Next Door's Dogs

[Trickle]

Is there anything we can do to shut up next doors dogs. like desensitise them? They bark and growl - the growling is pretty aggressive - every time we go into the garden. It's just annoying right now, I'm not sure how bad it will get when we start sitting in the garden more often as the weather gets better but we'll have a small child soon and I can't see them not being frightened of them. If Dh is hanging the washing out the neighbour will let them out and then they will bark until he has finished and come back in and then carrry on for a bit after that.

My next door neighbour is not so great with training the only time we've heard her say much to either of the dogs was 'Wait till you get in Eric'

Are they friendly dogs? Could you go round and 'meet them'. Maybe if they got to know you a bit they wouldn't bark at you? Otherwise I would have a word with the owners

Speak to the owners, when you go out and the dogs bark shout over " shall I come round and meet the dogs so they don't feel the need to bark at us" or something of that ilk. But if I'm honest the fact the owner doesn't check her dogs behaviour or bring them in implies shes a bit of a tit.

They probably will get used to you when you are out more often, and you could always chuck them a treat over to make them like you dogs are fickle.

WRT you child being frightened, it is your reaction that s/he will gage their response from, so if the dogs are barking if you say to your DC in a calm and happy voice "oh those silly dogs are making so much noise", and try not to make a big issue from it, then the baby should be reassured. My DD barks when my pack go for it she joins in!

Having said all of that, your neighbour should have her dogs under control and this is intimidating and bloody annoying, so you are well within your rights to ask her to control it, and if she doesn't then to report her to enviornmental health.