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The doghouse

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Original poster

I feel sorry for my neighbours new dog..WWYD?

25 replies

whatthewhatthebleep · 11/10/2012 13:14

My neighbours got a rescue dog at the beg of summer holidays from school. They don't have kids and are a youngish couple
So after a busy summer here and there. they returned to school work and the new dog has been suddenly left to it's own devices at home all day.

I know lots of dogs can tolerate being left for many hours, etc and it often presents no significant issues for a dog when familiar with this sort of routine, etc.
1 of the them comes back at lunchtimes and 2 times a week they have a dog walker/companion popping in the rest of the week.

The problem is...the poor dog is barking and howling from just after 8am and it goes on and on all day (stopping occasionally for a break and then starts up again)
I let them know I was concerned he wasn't settling very well, etc. That I was less troubled by the noise and more concerned for the dogs welfare, etc...I even offered to pop in and let him out and give him more company, through the day, etc for them....

Well it's been like this since the beg of term in late Aug here in Scotland and is no better. They haven't taken me up on the help and the dog is no better than he was.....the barking and howling is disturbing me now and it seems very unfair for the dog to let this continue.
They have barely spoken to me since I first let them know my concerns for their new dog and wonder what I can do now?

WWYD?...I don't want to upset them but I really feel for this poor dog and it seems so unfair to know he is distressed and do nothing about it for him....
Would you make contact with the rescue centre and let them know there is a problem...maybe they can help?

OP posts:
EauRouge · 11/10/2012 13:19

How politely did you tell them your concerns the first time? Do they know that the dog is barking and howling all day?

EauRouge · 11/10/2012 13:20

Didn't mean to infer that you were rude to them, but perhaps you were too polite and they just brushed you off? Some people need telling straight Grin

Rhinestone · 11/10/2012 13:34

I think for the dog's sake you need to start threatening them with complaining to your local council about the noise. They clearly need an incentive to address this for their poor dog.

I would also Google local doggy day care for them.

Original poster
whatthewhatthebleep · 11/10/2012 13:49

I was very clear about my concerns and when the MIL was visiting she and I spoke about it too. MIL was as concerned as I was (she has 2 dogs of her own) and said that my offer to look in on the dog was great and that she had encouraged her DD to take me up on the offer, etc and hoped that she would.

I have seen them both recently and mentioned the barking again but got very little response back...they don't seem to want to know really...dismissive to me I suppose??

It's left me wondering how to handle it now as they won't engage with me or do anything for their dog and it seems it is just going to continue on like this.

Saw the dog walker arrive just half hour ago...left now with the dog so maybe I will keep an eye out for her returning and have a chat if I can....I think the walker is from the rescue center they got the dog from....hopefully she will take some responsibility instead?

OP posts:
lljkk · 11/10/2012 16:59

I think most people would find the situation intolerable, OP. Sorry I've no idea how you best proceed, but frank chat with the dog-walker makes sense.

deleted203 · 11/10/2012 17:05

I would go and speak to them and say 'You have to sort this now, or I will be complaining to the council. It is intolerable that you both go out for the day and the rest of us are left listening to your dog howl its head off continuously'.

I don't think it's the dog walker's responsibility, unfortunately. They are likely to ignore her, like they've ignored you. Seems to me that the only option is to tell them that they can't dismiss this - either they sort it or they will be facing legal proceedings. Good luck.

(And you are nicer than I am - my main concern would be for my own sanity, rather than the dog Smile).

Original poster
whatthewhatthebleep · 12/10/2012 15:38

I missed catching up with the dog walker yesterday.

Now thinking about popping a letter through the door about the problem.

I just hope this time that they take me seriously. My DS is out of school due to ill health, etc he doesn't sleep well and takes medication for this too as it is and at the moment he's going about like a half shut knife and their dog waking us every morning isn't helping at all.
I need them to understand it's effecting us and not fair on their dog either....I hope they read my note and make whatever arrangements to sort things out.

Wanting a dog is fair enough but letting that over ride the practicalities and welfare of the poor thing isn't.....might get a bit pissed off soon if this doesn't improve for us all.
I'll update when I've done my letter and get a response (or not, as the case may be)

OP posts:
SpookhettiTwirlerAndProud · 14/10/2012 11:53

Tbh I'd go round in the evening and make sure you don't get brushed off. Be firm and assertive! If they don't appear to give much of a shite about it then they'll probably ignore a note.

Original poster
whatthewhatthebleep · 14/10/2012 13:20

seem to be gone for the weekend...no car there and not heard them or seen them.

I'll start with the note and hope it makes a difference...planning to pop it through the door later on today

Been nice and quiet over the weekend though, and we got long lie ins! Smile

OP posts:
Mrsjay · 14/10/2012 16:36

I think you need to tell them straight the dog is barking all day that you would be more than able to let it out for them and make sure it was ok , and YOU are concerned somebody might phone the dog warden on them, It isn't fair on the dog to be left barking like that all day

suburbandream · 15/10/2012 17:52

Poor dog Sad - and poor you! I'm surprised that a rescue place would give a dog to someone who is not around most of the time as when we looked into getting a rescue dog this was one of their main concerns. I would definitely have a much firmer word with them and then contact council/dog warden if things don't improve.

Original poster
whatthewhatthebleep · 16/10/2012 10:53

I think they must be away on holiday...no sign of anyone since saturday...School holidays here in Scotland.....

I put a letter through their door....just need to wait til they return now and get it.

OP posts:
Original poster
whatthewhatthebleep · 16/10/2012 18:36

they have returned home about an hour ago...will have read my note by now.....just need to wait and see how things go from here.....

OP posts:
Mrsjay · 17/10/2012 09:04

OH have they replied to you yet

Original poster
whatthewhatthebleep · 17/10/2012 11:57

no sign of a note or a knock on my door....still waiting for response Confused

Maybe today?.....waiting...... Sad

OP posts:
Mrsjay · 17/10/2012 12:10

they are probably arguing about whos fault it is for getting the dog now, not that it is your fault folk really need to think when they are going to be leaving a dog at home Sad

Original poster
whatthewhatthebleep · 17/10/2012 18:48

still no response...bit upset they haven't bothered to make contact yet...been home most of the day too.... Sad

OP posts:
Original poster
whatthewhatthebleep · 21/10/2012 19:36

the husband has now been round and they have decided to buy a cage and put the dog at the other side of the house (further away from my house)...they are hoping that the cage arrangement will give the dog more security and settle better in it....maybe?
The neighbour on the other side of them is fortunately quite deaf so probably won't hear the dog if he is upset.

I suppose it's a solution...just wonder about it working for the dog though...not been in a crate/cage before and it's approx 5/6 yrs old so who knows if this will even help him settle or even work in reverse really!!!...maybe I won't hear much but I'll still feel concerned for him

OP posts:
TheCunnyFuntOfEastwick · 21/10/2012 20:04

Tbh if the dog has never been in a crate and it just gets shut in from the start with no crate training then this would probably make it worse.

I hope they're going to get the dog used to it first.

Original poster
whatthewhatthebleep · 22/10/2012 10:00

well, the poor dog is still barking and howling and crying...I'm not sure if he's also in a crate now or not..... Sad

OP posts:
suburbandream · 22/10/2012 10:52

well I'm no expert but if the dog is now suddenly being locked in a crate all day with just a break at lunchtime then surely that's worse for the dog? We use a crate for our pup but he's only in there for about 1 1/2 hrs at most if I need to pop out, I'm at home most of the time. He got used to the crate slowly so he wasn't traumatised by being in there. I always make sure he's got kongs etc in there to keep him amused and TBH I think he sleeps most of the time I'm away. Poor thing, hope they can find a better solution.

Original poster
whatthewhatthebleep · 22/10/2012 11:18

I have felt these people are quite clueless about dogs since they got this rescue dog...I've been concerned about the poor dog since he arrived...he's a lovely dog too...keep wanting to rescue him myself tbh!

They know that I am more than happy to have him throughout the day or to pop in on him regularly, etc...not taking me up on my offer though Sad

If this were me and my neighbour was offering this help...I'd be saying yes please, that's great, if I knew my dog was suffering from being left...

I don't know that there is much I can do now...except report it officially and I don't really want to be doing this and causing a rift with my neighbours iykwim....wait a while and see what happens for now....give things a few days and if the dog continues his distress then I'll have no choice left

OP posts:
Fluffycloudland77 · 22/10/2012 11:34

Report it, mil did with her next door neighbours and they started taking better care of the dog.

Surely on two teaching salaries a dog day care could be used.

MothershipG · 22/10/2012 14:11

Do you know what rescue they got the dog from? Or could you find out? If you can you should report your concerns to the rescue.

Original poster
whatthewhatthebleep · 22/10/2012 15:45

I think I might make contact with the rescue center...I think I know which one it was...give it a couple more days first though...see if things settle with the poor dog

OP posts:
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