would you tell a neighbour if their dog barked constantly when they were out?

[wannaBe]

my neighbour has two springer spaniels. I don't know the neighbour well - have spoken maybe 3 times since they moved in last September.

Anyway I had noticed over the past couple of months that there was a dog in our street that barked constantly esp first thing in the morning. would be barking when I let my dog out before going to preschool and still barking when i came back, so at least an hour sometimes. Due to how our street is shaped I wasn't sure which house it was, but on Friday I decided to walk down the street in that direction to see which house it was as tbh I was intending to ring the councel/rspca as dog sounded as if it was distressed and shut in somewhere. It was then that I discovered that it's next door, and that the dog is actually just sitting by the front door barking, constantly.

Part of me thinks that I should go round and mention it. After all they may be unaware, and I would definitely want to know if my dogs barked when I was out. But I don't want to come across as if I'm complaining because I'm not - I just think that maybe he should be aware his dog barks as he could maybe give it something to occupy it or something to relieve the distress it might feel or something.

Should I go round? or should I just keep out of it?

I'd tell them - they may well not realise there is a problem.

Yes tell them - I'm sure you can handle it diplomatically

I had to drop it into conversation with my neighbour that when she goes on holiday her dog howls and howls and howls. Her dog is usually happy and quiet when left during the day etc but when she clocks those suitacases the howling starts..........

Tell them, but springers are very barky, ime, so I'm not sure what they could do about it.

God everytime I see one of these questions I think "Oh crap, it's me isn't it!!" .

I think you should tell them, you can say you noticed ita nd just thought they should know in case someone complained (makes it clea you aren't the one complaining then).

If you are somewhat chicken, a friendly note popped through letterbox while they are out?
Our neighbour popped over 2 or 3 times when DH had gone to work and left the dogs outside by mistake and they had been barking at local cats/birds/cars/randomness all afternoon . I was embarrassed but grateful he told me rather than making a complaint or harbouring festering resentment!

cargirl? She leaves her dog home alone when she goes on holiday?!

no she has various relatives stay over, feed her, walk her but when they go to work for the day the howling starts, during the night etc - whenever she is awake and alone.

Next time I may be brave and ask for key and suggest dog spends some of the time with us - although she will try and kill our cat but I can't bear the howling!

The dog didn't used to do this just the last 2 years she's getting old and cantankerous me thinks

phew!
One of our dogs gets angsty when we go in and out of the front door and up and down the stairs over and over as he has worked out this mean we are "going somewhere with bags" and that he wants to come too!

Yes, I would, it's a nuisance and the poor dog clearly isn't happy.

definately

God, yes, after biting my tongue for 9 months of serious annoyance (having to wear earplugs to bed, etc) I lost it the other day and wrote a furious diatribe about our neighbours dog and stuc kit in their letter box (they'd gone out all day and it didn't shut up for 6 hours).

She phoned up and apologised amd since then they've only left it outside to bark once (they have a 2 acre garden, so doesn't have to sit by the front gate ), and that day she phoned to apologise in advance, which was good of her.

I did feel a bit bad about the psychobitch from hell note, but it did the trick!

I used to work as a dog warden and was involved in noise complaints re, barking, i'm sure they'd prefer to hear it from you than end up with the dog warden involved, maybe not from you, maybe from a neighbour. there are things they can try, leaving the radio on so they don't get distracted by noises from outside as much, shutting them away from the front door so they aren't barking at passing people and cars, these simple things could help you and their dog, I'd want to know if it was me - i've just got a puppy and know it cries at first when left but then quietens down, but I keep checking with my neighbours (and videoing it!)

Why not ask if you can take it for a walk sometimes as it barks all day and must be bored? Brownie points for you and you've let the neighbours know about the problem without upsetting them.

I would want to know if my doggies were barking when I am gone. Do you feel like offering your services as dog friend??

As an side, does anyone know how to stop a dog barking? Ours barks when he hears people out in next door's garden so we can't have the windows open. We've tried everything we can think of.

cargirl, is your neighbors dog alone all night?? Poor little thing!!

I don't think so, one of her sons lives with her I just think she objects to "mum" being away. Worst was dd was a young baby last time and it was hard to work out if it was the dog or the baby.

It was heart rending though. Like I said she (the dog) is used to being left and she is fine we never hear a peep usually. She now barks at fireworks and she didn't used to do that either. she's a border collie and about 13.

whew!!!

Evenhope, I believe you can get collars which emit either a smell or a noise they don't like when they start barking. No idea whether they work.

Thanks for that link speccy. I may give that a try as we are getting desperate.

Evenhope, if you get the collar please get the one that emits a smell and not a noise. The ones with the noise can create there own problems in the future with other noises