Just to preface - noises I am perfectly ok with:
Neighbour's toddlers tantrumming through the wall. Same playing and singing in garden with daddy.
Neighbours cars/motorbikes and arguments in the street. (Its lovely round here lol)
Next door getting up for work at 6am.
Various gardening activities (even strimmers as long as it's not for hours - I'm looking at you crazy lady who strims her entire lawn lol)
Kids playing (with the exception of serial screamers and the football hooligans association who have it in for my fence apparently)
occasional DIY (next door are currently laying a patio. I really don't mind at all - looks nice too)
So I don't think I am generally unreasonable about noise.
BUT... I am totally at my wits end with the neighbour over the back and his appalling mutt.
This poor creature (whom I've actually never seen but it sounds small and yappy) barks constantly. And I do mean constantly. I have heard it at 4am in a blizzard. It's outside 24/7 and barks most of the time in maybe 30 minute bursts with a 10/15 minute break. But sometimes for up to 2 hours at a stretch. And it's ALL DAY AND NIGHT.
I envy those who complain about dogs barking for 20 minutes in the evening. Right now I'd KILL for that lol.
Don't even try to tell me it's impossible. Unless there's more than one (could be I suppose), I assure you, it's true.
And it sets off the big dog next door to it which also seems to be out all night. (Heard him in the blizzard too)
I have been putting up with this for about a year. Tried the council when it started but they didn't do anything. One warning letter which was ignored apparently.
I was sorry for this dog at first (suppose I still am really) but my sympathy is getting exhausted now. I just wish it would run out into the road.
The general excuse for a dog outside all night is that it's a "guard dog" but really, if this is the case, how much use is a "guard dog" that barks at it's own farts?
Surely it's pointless. Or am I missing something?
This neighbour is not approachable. Very aggressive (velour tracksuit and weightlifting in the back yard lol - but seriously he's a bully and a shouter) and I am a disabled woman with anxiety problems so even talking to a fairly reasonable neighbour would worry me. I can't help it.
This man also plays music loudly for hours in the garden. A radio station evidently called "Obscure Oldies from the arse end of Motown" And does loud construction work sometimes. I don't think he gives a shit about anyone really.
The night time barking isn't too bad since I started playing very loud white noise to drown it out ( bedroom sounds like an aircraft hangar) but in the day I'm trapped in my house. I have no transport and am in ill health so my garden is really my only way of getting outside for the most part. ( I know I know, cue the violins lol)
I find it hard to believe I am the only one bothered by this. But it appears no one else has stepped up and complained. (That I know of anyway) maybe they are also afraid of this man.
He has kids (screamers) who yell at the dog to shut up and this, it seems, is the closest anyone has come to trying to "train" the dog. Of course, it only makes it worse.
This actually isn't a bad area in many ways (not posh but not really bad). I think really if this one family would move away it'd be fine. It's incredible how much racket comes from just one small house. But the main issue is the dog.
Maybe I should be grateful they don't have a trampoline but I think the only reason they don't is because the yard (really can't call it a garden. Concrete and no trees or plants at all) is too full of construction and weightlifting equipment.
Given that the council seem pretty toothless and the other neighbours unwilling/unable to do anything. Can anyone think of anything I can do here? (short of arson which has at times seemed like a pretty reasonable response)
Sorry for the long and disjointed post. I'm a bit off my game atm