Neighbours barking dogs driving me insane - how should I handle this?

[Whostolemyporkpie]

We had a new neighbour move in around 2 years ago. She has 3 dogs (2 labs and a small terrier-type dog).

She is a nice lady and we exchange our pleasantries when we see her etc but that’s about it.

But I have an issue which is starting to really grate on my nerves and not sure how to handle it as I hate confrontation or complaining but when she goes to work (2-3 days a week) or if goes out anywhere leaving the dogs alone they bark almost continuously (mainly the labs, I don’t hear the little one so much).

One of the reasons I don’t want to make a fuss is because we also have a dog, however, she only barks at the postman or if she wants to be let out, it certainly isn’t continuously.

The reason it’s driving me to distraction is because I am under a lot of stress atm (with family issues, chronic health issues and I am perimenopausal!) and I am trying to find ways to relax and reduce my stress levels. My home is my sanctuary and I just want peace and quiet here. I am practicing meditation and having weekly zoom hypnosis via my hospital consultant but it’s near impossible to relax with two dogs barking in the background (they are currently barking atm and have been since 8.15am).

They also bark if she goes out on a Friday or Saturday night. This weekend they barked from 7-11pm, dh and I had to turn up the tv. As soon as she comes home they stop, they very rarely bark whilst she is at home with them, it’s obviously some kind of separation anxiety.

She is fully aware of this as she has a monitor. I’ve spoken to her once or twice about it and she says the labs are old and deaf and are getting confused when she leaves and she doesn’t know what to do to stop it.

I certainly don’t want to go falling out with a neighbour but not sure what else to do, especially as they are quiet when she is at home.

What would you do if you were me? Edited

You're going to need to be direct: "Your dogs bark continually whenever you are not there. I am finding the noise hard to cope with."
To be honest she sounds like a poor pet owner: it is not okay for her dogs to be stressed/anxious for hours at a time without her finding a solution.

Keep a log of how often this is occurring, if she is not willing to take responsibility approach local council.

I second the direct approach.

She really shouldn't be leaving her dogs alone all day, no wonder they're barking. Could you ask her to get a dog walker/sitter who could spend some time with them every day/take them out so both you (& the dogs) get some respite?

No advice but just wanted to say I feel your pain. I've twice been in a situation with a neighbour having constantly barking dogs. It drove me insane.

Talk to her about the problem and discuss options. Perhaps some bark collars would help? Sometimes my dog gets into the habit of barking during the night. I only have to put the bark collar on for a couple of nights, and he gets back in the habit of settling down. It only beeps at him when he barks. £20 well spent.

I agree - she may not realise to be honest, I have no idea what my dog does when we go out (rare without her and DH WFH full time and me 50/50 so almost never alone at home)
Be direct but nice and find a solution where you can let her know what they're
Doing whilst she's out

I have no resolution for you OP as I am currently going through the same. When I tried to speak to my neighbour, they told me to move away 😂they really dont understand the issue, obviously because they are not the ones listening to it whilst they are out. I have now resorted to putting a complaint in with the council, in which they have retaliated and put one in back about 'loud banging'

No idea what to do now, I feel your pain

Is there a dodgy daycare in your area? Perhaps sharing the information with her would help find a solution.
Or maybe not. She could just be one of those who doesn't care.

Fucking hell!!! Please do not follow this advise!!! Collars like this are so so abusive and cruel.

Please rehome your pets and don't get more if you're not prepared to look after them and train them properly.

🤬

Be direct as pp suggests. Nothing will happen otherwise. Keep feelings and descriptions of feelings out of it, focus on the fact that her lack of being there for the animals causing problems which are anti social.

Far too many of these ignorant dog owners around. It is absolutely awful to live with and totally feel your pain of not being able to relax in your home. I have a neighbour a few doors down with 3 of the things, constantly out in garden non stop barking. Summer is hell on earth as it is from dawn til dusk. I'm on edge constantly. I have knocked before and was polite but she was so rude and told me I was the problem and slammed the door in my face. One of them has thankfully just died, although the other 2 are making up and seemed to have ramped up the barking, hopefully the remaining 2 aren't far behind. Have a feeling they will just get more though.

I think you need to tell her. My relative was all smug because she thought she could leave her dog for hours on end and mocked us for not leaving ours. Then her neighbour told her that her dog howled and barked the whole time she was out, every time.

I think some people think that if their dog doesn't poo in the house or destroy things that they are happy being left.

She is fully aware they bark as she has one of those camera monitors linked to her phone. We have spoken about it and she says she doesn’t know what to do about it so just let’s it carry on.

I don’t want to fall out with her over this but it’s really annoying now and I think she’s let it go as I’ve been to soft I suppose.

WmFnKdSg1234 I’ll definitely start logging it before I make a fuss, just so I can show her how frequent it is.

It really does upset me tbh especially as my dog is a rescue who was left all day, every day. I see the damage it does.

Monitor it and be calm but direct. She should not be leaving them all day without paying someone to come in and walk them or sit with them / let them out. If she can't afford that she should t have them, but I appreciate there's nothing you can do about that.

Tell her she deals with it by either not leaving them alone for more than an hour or she rehomes them!

Tell her if she doesn't take action you will make a formal complaint