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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Are these dog owners BU?

20 replies

GladAllOver · 02/08/2021 13:38

Like many other families during the lockdown our neighbours bought a puppy a year ago. It's part of the family now and they all love it.
But the dog can't bear to be left alone. The family are out a lot more now and the dog cries and barks continually the whole time they are away. It sounds really miserable. Should I say or do something about this or is it none of my business?

OP posts:
LaBellina · 02/08/2021 13:40

Yes, I would say something.
The dog is miserable apparently and the noise is bothering you.

If I were your neighbour, I would be happy if you told me so I could find a solution for this problem.

Starjammer · 02/08/2021 13:45

Say something - they might not know. We ended up with my DH's old family dog because it turned out she was getting distressed when left, and his family only found out because the neighbours told them. They would have had no idea otherwise as she'd always been fine, but age and deafness had made her unhappy about being left. We agreed to take her as there was always someone at home, and she spent the last two years of her life here.

HeckyPeck · 02/08/2021 13:46

Definitely tell them as they might not know how upset the puppy is getting. Hopefully if they are decent owners they'll then do something about it.

MoiraRose4 · 02/08/2021 13:48

Yes say something. I’m a dog owner and I went round to my neighbours when I got mine to ask them to please let me know if he was making much noise when I was out. I would hope they’d be honest and let me know so I could rectify any problems.

Ahwig · 02/08/2021 13:53

My neighbors dog howled every time the phone rang and it rang a lot. I eventually said something like” oh my goodness you really don’t like the telephone do you? “ as I was stroking him whilst chatting to her one afternoon. Turns out the phone rang a lot because she phoned her landline a lot to check for messages for her business. Once she knew that she stopped doing it and the dog howled no more.

Floralnomad · 02/08/2021 13:56

Yes tell them , it’s not fair on the poor dog .

Original poster
GladAllOver · 02/08/2021 14:46

Thanks for the advice, it looks like I will have to tell them. Just to be clear, the walls are thick and the sound doesn't bother us except that we feel sorry for the dog.

OP posts:
DeathByWalkies · 03/08/2021 01:45

Yes, say something.

They may not know - this is the sort of behaviour that is triggered by being left alone, which very easily sets you up for a situation where the owners are genuinely oblivious.

FrangipaniDeLaSqueegeeMop · 03/08/2021 01:53

Say something, how are they to know if you don't tell them!

Original poster
GladAllOver · 04/08/2021 11:00

Well I did speak to them, said the dog was very unhappy left alone.
They said they knew it cried when left alone but this was part of the training. There's nothing else I can do

OP posts:
pigsDOfly · 04/08/2021 11:13

Well no. If the dog is suffering from separation anxiety just leaving it alone to cry and bark is not going to 'train' it to stop. That's not the way it works.

Separation anxiety is something that doesn't just tend to go away on it's own, it generally needs a lot of work on the part of the owners to get the dog to a place where they're fine to be left.

You've done your best by informing them.

All I can suggest is that if they don't do anything to help the dog and the noise continues you start keeping a noise diary and report it as a noise nuisance to the council.

Poor dog.

vodkaredbullgirl · 04/08/2021 11:20

Do they not leave a radio on or a tv, when they go out?

Branleuse · 04/08/2021 11:21

id tell them that you dont know if theyre aware, but their dog is crying and howling the entire time that its alone, and not only is it upsetting to hear it, it sounds like the dog has seperation anxiety and wondered if they had any better solutions, as the poor thing clearly cant be left like that and this cant go on

Original poster
GladAllOver · 04/08/2021 14:31

if they don't do anything to help the dog and the noise continues you start keeping a noise diary and report it as a noise nuisance to the council

As I said above the noise isn't bad through our thick walls. My only concern is for the dog.

OP posts:
pigsDOfly · 04/08/2021 15:01

Sorry OP, yes, I did read that but I was thinking that if they just leave the dog to get on with it and a noise complaint is made it might make them realise how much the dog is suffering and they'd have to do something about it.

I should have made that clearer.

RandomMess · 04/08/2021 15:02
Sad

Leaving it for hours is training, well it isn't working that's for sure.

SD1978 · 04/08/2021 15:04

Yup, tell:them. I have a dig that barks constantly when I'm out, never when I'm in (mainly outside dog when I'm home too at times depending on shifts. I had no idea, as they don't bark when they are outside and I'm inside. I had been leaving them out overnight with access to an indoor sleeping area when I went to work (nightshift) and they had been howling down the neighbourhood. I wish someon had told me earlier, as I felt bloody rotten about it

SD1978 · 04/08/2021 15:06

Sorry, I see you have and didn't get a stellar response

icedcoffees · 04/08/2021 15:09

I would report them for a noise nuisance.

I know your concern is for the dogs' welfare but this may be the only way they listen to your concerns.

LolaSmiles · 04/08/2021 15:12

You're not unreasonable, they are.
Training a dog does not mean leaving them alone for hours on end whilst it cries and gets upset.

If they don't start being responsible then their poor dog will probably end up displaying anxious or reactive behaviour.

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