be that the dogs unnerved by the move. I shall wait and listen. There are some great ideas though in case it reaches to the point where I need to discuss it.

TBH it’s a bloody noise nuisance. It could be caused by the dog having separation anxiety which will only get worse if they continue to leave the dog. Poor thing.
@MrsGrannyWeatherwax you need to not leave your dog in the garden then. Or use a longline etc to ensure you can get it in.
Barking dogs are a bloody menace.

1. Close the blinds. Can't see anything, can't bark at it.
2. Leave radio or tv on. Can't hear anything, won't bark at it.
3. Anti-bark collar set on low. Bark at anything, get a warning buzzer (not the electric shock one, just the noise buzzer). Remove collar when you are at home.

My dog barks when people walk past our house. He does it when we're there so can only assume he does it when we're out too.

He's protective, that's all. It's the only time he barks.

Is the barking constant? If so, definitely mention it. If you're home a lot I think offering to check in as the dog sounds upset would be a nice gesture (and they'll probably take the hint!)

For the record, anyone who goes mental at a dog for pooing in the house when they've been out for hours is a massive dick.