Next doors dog

[ObiJuanKenobi]

...has been barking since 6pm. Not constantly but I would say every hour there is a good 3/4 10 minute periods of constant loud barking and some growling.
They've had it for about 4 months and it's getting worse. Every night this week they shut it out in the garden at around 6 pm and leave it until midnight, barking and periodically growling.
Is quite a sweet looking dog, maybe some sort of labradoodle type but my word is it loud.

I can't/ won't go and talk to them about it because they're horrible people. After we moved in I knocked on their door to ask them to move their car which they had parked over the whole entrance of my driveway - and he answered the door with a knife and told me to fuck off. I was 7 months pregnant and terrified.

They're anti social arseholes.

WIBU to report it to someone (who!? Council?) and if so WIBU to record it as evidence? Obviously I wouldn't video someone else's garden, but I could make a 'voice note' on my phone from inside my house to show just how loud it is?
I've reluctantly shut all of our windows, despite the hell fire heatwave we have here.

thanks for letting me moan.

Yes report to the council. They sound vile

I'm going to sound like a complete wuss but given previous incidents I really don't want them to think I've 'told on them' will the council be vague and just say there has been a complaint?

The neighbours behind my house (our gardens join) have a dog which has never ever barked excessively, and now barks back to this fucker next door too

Not a wuss as I would probably feel the same. It can't just be affecting you. Could you possibly talk to other neighbours and complain en masse?

If you're in England you will need to make a complaint to the council on noise grounds. They will then send the dog warden out, who will visit the neighbours but won't say who's complained. If the dog warden can identify that there are issues, the council will ask you to keep a diary of when and how long the noise is for. They may then station audio recording near your house/neighbours house to record it, but only if they have the equipment available at that time. I dont think having your own recordings makes much difference as you can't prove it was their dog/at your house. It's a pain in the arse process so if you could find out who your local dog warden is and just have a word with them themselves, they might know if the neighbours are repeat offenders and may be able to help you with a quicker way.

That's a great idea - it's a small cul de sac and at least 4 of our other neighbours absolutely hate them.

If you own, be aware you have to disclose complaints against neighbors when you sell. Sounds awful, poor dog. Maybe ask local bobby for advice too?