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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

cannot cope with next doors dogs!

20 replies

DragonFlyx · 13/08/2014 15:25

We have a small family next door, originally it was just a couple and two nice, quiet dogs... Then their daughter sold her house and moved in, along with her two children and 6 small terrier dogs.

The dogs are constantly barking, they never shout at them, iv spoken to them about how it upsets my daughter, wakes her in the night and all iv been told is 'we cant shout at them, the don't understand' as I type this, theyv been barking continuously for 35minutes because someone knocked on MY door. 8 small dogs yapping along together isn't a nice sound and as we have thin walls, it sounds like it's in my own house. Argh!

I'm debating to take this further, especially as I will have a new born in a few months. First, I have no idea who to call, I was thinking the rspca as they are never taken for walks, but I don't know about their actual care. And would I be harsh in reporting it to anyone? as an animal lover myself, I'd hate for someone to potentially have my animals removed from me. But I don't own dogs.

OP posts:
DiaDuit · 13/08/2014 15:28

I would report it to environmental health. they'll ask you to keep a diary of when the noise is happening and for how long. I think over a period of a few weeks. then they may come out and hear the noise for themselves.

Original poster
DragonFlyx · 13/08/2014 15:31

The diary would be full! Lol, it's constant. It just went quiet.... Then someone put a leaflet through our door :(

I just don't want to be that neighbour who complains, or cause problems with my neighbour. Someone suggested they might not know how loud it is my side, but when someone's asked you twice so far and told them its waking us up... How can they not know?

OP posts:
Hassled · 13/08/2014 15:36

I'd definitely pursue this with Environmental Health - I don't think I could stand the sound of 8 dogs yapping for more than half an hour without going mad. Don't worry about being "that" neighbour - they're not exactly being considerate.

DiaDuit · 13/08/2014 15:38

I know, it's a really awkward situation. you don't want to create hostility but really you have asked twice and they said they aren't going to do anything. you are entitled to peace in your own home. the laws protects this right. if they choose not to allow you this peace (and it is within their powers to stop it) then you have no choice but to use the alternative path available to you.

you could give them one last chance and offer for them to come into your home and hear for themselves. if they refuse or insist they cant do anything then advise them that you don't have any choice but to inform environmental health as you all are exhausted and need to sleep.

LadySybilLikesCake · 13/08/2014 15:38

Nest door have 1 terrier and it yaps a lot. The ones next to you must be a nightmare Sad Do keep a diary and get in touch with environmental health. It's unfair on you to have to live like this.

If I put the bins out, it barks. If I open my door, it barks. If I go into my bathroom and close the door, it barks. It barks outside. It barks inside, and this is just one dog. You can only put up with so much. Call Environmental health, they can help. Saying 'they don't understand' is a cop out. Dogs can be trained, they just don't want to put the work in.

shotyourfox · 13/08/2014 15:39

I would contact the RSPCA for advice as well as EH. Unless your neighbours live in an enormous house, I would think having that many dogs in one space would be a nightmare.

Original poster
DragonFlyx · 13/08/2014 15:41

Thats true! And they come accross as those really overly nice, can never do no wrong type of people.. so nice they don't believe in training the dogs apart from towee outside. Apparently animals aren't like humans, they don't understand.

Even more annoying at 10pm when one of them returnshome and whistles them as she's opening the door and you can hear her saying how they're excited tosee her...

They had a go at me for making them bark when I unlocked my door at 2am, because that's when I finished work.

It's so frustrating, I think they'd be so much calmer if trained or taken for a walk, we never heard a peep from the original two who were walked three times a day!

I think I'll drop a call into them today and see what they can do, I hate confrontation but something has to be done I suppose! It's a house deffonately not big enough for 8 dogs let alone 5 adults!

OP posts:
LadySybilLikesCake · 13/08/2014 15:50

Na, a lot of people couldn't give a shit about their neighbours. They are in a bubble of self so anyone else doesn't register. Animals can be trained (same as children). They yap because they are stressed/upset, so tending to them helps.

I bet all of the other neighbours are equally as pissed off, so there's nothing really to say that the complaint came from you (unless you live in a semi with no one else around for miles).

Original poster
DragonFlyx · 13/08/2014 15:55

I spoke to the other side of them who works all silly hours and lives on her own, she said she barely hears anything, because of my funny work hours, I'm at home alot in the day, resting before a busy night shift! Theey don't work, none of them do, and I'm not knocking those. Who don't work because of small children etc, but it's like they don't understand or care that working takes energy and when your dealing with a lack of sleep, being a mum, a house wife too and then dogs yapping, it's stressful.

I don't understand how they sit there while the dogs are making a racket, I have to turn the tv up this side of the wall!

OP posts:
Tiptops · 13/08/2014 15:56

The RSPCA certainly won't be interested in the fact the dogs aren't walked. Environmental health also won't be interested in the number of dogs unless the living conditions are extremely unsanitary I.e. dog mess never cleared up and attracting pests.

Your best bet would be to approach the council and advise the dogs are a noise disruption.

KEGirlOnFire · 13/08/2014 16:06

That would drive me up the wall and I have two large dogs who bark whenever anyone comes to the house (or the houses either side of us). But if they're outside I always call them in because the noise drives me mad - and they're mine!! So I'm very conscious of upsetting the neighbors.

I would absolutely complain to the Environmental Health, no two ways about it. There is no way that I relax with all that going on. It would send me mad I think!

LuisSuarezTeeth · 13/08/2014 16:11

You have my sympathy OP. I've had 6 months of this with my neighbours' dogs and it is HELL. The dogs are well cared for and exercised, and utterly adored, but the barking goes on and on and on.

I'm not going to complain (yet) for a number of reasons, but there are times when I have to go and sit at the bottom of the garden with headphones on just to get respite.

It goes like this:

BARK BARK
Shut up!
BARK BARK WHINE
Shut up!
BARK BARK...
(Baby cries)
BARK BARK
Shut up!

And on and on and on Sad

TheBloodManCometh · 13/08/2014 16:12

8 dogs?!?!? How big is their house?
8 dogs!! Their house must STINK

HairOnMyChinnyChinChin · 13/08/2014 16:16

You need to contact environmental health, preferably with other neighbours.

We've had issues with a neighbours dog barking for 24hrs at a time, RSPCA etc didnt care but the noise miraculously stopped within hours of them receiving their letter.

Littlef00t · 13/08/2014 16:22

Eh is for the noise pollution, not the mess.

Alisvolatpropiis · 13/08/2014 16:23

8 dogs?!

That would drive me insane.

Original poster
DragonFlyx · 13/08/2014 17:48

After an hour and a half it drove my little one insane. She sat on the settee with her hands over her ears saying 'it's so annoying mummy, all this noise!' Bless her!

OP posts:
KnackeredMuchly · 13/08/2014 17:54

I understand why she doesn't shout at them - because it doesnt help. Shouting makes them think you're barking so just encourages them morr.

That said, she should fucking train them some how. The noise off 8 dogs must be horrendous Sad

I would definitely speak to the council.

Methe · 13/08/2014 17:54

They sound like absolute wankers. Report them to EH.

AdoraBell · 13/08/2014 17:56

Shouting wouldn't help, but a bit of training would.

YANBU, report as suggested and take it from there. This isn't even good for the dogs let alone neighbours.

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