to wish that the neighbours' dogs

[Astronaut79]

wouldn't go fucking nuts every time I step into my back garden? Or walk down the alley way?

Ok, that wouldn't bother me too much - apart from the incessant fucking noise - but ds (2) is so freaked out by the unseen barking, that it's making him terrified of being in the garden.

In addition, we walk through a little alley way to get to th e main road. The house of the offending dogs backs onto ours and is next to the alley. THere is a wall with gaps in it. Every time ANYONE walks through the alley, the dogs go nuts. Result: screaming toddler if I attempt to walk him through.

I am not a dog-hater. I grew up deeply in love with my grandparents' dog; some of my best friends have dogs. I know a function of a dog is to be a guard dog, but all the fucking time?

Awaits a stern barking at from dog-lovers now.

Do you live near me?

my neighbours dogs bark like mad when they are in the garden but my dog is sooooo quiet bless him even when they are going nuts he just goes and sniffs through the fence.

Only if you heard me shouting: "Go away doggies!" very loudly this morning every time I heard one bark Lady.

I love my Dog. But at present the neighbours bloody dog is going ballistic over bloody nothing for the unpteenth time today which in turn sets my bloody dog yapping and it is a yap fest. There you go bloody thing again!!! My dog now barking and whimpering and it is him getting into trouble and drives me bonkers !!!!!!!!!!!!

I feel your pain. I am dog owner too, luckily the most placid lab in the universe. Neighbours dogs go nuts at the window at anyone daring to walk past on the pavement. If they are in the garden we get barked at parking in our drive, walking to the front door, if out in the garden, taking bin in or out etc...... Feels like we shouldn't be alive, how dare we do things in our space etc ... Luckily ds (5) isn't scared and takes great pleasure in shouting at them to be quiet .... Neighbour is lovely and I don't want to fall out with her but when I have PMT sometimes I could happily scream.

No, YANBU at all. Speak to your neighbours and if necessary the environmental health. If the dogs are guarding the property couldn't you introduce your child to the dogs and then maybe if they knew you they wouldn't bark when you go past? Just a thought

Nope. I usually tell them to shut up. It's very annoying, their garden is tiny and far too small for alsations. I love the days I can walk to my house without one barking at me.

YANBU at all. I'm a dog lover, have one of my own - he's a very annoying boisterous Lab 'teenager' even he doesn't get on my nerves as much as the neighbours dogs.

Damn things all set each other off at night when we're all tucked up in bed, which is the one time I bless my own - he does not thankfully join in!

YANBU Have a similar problem here - neighbour has 2 v small yappy rats, shuts them out in garden most of day so she doesn't hear them. When it's a lovely day I have to close the back door as it drives me demented.

OP, try talking to the neighbor if you think they're reasonable. Are the dogs outside all the time? - if so I'd ask RSPCA to take a look, that will send a message, even if no cruelty involved. Keep a diary of times, incidents etc in case you need to go to authorities.

Alternatively, give them some doggie treats laced with laxative. Mean and underhand but will make you feel so much better

I love dogs, btw, have 2 of my own plus a foster, but am always very careful to keep barking to a minimum, and aware that to small children, dogs are v big and scary.

I've never spoken to that particular neighbour. It's weird, I know everyone on my close, but have never spoken to him. We've lived here 6 years. In fact, once one of his dogs got out (he had two spaniels then) and ended up on our doorstep.

We kept hold of her and talked to her etc until he arrived. He shouted at the dog, then dragged her off. Didn't even say cheers for keeping hold of her or anything; didn't even make eye contact.

The dogs aren't kept in the garden, but the back door tends to be ajar for them and they're often sent out. His wife tends to live in her dressing gown and the curtains are always shut. Sorry, not relevant, just think they're an odd household.

Never thought about keeping tabs, but might be worth it.

Not sure introducing the kids to teh dogs will help. I've tried being calm, telling him the doggies are nice etc, but it's the sudden onslaught on barking that gets him. One of teh dogs is a little, white fluffy thing, but to him, it might as well be 10ft tall. Ds went through a phase of thinking there were dogs behind every hedge or wall. That was fun.

Dh has suggested laxatives, but I quite like shouting back. Might show the neighbours just how fucking annoying unwanted, repetitive noise is!