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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To tell someone their dog barks for 3 minutes?

107 replies

PiggyTigger · 10/10/2023 10:03

My neighbour’s dog barks for a good solid 3-5 minutes when they leave it alone, after that, it does usually settle but this is daily and sometimes twice a day. I have no idea how long it’s left for at a time, so don’t want to say they’re just leaving it but it’s quite annoying. DP (who doesn’t live with me but visits a lot) has told me it’s not that bad and for a relatively short period so we shouldn’t bother, but I’m not necessarily doing it out of having a go, but maybe they’re not aware. Either way, is 5 minutes or so considered prolonged?

AIBU to tell them?

OP posts:
Coffeerum · 10/10/2023 10:05

What do you expect them to do?

Riverlee · 10/10/2023 10:06

Five minutes is nothing, especially if they settle afterwards. I wouldn’t say anything.

BoohooWoohoo · 10/10/2023 10:06

What do you think telling them will achieve ? Are you after an apology or something else?

I have a neighbour who walks his dogs like 4 or 5 times a day and they make a racket at the start of their walk but are quiet when they return. They are dogs and not machines so I expect some noise and the 10 mins or so a day that I hear them isn't unreasonable imo.

MatildaTheCat · 10/10/2023 10:07

No it’s not prolonged unless it’s 5am.

Our dog was a barker in the garden and we would allow him 2-3 minutes a couple of times each evening when the foxes were driving him mad. Nobody complained.

If the dog was distressed all day then fair enough but it isn’t. Are you certain you never make any noise they could hear for a similar length of time?

MatildaTheCat · 10/10/2023 10:08

And also their dog is probably providing you with an excellent free burglar deterrent.

MiddleagedBeachbum · 10/10/2023 10:08

Please don’t be that neighbour!

Most people would wonder what’s wrong with you if you knock and tell them their dog barks for 2-3 mins daily 🤣

BMW6 · 10/10/2023 10:09

3 to 5 hours Yes of course, but minutes? No, you'd be very silly.

pastypirate · 10/10/2023 10:11

Is it my spaniel doing a stealth bark after I've left him quiet with his kong? Wouldn't surprise me - barking is his hobby.

Victorian terrace in the with west? 🤣

Nlss · 10/10/2023 10:12

I can’t see what telling them can achieve?! They won’t be able to stop the dog from barking, and then you’ll have a strained relationship with them.

RoseAndRose · 10/10/2023 10:13

Either way, is 5 minutes or so considered prolonged?

No, it's nothing

If you were going to mention it, you'd be delivering the reassuring message that after brief protest, the dog is fine and quiet.

Snittler · 10/10/2023 10:14

My dog’s a barker. Once or twice a day I’ll let her have at it for a couple of minutes, usually in the garden, but only if the neighbours aren’t out. Other neighbours definitely do similar with their dogs (and it annoys my dog), but I wouldn’t dream of saying anything unless it was for hours on end as it seems to be acceptable in our locale to let them bark for a few minutes every now and then.

Octobermeterreadtime · 10/10/2023 10:15

Our ndn's ddog barks the entire time they are out... Even if that's 6 hours..

SemperIdem · 10/10/2023 10:16

Your dp is right.

anareen · 10/10/2023 10:17

Is there some kind of noise ordinance in place where you live.?

amiold · 10/10/2023 10:17

Just wondering if I should knock and tell my neighbour he shuts his door to loudly?

Honestly op

JamSandle · 10/10/2023 10:18

My neighbour has a dog that barks for several minute bursts throughout the day. I'm thinking of how to broach it with them too as it's so shrill and loud.

vodkaredbullgirl · 10/10/2023 10:21

Ffs it's 5 minutes and then it stops.

FOJN · 10/10/2023 10:22

I don't think it's a particularly prolonged period of time but I was grateful when my neighbours alerted me to the fact that my dog was howling when I left the house, it meant I was able to address the separation anxiety.

vodkaredbullgirl · 10/10/2023 10:26

Great 1st post 🙄

ScattyHattie · 10/10/2023 10:29

From a noise complaint that would been seen as acceptable period for a dog to bark, it's not prolonged if it's then quiet for rest of the time. Would you complain to council if they played loud music or did some noisy DIY for just 3-5mins couple times a day or just accept it as part & parcel of having close neighbours.

ActDottie · 10/10/2023 10:29

Lol that’s absolutely no time at all.

Maddy70 · 10/10/2023 11:10

A few minutes is fairly normal until it settles.

What do you expect them to do?

RandomButtons · 10/10/2023 11:14

No that’s nothing.

If the dog barks then settles it’s fine. In all likelihood if they tried to do anything they’d make it worse as the dog would be getting attention for barking and thus think barking is the way forward. A little bit of barking is best ignored unless unsociable hours.

WastingTimeOnTheInternet · 10/10/2023 11:18

I would recommend you complain only if you are willing to never speak again yourself. Because it seems that is what you expect from another living creature. Dogs bark. 5 minutes is no time. Learn some tolerance.

Catza · 10/10/2023 11:43

3-5 minutes is not prolonged time and honestly, I don't know what telling them would achieve. We know our dog howls for hours. Our neighbours told us, there is absolutely nothing we can do about it. We tried training, boredom toys, nothing works.
I work from home so she is barely ever alone but I do need to nip out to the shops every now and then. The dog is clearly anxious but telling me about it isn't going to change it. I still won't be able to take her with me everywhere I go and as much as we try to arrange for one of us to be home all the time, we can't. Luckily my neighbours are very nice about it and have a whiney dog themselves and we don't mind.