To put anonymous letter through neighbours door about their dog

[Whatisgoingonheredear]

A neighbour has a little dog that barks all day, for ages.
Starts at about 6am. Runs outside, barks for about 5 minutes solid.
Will happen throughout the day, including if anyone walks past, pulls up, if anyone has a delivery, if anyone goes to their car or bin. Usually does it's last round of barking at about 10 - 10.30pm. Barks when leaving for walks and when arriving back from walks.

It's been grinding on me for a while but is now seriously pissing me off. I'm not sure if they're blind to it. It isn't one or two barks and will go on for minutes at a time. When they first got this dog they'd occasionally say "no" or "stop" (which obviously didn't work) but I am not sure if they have made any other attempts to do anything about this.

I am dreadful with any sort of confrontation and would prefer to put an anonymous note through the door, saying I am not sure if they realise the frequency of the barking and is there anything they could do to please reduce this.

I also really feel for the dog as it must be constantly on edge.

WIBU to do this? I don't want to report to the council.

@CoffeeLipstickKeys well
an anonymous note is likely to upset the neighbour and they will probably suspect the OP and others .
Several of my neighbours were upset by one neighbour’s dog but nobody wanted to say anything, just constantly moaned about it. I went round, spoke politely about the dog and its barking. Turns out it was being left outside, in good weather and had a shelter, but wanted to be inside. So the owner stopped leaving the dog outside for hours.
Not everyone is unreasonable.

You’re relying on the conversation being polite and productive- hypothetical
What if it isn’t? Then it’s got RL consequences
An anonymous note whilst not ideal doesn’t immediately personalise or identify

Well perhaps I’m just better than you at handling awkward people @CoffeeLipstickKeys I’m honest and upfront.
An anonymous letter puts others under suspicion and will likely get the dog owners back up. However, you crack on with sneaky underhand ways.

You’ve made this all about you, your politeness. It’s not about you, it’s about a woman who feels an anonymous letter is necessary
This is not about polite you,and your polite interactions aren’t relevant to this situation
The real life ramification and fact the husband and neighbour share a workplace is a consideration
Polite doesn’t necessarily cut it if the neighbour feels it’s unreasonable request and feels got at. Polite cannot predict or moderate someone else response, it could escalate badly
No going back once the door is Knocked and issue raised
whilst not ideal anonymous note doesn’t identify the complainant

As I’ve said it creates bad feeling for other people who haven’t anonymously complained.
Either have the backbone to make the complaint or put up with it. Creating an atmosphere of suspicion is not right.

The words you have suggested for your anonymous note are very suitable for a face-to-face conversation. You don't have to lay it on any thicker than that - just a light, direct, polite description of the issue.

It does take courage to raise an issue with someone directly but it is much more fair and honest. An anonymous letter is underhand.

The neighbour has to consider her safety. The fact that the husband worked together in the same place and other considerations if she believes that there is a risk could be consequences to directly raising this face-to-face then on balance an anonymous note is a sensible idea

@caramac04 it is all a bit jolly hockey sticks to presume if one asks directly that neighbour will initiate change. So , whay if they don’t make that change, what if they’re a real life consequences that then step over into the workplace. people take sides if it escalates. The two colleagues develop a strained working relationship.

your situation is simply not applicable to this. You have no idea how this is going to work out but you have your own hey I’m polite and A straight talker self optimism. Again, that’s all about you .

Something works for you doesn’t mean that it will work for everyone else. Anonymous letter isn’t ideal but it has potentially less real life consequences on face-to-face conversation that potentially escalate

So @CoffeeLipstickKeys you’re happy that several people will be suspected of posting anonymously?
What if the dog owner comes round with the note demanding to know if OP sent it? Or knocks other doors?
Dog owner is bound to suspect OP. No proof but suspicions fester.
Anyway, as I said, carry on being sneaky and underhand. I’m just off out to see a man about a dog. Bye and have a nice day.

Please do continue to call me names and attack my character, it really, demonstrates your polite demeanour

If I received an anonymous not about anything I would laugh, throw it away and think what a coward they are not to come and talk to me.

Just knock and speak to them.

your husband works same location as the neighbour? Anonymous typed letter posted by mail letter
This has the potential to cause ill feelings if they see you post it through door

Yes I wouldn't have posted it through the door because of ring door bells. But appreciating everyone's feedback. I'm just truly awful with this sort of thing. Her old dog did the same thing and nobody else ever said anything to her. I knew it was quite old when we moved here, so I just hoped that if they ever got another dog, they wouldn't let it do the same thing. This one is worse...

If you do this, make sure they don’t have a Ring (or similar) doorbell that records you posting the note.

Laugh?Would that be a tinkly laugh, with a head tilt?
you're the very person to receive an anonymous complaint with that attitude

Oops sorry, came back to check the thread and have some how posted the same thing as I did earlier.

Yes, tricky with neighbour and DH working for the same company. Could go pear shaped if the chat isn't taken well.

Just be an adult and have the conversation with them. Just ask if there’s anything they could do about it and if they could take him out later in the morning to reduce the impact the barking is having. It doesn’t need to be confrontational. Sending an anonymous letter will just get their backs up

If you find it too difficult to speak to them, could your husband do it? Agreed that knocking on the doorbell or mentioning it when you bump into them in person is far far better than an anonymous note.

There are genuine reasons that people don't like confrontation. Sadly if you were raised as a people pleaser, like I was, confrontation that could potential have longer term impacts is a genuinely worrying prospect and not something I invite in to my life if I have other options. I have spent about 5 years listening to this neighbours dogs and am gutted that they have let another one do the same thing.

You don't sound like a very empathetic person.

Exactly. And it takes it into a new aspect with real life consequences
send anonymous letter by mail, not ideal but necessary
everyone else all emboldened because they don't have to deal with it in real life. Easy to be all bish bosh get it done when they are online

He is equally keen to just send a note because they work at the same place

Anonymous Note sent by mail is the way to go
this has potential to escalate and leak into workplace. You dont want that

It isn't just on walks, it's all day and all night. They must have a dog flap or something because even when they aren't home and the door looks shut, it makes it outside barking. In the evening when everyone is coming home from work and in and out of their own houses, it can run out and back for minutes at a time about 6 times an hour, that is without deliveries etc.

I have also noticed royal mail staff will no longer go on to their property to deliver post.

No, don’t take the cowardly route of leaving an anonymous note. If you have an issue with your neighbours, talk to them directly.

Ahh, yes the persuasive use of attacking language. Sure to change someone mind and get them to see your compelling point of view
Nice

I had an anonymous note left on my doorstep about Something that was nothing to do with me. I now view all my neighbours with suspicion and no longer speak to any off them

That is somewhat a disproportionate response
Horses head on your doorstep, sure, cut all contact
Anonymous note, I would presume the sender was irked and forget about it as not applicable to me