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The doghouse

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Original poster

Neighbour complaining about dog barking in morning

213 replies

Gizlotsmum · 28/12/2023 13:28

Our neighbour has just mentioned he is being disturbed by our dog barking. He initially said through the night ( which he doesn’t, we had 1 2am bark when he needed the toilet this week and that was unusual) then admitted it was more like 5:30/6:00 which I accept as that is when we start the day. How do I stop him barking for toilet first thing? We are working on quiet by ignoring and rewarding when quiet, but not easy esp as he is barking for attention sometimes. We struggle to be up before him as it can be anytime between 5:15 and 6. Is it just a case of getting up at 5:15 ( or will that mean he will think that is his new wake up time?) as he will go happily till 6 some mornings.

Dog is crated downstairs and it can take us a few mins ( I’d say max 5 but will look to start timing it) to get him out ( he stops barking when we are downstairs). I appreciate this is annoying but need to find a way round it. Dog is nearly 1 yr old. Has 2 decent walks a day, chew toys etc. am starting to write down when he barks to see if there is a pattern. He doesn’t bark at the doorbell or people waking past. He barks for attention, especially if new people come in but settles after a short while.

Will ask our trainers advice after the holidays but just after opinions in the mean time

neighbour admitted he struggles to sleep and I want to make it better for us all.

OP posts:
Original poster
Gizlotsmum · 28/12/2023 14:09

notapizzaeater · 28/12/2023 14:05

Can the crate be moved temp ?

Tbh when my ddog goes out I run and have my wee then, then she comes straight in. She knows if she wakes me in the night (not often now) it's in the crate till a normal morning time but if she doesn't then she has the settee all night 🤣

We tend to keep him company when he goes out to wee as he eats everything ( and no matter how much I remove from the garden there is always something, cat poo being the worst, various plants poking through from the neighbours) might need to see how he does on his own…

OP posts:
Original poster
Gizlotsmum · 28/12/2023 14:10

LaurieStrode · 28/12/2023 14:08

Let the dog sleep in your room.

You adopted a dependent animal. It's no longer all about what you "want."

I'm mind boggling that you'd let a caged animal AND your neighbor suffer while you faff about with your dressing gown, loo breaks etc.

Fair point

OP posts:
LaurieStrode · 28/12/2023 14:10

Oh so your husband is ok with everyone else's discomfort in order to accommodate his precious boundaries.

Dogs are social animals. Why can't it have a bed in your room?

Honestly maybe re-homing should be discussed.

Original poster
Gizlotsmum · 28/12/2023 14:11

LaurieStrode · 28/12/2023 14:10

Oh so your husband is ok with everyone else's discomfort in order to accommodate his precious boundaries.

Dogs are social animals. Why can't it have a bed in your room?

Honestly maybe re-homing should be discussed.

I don’t think it is quite at that point yet but will keep it in mind

OP posts:
TokyoSushi · 28/12/2023 14:12

Oh gosh OP, so the noise of the dog barking in your house is waking the neighbour at 5am and you're leaving it for up to 5 minutes whilst you sort yourself out?

You really need to reverse the way you're doing it until the trainer comes back and you can sort a better solution. Literally the second of the first bark you need to shoot out of bed and do whatever stops the dog barking, you can sort yourself out afterwards, you absolutely cannot leave a dog barking for that long at that time, whatever it takes!

SutWytTi · 28/12/2023 14:12

Gizlotsmum · 28/12/2023 14:07

It’s a boundary my husband has, we also don’t have space for the massive crate in our room. It may be a last resort but I think we need to try everything else first.

Show quote history

This is completely unreasonable. You are disturbing your neighbour every single day because your husband has a 'boundary' that the dog can't possibly understand.

I agree with the poster who said the dog should potentially be rehomed. You do not seem suitable owners.

DidiAskYouThough · 28/12/2023 14:12

LaurieStrode · 28/12/2023 14:08

Let the dog sleep in your room.

You adopted a dependent animal. It's no longer all about what you "want."

I'm mind boggling that you'd let a caged animal AND your neighbor suffer while you faff about with your dressing gown, loo breaks etc.

This.

And it 'never occured' to her to attend the dogs needs before faffing about 🙄

BitOutOfPractice · 28/12/2023 14:13

You go for a wee and get Fully dressed while your dog barks at 5am? Really? I would be feeling murderous if I were your neighbour. Dressing gown on, you go for a wee while he’s outside.

Original poster
Gizlotsmum · 28/12/2023 14:13

TokyoSushi · 28/12/2023 14:12

Oh gosh OP, so the noise of the dog barking in your house is waking the neighbour at 5am and you're leaving it for up to 5 minutes whilst you sort yourself out?

You really need to reverse the way you're doing it until the trainer comes back and you can sort a better solution. Literally the second of the first bark you need to shoot out of bed and do whatever stops the dog barking, you can sort yourself out afterwards, you absolutely cannot leave a dog barking for that long at that time, whatever it takes!

Am absolutely going ti do just that

OP posts:
BarkHorse · 28/12/2023 14:14

Ignore the harsh responses - you’ve only just been told it wakes up your neighbour and have asked for advice.

I would definitely try and get up and let him out earlier (before he feels a need to bark to get you up).

IngGenius · 28/12/2023 14:14

Gizlotsmum · 28/12/2023 14:00

Was worried this might make him think wake up is 5 am ( although I guess as long as he doesn’t bark it’s not the worst thing in the world)

Show quote history

I would be surprised if it made he wake up earlier. I expect he wakes up realises he needs a wee and barks. So if you wake he up take him out for a wee no need to bark. You may even be able to sneak back to bed for a bit too (If you want to)

Dont let MN let you believe the only answer is to have your dog in your bedroom! Apparently it is the only cure for any dog sleeping issues - and it really isnt Smile

Original poster
Gizlotsmum · 28/12/2023 14:14

DidiAskYouThough · 28/12/2023 14:12

This.

And it 'never occured' to her to attend the dogs needs before faffing about 🙄

Show quote history

What can I say it honestly didn’t. I literally pull on trousers whilst going wee and then get downstairs but will change that and with some of the other ideas will hopefully fix it rather than having to rehome him

OP posts:
MrsNandortheRelentless · 28/12/2023 14:15

OP I’d like to say that you are so refreshing in your conscious effort to find a solution to this and are obviously thinking about your poor neighbour.

You have restored my weary faith that there are people not totally self absorbed and selfish.
(see loud iPads in public places etc)

IngGenius · 28/12/2023 14:15

Blimey this is strong even for The Dog House "dog barks in the morning , cant have the dog in my bedroom so advice is to rehome" Grin

swallowsflying · 28/12/2023 14:15

Gizlotsmum · 28/12/2023 13:32

Because he eats things he shouldn’t, that includes floors, tea towels, cupboard doors, not just things we can keep out of reach, we can supervise during the day but not when we are asleep. He also is quite happy in the crate ( chooses to go into it and doesn’t bark when it is shut for bedtime). He would still need to bark to be let out of the house to go toilet

Edited
Show quote history

Whilst the barking is going on, I think you need to accept that the inconvenience of owning a dog needs to transfer to you and away from your neighbour.

You should be prepared to tolerate the destruction that comes from your choice to own this dog, rather than your neighbour tolerate your dog preventing him from getting a full night's sleep.

Mindymomo · 28/12/2023 14:18

My dog is 5 years old and will bark throughout the night if foxes or cats come onto our lawn. He was crated at night until about 1 year old, then he slept mainly in lounge on the floor. He has always been awake early and will bark to let us know he wants to go outside, I don’t think there’s much else we can do, we actually praise him for telling us he needs to go outside, because in all honesty we haven’t had an accident in the house since he was a 4 month old puppy. We’ve spoken to our neighbours and they say they hardly hear him, which I doubt is true, but they sleep in later. Can you try putting crate somewhere else further away from neighbours wall or maybe a radio on low. When our boy wakes and barks we shout down we won’t be long, yes we also have to go to the toilet first, so he does have to wait, which he does, but he will stop barking. If your neighbours were to report your dog, I doubt the Council would do anything as it’s not constant barking throughout the day.

BarkHorse · 28/12/2023 14:18

IngGenius · 28/12/2023 14:15

Blimey this is strong even for The Dog House "dog barks in the morning , cant have the dog in my bedroom so advice is to rehome" Grin

Lol this is what happens when a thread goes into “active”. Once it’s only back in the dog house sanity will probably resume.

Original poster
Gizlotsmum · 28/12/2023 14:18

swallowsflying · 28/12/2023 14:15

Whilst the barking is going on, I think you need to accept that the inconvenience of owning a dog needs to transfer to you and away from your neighbour.

You should be prepared to tolerate the destruction that comes from your choice to own this dog, rather than your neighbour tolerate your dog preventing him from getting a full night's sleep.

Show quote history

If he was just chewing absolutely but he would still need to bark to get out to the garden unless I left the back door open (not sure that would work for insurance purposes) However he eats it and that is dangerous for him

OP posts:
SutWytTi · 28/12/2023 14:19

IngGenius · 28/12/2023 14:15

Blimey this is strong even for The Dog House "dog barks in the morning , cant have the dog in my bedroom so advice is to rehome" Grin

It is 'DH has a boundary about having the dog in the bedroom' rather than can't.

People who disturb their neighbours every day are very annoying!

DidiAskYouThough · 28/12/2023 14:19

Christ. You're going to get rid of him if you fail to get him to not bark????

Atethehalloweenchocs · 28/12/2023 14:20

Set an alarm for 4.30. Go down, wait for the dog to wee, then go back to bed.

hedgehoglurker · 28/12/2023 14:20

As it is your husband's boundary, does he ever get up to let the dog out?

My dogs don't bark to be let out, as they sleep where they like and have a doggy door to the garden. (One does quietly wake me at about 3am to get under my duvet though 😆.)

22FrustatedUser · 28/12/2023 14:20

OP is your dog young?
I don't like having dogs sleep in my room either, however for an instance like this I would do the following.
Get a second crate, fold down fabric type one, this can stay in your room temporarily, you can pick them up cheaply on FB marketplace.
Dog only sleeps in this one when everyone goes to bed, daytime sleeps still happen wherever they sleep (Assuming downstairs crate)
By having your dog in with you, when it wakes you can collect dog, grab dressing gown on way out and put on as walking to back door. Stay with dog if you need too, but if you head back to bed at this time (some households are early risers we are definitely NOT) then minimal fuss and back up to bed once toilet had been done. Few snacks in case they are hungry and back to bed for another hour.
Once dog goes reliably til later in the morning, it takes a little while but it will pass, then back to downstairs bedtimes and sell fabric crate on FB marketplace.
I've done this with all my dogs when puppies and everyone sleeps well, with minimal interruption and dog soon adjusts to household routine.

Husband will have to lump it for a short time whilst this is being addressed. But if it's a hard no to dog in bedroom, don't faff about in the morning when dog wakes, up and then put dog out to keep barking to a minimum.

Good luck.

Original poster
Gizlotsmum · 28/12/2023 14:21

DidiAskYouThough · 28/12/2023 14:19

Christ. You're going to get rid of him if you fail to get him to not bark????

Some posters suggested it, I’m not seriously going to rehome him but wanted to acknowledge that was what some people thought I should do as I also won’t have him in our bedroom and I have probably committed all sorts of things which make me a bad owner in their eyes.

OP posts:
Citrusandginger · 28/12/2023 14:22

I wouldn't be putting the dog in your room. I agree with your DH that dogs need boundaries, otherwise they can become anxious and needy.

But I would be up at the first bark.

This is probably a good time of year to gradually get him used to going out later. Otherwise as it get lighter in the mornings he will want entertaining.