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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To be both worried and resentful about upstairs neighbours' dog that yaps ALL day?

23 replies

BonsoirAnna · 07/01/2009 20:00

I'm not remotely knowledgeable about dogs. The neighbours on the fifth floor (we are on the fourth) got a puppy in the autumn. He often barks - and today has barked non stop ALL day (it is still going on at 9pm). Is this usual? Am I right in thinking he is being mistreated? Could he be ill?

OP posts:

mysterymoniker · 07/01/2009 20:01

he might just be a yappy dog, do you know what sort he is? my friend has pulis and they just bark bark bark bark bark bark, it's what they do . . .

GrimmaTheNome · 07/01/2009 20:02

He might be ill but he's probably bored out of his mind and desparately lonely, if he's been alone all day.

mysterymoniker · 07/01/2009 20:03

poke an aboistop collar through their mail box?

Original poster

BonsoirAnna · 07/01/2009 20:08

It's a little White Terrier

OP posts:

nula · 07/01/2009 20:28

ya def not being unreasonable!
I would be just annoted at the disruption.
Very kind of you to also be concerned on the dog's behalf!

Original poster

BonsoirAnna · 07/01/2009 20:30

DD (4) is very concerned about him . She thinks he is all by himself and not happy about it.

OP posts:

Lauriefairyonthetreeeatscake · 07/01/2009 20:31

why has he been left on his own all day ?

poor dog

why do people get dogs and then leave them for 10 hours while they go to work? - I mean, duh, pack animals - hello dimwits

Original poster

BonsoirAnna · 07/01/2009 20:33

Both the parents work and the three daughters are at school and not home until 5pm at the earliest.

I agree, I don't know why they got a dog to leave him alone all day shut up in an ...

OP posts:

dexter73 · 08/01/2009 08:28

Perhaps you could ask if you and your dd could take him out for a little walk during the day then your dd might feel more happy and so would the dog!

jalopy · 08/01/2009 08:58

How can anyone justify owning a dog and leaving it on it's own all day. Go on, dog owners, convince me.

mysterymoniker · 08/01/2009 09:01

is it possible someone visits the dog at lunch time and he just yaps the rest of the time?

hopes for the best

brimfull · 08/01/2009 09:04

good suggestion from dexter
dog prob needs a good run and some company

Lemontart · 08/01/2009 09:17

How well do you know them? Would they be up for Dexter?s suggestion? It is a good one if they are willing to allow you keys to the flat etc. and you can find a tactful way of phrasing it so not to offend. Easy for them to get defensive but if they could see a genuine offer of help, should be ok.

Just careful you do not end up being used as a daily free dog walking service!

Original poster

BonsoirAnna · 08/01/2009 09:36

Oh God no, I don't have any availability for dog walking at all. My life is one long walk in this city and my hands are always full. I long to leave the house just once with empty hands (and return with empty hands) - I am not going to lumber myself with yet more errands .

Anyway, the dog was yapping until nearly midnight and any concern I was having for its welfare got overtaken by sheer annoyance. I saw Mum Neighbour early this morning but was in a hurry on my way out to school so couldn't say anything. But I might just have to pretty soon...

OP posts:

Onlyaphase · 08/01/2009 09:47

I'd say something to the neighbour - if they aren't there all day then they aren't going to know it yaps if you don't tell them. And, I've always found it best to say something when I'm not white hot with rage IYSWIM - best to say something low key today, then you can be rightfully indignant at midnight next week when it is still barking.

I'd be livid too, on behalf of the dog. It must be bored rigid all day, and now it is in the habit of yapping, it will be difficult to stop for the poor thing.

Nekabu · 08/01/2009 09:55

"How can anyone justify owning a dog and leaving it on it's own all day. Go on, dog owners, convince me."

You'll get no arguments from me, jalopy. It's an appalling way to treat a dog and even worse for a puppy. I expect it'll start teething and get destructive (i.e., chewing things) soon as it must be bored and lonely.

As for the OP, I would say something. They may have no idea but if you tell them they may get their fingers out and find a dog walker which will be a win win situation for both you and the pup.

castille · 08/01/2009 10:05

Friends of mine got a dog from the local rescue centre but had to return it after a couple of months because it was going insane barking all day 5 days a week while they were out. They had no idea until their exasperated neighbours had a word. You'd be doing your whole building (and the dog) a big favour by telling them how distressed their dog is

PixieMoon · 08/01/2009 10:08

Do let them know

My dog comes to work with me but I used to leave her occasionally for a few hours or so, I thought she was fine, when we went xmas shopping she was left for 6 hrs and afterwards my neighbour came round to tell me she'd been barking for most of that time, he wasn't nasty about it, and I was glad he'd told me as I wouldn't have known otherwise and assumed she was ok being left (not for 10hrs a day; I mean for a few hours once or twice a week if I went shopping etc!)

He told me in a nice 'just to let you know' manner, I'm sure he was probably quite angry with me for having to listen to her yap for hours, but he was nice and polite and I have to admit my immediate concern was my dog that she'd been upset all that time, I apolgised to neighbour and there's no hard feelings (I hope!).

But now I know, and she doesn't get left alone at all, if I need to go somewhere she can't come, OH stays at home or she goes to a lovely dog sitter, costs me £5 for half a day and she loves it.

The joy of having a dog is the constant, never-failing companionship - you can't just ask the dog for that for the hours you're available, he/she's around 24/7.

tittybangbang · 08/01/2009 10:19

My sister's dog barks the whole time she's not with it. It was a rescue dog that was abandoned by its owners and left in a house completely on its own for three days.....

PrammieMammy · 08/01/2009 11:36

Maybe they don't know he barks all day? Tell them your worries, they really may be clueless. My mum and dads old dog (died when i was about 10) used to bark when they left, but they didn't have a clue untill the lady next door told them.

jalopy · 08/01/2009 16:05

How can dog owners not know their dogs bark?

All dogs bark, especially neglected, lonely and distressed dogs.

Lotster · 08/01/2009 16:09

Agree with Pixie, I only left my dog alone for a couple of hours max when he was a pup. He was always quiet when I left and arrived back, but turns out a few minutes after I left for most of the time he was howling. My neighbour told me and I'm so glad he did.

I'd hate the neighbours to be disturbed and more importantly, my dog had a bit of serparation anxiety that needing dealing with, he was much happier after I addressed it.

If she gets shirty or ignores you, then she runs the risk of being reported, if not by you then someone else...

MillyR · 08/01/2009 16:20

Jalopy, I think it isn't right to leave a puppy on its own all day as they need a lot of settling in, training, love etc.

Having said that, my neighbours and my brother and SIL have rescue dogs that they have got as adult dogs and they do not seem to be unhappy to be alone all day, although they generally do try to have 2 dogs at home together than can keep each other company and when dogs are not out exercising they do naturally choose to sleep quite a lot.

One of the dogs my neighbour has does bark quite a bit, but more as a guarding instinct. It barks when the post arrives or if someone comes to my door or the neighbour's door. My neighbour did come around and apologise about the dog. I said I wasn't bothered as it aids security and we are quite noisy ourselves; they have no kids and we do have kids; we often have music on and so on. It works out okay because we are 2 noisy households together IYSWIM, and the tolerance and loveliness of my neighbours is the main reason I wouldn't want to move.

I think the main issue with the OP is that the dog sounds distressed, and seems to be a lonely and upset puppy (bad for the dog) and that they have a dog in flats with thin walls (bad for the neighbours who have listen to the distressed dog). So OP YANBU.

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