Next doors dogs bark every night

[shellybon]

I know I'm not but more of a 'what would you do?' I suppose...

We live in a semi and our neighbours dogs bark constantly day and night. They have 2 bulldogs that are 5. (we know this because they were puppies when our dog was a pup too)

I don't think they are particularly well looked after as we hear them being told to STFU at least once a day and we have not once seen them go on a walk, they just go out in the garden a few times a day to toilet. Day and night they bark constantly, whether my neighbours are in or out the house.

For the past year or so, myself and my DH have been woken up in the middle of the night by the noise of the dogs barking a few times a week - to the point where we end up so frustrated we can't get back to sleep we bang on the bedroom wall which wakes (or prompts) our neighbours to get up and get them to stop barking. If we don't do this, the barking carries on until they get up for work. They seem to be able to live with the barking day and night like they have learnt to zone out or something.

We are at the end of our tether with it and I know we need to go round and speak to them about this but we don't dare because they come across quite bolshy and we don't want to cause any animosity or tension. Their son in his 20s has been in prison twice and clearly has some issues of his own as we have heard him shouting at his mum a few times and really losing his shit tbh which was really uncomfortable to hear. Because of the impression we have got, we don't want to get on the wrong side of him and have chosen to lose hours worth of sleep every week rather than cause an issue.

We are concerned for the dogs well-being more than anything as we are massive dog lovers and honestly have visions of their dogs being shut in a room with the door closed out of sight out of mind and I can't put it into words but I'm 99% sure they are not receiving the love and attention they deserve.

And then there's the issue of our lost sleep which has gone on too long now and needs sorting.

So does anyone have any advise on how to tackle this?

Poor poor dogs.

call council noise control

My dog has a walk every day and garden time. I can’t imagine him not having a walk (unless it’s too hot. Or raining and he declines)

Report to the non emergency police as as a concern about your ndn....
Just been camping and a local man deliberately has multiple ddogs to deter campers using the sight.
Reported concerns for the man as the ddogs were barking aggressively for hours. He could have been burgled etc.
Police came out.

You need to start recording the barking if at all possible at lots of different times during a good selection of days as a log as the council won’t budge until they have that. Or call RSPCA about the dogs welfare
Iv experienced it and it had me on the brink of tears listening to it 24/7 and I have a dog.
good luck op

Don't call the RSPCA, it's a noise issue. Usually falls under the dog warden remit at the borough council. Make a written record of the dates and times for evidence and see if you can record the sound on your phone.

My first action would depend on whether I owned or rented my property. If I owned I wouldn’t want anything on record that I would have to declare at a house sale. Go from there

Contact your local council, they will have a process for nuisance noise (police usually not interested). We had similar, and the first thing the council did was to send a letter to the noisy gits stating that they had received complaints and it would be a good idea to change their behaviour (about 8 houses complained about the barking, it was that bad!). We were asked to keep a written diary of when it happened, how long, etc. The council then used the timings to do a couple of visits and monitor the noise. A stronger letter was sent when no improvement was made and that did help BUT the noisy neighbour knew that after six weeks of good behaviour the council would write off the case, and we'd have to start again. It was a private estate so no chance of eviction etc.

Luckily they moved, but I totally understand how upsetting it is. I had a new born so my sleep was already trashed - to be woken up by barking at random times day and night made me feel like I was going bonkers!

I'm sure someone will be along soon and suggest moving - and if you can, I would (consider this before you make a formal complaint as this has to be declared I think). Do try the council though, as they may be able to help.

I hear you! Our across the road neighbours have three big Labradors who are always in the garden and bark all the time day and night. Slowly driving me insane 😭

I have a neighbour with 2 dogs, I get woken up 11.30 pm and 2-2.30pm and 5am regularly, the excuse is someone works irregularly hours, but it’s just one dog? And the dog is outside not inside where it is usually kept ? This is driving me crazy ! What can I do?

@shaw58 Call your local council. Explain problem, they’ll put you through to the right department. They all deal with noise in different ways, some use an App, you open and activate it when the nouse starts, press stop and send and it shows decibels and time. My neighbour got a letter saying action would be taken if the nouse didn’t stop. It stopped.