We've sorted out the cats next door, now the dogs the other side.

[kreecherlivesupstairs]

AIBU to think that if you go out (as the people next door have) for the day, you either take your dogs with you or put them in the house. It is now 10.15, Mr and Mrs nextdoor went out at about 7.15 as me and DH left to drop him at work. Since I got back from the DD drop off the dogs have been barking non stop. I really like the righthandside neighbours, but their two dogs are driving me to distraction. I suppose I could phone Yum Yum Franky for advice.

Is it a regular occurance or a one off? That would make a difference to me!

nip it in the bud now!!

As you get on with them I would say something like, Hello Mrs Nextdoor, I don't want to cause a problem but do you realise your dogs have been barking all day? They sound distressed.
That way you sound like a concerned neighbour. It worked for my mum.
If you complain to the council they won't do anything unless it is unsocial hours. People have a right to have dogs and dogs do bark. And it will mean a letter is sent to the neighbour and then they will probably think it is your anyway and then you will fall out.

you, sorry

Agree with readywithwellies that a polite, "I guess you don't know this, but when you went out your dogs were barking, sounds like they are unhappy... of course you weren't to know" approach is the best way to start.

I disagree though that the council won't act. Noise nuisances are taken seriously and you would, if you complained, probably be asked to keep a noise diary, which would be followed up by the council visiting to listen from your side and talk to the neighbour, following up with bringing noise monitoring equipment into your house if necessary.

Rather than leit get to that stage, a friendly word with an owner who may not even be aware that the dogs do bark in their absence may be all it takes to avoid a neighbour dispute and the action I'd recommend first.

Sorry for the typos, I am laptop is having an off day.

Vallhala, we may be in different parts of the country and it may be different but when my neighbour complained to me about my dog (who barked twice and ran indoors - the man has mental health problems) I spoke to the council. They said that unless it was persistent all day long, every day that the noise abatement officers would just have a laugh about it. His attitude was to punch my DP in the face as well, I wouldn't recommend that for getting the neighbours on side.
Not as easy as people may think to get a noise abatement order on dogs.
And the RSPCA won't want to know as long as they are being looked after.

Problem solved, they've come back with another puppy. That's a full grown bulldog, a seven month old rough collie and now some sort of puggy looking thing.

good luck kreecher!

Oh dear, you need to tell them about the barking, if they only bark constantly when they're out, they won't know.

agree with speaking politely to them. my neighbour has 2 dogs and one day she took one out for a walk without the other (don't know why) and the one left behind was barking. i asked her later on if the dog was ok. i didn't realise the other ws away, i thought maybe tehre was something wrong with the dog, but my neighbour was mortified that the dog had been a nuisance so she keeps her innow if she goes out without her.

ready, true enough, sorry, I'm speaking in cold/headache/sore throat/achy mode. :)

I was speaking of prolonged barking and not the once in a while couple of yaps type, hence you are generally asked by the council to keep a noise diary to start off with.

A bulldog, rough collie and puggy puppy for neighbours sounds lovely to me (and as long as they aren't unhappy I don't mind barking), but I can see it isn't going to be everyone's cup of tea.

My 3 large dogs and I are off for a walk now before work begins... I guess you can tell I'm a bit biased, can't you? :o

I am not really complaining long term, today was the first time it had happened. they are really nice neighbours and the two dogs they have at the moment are not noisy. Since the puppy came home with them, I've been in the garden having a cigarette and that has yapped a couple of times. fingers crossed it won't be noisy tonight or DD will see it (we can look into their garden from our stairs) and the pleas for a pet will start.