Dog with separation anxiety

[HarlotOTara]

Hi,

My next door neighbour has a little dog - shih tzu or something like that. He always barks when he is left. For the last year or so he is left more often and will bark constantly until his owner returns, this is usually in the evening and can be anywhere between 1-6 hours. Tonight he started barking at 5.30 and is still barking now. I have tried knocking to discuss and also written several notes saying I am concerned about the dog and the length of time he barks. I have had no response apart from a note suggesting I speak to the dog through the letterbox (can’t see that working). I am beginning to be totally fed up about this. I have a dog myself and am very fond of dogs. Apart from the noise which just goes on and on, I am concerned that this poor dog must be quite distressed. There have been a few times my dog has been slightly agitated by the barking but is usually very laid back and tends to ignore it.
Does anyone have advice about what to do please?

It sounds like a wild idea, but you could talk to your neighbour in person instead of passing notes.

If I received a note(s) telling me my dog was barking, incessantly, but nothing else I’d probably ignore it - people have very different ideas about what constitutes ‘constantly’ - or think they were over dramatising it. I’d assume if there was an actual, serious, issue my neighbours would talk to me

If there is a real issue, people should communicate properly. You need to be clear just how bad it is, and how distressed the dog sounds (if indeed it does sound distressed and isn’t just barking) and the impact it is having on you.

If that fails to work, dog warden.

But stop passing notes, please.

I did say that I have tried, they don’t answer the door when I have knocked, much is why I resorted to notes. I agree that face to face communication is best.
would you expect a dog, which was barking for hours - 6 last night, to be distressed?

I would start keeping a diary of when it happens and for how long (with recordings if possible) and get in touch with the noise complaints department of your council.

Unfortunately barking dogs aren’t generally considered a welfare matter so I’m not sure there’s much (if anything) the dog warden or the RSPCA would do - you’re more likely to get somewhere by going down the noise and disruption route, as illogical as it sounds.

The council are interested in ddogs that bark regularly for 30 mins or more... Start that complaint op.. You won't regret it. Ime.

Thank you I will do so