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Original poster

PLEASE will someone tell me what to say to neighbours re puppy barking

22 replies

mooshy · 07/09/2006 11:10

I am really really kna***d !We are semi detached and had new neighbours last month.Big house thin walls.
Havent really met them proporly yet but Im sure they are really nice .In their 30`s with no kids.They bought a puppy 3 weeks ago and it barks and yelps and whines ALL the time.I can put up with the daytime by putting tv ect on but i am sitting here literally in tears because i am so bloody tired.Every single morning i am downstairs drinking tea with my 2 daughters 4.45 -5 am ish.We never go back to sleep.It goes on and on and on.I hear them come down to him occassionally and it stops briefly. I am wondering if they can hear it.I dont want to set a horrible start to our relationship and i was all for ranting on the doorstep at 4 am this morning.I want to understand it all and even help if i can.What on earth can i say without upsetting them ?My daughter is off school today because she is so exhausted and now its interrupting the girls school as well i am getting angry.Can someone give me any idea what to say because i am quite shy and deeply worried about causing offense. Sorry its so long.

OP posts:

southeastastra · 07/09/2006 11:17

hopefully someone with more puppy info will be around to help. do they leave the pup alone during the day?

Original poster

mooshy · 07/09/2006 11:19

Yes i think its in one of those cage things.
And thanks for reply

OP posts:

liquidclocks · 07/09/2006 11:20

Say something today before you get even more tired and angry. I think I'd start with something like 'I really don't want to upset you because we haven't really got to know you yet but your puppy is keeping us awake at night.' Stick to the facts - if they're nice people they'll be nice to you, if not, you just have to accept that you need outside help.

I'm surprised really that they've not been around to apologise to you - I'm worried about a new baby crying in the next few weeks and praying our neighbours won't be able to hear him too much. You might be pleasantly surprised though and find they're embarrassed and just didn't knowwhat to say but are equally as bothered by it.

liquidclocks · 07/09/2006 11:22

Really? they leave a puppy in a cage all day? That's not right - no wonder it's barking, it's probably not getting enough excercise to make it feel sleepy. Have civilised words but if nothing changes the puppy's needs come first and you should seek advice from the council/rspca.

auntymandy · 07/09/2006 11:23

The only answer is to talk to them.
Maybe go round all friendly and introduce yourself and just say 'I am sorry to bring this up on our first meeting but, your puppy is vry noisy and keeping us awake at night'

Couls you let it out during the day? maybe soften the blow with, 'is there anything I could do to help? maybe walk it after school?'

Original poster

mooshy · 07/09/2006 11:24

Thanks liquidclocks. Am having palpatations just thinking about it but it cant carry on.
Just hope they are nice and dont pounce on me !

OP posts:

liquidclocks · 07/09/2006 11:25

That's a good suggestion from auntmandy, if you like puppys then perhaps you could do that? Not really your responsibility though - OTOH it might be a nice way of getting to know your new neighbours and become friendly?

throckenholt · 07/09/2006 11:26

maybe they don't know how to help the puppy seetle. We found leaving a radio on, and leaving a t-shirt or jumper of ours - that smelt of us - with it - really helped.

Have a word with them - say it is keeping you awake, and wondered if they had tried either of those things.

Original poster

mooshy · 07/09/2006 11:33

I will thanks.
I would prefer to be told if it was me.Just hope i can pluck up the courage now when they get home.

OP posts:

liquidclocks · 07/09/2006 11:36

Good luck mooshy! I don't envy you at all but do think it's best to say something if you can, just think of your LO's missing school if you need motivation this evening, that's a big sign of how much it needs to be sorted.

Original poster

mooshy · 07/09/2006 11:49

Thanks lclocks.
Hoping dd1 wants a long nap with mummy this afternoon.I can sleep with him listening to lullabies and get a cuddle in at the same time .

OP posts:

auntymandy · 07/09/2006 21:07

Did you go over?

Original poster

mooshy · 13/09/2006 16:41

No i ducked out !
Really wish i had said something now though.
Totally knackered. DD2 was off school 2 days through pure tiredness-she was sick.
Dd1 has epilepsy which she had pretty much grown out off-lack of sleep is her main trigger and school have rung to say she was having staring spells in her French class.
I am a part time midwife and had to cancel my on call tonight and finish work early ! I have never really felt so tired even when i was a new mum myself.
Neighbours have had the puppy a month now so i think Ive been pretty patient. Its starts at 4 am and whines and barks non stop until 7.I havent slept after 4am for a month now.I am so tired i just cried all morning this morning and got ready to go around-was all ready to blub on their doorstep but they had gone to bl**dy work !
Will down a large wine this evening and go for it.I cant believe I`m so nervous about telling them.
Wish me luck please ?

OP posts:

CountessDracula · 13/09/2006 16:43

They should be getting up and settling the puppy really. That;'s what we did. Or having it in their room.

I think you can go and talk to them about it. Why should you be kept awake just because they can't be arsed to get out of bed and comfort the pup

Poor pup

Original poster

mooshy · 13/09/2006 21:03

Girls i did it !
Neighbours were totally unaware and thought puppy was really good at night.
Were genuinly upset and have promised to sort.Even asked for any advice i could give them.
Cant wait to get to bed-thanks for all the tips-passed them all on and very gratefully received.
x

OP posts:

Original poster

mooshy · 22/09/2006 04:43

Well it only lasted a couple of days.
Have been up last 4 nights-usually from 2.30 am.Husband and dd1 sick with tiredness and dreading having to go to work myself at the weekend.

OP posts:

littleducks · 22/09/2006 08:12

Saw the time of your post, you poor thing! Is there any way of letting them know your up? If the can't hear puupy much can they hear from other rooms in your house better? our house is like that, maybe some heavy footsteps, radio on, children complaining in the right room might wake them up and get them to deal with it.

fairyjay · 22/09/2006 08:19

If they say that were unaware first time round, maybe they are unaware it has started again. Can your dh go round and talk to them - it ridiculous that your life is being disturbed so much by a puppy that isn't yours.

Good luck!

IvortheEngine · 22/09/2006 08:31

I agree that you need to continue to tell them. Maybe they sleep really deeply and can't hear it. My neighbours had a dog for a few nights. It wanted to sleep with them and yowled all night if they put it in the kitchen. Then, just when they were absolutely shattered, it ruined their kitchen ornaments causing a lot of damage, so they gave it back to the original owner. They'd really wanted a dog and thought that all dogs were like mine (i.e. housetrained, able to sleep alone at night) and it was a shock to them to see the disruption a dog could cause. Anyway...just saying that it doesn't always work out. The first night, my pup howled a bit. I had to open the door and say shush with my fingers to my lips - sounds daft but it did the trick. It learnt to be quiet. The second night I only had to do it twice, but I did have to get up early to it, around 5 or 6 am for the first week or so. Perhaps they are unaware of this. If it hasn't had its injections then perhaps it's not allowed outside for walks yet. Once it is, they can walk it and tire it out a bit. Can you put a note through the door just to let them know what time the puppy has been making a noise since? Each morning it happens would be best. It is totally unacceptable for you to be kept awake like this. It's their problem and they should sort it out. HTH.

Mellowma · 22/09/2006 08:36

Message withdrawn

Original poster

mooshy · 22/09/2006 11:43

Littleducks-have slammed the doors, banged the windows and played relaxing music quite loudly.They never stir before 5.45 !

Fairyjoy- i know i need to speak to them again but it will have to be me.Dh wouldnt do anything like thatIt irritates the pants off me, but he just wouldnt.

Ivor the engine- i hope your right and they cant hear it, although i am beginning to wonder how they can possibly sleep through it.A note might be an idea as i am so dreading going to speak to them.Last time i went i managed to talk to the lady on her own and she was really nice.I ended up blubbing because i was so tired and because i think relieved she was ok with it.She did ask me to tell her if it happened again so really i suppose its my fault for not doing just that.

Mellowmar-
when i went to see her first i offerred to help.She asked for any suggestions and i reeled off everything i`d had back on mumsnet.For a couple of nights i think the dog slept in their room and it was bliss.
Now they have moved it i think to the far side of the house in the hall or maybe even the garage.Its as far away as can be but i can still hear it all bloody night.I suggested they slowly move hime away from the bedroom to eventual sleeping area over a few weeks not days !
I am beginning to think they can hear it.When they got up at 5 this morning i heard the washing machine go on and then the hoover-obviously had a big mess to clean up.They went back to bed and it stared barking again and they must have heard that but did nothing.
Sorry its so long.
Thanks for all your replies.
I know what i need to do-its just nice to rant on here x

OP posts:

IvortheEngine · 22/09/2006 11:51

Another thing. Have they given it something that smells of them to sleep on? They could get an old blanket or towel and sleep on it for a night and then put it in the dog's basket or crate and it might then feel less lonely, being reassured by the smell of them.

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