AIBU re neighbour dog noise

[flibbetygibbett]

Our neighbours got a new dog a few weeks ago. For the first 2-3 days it cried and whined anytime it was left alone (which is quite a lot as they both work long hours) and we hoped that it was simply adjusting to it's new surroundings and would settle down. The crying did stop but has been replaced by loud barking that occurs on and off throughout the day and can last for up to two hours at a time. The dog seems to be inside the house the vast majority of the time, I have only seen it out in the garden once and it was just for a few minutes. It's quite a large dog (I think it's a Labrador but I'm not 100% sure) and I wonder could it be that it's fed up of being cooped up indoors? I don't know anything about dogs so don't know what's considered reasonable.

I am not particularly bothered by the noise myself and have already gotten used to it. The problem is that we have put our house on the market and prospective buyers have heard the dog barking during viewings and obviously been put off by it. The barking episodes are so frequent that it has been happening at some point during every viewing we've had since the dog arrived. I'm getting really disheartened as we've made a big effort trying to keep the house as presentable as possible (not easy with small DC) but the noise from this dog is out of our control. I also have no idea whether it's normal for dogs to be so noisy or whether it's because it's distressed and don't like to think of it suffering.

WIBU to have a word with the neighbours and see if there is anything they can do about the barking? I genuinely don't know whether this is appropriate or not as I have never had a Dog or lived next door to one before and have no clue whether there's anything you can actually do to stop them barking. I don't want to complain and caused bad feeling between us if there's nothing they can do to change it.

www.leonkaye.co.uk/declaring-problems-with-the-neighbours-when-selling-your-property/

So if I talk to the neighbours, I have to declare it to buyers as a "dispute" and probably put them off buying the house. If I don't talk to the neighbours, nothing changes and their dog continues to bark which will put people off buying the house. Well that's well and truly taken the jam out of my doughnut

I wouldn't say mentioning that their new dog barks is a dispute?

I've been that dog owner. I've been that mortified dog owner who had no idea things were getting really bad. It escalated about 3 months after we got them when I ended up in hospital. That meant that they were alone for hours longer than normal until DH got home, and then he was coming to hospital to visit me.

The neighbours came round to see us one night. Him next-door works shifts so was constantly being kept up in the day when he was on night shifts.

We had no idea until they told us. we were mortified.

we then got a dog walker once a day and it made a huge amount of difference. They are now taken out 3 times a day whilst we're at work.

Now no more neighbour issues, and happier dogs.

Obviously this depends on how much your neighbour a) cares about their dogs and b) cares about pissing off the neighbours.

Exactly Steve there is a difference between a chat and a dispute

According to the link ipad posted you are supposed to declare anything that COULD potentially cause a dispute (even if it hasn't) but that makes no sense! Whether or not a certain issue could cause a dispute surely depends on the personalities/tolerance levels/sensibilities of the people involved. So let's say my neighbour took up playing the piano or something and we heard them from time to time. This wouldn't bother me (I might quite like it in fact) but whoever buys the house from us might hate it and be willing to fall out over it. Surely we're not obliged to report evey details of our neighbours lives just in case a potential buyer might have an issue with something? I also don't believe for a minute that every person who has ever knocked on a neighbours door and said "sorry but would you mind turning the music down please?" and gets a "oh sure, no problem, didn't realise it was so loud" in response reports this to potential buyers as a "dispute" when they come to sell.

I would speak to them. You might want to suggest they use an app or something to monitor or record the dog then they will be able to hear it for themselves.

I don't see how that could be a dispute?

That poor, poor, dog - and poor you!
I used to assess prospective adoptees for a dog welfare society. We would not approve homes where no one was home during the day, and most prospective adoptees knew that. Typical good home would have at least one adult working flexibly with possibly one or more older children in & out. In my view leaving a dog alone 8 or more hours 5 days a week is animal cruelty. Armed with that knowledge in the back of your mind ( this poor dog's welfare) speak to them and explain dog is barking all day long. Be fair, firm & friendly. Possibly record the noise. If they do nothing, go to Council. I personally would not be averse to going to the RSPCA. (By that's me!) and probably not necessary.
Who cares if they don't speak to you? You want to move, their animal neglect is stopping your house move. Act!
I have a rather noisy, clueless, neighbour, whose behaviour I tolerate up to a point, but when he steps over the line (last year it was fireworks aimed directly over my roof, ffs I let him know sharpish. He stops.

Reipad POV, think that is over-interpreting the concept of a dispute. I think neighbour dispute has to be a bit more formal than that (eg, party wall, that sort of thing.) believe that comes from a lawyer's website & probably trying to drum up business.

You should mention it to the neighbours - they can't fix it if they don't know about it.

YANBU, a labrador is not a dog you should get if you work long hours. I am desperate for one but I will not be getting one unless I become a SAHM!

As I write this, the dog is at one of their the upstairs windows barking loudly at everyone who walks/drives past, and has been doing so for an hour and a half. I'm going to have to speak to them. As I've said, I know very little about dogs but I think it's unhappy and (our house selling issues aside) I'm starting to feel really sad for the poor thing.

It does depend on the dog (veterinary nurse here). Some are ok to be left all day and won't bark or get upset, especially if there's also a cat or other pet in the house. Labradors are not one of these dogs! If they work all day they should be thinking about a frenchie, they are quite happy to curl up and sleep as long as they are walked morning and night.

It's started howling now . It's so tricky, I don't want them to think I'm judging them or accusing them of being irresponsible pet owners (even if they are, it's not my place to say so and would be unlikely to be helpful) but I also want to get across that I'm speaking to them out of concern for their dog, not just for my own selfish reasons. I know people can get very defensive about these things and I hate confrontation.

poor animal - and more importantly, poor you. Please do speak to them and say that the dog is howling and barking constantly. You'll have to decide your next move by their reaction, which will hopefully be total horror and 'we bought the wrong dog'. Which they did.

you could have pet-sitting agency numbers for your area up your sleeve, maybe.

That's a good idea, special. I don't want to seem interfering but if I can offer them solutions rather than just coming to them with a problem and demanding they sort it, maybe they will be more receptive. Fingers crossed. Someone mentioned leaving the TV/radio on further up the thread, will maybe suggest this as well.

Can you visit the vet, then put a card through their door for dog walkers. They may think the dog walker had put the card through.

Our neighbours told us our dog was barking when we went out. We get on well with them & it was said in a just letting you know type of conversation. Problem was solved by simply leaving the radio on for him. He likes radio 4!

You sound as if you are being as reasonable as possible.

I hope you are able to resolve this as quickly and as amicably as possible without any agro.

Sorry, no advice, just support

Failed to mention: This would drive me round the bend!

Have a word with them, my dog's are the quietest dogs ever till someone knocks on the door then they go mad for 5/10 minutes even if it's our neighbours door been knocked on. So this might be the case so when your selling every time someone knocks it starts him off. If my neighbour had asked us cause they was having people view they house we would have no problem taking them for a long walk or to stay with my family for a weekend.