My neighbour's dog barks for hours

[OwlishBookworm]

I moved to my current home just over a year ago. My neighbour has a dog. She seems rather sweet, and she is quiet when he is at home. When he goes out, she barks for hours at a time.

So far today I've had ten hours of barking coming through the wall. It's audible in every room of the house. This happens almost every Sunday.

There are other hours-long barking sessions throughout the week, but on days when he leaves her shut in a small downstairs room for ten-twelve hours she barks for the entire day.

I feel for the dog, it's not her fault. I've tried speaking to my neighbour, and I put a very polite note through the door to alert them to the issue, in case they didn't know, but I've got nowhere. I've been keeping a diary for months.

Every event is spoiled by the barking: Christmas Day (12 hours of barking well into the night); Easter weekend (10 hours). I'm sure there will be plenty more to come

Would it be the correct thing to now contact the council and the local dog warden? Possibly his landlord? I don't know what else to do. Any advice is welcome!

I would knock on the door tomorrow and tell him. Tell him that his dog is disturbing you for hours at a time and that unless he deals with it, you will be reporting him.

Thanks. Yes, I agree that that would be good. I've tried. He doesn't answer the door! I suspect he knows it's me. He is a really good neighbour except for this one thing.

He's very considerate about other types of noise, which is why I originally assumed he didn't know.

Perhaps he doesn't know what to do about it. I suppose I don't either and that's why I posted, to see if anyone had any bright and brilliant suggestions for either me or him!

I'll try again. It's decent to give him another chance before going through official channels.

Leave a note then.

Yes I would report it. Not fair to the dog left alone or neighbours.

I’d go straight for official channels now. You’ve already tried to have a word, have put a note through the door and the problem persists.

it not ok to leave a dog alone that long even if it isn’t barking!! Please report.

I doubt you’ve got a dog warden?! But you could go to the RSPCA and ask them for advice.. it might be they could visit and explain the dog is being left for too long and is causing noise disturbance. I wouldn’t report to the council for fear the dog would be removed from its owner - unless you think it is being neglected.. possibly it is if being left for very long periods. If I was you I would offer to look after dog or walk dog when he was out for very long periods of time.. but then I am a two dog owning nutty dog lady 😀 but it would solve your problem! And improve life for both the dog and you!! The other thing I might do is buy him a gift of a dog Kong.. they are rubber dog toys you can stuff with peanut butter or similar that deliberately take them ages to eat, and I’d ask him to use it when he goes out to prevent the barking and give the dog something to do!! X

.. if dog is really being left very often for 10 hours with no one stopping by to walk it or keep it company it is not ok and would be neglect.. X

Thanks everyone. On the length of time left: that's what I thought. I've never had dogs, and I know very little about caring for them, but I am pretty certain that leaving them for that long is not good for them.

I will report, in that case. I'll contact the local dog warden this week.

No animal should be left barking for so long. That's appalling neglect.
Contact Environmental Health. The first thing they'll do is ask you to keep a diary of the noise so it's great you've already done so.
I would suggest you contact the RSPCA as well because that poor dog sounds very unhappy. And yes, the landlord too.

I hope the poor creature is rehomed. I'm really worried about it. Where's it go to the loo, if it's left alone for so long?!

He's leaving the dog for 10-12 hours?! That's awful.

Dog kong sounds good. We do actually have a warden, amazingly enough. The RSPCA won't attend for barking, only if they believe actual abuse is happening. But ringing them again for advice might be a good idea.

I'm not certain I want to commit to walking his dog, but it's lovely that you would!

I have a few options to look at here. I will get things moving though, it's not fair on the dog.

Thanks again.

@babyproblems All councils in England are supposed to have a dog warden. Ours is brilliant and far more helpful than the RSPCA.

On the loo thing, I have no idea. That's one of the reasons I'm so concerned.

It does happen often, for hours at a time. Ten hours is common on Sundays but not usual through the working week.

I can't say for certain that someone isn't calling in to let her out, perhaps they are and then they're leaving again.

Just to reassure: as I say above, I don't know about dogs, but I do care about animals, and I will get things sorted for her. I am very aware that this is not the fault of the dog.

Some people don't deserve dogs. This is so unacceptable.

I'm so angry and upset by this, but also very pleased the dog has a friend in you and you're going to report it. Please keep us updated.

The dog warden has been notified and I have sorted a diary with Environmental Health. Hoping this can get things sorted. We shall see.

Thanks everyone.

Thank you for advocating for the wee doggie. We had a new neighbour the other year. I was round there as soon was decent with a bottle of wine and my mobile number, saying please let me know if the dog woofs if we are out and it's annoying you. I'd hate my dog to be crying and unhappy, and not knowing about it.

He's leaving his (clearly distressed) dog for 10-12 hours???

Unacceptable

OP you have to say something, you can't go on like this

I’m 4 months into this. The tenant has now been told by the council to rehome his dog. He is a council tenant though, so don’t know if that’s why. I had to be a proper pest and get our councillor involved because the first answer was that he was allowed to have a dog. Poor thing was barking and howling for hours every day. He’s spent no time training it or finding alternative day care. It just sets your nerves on edge. Good luck OP, I hope and the dog get a better solution sorted.

Bravo OP and @gingerscot too. Great to see people sticking up for animals and action being taken.