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2nd Trimester
NBR: Vent, and help with barking neighbor dog? (long)
Each morning, when our neighbors leave for work, they let their dogs out (three Jack Russell terrriers) into their "pen" (a small, fenced area separate from the rest of the yard). One of the dogs then proceeds to bark incessantly, sometimes for an hour or more. Our bedroom is on that side of the house, and basically it sounds like the dog is in our room -- that's how loud it is. Periodically throughout the day, this same dog will just start barking at nothing (clearly bored) -- again, sometimes for hours.
So this morning, at 6 a.m., when I was ripped from my peaceful slumber by my "alarm clock" next door, I charged out of bed, determined to catch my neighbors before they left the house and explain the issue. But they were already gone. I have considered writing a letter, but the thing is -- I'm not really sure what they would do about it. They are not exactly caring dog owners. They are gone all day (and often all weekend), and leave their dogs with access to a dog door to come and go. They never seem to interact with them. I think the only solution to getting the dog to stop barking would be good training, and they are definitely not going to do that.
I'm worried, too, about when the baby comes. I don't think he will be disturbed (his room is on the opposite side of the house), but I know how exhausted I will be, and possibly trying to catch a nap here and there, and there's no where I can go to escape that dog, once it starts barking.
I'm up too early today because of it, and I know I'll be tired later, so my whole day is sometimes affected. Has anyone had a similar situation and found a solution? So far, all we have been able to do is set up our sprinkler next to their yard and turn it on when the dog starts barking. That will send it back into the house, but by then we are already wide awake. I'm so frustrated by this, and feel helpless to do anything about it.
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Re: NBR: Vent, and help with barking neighbor dog? (long)
I have been in this situation but on the dog owners side of the fence so I will give you my honest two cents.
I put my dogs out at 7:30 when I leave for work. They too are in an outside pen in my yard. The don't bark all day, but if they see a person walk by or hear a car door shut, they will get worked up. My neighbor called the police and complained about the barking. Since the noise ordinance started at 7 a.m. they are unable to fine me. They also complained to the dog warden, but since the only thing they can issue a fine for is licensing, they were no help either.
This does not mean I don't care for my pups, actually quite the opposite. I don't think it's fair to the dogs to be sitting inside all day in a tiny house when they have a huge area (not running free) that they can be getting fresh air and playing in all day. I understand it's an incovenience to you, but I'm just trying to explain why people do what they do from my perspective. It is tough this time of year because everyone has their windows open and are more sensitive to the sounds around them. I know our neighbors only had a problem for a short while in the spring and then again in the fall. It also got better once we'd been in our house for a while. The dogs got more use to the "common" noises and wouldn't bark as much.
I hope your situation resolves itself quickly and peacefully.
I agree, which is why I'm not really sure how complaining will help the situation. Basically their options would be to keep the dogs indoors all day -- which doesn't seem to be a good solution. Or they could work intensively with the dog to train it not to bark, which I know they will not do. So complaining to the city will likely just anger our neighbors and not help our situation.
Incidently, I understand that dogs just bark sometimes. Their other dogs bark at stray cats or strangers walking by, and I think that's just to be expected with dogs. It's the incessant barking for no reason that drives me nuts, especially at 5:50 a.m., which is sometimes when the neighbors put them outside. And with our windows open or closed, we can hear them just as well.
I'm wondering about one of those high frequency sound emitting devices that is supposed to curb barking? I saw one online that ws specifically marketed to people with barking neighbor dogs. You can mount it on your own fence, and activate it when the dog starts barking, to discourage the barking and eventually train the dog not to bark so much. I just wonder how well it works.
I have an indoor/outdoor dog but prior to that we had an outdoor only dog. She had a 20'x30' dog run and was outside ALL the time unless it was 30 below out.
I would file a sound ordinance complaint. That and talking to the neighbors are really all you can do. If the owners are keeping the dogs fed and watered and not abusing them, and keep them in a pen, I totally disagree with calling animal control on them. There are plenty of people who do abuse or neglect animals and wasting animal control's time and efforts on someone who is not seems out of line to me. Animal control will tell you that if properly cared for, i.e. if they have a shelter built and water at all times, there is no reason a dog can't be left outside in extreme hot and cold...wolves and foxes live outside just fine.
That being said-its a dog. They bark. It's not the dog's fault, he's just being a dog. Take it up with the owners or the village/town etc with sound ordinances, that's probably the best bet. Doesn't sound like theyre going to change their habit though.