Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To want to be able to enjoy my days off work whilst kids are at school?

37 replies

Radley · 02/10/2007 14:12

They have a dog and he is a gorgeous tan staffie, very friendly etc.

But

He ruins my days off, when I'm not workin and i can stay at home I like to have the back door open as I'm invariably washing, got tumbler on etc.

But all he does is bark, bark, bark and bark. If one of my friends came round in the few shorts weeks we had sun we couldn't sit out in the back garden and chat because he barked that loud.

If someone comes to the back door we end up shouting trying to drown out the dog. Its not the dogs fault I now, he is left alone from 7am until maybe 5.30pm, he is on a chain which is very very long, has plenty of food and water and is generally very very well cared for, but I'm fed up of not being able to enjoy my back garden because of his insecsent barking.

Even on days like this with a nip in the air I like to sit outside read my paper and have a cuppa, but, no can do.

Any ideas how I could word a note etc to the neighbours without having to take it further (a route I don't want to take, they were reported earlier this year for noise and I can only assume its the same thing)

OP posts:
COUNTPinkChickULA · 02/10/2007 14:13

who has the dog your kids or your neighbour?

Original poster
Radley · 02/10/2007 14:13

I'm sat here now with the back door closed (its a gorgeous day) and can still hear him barking

OP posts:
Original poster
Radley · 02/10/2007 14:14

Its my neighbours dog.

OP posts:
FCH · 02/10/2007 14:15

Sorry, was confused, thought your kids had the dog!!

No YANBU but I am not a dog owner and have no idea where you stand on what to do!

Original poster
Radley · 02/10/2007 14:19

My mistake, so riled by the fact that we have spent a fortune on our garden and can't enjoy it. If it barked for 10 minutes and then shut up, all well and good, but, he barks constantly for hours and bloody hours, he's still barking now.

OP posts:
Eckythump · 02/10/2007 14:20

He is probably barking because he knows you are there and would like some company. 7am until 5.30pm is a long time to be alone

Eckythump · 02/10/2007 14:25

How about... "You probably don't realise but while you are at work your dog barks all the time and I think it could do with some company. Is there anyone who could dog sit/take it for walks so it doesn't get so bored? I'm worried that one of the other neighbours might call the authorities about the noise".

Less confrontational than "Your dog is ruining my life"

Original poster
Radley · 02/10/2007 14:25

I completley agree eckythump, it is far too long, sometimes it's longer. As I said, he is a gorgeous natured dog, very friendly, loveable etc, but it isn't fair.

On the hottest day last year they could have lost him. He had been running round and his chain got stuck between the latts on a table in the garden, the more he struggled, the more trapped he became, dd1 told me he was making a funny sound and when I looked through the fence he was laid gasping for air in the middle of the blazing sun etc (because of where he was trapped, he does have shelter)

I ran round (I knew no-one was in) and after about 20 minutes managed to free him and then put the hosepipe sprinkler attachment on (i'd been filling the paddling pool) put it over the wall and he sat under it for about 10 minutes, then went in his kennel to sleep.

OP posts:
themoon66 · 02/10/2007 14:25

I was thinking we must have the same neighbours then for a minute. Only mine have a jack russell.

They go out early in the morning and put him a small run outside at about 7.30am. he is often still out there, barking, at 11pm at night. Some nights they stay away completely and he barks 24 hours.

I shall be watching this thread with interest to see if anyone comes up with any ideas.

Vikkin · 02/10/2007 14:27

Although a dog owner (but mine only barks once a week!) I appreciate this could drive you bonkers.
Is the dog outside all day on its long chain? Why? Can it not be trusted in the house.
I would speak to the neighbour and see if it can be left indoors. Did the neighbour tell you they had been reported for noise? If so, use this as the opener, ie you have noticed since the kids went back to school that he is rather noisy during the day, you don't want them to get into trouble again...
Can they not consider letting him stay in the kitchen or where his bed is? Is there no-one who could pop home to let him out for a while during the day? Most content (fed, exercised, warm, favourite toy/bone) dogs will settle happily indoors and just sleep until they are needed again.
Now that was the practical advice. Here's the bottom line: the humans are allowing the dog to cause a nuisance, which is an offence against other humans. If the dog is outside all that time, does this verge on neglect which is an offence against the dog. A staffie needs its exercise. Is this dog getting adequate on and off-lead exercise. If not, that is also an offence against the dog.

Vikkin · 02/10/2007 14:30

Cross posts. This sounds even worse now. Poor staffie...
I am sad for that Jack Russell as well now.

Why do these people have dogs!

Eckythump · 02/10/2007 14:31

Completely agree, Vikkin, Staffies are a ball of muscle and need plenty of exercise and stimulation.

Radley. Fancy a dog?

EmilyDavidson · 02/10/2007 14:32

poor old doggie

is he just in the garden then ,not the house ? can you just bring him round to yours for a bit ? he will probably just sleep like a lamb on your kitchen floor. I know its not your responsibility but at least he wouldn't be barking.

CountessDracula · 02/10/2007 14:35

oh gawd
not another variation on my name

I have already had probs with someone else doing this adn everyone thinking it was me, pinkchick pls could you do someting else for halloween sorry!

Eckythump · 02/10/2007 14:40

Really miss my dog, though she wasn't a barker either. Then again she had company all day and was very content to snooze with one eye slightly open (just to make sure no one went anywhere).

Original poster
Radley · 02/10/2007 14:43

Vikkin, I have no idea whether he can be left indoors or not, unfortunately said neighbour and I are only on 'good morning' & 'Hello' terms. It's her sons dog who recently came back home and to be honest, I don't really see him take him for a walk that often, though he does take him fishing

The neighbour knocked on our door and asked if we had reported them for noise, so I came to my own assumption.

They have a conservatory which could be used I suppose if they don't want him in the house.

On an evening when the owner gets home he lets him indoors and he is very rarely heard of again.

Emily, If I brought him round to mine, they wouldn't get him back, he is divine, but, I have 3 cats that wouldn't appreciate it, and also, he seems very boucey and very much a live wire, I don't know if I could handle him and our house/garden isn't secure enough for him.

Eckythump, no thanks, I'll pass on that, though Jack Russells are dh's favourite breed of dog.

OP posts:
heifer · 02/10/2007 14:44

Hi CD - I must admit I got very confussed reading a post by CountDior or something similar...

Eckythump · 02/10/2007 14:47

They really sound very unsuitable dog owners. Perhaps they keep it as a guard dog and not as a pet? Either way, it's not right.

Mine was a flat coated retriever BTW. Very placid and friendly.

Vikkin · 02/10/2007 14:48

I have been very lucky with the large white polar bear thing "Boomer".
He has never been much of a barker.
However, he has 20 mins on the lead around the neighbourhood at 7.30am. Then we mud-wrestle down the woods for about 40mins later on.
Both dh and I are in and out all day, and Boomer comes out for a drive if we are on local errands. Have great neighbours who will pop in and help out as well. I can also leave the back door open so he can come and go as he pleases from the garden.
I am happy to leave him for up to 4 hours. He just seems to go into standby, have a kip and ready himself for fun on our return.

Original poster
Radley · 02/10/2007 14:51

I think next door neighbours dog would prefer someone like you, I understand that they have to work etc, but, it's not fair on the dog, they wouldn't like to be changed up for nearly 10 hours with nothing but a kennel and some dry food and water, tis really not fair.

I may have to write them a letter.

OP posts:
Eckythump · 02/10/2007 14:51

Lol at thought of mud wrestling with a polar bear! Sounds dangerous! Do you have a chair and a whip?

Vikkin · 02/10/2007 14:51

Boomer is a golden retriever. I think perhaps because the breed have always worked with humans, he finds it easier to settle when no humans around.
Radley, I hope our doggy-notes are helping to convince you that this situation might not be in the dog's best interest, least of all because of the barking.

Eckythump · 02/10/2007 14:56

How is dog otherwise? Are his claws long? Teeth bad? Health generally?

Guess what I'm getting at is that the RSPCA can be very helpful about 'keeping and eye' and would happily find a more suitable home for such a lovely dog should one be required.

Eckythump · 02/10/2007 14:57

keeping an eye

louloulouise · 03/10/2007 15:04

You can report any noise nuisance, including dogs barking, to the council community protection or environmental health dept. Keep a diary of when, how long and how loud barking is, they will be able to issue a warning to them. Obviously would be best to speak to them before you do this in the hope of ut being settled amicably.

This is one of probs we are having with next door (amongst others) and are in process of reporting them.

HTH

Swipe left for the next trending thread