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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Neighbours barking dog

32 replies

AreWeNearlyThereYet84 · 31/08/2022 21:04

My neighbour has a dog that barks non-stop when neighbour is home but isn't holding the dog (yes, really!) so there's a lot of barking.

The neighbour has decided to take on a night shift which means that the dog is alone all night, despite knowing that the dog barks non stop when she's not there and it's driving me fucking insane! Last night was non stop whining, which I can just about stand and the TV drowned it out, but now the dog is barking at full volume and has been for an hour and half already. Last night it woke me up at 1am when I have to be up for 5am.

It has a loud bark and is on the other side of the thin wall so I can hear it over the TV. It hasn't stopped for a breath. I'm ashamed to say that I have shouted through frustration at the dog through the wall and banged on the wall in hope of shocking the dog in shutting up. It's bad enough that I hear the dog so much through the week, but to have to potentially hear it all night after a hard day at work is almost driving me to tears.

Neighbour and I were talking earlier but she basically said that there's nothing she can do about the dog.

OP posts:

Creepymanonagoatfarm · 31/08/2022 21:08

Council
Environmental Health
Police and ask for a welfare check on the occupant at their ddog is acting aggressive.

Tigerstripes1 · 31/08/2022 21:08

I'm quite an amenable, accepting person but I would lose my shit over this. It is cruel to leave a dog overnight alone, especially when it is already an anxious dog. I would be telling her sort it, rehome or I'm reporting it.

EllieRosesMammy · 31/08/2022 21:10

There's plenty she can do about a barking dog, or atleast try eg. A bark alarm, bark collar, anti anxiety vest, medication to calm it...

If she's refusing to try anything then I'd just report her to the local council, or landlord/housing association if she rents.

Original poster

AreWeNearlyThereYet84 · 31/08/2022 21:17

She doesn't think there's much she can do presumably as the dog is old and untrainable. Oh, it's awful when it doesn't shut up!

I previously have kept a diary for the council but didn't send it as I wanted to keep neighbour relations friendly but my goodness, I cannot stand the noise.

I do feel really ashamed for losing my shit and banging on the wall and shouting though. I leave the house so early and get back so late that peace and quiet for a few hours at night is something I cherish.

OP posts:

Original poster

AreWeNearlyThereYet84 · 31/08/2022 21:19

If she isn't showing the dog attention it literally just stands barking at her!

It's shut up now, but for how long?

OP posts:

smileandsing · 31/08/2022 21:28

Creepymanonagoatfarm you can't report a dog for acting aggressive when it's not!
OP don't make things up. Keeping a log and reporting to the council is fine but that will take time and may not resolve the issue anyway. Plus you'd then have an official neighbour dispute on the go.
Try to talk to your neighour about this. I'm sure she wouldn't want her dog being unduly distressed overnight either. But it may be she has no choice but to work night shift to make ends meet. Perhaps she could have someone stay with the dog, or it could stay elsewhere while she works.

Creepymanonagoatfarm · 31/08/2022 21:59

Barking for lengths of time wil have it in an agitated state. It will become aggressive..

Original poster

AreWeNearlyThereYet84 · 31/08/2022 22:01

It's started barking again. God help me.

OP posts:

ILoveMonday · 31/08/2022 22:01

Not being funny but if she doesn't have time to look after it, she shouldn't have it. You should report.

Snugglemonkey · 31/08/2022 22:04

If you have tried talking to hers d nothing is happening, it doesn't leave you with anywhere to go but to report it. I definitely would!

Original poster

AreWeNearlyThereYet84 · 31/08/2022 22:10

I'm going to speak to her tomorrow and insist the dog stays with her mum or another family member. I cannot be listening to this night after night. She also smokes weed which the smell seeps through my back door so she's not my favourite person.

OP posts:

Original poster

AreWeNearlyThereYet84 · 31/08/2022 22:20

As she is on nights and I probably won't see her, is it OK to put a note through the door to say the dog has now been barking for three hours and to find a solution?

OP posts:

StoneofDestiny · 31/08/2022 22:21

Of course there is something she can do! She can re home the dog to someone who can look after it. I'd record the noise and play it back to her. Insist she does something to resolve this or you will report it - tell her you cannot let your health suffer like this.

StoneofDestiny · 31/08/2022 22:21

Yes - a note through the door and tell her you cannot take any more of it.

Itsthelookitsthelook · 31/08/2022 22:26

I would try to write a calmly worded letter (I appreciate you may not feel able to, it sounds like an awful situation) explaining that if she doesn't come up with a solution such as sending the dog to a relative when she works, that you will have no choice but to report her to Environmental Health re the noise and RSPCA for animal cruelty. The poor dog must be so distressed to bark for so long. Hope she sorts it soon OP

ohdearnotme · 31/08/2022 22:26

I know this is not helpful but please be mindful that you will not be able to sell your house if you make a complaint to council or police about your neighbour.

I would urge you to try to remain friendly and work with her to find a solution. I'm into my third year of neighbour dispute, it's been the worst period of my life. Have court in December and then I will be able to put my house on the market. The council are woefully understaffed and not able to efficiently sort out neighbour disputes - please don't go there!

Try to sort it over a bottle of wine/cup of tea - even if you can't stand her, I promise you, you'll get better results this way. Good luck x

soph12347 · 31/08/2022 22:49

Yes put a note through her door. Tell her its affecting your mental health and disturbing your sleep which is then affecting your work. If there is no solution i would honestly move. I couldn't cope with a dog barking constantly it would go straight through me! I've had dogs my whole life, luckily not had one that barks more than is normal. Maybe suggest she gets some dog calming medication or plug ins as it sounds like the dog is very anxious!

Cas112 · 31/08/2022 23:05

Report to council and they will send you a noise diary to report for 6 weeks before taking further action

In the meantime they will send a polite letter to your neighbour to advise they has been a complaint and to try minimise the issue so it doesn't need to go further

Knockmealdowns · 31/08/2022 23:17

Daft idea but would the dog be calm with you? Could you have it with you? Would it be quiet? Would it be worth a try? Keep the dog in your house while she’s on nights?

GooglyEyeballs · 31/08/2022 23:18

I agree you should report it to be the noise authority to people (yano what I mean). In the meantime I would get a dog whistle and squeal it see very time the dog barks. Anything to shut it up (I have a dog btw and the only time he barks is when a stranger in the garden - whining and constant dog barking is bloody irritating)

Original poster

AreWeNearlyThereYet84 · 31/08/2022 23:22

Hi everyone, thanks for your advice. I have posted a polite note and will see what happens next. I had a night of howling last night and a night of barking tonight. I could even hear it over the TV. It spoiled my evening!

I already compiled a noise diary as the dog barks a lot even when they're home. It can be outside barking for 10 mins to 30 mins at times. I just didn't send it as I thought it may cause a rift or upset.

It has woken me up barking more than twice in the past week.

It's got to the point now where I can almost guarantee the dog will be barking within ten minutes of me arriving home from work. I dread coming home.

OP posts:

Brigante9 · 31/08/2022 23:23

soph12347 · 31/08/2022 22:49

Agree. My neighbour’s dog barks a lot, I don’t understand why they don’t tell it off/take it in. My lot don’t bark bar when they see the other neighbours using the back gate (three times in 2 years) but if they’re noisy (lots of playfighting) they get hauled in.

Astrak · 02/09/2022 05:14

Poor you. Poor dog. I think I'd have to have a chat to the neighbour and explain that her dog's barking was causing your health to detiorate. Inform her that your sleep is being interrupted, work performance is being compromised etc.
If that doesn't work, I'd revert to the Council.

Housebytheseanc · 02/09/2022 06:43

We have the same issue with our neighbours dog. As soon as they leave the house he just howls - it’s mostly in the evenings for around 3 hours just as we put my son to bed. Its been hell over the summer as his room is hot and we can’t have windows open.
my other half politely messaged the neighbour and he basically said ‘dogs bark what can I do?!’
so fed up with living like this.

if we complain to the council it’ll mean a full on dispute which I would rather avoid for the purposes of selling our house in the future.

I thibk it’s so unfair when people get dogs and leave them when clearly they have issues with separation.

I really feel for your OP, hope your neighbour will be a bit more understanding than ours is.

Abitofalark · 02/09/2022 15:07

I have every sympathy for what you are going through. It is intolerable to live next to prolonged bouts of barking, growling or other noise and it becomes mental torture because you are constantly on edge and anticipate it starting, dreading going home.

Some good suggestions from posters here for where to get help. Has a dog warden been mentioned? Some councils have them. Could be helpful in finding a solution. The other thing to consider is deciding to cut your losses and leave, if that's a possible option for you. I know it isn't always. I had years of dog noise and other noise and did eventually move. Phew. It's so good to escape.

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