How unreasonable would I be to do this?

[CrushingCandies]

First off I love dogs so it's not about me not liking them.

We're having a party for dd in the Easter holidays and its in the garden. Non have two dogs who seem to be out all day if the weather is good. Now I know it's their garden but these dogs bark all the time. Every little noise my dc make these dogs bark at. Dd is used to it now ds not so much.
One little girl who we have invited is terrified of dogs, was bitten as a toddler. Her mum asked if we had dogs before rsvping and explained about her dd.
I was wondering if I would be terribly unreasonable to ask them to keep the dogs in for the afternoon so we could enjoy the party without the consent barking.

Oooh I'm not sure. What sort of relationship do you have with your neighbours? If it's generally friendly I might have a word with them....surely they wouldn't want their dogs barking for the duration of an entire party either so you could phrase it like that i.e. you don't want to stress the dogs out for the entire afternoon!

If you are friendly neighbours and chat frequently, they will sould understand. If you rarely speak to them, I don't know but not harm to ask.

I think your request is reasonable but it really depends on how you get on with your neighbours and the kind of people they are. When our dogs were out in the garden, as soon as they started barking we'd bring them inside. I don't really understand people who would leave their dogs barking - unless a) they're not in the house or b) they can zone it out and don't care if their dogs annoy the neighbours as they can't be bothered having them indoors.

In either case, I think it's possible you might get a 'it's our garden, I'm not keeping the dogs in all day, they need fresh air, etc etc) and they might not accede to your reasonable request.

For me it's a judgement call depending on what your neighbours are like, it may well be your request would not be taken well and might just rile them up.

They moved in about 6 months ago. We're mainly on 'hi are you ok , bye' terms with them. Don't really see them much.

That's what I'm afraid off badidea, I don't want to rile them up.

It would be for 3-4 hours at most as the kids are 3-4 years old so we were thinking starting at 2ish finishing before 6.

I would phrase it as 'we're having lots of screaming kids in the garden, I think the dogs will bark and get upset, would it be possible to keep them in so they dont disturb you.'

crushing if they're new neighbours and you're currently saying hi etc (so no bad feelings yet!) maybe really crawl to them when you make the request to soften any resentment, e.g.

"Hi, I was wondering if I could ask you a favour. It's a really big ask so I totally understand if you say no, but we're having a party in the garden for my daughter and her best friend has a phobia about dogs, and she gets panicky if she hears dogs barking. I was wondering if (on this date at this time) you'd be able to keep your dogs in? It would be for 3-4 hours at most - I'm really sorry, I know this is cheeky and if you can't do it, that's absolutely fine, it's just that my daughter would really like her friend to come).

Maybe something really crawly and scyophantic like the above might help (or at least stop them taking the hump that you're asking?)

Could you phrase it as 'sorry we're having a kids party on X, just letting you know cos there'll be a lot of kiddy noise etc, you might want to keep dogs inside to avoid all the squealing/excited screaming distressing them' or something like that. So it looks like you're saying it for the dogs benefit??

I'd ask, and make it clear that you love the dogs etc and it's just for this one little girl. I'd also maybe invite them over for the last hour of the party for a drink or something just to show what a thoroughly nice person you are

I don't think you need to be crawly about it at all. If our dogs bark we get them in. Why should other people have to listen to it?

YWNBU to just ask them to stop their dogs barking every time you use your garden.

The difficulty by pretending you want the dogs kept in for the dogs benefit, is that they might well turn round and say ' oh they don't mind kids squealing, they're used to it'. What do you do then?

gold I completely agree it is unreasonable to leave your dogs out barking, and there is something incredibly selfish about people who do - but if that is your neighbour and you don't want any bad feeling (and we don't know what these neighbours are like) asking them to keep their dogs from barking, may well piss them off and end up making the OPs life's hell.

Although if they keep barking, other neighbours might report them anyway (I'm sure they give asbo's to folk who let their dogs bark continuously)

Thanks for all the replies, thought I'd update, I went round there yesterday and mentioned the party and how dds friend was terrified of dogs. The lady felt terrible she said she didn't realize that the dogs barked at my dcs when they were outside. She is partially deaf and can't hear when she's inside. She told me not to worry and she'd keep them in on the day of the party.

I was worrying for nothing it seems.

Good result. I would follow it up with a little bag of doggie treats as a thank you to them for being so understanding. Good neighbours are hard to find and never hurts to have them on your side

I would take them over some birthday cake as a thanks.

That's a good idea will take dd round with some cake. She's been dying to meet the dogs.