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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to refuse to move in my garden so that a neighbour's dog stops barking?

324 replies

Motnight · 19/06/2026 15:58

I'm fairly certain I am not but my neighbour's attitude has made me wonder.

Earlier today, just after 7 am, I was sitting at the bottom of my garden on the bench drinking tea and just listening to the birds and looking at my flower bed. Our garden is that of a typical London Victorian terrace, surrounded on 3 sides by other gardens. I was probably 2 feet away from the fence separating our garden from opposite neighbours.

The neighbour's kids were out playing, Not particularly loudly but I could here them (I often do and it's not a problem at all, we are all living in close proximity, that's part and parcel of it). Suddenly their dog starts barking very loudly. It goes on for a couple of minutes. I then hear a male voice saying "is there anyone there?". I say, yes, your neighbour, hi (we've never spoken before). The man then says my dog is barking at you. He knows you are there. I don't know what to say so say nothing. The man adds can you move further up your garden please so my dog stops barking. I say, sorry, what did you say as I can't quite believe he is asking me to move. I have been completely quiet, minding my own business and just enjoying my garden. He repeats it. I say no, I am having my tea (!). He says, but your garden is as long as ours, there must be space for you to sit elsewhere, and if you don't move we will have to take the dog in. I reply, look I am sitting in my garden and I am going to stay here for as long as I want.

The man sighs loudly and says thank you for nothing, I'll return the favour some day. I hear a bit of rustling and muttering and then silence. Kids and dog and man have obviously gone back into the house. And I am left thinking WTF.

OP posts:
iwishtoo · 20/06/2026 22:08

PorridgeEater · 20/06/2026 20:49

Funny how some dog owners think their dog is more important than other people. The man should take inside if it barks / train it not to do so.

Absolutely. We had the (horrible) conifers and old wire fence at the end of our very long garden changed for a six foot fence last year. Bat sh*t neighbour from the house behind came out to say "why are you doing this, my dog likes to put his nose though the fence and bark". Gritted my teeth and moved away as we were spending £2k partly to stop seeing the dog. Fencing contractor pointed out the fence was within our boundaries and of the permitted height. Neighbour walked away crossly. Very pleased that I no longer have to see her or her spoilt and untrained dog this summer.

Ayarreet · 20/06/2026 22:13

CruCru · 20/06/2026 20:51

I like dogs but they are very much the owner’s responsibility. One of my neighbours has two border terriers who bark hysterically whenever a fox / cat / squirrel walks along the high wall at the back of the gardens (so repeatedly throughout the day). Sometimes their daughter comes out and shouts at them.

tbf that's outrageous trolling by the fox/cat/squirrel.
#btposse

NotQuiteUsual · 20/06/2026 22:15

What in the fuck?! I can't even imagine this level of entitlement.

They need to train their bloody dog. Our dog takes herself indoors if she even barks once because she knows she's not allowed to bark in the garden.

Fatchilli99 · 20/06/2026 22:28

user1471538275 · 19/06/2026 16:04

You were not the problem.

The dog was the problem.(and its owner)

So the dog needed to move (or be trained)

As to his threat of 'returning the favour some day', I would be noting that down - in fact if there are any other issues it might be worth recording them if he's going to be like that.

I would definitely take notes of this and if he does other rubbish make a diary in case he escalates. I thought my neighbour was being funny about me in my garden as I weeded I accidentally farted as I got up . Never let me forget it and it got quite nasty . All I did was weed . No radio no other noise . Thankfully I moved away

k1233 · 20/06/2026 22:46

Mandaxx25 · 20/06/2026 19:22

If you appeared at my door with a staffie you'd regret it. Does it ever occur to you people that others don't want anything to do with you or your hellbeast?

And this is what is wrong with people today. I was raised to be polite and neighbourly - maybe that's just the country way. I always introduce myself to my neighbours when I move in.

My dog was introduced because people can find the breed intimidating. I didn't expect people to interact with him. He was extremely well trained and obedient.

As I said, all my neighbours loved him - I know because they would tell me. That wasn't by chance, it was because I had raised a well mannered, beautiful dog. One elderly guy up the back used play with him a lot. When his wife died his kids got him an ex-breeding mini bull terrier as they saw how much he loved my boy.

Clearinguptheclutter · 20/06/2026 22:49

He’s barking mad- and I don’t mean the dog

Cycleaway · 20/06/2026 22:50

unbelievable (I believe you!)

If my dog barks, she comes inside, because barking dogs are annoying for everyone. Why on earth is the solution to send you inside. What an entitled idiot

Metromayhem · 20/06/2026 22:58

k1233 · 20/06/2026 22:46

And this is what is wrong with people today. I was raised to be polite and neighbourly - maybe that's just the country way. I always introduce myself to my neighbours when I move in.

My dog was introduced because people can find the breed intimidating. I didn't expect people to interact with him. He was extremely well trained and obedient.

As I said, all my neighbours loved him - I know because they would tell me. That wasn't by chance, it was because I had raised a well mannered, beautiful dog. One elderly guy up the back used play with him a lot. When his wife died his kids got him an ex-breeding mini bull terrier as they saw how much he loved my boy.

What does “the country way” mean?

Flowerpower70 · 20/06/2026 23:04

What a cheek and he has a sense of entitlement and control freak? Don't move he needs to train his dog!

T1Dmama · 21/06/2026 00:13

If my dog was doing this I’d tell the dog off or call it in! Simple!
thankfully my dogs only bark if someone is knocking the door, and even then they sometimes can’t be bothered 🤣 buts that’s because I’ve trained them not to bark!

CruCru · 21/06/2026 00:16

Ayarreet · 20/06/2026 22:13

tbf that's outrageous trolling by the fox/cat/squirrel.
#btposse

It’s more that they don’t learn that cats / foxes / squirrels use that wall to get around. I’d understand if they’d never seen one before but this pair are driven mad with rage multiple times a day.

lifeisgoodrightnow · 21/06/2026 07:11

My dog barks at neighbours, he gets told to stop. If he doesn’t he goes back in the house and I apologise to the neighbours. Not your circus not your monkeys OP.

ItsOkItsDarkChocolate · 21/06/2026 07:21

WhosGotTheKeysToMyBimma · 19/06/2026 16:00

That man needs to train his dog!

First post nails it.

ItsOkItsDarkChocolate · 21/06/2026 07:25

@Motnight

And, perfectly handled too.

What a CF.

And I’m a dog owner.

Enjoy your tea!

OneShyExpert · 21/06/2026 11:50

WhosGotTheKeysToMyBimma · 19/06/2026 16:00

That man needs to train his dog!

It’s his kids seething dog off not you! The guys nut job!

eastegg · 21/06/2026 12:13

DollydaydreamTheThird · 20/06/2026 19:20

Thanks, sometimes I feel like the only one. Unpopular opinion and all. 🤣

You are definitely not alone. I completely know what you are talking about. If I’m taking up a quarter of the width of the pavement and entitled dog owner wants more than three quarters, as they so often do, I’m not moving.

This has reminded me of an EDO incident. I was jogging slowly up a path on a South London common, enough space on the path for at least two people to pass, and more importantly loads of space on grass either side. EDO passed me the other way, walking off the path onto the grass even though there was enough space on the path for him and his mutt, but definitely enough for a person without a dog. As he went past he said quite loudly ‘another one with no manners!’ ie me! Twat. I stopped running and challenged him. He obviously thought he deserved thanks for allowing me to exist! He no more got out of my way than I got out of his. I’m sure he went off path a bit in order to complain I didn’t thank him.

eastegg · 21/06/2026 12:17

Should have said, I was right on the very edge of the path deliberately leaving loads of space. It left me wondering whether if I’d just stepped the further six inches to the side it would have taken to be off the path, that would have entitled me to say ‘another one with no manners!’ to him.

Trishthedish · 21/06/2026 13:21

Callmeback · 19/06/2026 16:28

I own a dog. If she barks at people from the garden she gets put inside the house. That man is a dick and you have every right to be in your garden.

Exactly the same in this house. One of my dogs is very barky and the other joins in believing there’s a threat. They both get called straight back into the house.

BlueFahrenheit · 21/06/2026 13:27

Dog owners in general irritate me. I find them most absent-minded.

  1. No, I don't want your dog running up to me.
  1. No, I don't to hear your dog barking.
  1. No, I don't to have a conversation with you about your dog.

I'm not interested.

Whosthetabbynow · 21/06/2026 14:10

“He won’t hurt ya”. Well I don’t know that do I. Get him the fuck away from me. I freeze if I have to pass a big dog.

Pessismistic · 21/06/2026 14:27

Hi op some people just love to get on here to create drama just ignore them and your neighbours they are fucking stupid to even ask. Your garden you sit where you want at least by standing up to them you got peace and quiet win for you.

LeroyJenkinssss · 21/06/2026 14:27

k1233 · 20/06/2026 22:46

And this is what is wrong with people today. I was raised to be polite and neighbourly - maybe that's just the country way. I always introduce myself to my neighbours when I move in.

My dog was introduced because people can find the breed intimidating. I didn't expect people to interact with him. He was extremely well trained and obedient.

As I said, all my neighbours loved him - I know because they would tell me. That wasn't by chance, it was because I had raised a well mannered, beautiful dog. One elderly guy up the back used play with him a lot. When his wife died his kids got him an ex-breeding mini bull terrier as they saw how much he loved my boy.

@k1233 If you came round with your staffie I’d abandon my usual curmudgeonly ways and be delighted! Absolutely lovely dogs who sadly in this country have an ill deserved rep.

if I’d been in your shoes @Motnight that would be me for the day, camped out at the bottom of the garden. So incredibly rude of him!

my dog barks at anyone who pulls into the drive but we are rural and so I’m happy for the alert. He does shush on command though.

Feduptryingusernames · 21/06/2026 14:28

What an absolute a*. How dare he ask you to move in your own garden. You handled it well. His responsibility to control his dog.

tommyhoundmum · 21/06/2026 14:59

eastegg · 21/06/2026 12:13

You are definitely not alone. I completely know what you are talking about. If I’m taking up a quarter of the width of the pavement and entitled dog owner wants more than three quarters, as they so often do, I’m not moving.

This has reminded me of an EDO incident. I was jogging slowly up a path on a South London common, enough space on the path for at least two people to pass, and more importantly loads of space on grass either side. EDO passed me the other way, walking off the path onto the grass even though there was enough space on the path for him and his mutt, but definitely enough for a person without a dog. As he went past he said quite loudly ‘another one with no manners!’ ie me! Twat. I stopped running and challenged him. He obviously thought he deserved thanks for allowing me to exist! He no more got out of my way than I got out of his. I’m sure he went off path a bit in order to complain I didn’t thank him.

Hope it wasn't Clapham Common.

eastegg · 21/06/2026 15:04

tommyhoundmum · 21/06/2026 14:59

Hope it wasn't Clapham Common.

Streatham.

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