How do I tell my neighbours I can't take anymore incessant barking?

[ivftake1]

They have a beagle. A very loud, male beagle who barks incessantly multiple times a day. They have previously told me that there will be some barking while they crate/sleep train but it's been going on for 6 months now.

I don't expect perfection. But I don't expect to feel angry in my own house.

I'm 99% sure their lease doesn't allow for pets either which I find irritating. Presumably for the issue of noise affecting neighbours!

(We own and are leaseholders, our headlease does not allow for pets and I'm 99% sure their landlord's headlease is the same as it's the same freeholder as ours).

@vanillandhoney

Thanks very informative. The experience I have of beagles is that of working dogs at stableyards were they seem happy working together. Seems unfair to have a relatively large energetic dog in SW London.

Yes, if you can't give them what they need, they will be disruptive! We live in a small house but I'm a dog walker so he gets long walks everyday and plenty of company. I really hope you manage to get something sorted!

Thank you!

We've had new neighbours move in next door who have a screaming baby (they have my sympathy) but a side affect of that is my patience for the barking has effectively halved!

I had neighbours like that. They bought a puppy while she was on mat leave. When she returned to her office again full time the dog was alone for the first time and couldn’t handle it. She howled for the first 20-30 minutes and then barked. The whole day.

I didn’t say anything as I went out to work too so I only heard it if I was off for some reason on a weekday, which didn’t happen much until I was really ill and was off for six months. Every feckin day I was woken up at 8am by the howling on her departure for work and I couldn’t rest during the day for the constant ceaseless barking.

It was hell. I felt I couldn’t say anything as they had had the dog for six years by then. She loved it. The relative who gave her it died. For the owner the relatives memory sort of lived on in the dog.

Defo tell them now or go straight to the council noise people, whichever you prefer. Don’t leave it like I did. It’s was over a decade before that dog died. It barked to the last. Nightmare.

Oh and the same will happen for you when they stop wfh and go back to the office or whatever to work.

Speak now to give them a chance to sort their training out with the help of a trainer, get another quiet dog as a companion to help the pup stay calm, or rehome the pup altogether.

Remember that saying about a dog is not just for Christmas. Well there ought to be a new one - A dog is not just for lockdown.

@Elieza

I had neighbours like that. They bought a puppy while she was on mat leave. When she returned to her office again full time the dog was alone for the first time and couldn’t handle it. She howled for the first 20-30 minutes and then barked. The whole day.

I didn’t say anything as I went out to work too so I only heard it if I was off for some reason on a weekday, which didn’t happen much until I was really ill and was off for six months. Every feckin day I was woken up at 8am by the howling on her departure for work and I couldn’t rest during the day for the constant ceaseless barking.

It was hell. I felt I couldn’t say anything as they had had the dog for six years by then. She loved it. The relative who gave her it died. For the owner the relatives memory sort of lived on in the dog.

Defo tell them now or go straight to the council noise people, whichever you prefer. Don’t leave it like I did. It’s was over a decade before that dog died. It barked to the last. Nightmare.

That's awful! You did so well to not say anything

I don't think what breed it is important the fact is it's barking constantly and upsetting you in your home. Most dogs bark for a reason for example an alert , a doorbell or playing. You should not be subjected to it. I would tell your neighbours in a nice way they need to deal with the issue as its gone on for months. If it does not stop contact the environmental department of your local council and report them. The only other option is move house.

@coffeewithmilk

Hello, I currently have a 15 week old puppy.. but live in my own house with a garden. My puppy has barked, mostly when he is on his crate and wants to get out. We are trying to teach him that barking won't get him anywhere so we have to let him bark it out until he stops.. this can be anywhere from 5mins- 15 mins max.

We are so conscious of annoying our neighbours that we sent them all a message asking them that if they hear him or the barking becomes bothersome to let us know directly.
I suppose with any dog, barking is somewhat normal part of their behaviour, but if it is constant and multiple times throughout the day, either the beagle is not getting enough exercise or is being left alone too long.

The best thing you can do is be completely honest with your neighbours and tell them it's very bothersome. Most likely they know already how annoying it is and just don't know how to handle it.
You could even try maybe buy a little toy to give to the dog.. who knows, if they let him bark constantly, they probably aren't giving the poor little thing any attention and maybe something simple such as a toy could make a big difference.

Otherwise I would get straight onto the landlord and let him know.

@coffeewithmilk agree this is the best way to crate train them! Your pup will calm down a lot quicker this way too instead of going to them when they bark - that only teaches them to bark more in my opinion :-)

@Snackasaurus exactly! This has always worked for us, and it's not distressing at all. Especially for our breed - golden retriever. They grow out of the barking after a little while! :)

Have you tried the old fashioned way of banging on their wall??