Dog barking? What is reasonable?

[Notadogowner]

I live in an apartment. They are all 1, 2 and 3 beds. Most are 2 beds but I’m not sure if the apartment in question is a 1 or 2 bed (different part of the building).

One of the residents has recently got a dog. A dog that is often out on the balcony barking. Often barking for 15 minutes to an hour, then going back in, and then coming back out again to do another round of barking throughout the day.

This happens both during the day time and at night.

I’m not a dog owner, so I have no idea what is reasonable and what is not when it comes to a dog. I guess the dog being on the balcony is equivalent to a dog being in a garden barking, so I don’t know if that’s normal or whether the owner should be doing more.

I mentioned the number of rooms in case it is reasonable for a dog living in a one bed flat to be allowed out on the balcony to bark, but I just need to suck it up.

But it is really annoying to have a dog constantly barking, that even with windows closed, I still hear it.

I’m not sure whether I should complain to the managing agents, but it all depends on whether the dog’s behaviour is normal and therefore, so be it, or if the owner should be doing more.

We had a similar issue with one of our neighbours. Was mostly resolved with a complaint to the council (well, actually, numerous complaints by many, many neighbours) plus DH standing in the garden and shouting "For gods' sake will someone shut that f*ing dog up!".

It still barks now and some days are better than others (the poor thing is kennelled in the garden at night, so any passing fox/owl/cat starts it off).

In your case @Notadogowner I'd speak with the management company. They'll be able to send a message round to everyone. It's quite possibly in contravention of the lease too - I remember when I had a flat I wasn't even allowed an indoor cat!

You won't get anywhere with the council without an address.

Completely unacceptable. I have 3 dogs and like most dogs they like a good bark, because there’s 3 of them they will set each other off. But they are told to stop as soon as they start. I’d never leave them to just bark and bark. I find it annoying so don’t want other people to have to put up with it.

there is a dog a few door down from us that is left to bark. It’s really very irritating.

I loathe barking dogs!!

My dog barks outside and I hate it, I call her in. MIL has given us such a lecture on letting her be free to express herself vocally. 🙄

Absolutely not.

Reasonable people don’t allow their dogs to bark for even 15 minutes at a time, just as they don’t let their children scream excessively outside at any time of the day (and certainly not be very loud before 10am or after 7pm)

With both children and a dog in my household (detached with quite a large garden if it matters) I actively tell my children to consider the neighbours and bring them in if they are making excessive noise (especially screaming or whining!) and don’t let the dog bark for more than a minute or two because I’m not a selfish prick.

Your neighbour is being v unreasonable.

I have a dog. He does not bark overnight ever. His last outing is generally 10pm. Normally when he’s in the garden he doesn’t bark. If he does bark it’s because of the bin man or post man or a cat. He barks for 10 or 20 seconds, maybe a minute. The big bark is for the Tesco man and he’ll bark at my window during the whole delivery which is bloody annoying once a week. So he probably woofs between 3 and 6 times a day depending on the number of deliveries and never before 7am or after 10pm. I think this is normal for a well behaved dog.

I have no idea what could be making the dog bark at night. We’re on the river, and the property in question is slightly further back so the dog’s view of the river will be limited, and there’s barely any pedestrians on the river path at night time so not much to get its attentions.

It definitely annoys other residents as I see people standing at or looking out of the window when the dog starts up again.

I’ll check the lease for any restrictions on pets.

100% unacceptable.

I'd definitely compain to the management committee/building owner.