Dog Barking Is Destroying My Mental Health

[DefiantSparrow]

A new family have moved into the apartment below me and they have recently acquired a dog, which over the last six months has become progressively more vocal to the point that I am fixated on it. The barking is intermittent throughout the day and sometimes at night. It affects my husband less but he has started to become snappy sometimes when it's barking. Even when it's quiet I'm waiting for it to bark again. A few hours ago I was in floods of tears because the peace and quiet that I took for granted has gone. My home is destroyed.

I feel chronic anxiety over the dog's barking. I haven't spoken with the neighbours because I don't like confrontation, but I've been researching my rights on this topic and it seems as if I have none. I feel absolutely despairing at the moment. My life is being destroyed by this dog and I don't know what to do about it. I've not slept properly in weeks.

The only thing you can do is speak to them very nicely about it. If they don't want to be reasonable and try to do something about it, buy a couple of cheap loud speakers and play one of the annoying dog barking / roadworks etc videos on YouTube full blast every time the dog shuts up. Figure out their routine and play it when they are about to go to bed. Worked for me.

I reported it. Was sorted that way.

Absolute sympathies to you. There is something about a dog's bark that goes right through you. Added to which is the complete lack of control when you are not the owner.

A couple of years ago I reported a dog to the district council and the dog warden (?) man was very helpful. You are asked to keep a diary and they can intervene for you. It was a section on the council website.

Do you know if it is when the owners are out of the house? Or do they wind the dog up? It is so awful.

If you can't talk to them, why doesn't your husband do it?

Just talk to them about it, or pop a note through the door.

You absolutely can report it and absolutely have rights.

Local council Environmental Health department.
They'll want to see that you've tried to sort it, so pop a letter into the neighbours asking them to keep the dog quiet.
Then start keeping a diary.

Time dog barked - Duration - Effect On You
Note everything and be honest about the effect on you. If it disturbs your sleep, put it down if it makes you anxious, put it down. If it gets you angry and your fight or flight reaction kicks in, put it down.

Your local EH will read it over a d see if it reaches the level of a 'Statutory Nuisance' and for it to be that it has to be shown to be intrusive or irritating. That's why you should detail clearly the effect it's having on you.

Trust me when I say this, there is nothing you can write that the environmental health people haven't encountered before.

So.

Letter through their door.
Keep diary detailing times, durations, effect.
Complaint to Environmental Health
Give them your diary, they may ask you keep diary.for a set period.

The EH team will contact the dog owners and tell them a complaint has been received.
They may ask the dog owners to write back with their side of the situation.
They'll probably give the owners guidance on managing dog noise and set a time limit for them to improve the situation.
The EH will likely contact you and let you know what that time limit is, that way you can tell EH if things have resolved or not.
They'll also let you know what happens if the issue hasn't resolved.

IN THE MEANTIME
I very much recommend
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Panasonic-RP-HJE125E-K-Ergo-Ear-Headphone-Black/dp/B00CBU0IV8/ref=asc_df_B00CBU0IV8/?
Plug into your phone or a cable from TV.
They have 3 size of caps, use the right caps and they'll block a good amount of noise. I wear them daily for watching TV and YouTube or listening to music. (I live in an area with lots of dogs and noise etc.and have found the only way I can cope is by managing what gets into my ears to begin with and these earphones I've found are the best because of their Ergofit design.)

Sincere thanks to everyone who replied to my post. Unfortunately, the dog barking situation has really worn me down. I've started on antidepressants to help me cope. My sister in Bexhill has kindly allowed me to stay with her for a short while; the guaranteed peace and quiet feels such a relief, I can't describe it! Stress must have a cumulative effect. Wishing everyone health and happiness.

That's awful

Do you own the flat, op?

Noise nuisance is absolutely awful, I've had it at various times and it causes profound distress, it's hard to understand until you've experienced it.

If you don't own the flat, can you move?

If you own it - do they own theirs? If not, can you take it up with them and then their landlord?

You could also look into noise insulation, if you have hard flooring sound travels much more easily. Could be as simple as taking up floorboards and putting insulation down underneath.