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

[Radley]

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)

I am so so so so pissed off, had a v bad couple of days at work, shit hit the fan and all that, I came home today got myself a cuppa and went to sit outside, I was there for less than 2 minutes before he realised and barked his bollox off. Hence I didn't have my cuppa, can't stand this much longer

I think eckythump's idea way down the thread is good, Radley.

You need to do something about it then, Radley.

Stop stewing and get a plan of action together, and preferably one which will ensure peace and harmony with the neighbours. Believe me, falling out with the neighbours can be a lot worse than listening to a dog barking.

What you going to do?

No idea JoFan, her and I have never been on good terms, we only started talking about 3 years ago when she got married (at her new hubbies instigation), i'm just fed up I've spent thousands on my garden and cant bloody enjoy it.

i feel really sorry for you radley.

you need to do something though. sounds to me as though that poor dog should be rehomed, for its own sake as well as yours

he is a beautiful dog in every way, but, i don't think he is getting the love and attention that he deserves. If we didn't have 3 cats and 3 guinea pigs I would ruin him

I just feel that it is unfair we can't enjoy our garden, in nice weather they sit out every weekend and have their brekkie, read papers etc and he doesn't make a sound etc as he has company, but I don't

RSPCA then?

www.dogpages.org.uk/breeds3.htm

your local staffie rescue centre will be listed here. they'll give you advice i'm sure

love guineas!!!

From what you have said, I think the RSPCA might have some views on how are keeping their dog. I think that some people think it is more fair to leave a dog outside than inside, but I suppose it depends on what the garden is like. Either way, 7am to 5.30 is too long to leave a dog on its own. As you say, the dog is barking because it is bored. I think they should be made aware of the problem, but can't think of a polite way to do it.

Aaaaaaaaaaaaargghhhhhhhhh

He has been barking since 7.30 this bloody morning, I have downstairs windows and doors shut, I think I have to write them a letter.

did you write the letter?