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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Neighbors barking dogs are driving me mad

69 replies

whyisnothingsimple · 14/08/2025 23:03

I moved into my new house in March - all great except for next door’s 2 barking dogs. They seem to bark for no reason whatsoever and one will set the other off. It’s often just a minute but is frequent through the day and night. I’ve met lots of other neighbours who are lovely but not spoken face to face with these ones. They keep themselves to themselves according to others. I’ve started to tell the dogs to be quiet as the owners don’t seem to. Tonight I’ve been drifting off 3 times and then woken by their barking. They must hear me telling their dogs to be quiet - is it time for a face to face chat? I would have thought they might come round to me but looks like they won’t. I’ve no wish to fall out with anyone but am I being u reasonable in expecting not to be barked at when I go into my garden - I’m grumpy and tired tonight so now is not the time although I’m sorely tempted.

OP posts:
Gorse · 14/08/2025 23:53

It's not at all unreasonable to expect your neighbours to keep their dogs quiet most of the time, especially at night. It's not difficult to train the dogs to come in to the house as soon as called. After a short time the dogs know a bout of barking will result in a quick march back indoors. It needs consistency for best/quickest results. If I can get my two foreign rescues (a right pair of scallywags) to be good neighbours anyone can. I'm worried that your neighbours are insensitive, selfish types though if they've let the situation go on. You may have to threaten them with action by the authorities.

PixieTales · 14/08/2025 23:58

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imcountingtothree123 · 15/08/2025 00:04

@PixieTales would the dogs understand? 😂

PixieTales · 15/08/2025 00:08

imcountingtothree123 · 15/08/2025 00:04

@PixieTales would the dogs understand? 😂

Yep, and they would likely tell OP to jog on.

Mumblechum0 · 15/08/2025 00:38

We had this problem years ago. I offered to buy the 5(!) rescue dogs training collars to stop the constant barking but the owner denied there was a problem.

reported to environmental health/dog warden, they got a home visit and they were warned the dogs could be removed if the problem wasn’t addressed. Couple of weeks later they pit their house up for sale, to the relief of everyone in earshot.

i see absolutely nothing wrong in telling the dogs to,shut up IF they respond to that, but they probably haven’t been trained so it won’t work

Peaceisenough · 15/08/2025 00:45

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‘Sorry’ but why the fuck shouldn’t she. My old neighbour had a dog 15 years old and they still didn’t get around to training it, it was an annoying bloody thing, but not its fault obviously.

Clh1991 · 15/08/2025 01:01

I completely sympathise with your situation for 2 years I lived in misery due to the non stop 3 barking spaniels across the street from 7 am to 1am it was utter hell. After asking nicely nothing changed so I reported them to the council I now enjoy peace & quiet & a full nights sleep my only regret is not reporting them sooner.

Peaceisenough · 15/08/2025 01:02

Clh1991 · 15/08/2025 01:01

I completely sympathise with your situation for 2 years I lived in misery due to the non stop 3 barking spaniels across the street from 7 am to 1am it was utter hell. After asking nicely nothing changed so I reported them to the council I now enjoy peace & quiet & a full nights sleep my only regret is not reporting them sooner.

Well done. These bone idle owners get my goat.

Gorse · 15/08/2025 01:13

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I think the main point of shouting to the dogs is that the owners (should) be made aware that the dogs are causing a nuisance. Obviously those particular people are too thick and too selfish to take the hint. I would be mortified if I thought my dogs were distressing neighbours.

Peaceisenough · 15/08/2025 01:15

Gorse · 15/08/2025 01:13

I think the main point of shouting to the dogs is that the owners (should) be made aware that the dogs are causing a nuisance. Obviously those particular people are too thick and too selfish to take the hint. I would be mortified if I thought my dogs were distressing neighbours.

I wish all dog owners thought like you Gorse.

whyisnothingsimple · 15/08/2025 07:34

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it does help a bit actually but I shouldn’t have to do it - it’s up to their owners to make sure they are not causing a nuisance to their neighbours so wind your neck in.

OP posts:
whyisnothingsimple · 15/08/2025 07:43

Gorse · 14/08/2025 23:53

It's not at all unreasonable to expect your neighbours to keep their dogs quiet most of the time, especially at night. It's not difficult to train the dogs to come in to the house as soon as called. After a short time the dogs know a bout of barking will result in a quick march back indoors. It needs consistency for best/quickest results. If I can get my two foreign rescues (a right pair of scallywags) to be good neighbours anyone can. I'm worried that your neighbours are insensitive, selfish types though if they've let the situation go on. You may have to threaten them with action by the authorities.

These 2 are foreign rescue dogs apparently - from a war zone - so your post gives me hope that they can, with training by the owners, be more considerate neighbours.

OP posts:
Sunshineandrainbow · 15/08/2025 07:46

Have dogs that bark over the back of me, mainly in the evening when they are left outside. One night at midnight I walked round and knocked told them Their dog wanted to be let in.

They still bark now but it normally stops about 11, is there a rule about noise after 11?

I feel for the people with kids near me but maybe they sleep through it.

stayathomer · 15/08/2025 07:49

My neighbour got rid of her dog who was the love of her life after a bitter divorce because she was so nervous after a neighbour called in and complained. Some dogs are honestly just barky- my dog never barks and everyone is always saying what a great dog he is just because they always heard her dog, who actually was a great dog, just a barker. I don’t know the solution but I hate the ‘it can be trained out of them’ thing

Lovelynames123 · 15/08/2025 07:53

My neighbours have 2 dogs, never walked, that yap bark constantly...they've actually improved in recent weeks after I looked after a friend's labrador- his loud, deep bark in response must've frightened them a bit!

Unfortunately my situation hasn't improved in 4 years, I'm moving away next month 🙌

BitOutOfPractice · 15/08/2025 07:55

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Absolute peak mn right there 🙄

OhHellolittleone · 15/08/2025 07:58

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wtf? Children and dogs are not the same. A dog should not be disturbing neighbours, but sometimes with children there isn’t anything the parents can do. A dog can be sent elsewhere, locked in a room…. Trained!

Rubyupbeat · 15/08/2025 08:04

I have 2 large dogs myself and would also be driven mad by barking dogs. The only time they are allowed to bark is when someone comes on the property and/or knocks at the door. They don't bother barking when it's someone they know.

IdrisElbow · 15/08/2025 08:07

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Goldengirl123 · 15/08/2025 08:11

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I absolutely would in her position. Why do we have to put up with other people’s dogs?? I used to live next to someone like this and their dogs used to keep me awake. It’s pure frustration

whyisnothingsimple · 15/08/2025 08:20

Goldengirl123 · 15/08/2025 08:11

I absolutely would in her position. Why do we have to put up with other people’s dogs?? I used to live next to someone like this and their dogs used to keep me awake. It’s pure frustration

It certainly is although today I have woken up naturally without the barking alarm clock! I have owned several dogs in my life and have lived next to others and have never had this problem before. I’ve also lived next to a young family with 3 children - the noise disturbance is very different.

OP posts:
70isaLimitNotaTarget · 15/08/2025 08:27

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And as if they would even listen to a stranger shouting at them to be quiet?

Obviously not listening to their ineffectual owners are they so why not ?

There's one of those dogs near me , they tell the dog to be quiet (it ignores) . Worse when it is put in the garden and just goes off on one, any time of day or night .
DD heard the noise at 1am/3am/5am and was this close >< to going round there .

They are a noise nuisance, dogs need trained to not bark . It;s not as though there;s a lack of information out there .

Ezzee · 15/08/2025 08:38

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I think the OP thinks she's the one being disturbed and at the end of her tether...
I get it OP my neighbours dog barks all the fucking time and they are at home, they don't tell him to STFU so I do.
He used to set my 2 off but they know that we're not cool with them needlessly barking and they are actually really good, if they forget they look at me and I give them a look at they stop ( I work from home)
It was driving me mad as he'd bark then mine would chorus... they are moving in the next few weeks, although lovely people I won't miss their fucking dog!

icouldholditwithacobweb · 15/08/2025 08:48

One of mine is a barker, and if he is out in the garden and starts barking, I bring him in immediately until he's quietened down and he can go back out. I never allow him to stay out there making noise, people who do allow their dogs to do that are selfish wankers.

Thattimeofthenight · 15/08/2025 08:55

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Well, I’ll tell you what I did @PixieTales , and this will really blow your mind…

In similar circumstances to the OP I bought a CD online that emits a high pitched noise that dogs don’t like. I worked from home and every time my disgusting neighbours’ disgusting mutt started its barking I whacked the volume up.

Trained the damn thing to shut up in no time. If you can’t train your dog I’ll train it for you.

Thankfully I now live in a detached house and don’t have to suffer other people.

OP, I highly recommend one of these CDs.