Neighbours dog outside barking at 6.30am! AIBU?

[Happyland8]

What are the unwritten rules on dogs barking in the morning? I'm getting woken up at 6.30 every morning by next doors dog. Granted he isn't absolutely barking his head off, maybe a bark every 30seconds and the odd barking fit that lasts maybe 5 seconds. I've been struggling to get to sleep in the evenings lately so the 6.30am starts are just ruining me.

I think I'm more bothered by this as, during the spell of hot weather we had, the dog was in the house with the windows open barking constantly the whole day. He does this every day but I normally don't have to listen to it, but we were out in the garden a lot for those few days and the barking was incessant.

My husband works away a lot so I am alone with my 4 & 1 year old most of the time. My kids thankfully sleep until 7.30am but I'm losing that last hour. I'm struggling to function in the day as I'm just so exhausted.

So what's the correct protocol when it comes to dogs barking so early? Are the owners in the wrong or do I just need to get on with it? Thanks.

a dog barking continuously can be considered a Statutory Noise Nuisance under the law. We used to use the rule of thumb that any dog barking for 20 minutes or more unchecked at any time of the day was a Statutory Noise Nuisance and issue notices.

Some people might think this harsh but there is case law to support this.

so what you have to decide is do you want to go down the formal or informal route. if its informal then put a note through their door explaining that the dog barking at this time is unacceptable as it wakes the neighbourhood. it might work.

if not then the more formal route is to first speak to the dog warden in your area. you can find them through your local council and explain to them what is happening. start keeping a noise diary - time barking starts and time it stops. it doesn't have to be a continuous woof but all within the same session of barking.

then if the dog warden doesn't work go to your local Environmental Health department at the council. give them your noise log (you will need at least a couple of weeks worth) and get them to take it up for you.

the only downside is that neighbours easily fall out with neighbours and what starts as a barking issue then can become tit for tat. also if you complain about your neighbour and want to sell up in the next 5 years you have to declare this on the sellers information and it can put some people off. hope this is helpful info.

It doesn't help that the dog has a really high pitched bark. I've lived around barking dogs before but I've never found it too annoying but this dogs bark just goes right through me. I think I might need to speak to the neighbours. I struggle with any sort of confrontation so this really isn't my strong point but for my sanity I think I'll need to discuss it with them. I know the dog is under 1 so still a pup, do you think the barking could just naturally lessen as it gets older?

Why do people think that because THEY start the day at that time, then it’s acceptable? Seriously! Your morning start should only impact on you, not everyone else because YOU think it’s a reasonable time. I used to work until midnight and it could be 1am before I got to bed, but you think because 6/6.30 is a reasonable time to get up, then that’s ok? There may be people with babies or ill relatives who have been up throughout the night and that is normal to them, would it be ok if they work you at 3/4/5 in the morning or 1am as they get in from work?

Definitely this^^

@ClaudiaWankleman we live in a world where everyone works different hours I don't know many people now that work 9 to 5 jobs...my circle (which also includes mine and DH's jobs) consists of doctors, Teachers, firefighters, midwives, oil rig workers, respite care, Architects, bin men, 24hr women's refuge, accountants, office workers, bar staff, IT help desks to name a few...6am starts might be great for you but for a lot of people on that list work past midnight or are just getting in or are on the late shift so need to sleep during the day etc it's not on having barking dogs, noisy children, arguing couples and whatever else people have the right to live peacefully!! DH and I are no saints and make noise of course we do but we try to respect others around us yes we're up 6am and out the door for 7 to 7.30 however I like to wake up in my own time without having a dog barking or whatever else (very very lucky for that as woman next door has grown up children that have moved out and no pets)...Either way the OP has a right to not be constantly woken up and live peacefully!

When I say noisy children I mean in the extreme variety not normal boisterous play...my friend is having a problem with their neighbours son who blasts grime and whatever else with windows open when she's putting her kids to bed! Parents are at work and don't get in till 8-9pm ish and her DH is on nights some of the week (firefighter).

@Happyland8 definitely talk to them they might just realise how much it's affecting you, give them a week to get it under control and if no change maybe try the the official route?

I think 630 isn't too early in the week and if it's not much barking I don't think it's doing anything wrong, really.

I assume that your children never screech in the garden?

Oh dear I have to admit that my dog has barked at 6.30am before now. If he needs to go out for a wee and then hears a noise (cars/ people/ trains) he has a tendency to bark. I do get him to come back in the house when he does it.

I don't think that 6.30am is that early though. Most people are awake, up and getting ready for work/ school at that time.

@Sparklyshoes16 well you’ve included my job on that list so I’m well aware many people don’t have a 9-5.

I think the time of 6.30am is a bit of a red herring (bad as it is!). Why should anyone be routinely disturbed by their neighbours, at any time? Of course all dogs bark occasionally, and some are just natural barkers, but it's down to the owners to ensure this doesn't become a nuisance to other people. The odd bout of barking throughout the week is one thing but what the OP describes sounds annoying and unfair. It's not her dog and she shouldn't be woken up every morning by someone else's choice to own one.
It's hard as you don't want to fall out with neighbours. Hopefully they're just a bit oblivious and a polite door knock from you would alert them enough that they'd quickly bring the dog back in if it starts getting loud.

Prolonged barking at this time is anti-social and not on. Given the dog is a puppy, now would be the best time to have a conversation with the owners to try and nip this in the bud before it gets to be an ingrained habit the dog has.

I have two dogs and would appreciate neighbours telling me if they are being a nuisance rather than them stewing on something.

My dogs will rush outside to the garden when the back door is opened and bark furiously to announce their presence. For that reason, first thing in the morning and last thing at night they are taken out on a lead so they don't bark. It is just common courtesy to our neighbours.

The issue with noise nuisance isn't just in relation to the time that the noise "event" happens but how loud it is, how long it goes on for, how regularly it happens and any tonal component. because some noises are definitely more annoying than others.

good idea to go and speak to them first but make a script of what you want to say to ensure you get your point across. but be prepared, if they are up and about at that time, they will think you are being unreasonable and are very likely not to take steps to resolve this.

so start keeping your noise diary now, just in case.

Mine barked after midnight last night. She had diahorea so had to take her out and she's scared of the dark. I was mortified. I think my "shhhh" was louder than her bark tho lol

My youngest dog hates magpies for some reason and will bark at them.

My oldest dog just doesn't bark.

I'm not a fan of barky dogs and t be fair....dogs DO bark. Same way babies DO cry. But if it ever irritated any of our neighbours I would fully expect them to tell me so I had an opportunity to try something else with the dogs.

We have a neighbour who said nothing to use for over a YEAR. Then one day we were it the back garden just playing fetch with out three dogs and she came out screaming at us that they should be on leads and we were out of order. Cue one of our dogs barking at her because she was shouting. Our dogs are secured in our back garden and cannot get out plus two of us were with them. Our neighbour is a fucking idiot though. It's now guaranteed everytime I'm out playing with the dogs she ALWAYS comes out then runs back in the house screaming. (She can see if we r out through her window and can hear us playing).

Seriously though talk to ur neighbour first, they'll probably be quite understanding.