<p>We have had the barking dog issue on both sides of our house at various times. Both times the neighbors claimed that they couldn’t hear it (seriously, everyone else in the neighborhood could!) and both times the owners stopped leaving the dogs outside once someone talked to them about it. I think people know their dogs are barking but they ignore it in hopes that no one else notices. Once they are confronted, they will often take steps to stop it. </p>
<p>I’ve had two dogs (a current beagle and a deceased Aussie). There’s really no reason to leave a dog outside for an extended period of time. Most dogs want to be inside with the family. And a properly trained dog will generally not mess up your house.</p>
<p>In my city, you can call the animal control office and they will come out and issue the dog owners a ticket. Never had to do that but would if it came to it.</p>
<p>Ok…I am the owner of barking dogs. It should be an AA club or something. :rolleyes:</p>
<p>My dogs bark when the neighbors are out in their back yards. If they have company/family over, etc or are trying to BBQ, etc then I put them in the basement in their indoor kennel.</p>
<p>I bring our dogs inside between 7:00-10:00 pm and take them back out about 7:00 am. Every single day. Like clock work.</p>
<p>I’ve lived next to people with barking dogs and know what it’s like to be kept away. One of our kids was also a baby & her room was right next to thier yard. It is very frustrating !!</p>
<p>As far as leaving them outside… A LOT of people own outdoor dogs and refuse to have animals inside their home. We had several dogs in the country when I was growing up. I spent many hours a day playing with them outdoors. I think being outside with fresh air is better than inside during an 8 hour work day in a crate.</p>
<p>As far as products to deter them, I’m not sure. If you own the dog…then their are shocker collars that zap them when they bark. They also make collars that spray citronella up in their face when they bark. Some towns (my sister in law’s) that it is illegal for your dog to bark, so her labrador actually had surgery to remove the larynx (?) so it could not bark.</p>
<p>My dogs bark primarily at people or other stray dogs & cats. I don’t own a single cat and count several each day passing through the yard. I am pretty sure my dogs see each one also. I guess my thought is…if the neighbors would keep THEIR cats at home, then MY dogs wouldn’t be barking.</p>
<p>It is very frustrating, I think you did the right thing by telling your neighbor. I don’t always hear mine either unless I’m in the right room or if a window is open. I do think people have to take responsiblity for their animals. If the dog continues to bark, you may have to call the pound.</p>
<p>Our next door neighbor not only had the dog tied up outside barking all the time but he had a dry water bowl and was out in every weather, barking to be let in in thunderstorms etc</p>
<p>I would sneak over there and fill the bowl – German Shepherd–and he would all but inhale the water.</p>
<p>So I called the animal office of the twp to report the empty water bowl & the all weather tieup. It turned out half the next block had also been calling them. The officer went over there and filmed the dog’s conditions, then he also turned the camera on the various code violations in the rest of the yard.</p>
<p>I don’t have an issue with leaving the dogs outside if their barking is limited in duration and only happens occasionally through the day but one of my neighbors did exactly what you are describing and the dogs literally barked all day. They were in a dog run and I believe they were bored out of their minds. Of course, the neighbors were at work all day and didn’t hear it but there are retired folks and stay-at-home moms in my immediate area and the barking starts to drive you mad after a while.</p>
<p>OTOH, there are other outdoor dogs nearby that really only bark if someone walks by their fence, so it’s not that all outside dogs bark but when they do it constantly it’s very annoying. AND I agree about the roaming cats also. There are several cats that hang out in our yard and sometimes will try to get into our house. One night at 3am I hear a noise in the kitchen and it turned out to be a cat that presumably sneaked in through the garage. They also frighten our poor beagle when she goes out (she was traumatized by a cat one time ).</p>
<p>I also get annoyed with neighbors who let their dogs roam the neighborhood (we’ve had a couple). My neighbor behind us has a sweet Boston terrier and when we first moved here I found her wandering in my yard a few times and returned her (thinking I was being helpful). It soon became apparent that the family let her wander around. I often see her crossing the street and think ‘one of these days that dog is going to be hit.’ I feel for the dog, apparently the family doesn’t value her enough to keep her out of harm’s way.</p>
<p>^^I can’t imagine people allowing their dogs to roam free. Where I live, there is a leash law. All dogs must be leashed at all times that they’re off your property or you can be fined. The exception is the leash free parks. Cats aren’t even allowed to roam free here! Not all cat owners obey that but most do.</p>
<p>^We do have leash laws and the pound will come out and pick up the dog if you call. Still doesn’t seem to deter some people. I’m not sure if cats are included in that law. I’ll have to check on that.</p>
<p>We have a barking dog in the neighborhood behind our house - there was a point in time when the dog would bark for hours every morning and every night. Its owners (lovely people that they are) leave it tied up on the deck for long periods of time. I think if the dog was getting walked multiple times a day, it wouldn’t be so bored and the barking would stop. My family went the anonymous letter-in-the-mail route, and (fingers crossed) that method has been pretty effective. Letter 1 was nice… and the barking stopped until very recently. Letter 2 wasn’t so nice. ; -)</p>
<p>When our 2 dogs bark, they keep <em>us</em> awake–we have no neighbors in close proximity. If they start barking, we get up and put a bark collar on whichever one is the worst offender. A bark collar delivers an annoying electric shock (not painful, just annoying to the dog) and they stop. We don’t have to do this every night, just once in a while. They learn fast.</p>
<p>Have you tried simply talking to your neighbors? Maybe they would try a bark collar.</p>
<p>We live on a lake. Between 5 and 6 pm everyday weekday (summer) someone boats around the lake with their dog standing with his face to the wind and barking the entire time. It sets off a chain reaction from yard to yard. Just about the time the dogs settle down, the happy couple make another round…and another…:p</p>
<p>I have a dog whistle app on my phone and it works quite well for my little indoor dogs. Unfortunately it also punishes the one who is not barking.</p>
<p>She was really cool for two months- either she chained him up out back or she adjusted her timing.</p>
<p>But last three mornings - pitch black, I’m thinking, nah I must be dreaming! 5:43 AM – W -T -F!! Next morning 6.11 and today 7:07. He howls he barks - she must be showering or something.
So my house is a private house- her unit is part of a condo/townhouse on the other side of the road. I called the property manager who said he’d issue her a notice.</p>
<p>I located my county noise ordinance and it’s covered. By the time a cop actually shows, there’s no evidence, dog will not be barking.</p>
<p>I’m going to have to buy the birdhouse deal and affix it inconspicuously to my mailbox on her side of the road and hope it is in range.</p>
<p>ANY Other suggestions?</p>
<p>I’m really really distraught - I had a migraine today after three days of no sleep.</p>
<p>OK - So perhaps I can dognap this beautiful golden retriever – anyone want him? (He probably has a microchip -forget that thought).</p>
<p>Seriously- any other ideas?</p>
<p>It’s sad for this beautiful dog- she never walks him, the kids don’t walk him- he spends time on a leash to the front light pole in the morning, at dinner and once before bedtime- when he howls and barks.</p>
<p>ARGHHHH </p>
<p>Please thoughts?</p>
<p>I googled the heck out of her name and address and employer trying to find her phone number-- thinking - OH - I can phone her to tell her the dog is barking again and perhaps she would do something.
Anyone have a reverse white page free access and could PM me and help- I’ll give you the name and address-- I need her phone number!</p>
<p>“It’s sad for this beautiful dog- she never walks him, the kids don’t walk him- he spends time on a leash to the front light pole in the morning, at dinner and once before bedtime- when he howls and barks.”</p>
<p>Outrageous!!! Videotape this dog abuse and talk to someone at the Humane Society or ASPCA as to what can be done to stop this inhumane treatment of a pet ( and it will stop the barking).</p>
<p>^As a long time dog owner, I have to say that I never considered that tying a dog up outside was abuse until I read this post. Then I googled this idea and was informed. We do not tie our current dogs up, but in the past I did own “dog run” products, sold in pet smart or similar places. These ran between trees or poles installed on the property. I would have thought they were ok because they were sold in these stores. We did not use them for long, and got fencing anyway. Our current dogs are walked, and kept inside most of the time. However, despite this we have one barker and one quiet dog.</p>
<p>OP, sorry you are having this problem. Maybe you could leave the Humane society publication for your neighbor. It will make a person think twice about tying the dog up.</p>
<p>In my old neighborhood a golden was left on the deck with a gate that did not hold him in. He was at my house all the time trying to visit my (now deceased) old lab. I occasionally used to put him in the yard with her for a while, and when they came home I would take him back. He would sit so nicely to put him on a leash. I think my H talked to his owners and i would then see them walk him occasionally, but not that often. It is sad because labs and goldens do need a lot of exercise, and since they are popular breeds, a lot of them are taken in but not taken care of.</p>
<p>A few years ago we had a wonderful German Shepherd rescue. He liked to walk around the neighborhood and visit. Never hurt a soul … but one neighbor was terrified of Shepherds … all Shepherds. So we made a run for him … a 150’ skywire (between two trees) with a 50’ lead attached to it. With a half-acre to run the dog was happy, and the neighbor was no longer terrified.</p>
<p>Personally we prefer “train” over “restrain.” But IMO a half-acre run where the dog doesn’t bark is a world away from staking out a barking dog in the yard before six in the morning. YMMV.</p>
<p>A half acre run is definitely better than a short tether. Of course, it is still not ideal, but it sounds like in your situation without a run it would have been impossible for you to keep the dog. My dad rescued a dog that was abandoned chained to a dog house in the yard after the house burned down and the folks who lived there moved into temporary housing which turned into a long term arrangement. The owner would show up once, throw some food for the dog, and walk away. Dad could not stand this and took the dog. I think the owners were relieved. Unfortunately, life on the chain permanently damaged that dog’s personality…</p>
).</p>