Do You Let Your Dogs Bark Outside?

[midori1999]

I am on bedrest, so at home all day. My next door neighbours dog spends a large proportion of each day barking in the garden, and it is really starting to annoy me. Not least as the poor dog obviously isn't happy. (it is a St. Bernard with hip dysplacia that was due an op ages ago, but when she realised her insurance wouldn't pay for it, she suddenly decided it was better... yet it tries to get into my garden to play with my dogs at every opportunity, despite having to clear two five foot fences to do so...it is walked sporadically)

I am finding it increasingly irritating. Dog was outside continually barking for about 5-10 minutes at 7am this morning.

I have four dogs, so I do realise dogs bark at times. However, I do not allow mine to stay outside and bark, they have learnt that if they bark it means they come indoors, so they don't bark that much at all and if they do, it is only one or two barks. I consider this basic manners, especially to my neighbours who do not own or may not even like dogs.

So, what do others do?

I cringe with embarrassment if I hear one of mine barking, and immediately bring them inside. My neighbours aren't so considerate though - two big labs next door, locked out all day, never walked, always breaking into our garden. Mine bark occasionally if there's a stranger over the fence or a weird noise, but their dogs bark all day every day, from morning til night, seemingly for no reason (apart from being locked out, of course! But even if the door is open, they still stand outside and bark). One of them is the littermate of our 3 year old and the difference between them is amazing - he's fat, unhealthy and completely untrained, our girl is lean, shiny and obedient. They've ruined a lovely dog. There is also a guy at the back of us with two dogs and they bark at all hours but he's either deaf or stupid, because he doesn't shush them even if he's in the garden. It beggars belief.

I call my dog in when she starts to bark.

two barks and he's in.

Mine bay rather than bark, and I live in dread of being known as 'the woman with the annoying dogs'.

I too call mine in when they start to bark. 7am is far too early to have to put up with 10 mins of barking. I would complain to the environmental health. Or maybe the RSPCA?

No, but mine very rarely barks outside and will only go out if I go too. If he did bark he'd be straight back inside.

I call mine in if he barks outside too. I don't want to listen to that racket and neither do my neighbours.

I feel sorry for the dog being shut outdoors all day and possibly in pain. It's a tough one: have you had words with the owner? Are you thinking of reporting this to the RSPCA?

PS hope you are better soon OP

for about a month-6 weeks I was woken up every morning at between 6 and 8 by a barking puppy, clearly on his own, clearly unhappy. It drove me mad and it's a good job it has stopped because it really did have the potential to turn into a big neighbour dispute. I thought it was completely unnacceptable.

I think the odd bark or two, at reasonable times of day, is ok. but continual barking and/or barking at unsociable hours is not on.

our dog barks at things - people passing by, mainly. 3 or 4 barks and then he stops. if he's in the garden on his own (which, tbh, he rarely is) he does ocassionally start barking a bit more, in which case I call him in or go outside with him (which makes him stop).

(the 3 or 4 barks at passers-by are inside)

If mine are outside and bark at passers by, I allow them one or two and then go out and tell them to be quiet. We live in a v rural spot and I reckon it does no harm for people to know we have dogs, however as I loathe dogs that bark all the time, am careful not to let them do it.

Some people have two very barky dogs up the road from me that are loose all day, and bark at any passing car, rider or walker from the moment they first hear it for as long as they can hear it. Even when the owners are home they make no effort to stop them.

Are you on good terms with the neighbour - could you slip a note under the door explaining you are unwell and are finding it difficult with the dog barking....? Tis a minefield and I wish you luck.

I don't allow my dog to bark outside as such. But there are times when he does it. He is always brought straight back in when he starts barking.

What they are doing sounds very cruel imo.

My neighbour has a JRT that barks virtually non stop from about 7am till 10pmish...I'm listening to it now! The poor thing never seems to go for a walk. I've watched it from our upstairs window, it just wanders about barking at nothing.
I found out from another neighbour that she tries to shut him up by calling him in for a biscuit every time he barks

My dog will bark if she wants to come in, or sometimes during play. But I wouldn't let her keep going on and on.

We have 2 beagles and a run for them out front. They only bark (bay) when people walk past, and I usually go out and quiet them. But I do like the fact that they bark when people approach, as I like people to know there are dogs (and they sound fiercer than they are!)

But I wouldn't allow them to bark non-stop for ages. Did have a problem years ago when we had a catflap, as dumbdog would stick his head out of it, and kids would taunt him deliberately, leading to barking if we weren't in. We sealed up the catflap, as I can appreciate the annoyance of others.

im with you frosty ,we live in a rural area ,with a footpath running along the garden so if he is outside and barks once or twice ,i let him ,mind you if the same people came and knocked at the door he wouldnt bark

Where we live pretty much everyone has dogs (although you are only allowed two each), and they mostly live outside (not that they aren't allowed inside, just that during the day they are generally out). Sometimes there is a lot of barking going on, as they all set each other off. But as the houses are quite spaced, it's not really an issue. We'd not let our pup bark for more than a few minutes though - mainly because he wants us to come out and see what he is barking about.