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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To be annoyed at my neighbours dog barking in the garden at 6.15am today?

64 replies

TheLemur · 21/08/2009 10:33

It's the second time it's happened this week, the last time was monday morning when it woke us all up at 3.15am and again at 6.15am

If it was just me and I could go back to sleep I wouldn't mind but the fact that it wakes DS (2) who is then grotty really peeves me (we all usually wake about 8am)

However, I am genuinely very ignorant as to the mechanics of dogs. Maybe it needs to be let out when it needs a wee? It's a Yorkshire terrier (I think) and I really don't mind it barking in the daytime (despite working from home), I just object to feeling like a zombie all day and not being able to concentrate at work due to being so tired

I don't know the neighbour other than a quick smile and hello so I really don't know what to do. I don't want to come across like a selfish arse so maybe I should write a letter (or is that worse!?!) The last thing I want is bad feeling between us but I have been quietly seething about the barking for over 6 months now.

OP posts:

stonethecrows · 21/08/2009 14:29

Vinblanc...

"The last thing I want is bad feeling between us but I have been quietly seething about the barking for over 6 months now."

Actually, it does not look like it has been just two nights.

Lindax · 21/08/2009 14:44

pluck up courage to have a friendly conversation with neighbours and let them know the problems its causing you. it is then in their court to resolve it - barking at 3:15am and 6:15am is unsociable. they decided to take on having a dog and the potential issues, they could put some effort into investigating and training dog not to bark (it can be done, professional help could be enlisted or there are devices on market to help), or they could take dog out on a lead (less likely to bark, easy to control) during unsociable hours - yes even at 3:15am, as they are the ones who choose to have a dog.

It they dont put in any effort you could report and/or try one of these Bark Stop - they are a bit expensive and get mixed reviews but might work, did for our troublesome dog owning neighbours (note I dont blame the dog!)

YANBU

Flowerface · 21/08/2009 16:22

I would be extremely annoyed by this. We have two (elderly) dogs and they can easily manage eight hours through the night without needing to go out. It is the case that dogs bark 'naturally', but they also 'naturally' bite, fight, and poo in houses... It's the owner's job to curb the natural dogishness through training.

We had a Yorkshire Terrier when I was growing up. They are quite barky, but that means you don't let them out until a reasonable hour.

Writing a letter would be very tempting, but runs the risk of looking a bit passive-aggressive. I would go and talk to them, ideally in a humorous, self-depricating way to diffuse defensiveness. I am a dog lover, but children (and people generally) have to take priority!!

notpickedanameyet · 21/08/2009 17:50

YANBU
but alot of people on this thread are.
My neighbours have just gone on holiday with their dogs and it's an absolute joy not to have their 3 big dogs barking at different times of the day.
They do not wake me up so it isn't something I would complain about and I accept I have to put up with it, but if they were waking me and my ds up regularly then I would speak to them.
You have the right to be able to sleep, undisturbed in your own home.
Dogs can be trained not to bark.
I am hoping to move house soon and it is a priority that I do not move next door to anyone with dogs
I do love dogs by the way and look after my friends from time to time but I do not wish to live near one.

Hormonesnomore · 22/08/2009 23:16

I love dogs & hope to have one sometime in the future.

But we have been tortured by a neighbour's dog which was left alone in the garden for long periods. This resulted in the poor animal crying, squealing, barking and generally working itself into a non-stop frenzy. It happened during the week, at weekends, in the daytime & the evening.

I called the RSPCA as I was concerned about it, but was told as long as the dog has food & shelter and doesn't look as if it's been mistreated they won't do anything about it as it is probably suffering from separation anxiety.

My son had to put up with this noise all through studying for his degree finals & we couldn't sit outside on sunny days as the noise was too distressing. Earplugs were ineffective so I contacted the council who were sympathetic & they sent someone round to speak to our neighbour. We had feedback from the council - they gave the neighbour advice on looking after their dog & we haven't been bothered nearly so much since.

By the way, YANBU, yes dogs bark - that's what they do & I don't mind that, but I am not willing to put up with it constantly, all the time, any more than I'd tolerate any other loud noise from neighbours. We are considerate towards them & expect the same consideration in return.

Hormonesnomore · 22/08/2009 23:20

I've just read your post Lindax, we tried a barkbuster but it actually distressed the dog even more & resulted in louder barking! I think we wasted about £40!

LadyOfTheFlowers · 22/08/2009 23:32

i really do feel your pain.

our neighbours with 2 dogs have recently been served with a noise abatement notice i believe - the neighbours on the other side could handle it no more.

they let theirs out between 5.30 and 6.30 every morning and the dogs just run outside, growling as they go, then once they get outside, just bark at anything and everything -EVERY MORNING.

Lindax · 23/08/2009 09:56

hormonesnomore, they do get very mixed reviews on internet, must depend on dog and/or make and model.

the nature of these things is that it will cause the dog some discomfort/confusion so may lead to some initial extra barking until they click and realise whats going on (action/consequence), and that is what trains it to stop barking.

ours worked a treat and dog seemed more confused than actually distressed - I am a quiet dog lover we were watching from bedroom window and there was additional barking, but no whinning, tail between legs and other distress signs for ours

as I say, anyone should try to have a pleasent chat with their neighbour to resolve, but if they have the attitude of half the dog owners posters on this thread, you need to take matters into your own hands whether that be council or devices such as these

Danno266 · 23/10/2017 12:25

Do you have kids Erika? Yeah I thought so..dogs should not be allowed to bark on a continuous level or during quiet hours,PERIOD..its because of people like you that the world is the way it is, who gives you or anyone else the right to disturb the people around you, grow up.

MatildaTheCat · 23/10/2017 12:31

YANBU. Especially about the 3.15 am incident.

My dog is a barker. Nothing he loves more than to chase down the garden at night and bark madly at all the imaginary intruders. I recognise this is pretty anti social so he is severely restricted in terms of time and gets 2-3 1 minute sessions per evening. After 11pm and before 7am he gets put on the lead if he needs to wee and he never barks then.

In the house it's a bit different. If he barks because some fucking idiot body sets off late night fireworks or there's a thunder storm there's not so much I can do.

Ask your neighbours to use a lead 11pm to 7am.

WhatwouldOliviaPopedo · 23/10/2017 12:36

We live a few doors down from a dog that yapped its head off in the garden every morning before 6am and woke us and our DC and a few other neighbours. People complained but nothing was done. One morning I saw red when my DC was upset because they were tired of being woken up early and marched outside in my dressing gown only to see the dog in the garden barking and its owner indoors sipping coffee and watching it through the patio doors! I yelled at her and when she came out she said she had to shut the dog outside otherwise it barked in the house and woke her DS up! I then gave CFN a piece of my mind and it's been fine since - dog still yaps but is let out later. So I would have a shouty word with them before going down the council route, OP.

scottishdiem · 23/10/2017 12:37

This thread is 8 years old. The dog could even be dead by now.

roundtable · 23/10/2017 12:43

Zombie thread

Frequency · 23/10/2017 12:47

My dog barked last night at around 4 am. Fortunately, I know him well enough to know that when he barks, he's barking at something. Often this is nothing more than a carrier bag caught in a tree. Last night, I got to the back window to check in time to ask the man trying to get into next door's garden if there was anything I could help him with.

It's the second time this week he's woke in the night barking. I'm thinking now that he gave the would-be intruder a fright the first time and they scarpered before I got to the window.

He's going deaf now, so he won't be protecting us much longer.

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