Next doors dog

[SliceoQuiche]

I’ll caveat this with by saying I LOVE dogs and would love one of my own, but currently circumstances don’t allow for it.

Next door got a black lab at the beginning of April. Quite an energetic little thing and really quite lovely, he’s now around 6 months old.

My problem is the barking. Before anyone says it, yes, I am aware dogs bark. But this is something else…
Neighbour works 8am-6pm Tuesday to Saturday and with the exception of a couple of hours in the middle of the day the dog barks non stop, on for a minute or two, then stop for a minute, on then stop. How it still has the energy or any voice left is beyond me.

I work from home, hence I notice it all week; I’ve had people on Teams meetings ask if I can mute because of my dog, I’ve been woken pre-6am because of the dog… it’s just never ending and I feel like I’m going mad.

We’ve mentioned it to the neighbour a couple of times now, he flits between ‘I’m so sorry’ and ‘what do you expect me to do about it when I’m not there?’

How long is too long to put up with this? AIBU to contact the council with a noise complaint? I don’t want to be that neighbour, I want to get on with people, but I can feel my nerves fraying with the repetitive barking day in day out!

He defo needs day care. Hard to find spaces though. I do day care and I've turned away about 70 people since New Year, because I'm full every day.

So you know your dog hates being alone and suffers from severe separation anxiety @lucylooareyou but you leave him alone anyway?

Shame on you.

And shame on this bloke. People don't deserve dogs if they don't care about their emotional well-being.

It's the same with dog walkers - I swear lockdown has contributed to a huge increase in dog ownership. I've been full since the beginning of the year too!

However, too many people don't do their research into the availability of walkers/daycare and just assume they can message and start their dog on walks two days later.

They wouldn't assume they could organise daily childcare with two days notice, so I'm not sure why they think they can do the same for their dogs 😂

Do you have a dog warden? Maybe ask the council/police what they suggest you do, as it is affecting your ability to sleep, work, and your right to peace.

Are you for real?! YABU.

No, you should not have a dog. How can you even think this is reasonable on your neighbour OR your dog? It is really exceptionally selfish.

People need to work, and that doesnt mean they shouldnt have a dog.

Er, sorry, but it usually DOES mean they shouldn't have a dog, unless they are prepared to pay for doggy day care and the dog is happy in a doggy day care environment (some dogs really aren't). A dog shouldn't be left on its own for most of the day, particularly a puppy that is clearly hugely distressed by that. If people can't look after a dog properly because they are working all day, they shouldn't have a fucking dog.

A dog that is barking for that amount of time every day has severe separation anxiety. Presumably it quietens down for a bit at lunch time because a dog walker turns up or the owner pops in.

I absolutely adore dogs and grew up with them and would so, so love to have one, but I do not have one, because if I did it would have to be on its own a lot and I am not that kind of arsehole.

This isn't just a nuisance for the OP. It's also an animal welfare issue.

Another suggestion here for letting the dog in your house and garden during the day as then he will have company and likely not bark. Obviously he's not your responsibility but it may make your life quieter and easier! I know someone who had the exact same problem, came to this agreement with their neighbour, and are now very happy with their part time dog! With no bills or food to buy!

He needs to not be cheap and hire a dog sitter

@lucylooareyou absolute bollocks. If you work full time and have a dog, you factor into your budget day care. Especially if you have an anxious dog. The fact that you leave your dog for 4 hours knowing that a) it's disturbing the neighbours by constantly barking, and b) it's distressed because it's anxious, is quite frankly disgusting.
I have an anxious dog. I pay for daycare while I'm at work and I've spent almost two years very very gradually building up his confidence at being left alone. It took a year to get to the point where I could leave the house for 15 minutes before he started showing anxiety (I have cameras to watch him) . It part of being a responsible owner to put in that time and care.

Just saying oh he's anxious there's nothing I can do, I have to go to work.. we'll there is something you can do, you can pay for day care, or get a new job wfh, or regime him to someone who can invest the time that he needs. Your current solution is just horrible.

I was going to say the same. Dog cuddles with no responsibility. I'd take that up like a shot! Neighbour out all day (irresponsible on his part) so maybe offer to let the dog out for a toilet break occasionally during the day (if your job allows) and you get the best of both worlds and no food or veg bills.

The poor, poor dog.

YANBU. It’s not fair on you, the rest of the neighbourhood or the poor neglected animal.

The owner should take some responsibility. Try talking. If that doesn’t work, report.

Also, daycare doesn't mean one of those god awful places where they Chuck loads of dogs into a big room together for a day, that will make an anxious dog worse. Either a dog sitter or proper day care with individual kennels where they get interaction with people and walked/ exercised every day.

But the reality of looking after a 6mo puppy is:

Frequently letting it out in the garden to avoid accidents
Dog-proofing your home to avoid damage and to avoid the dog eating things it shouldn't do.
Walking or playing with the dog multiple times during the day to keep it occupied.
Potentially having to work while dealing with a bored, barky/whiny dog.

Why should OP have to do any of that just because her neighbour is too cheap to pay for daycare?

@lucylooareyou you do realise that the 4 hr rule / advice for dogs is 4 hrs max per day not a couple of lots of 4hrs with a walk / visit in between .

People need to work, and that doesnt mean they shouldnt have a dog.

They shouldn't have a dog if their lifestyle means they are going to be out of the house for most of the day.

My 3 closest neighbours have dogs and they all work.
Neighbour 1, both work full time, one of them from home so dogs aren't left for long at all.
Neighbour 2, both work, one part time and the other full time, they have 2 dogs who I never ever hear. They aren't left for very long but have obviously been trained not to bark.
Neighbour 3, both work full time and dog is left from 6am-3pm most days, usually barks the WHOLE time either in the house or garden.

Neighbours 1 and 2 are less sympathetic to neighbour 3 than I am because they've managed to make sure their own dogs aren't left to bark for any length of time!

This is so true! I do home boarding as well. I get people messaging me to see if I can board a dog in a few weeks time.....no chance! My whole summer has been fully booked for months!

I feel your pain. NDN leaves at 6am and dog barks continuously. He pops back at lunch and leaves the back door open, which makes it even worse. Dog then continues barking until 4/5pm. Sometimes evenings too.
Council and RSPCA are not the slightest bit interested.

Sorry, but this is THE most ridiculous suggestion ever. Have you any idea how disruptive this would be to the Op's working day?

I have customers who WFH and still bring their puppy to day care, because it is impossible to work effectively and keep an eye on a bouncy puppy. They could be weeing/pooing inside, knocking over the water bowl, eating a cushion, jumping on your lap, howling at every passing human.....it's relentless.

Not only this, but I'm pretty sure neighbour would then start to take the absolute piss and want free dog care for other times as well.

Worst advice ever.

Proper home from home daycare are not allowed kennels.

Shit owner needs to step up. He needs training & reporting for neglect

Labs do not like being alone. They will tolerate it, but they are possibly the most gregarious of breeds.
We have a dog warden in our town and this exactly the sort of situation that dog wardens sort out. If not , the council.
Heartbreaking for the dog, he thinks he has been abandoned.

Our Bichon used to bark. Her separation anxiety was through the roof. Ended up just taking her everywhere as tried everything and neighbours complained . We dropped her at a kennels once to go away for 3 days. Warned lady at kenels that she will bark. Lady laughed and said I work with dogs I'm used to it. When we picked her up woman looked exasperated and said dog didn't stop once in 3 days.
Rspca won't touch it. Could try council. Even if they don't do anything just them getting in touch or writing a letter to owner might shame him into trying something else . I used to be mortified nwhen neighbours complained. Although my previous NDN complained about my dog when his barked all day long too. But he swore blind they were good as gold. I used to record my dog yo see how bad she was when we went out. Could you try that and show your neighbour? He may not realise how bad it is

Mine barks through seperation anxiety (down to circumstances that occurred before he was in my life) and use to howl for the entire 4 hours he was left at home. We had council letters, RSPCA called the lot.

I'd despair living next door to someone like you.

Your desire to rescue some dog doesn't trump the neighbourhood's right not to listen to that racket all day.

Call environmental services, a dog barking will affect your mental health. The dog isn't exactly having a wonderful life either.
Environmental Services can act if you hear the dog despite all windows being closed.
Some people think they have a God given right to own a dog. They don't.

Thanks for all your replies, it’s glad to see that (with questionable exception- is that you commenting neighbour??) I’m not unreasonable.

The suggestion to take dog in the day crossed my mind for all of 10 seconds before being a firm no. Our house is not conducive to a dog of that size, and I don’t have the time during the day to look after a pup and all that brings. I also agree with PP that my neighbour would absolutely be one of those cf’ers who’d expect me to basically be boarding every time he went out or away.

So, so quiet this morning, but then I can see one of his daughters is home not at college so guessing that’s why!