Howling dog next door..

[Liverpoolgirl50]

Hello,

We had some new neighbours move in a few months ago and they have a dog. At first it was a little bit of barking here and there, and when we bumped into each other they asked if the dog was a nuisance and I said ‘oh no not really, it’s just a bit of barking but we can barely hear it’ and that was true.

However in the last month, it’s escalated to howling - loudly. It’ll be a few hours in the day around lunch time and in the evening from about 6-9pm. They have a 17 month old so really not sure where they go every evening from that time but who knows! These timings happen to coincide with our 1 year olds nap/sleep and whilst she can sleep through it, it definitely takes her longer to get there now.

Our neighbour had a newborn baby literally yesterday and we thought ah it’s ok she will be on mat leave/home more but like clockwork, the howling has started again today.

Should I go over and say something? Wary they now have another baby and lots on their plate but god it’s bloody annoying! How do I approach it in a friendly neighbour way?

Hey there - this does sound like a bit of a nightmare, but good on you for thinking about how to approach it sensitively if they have a newborn. I have a newborn and a beagle (prone to howling), and your post made me wonder whether they have maybe been doing some training or prep to get their dog ready for the arrival of the baby?

We had a trainer in and set up a plan for our dog while I was pregnant. It's served us really well because he's pretty relaxed now the baby is here, but it involved some things like putting up baby gates to create separate areas in the house, some additional separation and leadership training, playing baby noises etc. Could it be that your neighbours have been doing something like that recently and the dogs been a bit stressed? Maybe in the evenings?

If so, hopefully it will get better. If not, then I guess the new baby isn't going to help things! If it doesn't improve, I'd give it a little while and then say something, but maybe frame it like 'hey, we've heard your dog a lot and know you also have a new baby. Is there anything we can do to help?' They'll undoubtedly say no but at least they'll then know that their dog is audible!

Husky by any chance? Also renowned howlers. My dog learned it from one a few years ago - we had a "discussion" about howling at me to tell me things! For some dogs howling is communication, not distress.

@sunriseoversea that’s a great idea - we’d actually be happy to go in and let the dog out into the garden whilst they are out if it calms it down a little bit!

@Ascendant15 I’m not actually sure what breed it is, but I know some are well known for their howling! I love dogs and I don’t think theirs is mistreated at all, just loud - curse thin new build walls!