For over three years my neighbour's dog has been slowly and surely leading me to a nervous breakdown. They often leave it outside alone while they go back inside and shut the back door. This could be 5 minutes or 4 hours. The dog barks and howls until it is eventually let inside. There is no pattern to it, and because I'm expecting the noise all the time, I can't relax or work in my own home. I can't open my windows due to the noise in the morning and evening.
About a year ago, I visited them a few times over a few weeks to politely explain the situation and ask if the could do something. The man was reasonable, but his wife yelled I was crazy, slamming the door in my face. I left it, as I didn't want the confrontation and was scared of what they would do if I pursued it.
The problem is now I work from home every day and I have started to get regular migraines and have been in hospital for chest pains and stress related issues (due to a combination of things in my life). The barking is just not something I can live with anymore, but I feel utterly powerless. Complaining to the council is off the cards, as I don't own the house and it wouldn't be fair to create issues if they choose to sell in the future.
What would you do? Do you think I am being unreasonable? I'm beginning to think I am crazy.