...re nextdoor's barking dog

[WildebeestH]

Our next door neighbour has two dogs. The houses have fairly long narrow gardens and they have a kennel at the end of their garden where the dogs are left during the day when they're at work (usually at least 8-3 every week day). If the dogs are out there and any of us (or another nearby neighbour) go in the garden one of the dogs barks and barks until we are out of sight and silent. Sometimes it keeps barking regardless. We've been here about a year and I've tried to tolerate it thinking the dog might get use done to us but it hasn't improved at all. We have young children and I work part time from home so we want to use the garden sometimes during the day. It's made me miserable this summer because we haven't been able to have lunch outside and the kids rarely play outside for long because the noise is too much. At weekends the dog can be noisy but goes quiet when the neighbours ask it to (it doesn't work for me, I've tried).

The neighbours are aware of the issue and have previously said that they've changed their working hours to be around more but it's still a problem. I even dread hanging the washing out. The neighbours are nice enough and I don't want to upset them (bizarrely one of them is involved in something connected to my DH's work so we definitely need to stay on good terms).

What can I do?

The neighbours need to get professional guidance on helping their dog be able to tolerate strangers - especially people who the dog sees regularly, and who clearly aren't a threat.

Your neighbours are aware of the problem, but the fact they won't take action is an indication they don't take you seriously. If they were good neighbours, they would resolve the problem rather than just let it linger on. They are not "nice" - "nice" people don't cause their neighbours to become unwell through the stress of feeling unable to enjoy their home.

I think you and your children should just try to spend more time in the garden. Let the dog bark. Eventually it will either get tired, realise you are not a threat, or perhaps another neighbour who is willing to be more forthright than you will take matters into their own hands.

However it is done, the neighbours have a responsibility to solve the problem - their problem. It's their dog, and they are not controlling it. Remember the most docile of dogs can turn into a killer with no warning and no history of violence. If the neighbours can't control their dog's barking, what chance have they got of controlling it when it decides barking isn't enough, and a vicious attack on some innocent person is necessary?

Do the neighbours really understand just how long and how loud their dog's barking is?

It's likely that they don't.

It's almost certainly because the dog is stressed when owners are absent. Perhaps they should be thinking about doggy day care. Eight till three is a long time to leave dogs without human interaction, even if they have access to outdoors etc. Rspca guidelines are no more than four hours.

Feel your pain op
We have 'dodgy' neighbours who have two German shepherds they leave out 24/7 365 , rain or shine . They are obviously guard or protection dogs and every night are barking at 2/3/4am
People like this don't care
Good luck

Thanks all. I completely forgot I'd posted this hence the delay in replying. I think you're right Alpaca, it's possible they don't realise how long it goes on for as it does stop when they're there. I just need to find a polite (but firm)!way to explain it to them.

TheEdgeofGlory266 - did making an official complaint affect you selling the house? We are trying to sell but have avoided a complaint as we thought we would need to declare it?

Its obvious that your neighbours haven't taken the time to socialise their dogs. The consequence being that they will bark at anything/anyone that they have not been reassured are "normal", everyday things.

If they hadn't bothered socialising them at the puppy stage the barking is not going to resolve itself - and I doubt very much that your neighbours will have the faintest idea of how to deal with it. The barking doesn't bother them therefore they are not bothered about the dogs barking upsetting others. We have neighbours with 2 constantly barking dogs.....The dogs are a bloody nuisance. The neighbours are solely to blame :(

The thing is that I've seen them out on a walk and they're fine. The noisy one occasionally barks briefly if someone comes to talk to its owners but will come over and sit when asked. I'm not a dog person but I think it's something about feeling threatened when locked up in the kennel.

We have this problem, the dogs also scrabble at the fence as if trying to dig through while barking their heads off. I'd be nervous about that if the fence were flimsier. I've looked at getting a (silent) dog whistle - apparently some ppl have success in stopping the barking by using it until the dog expects the uncomfortable sound whenever it barks, so doesn't.

Hi. Have you tried to speak to your neighbours about this???

I feel your pain. My neighbours leave their huge dog in their small flat for hours on end. The dog howls all day long. We also share a garden and they leave his shits to fester on our side for weeks on end. Neighbours have complained though that our cat makes too much noise and complain when. we leave a speck of dust in front garden.

Agree with poster above that no your neighbours are not nice people.

No advice to offer, sorry.