Am I wrong?

[Pink Partridge]

My neighbor got a dog in March. It has barked non-stop since the day they brought it home. I mean for hours at a time. I don't know how its vocal cords aren't destroyed. They just let it out in the yard and it barks and barks and barks. We can no longer sit on our patio.

I had a polite conversation with my neighbor. He just shrugged and said "That's what dogs do. They bark." Our other neighbors have started an all out war with them. Calling the police/reporting them to HOA. I didn't want to start down that road.

So two weeks ago, I bought this outdoor bark control device. It looks like a bird house. OMG! It worked! The dog no longer goes to that section of the yard. Now he stays up top and barks. I want to get another device and put it up there, BUT the neighbor came over yesterday and told me he "knows that isn't a real bird house and I am hurting his dog's ears." He wants me to take it down.

No way! It works. Why would I take it down? And I don't even care if it hurts the dog's ears. I am losing my mind.

I told him he has not controlled his dog in 7 months, so I had to take control. He asked if I had the money to send his dog to obedience school. because he doesn't. And until he does, he can't stop the barking. But "the bird house must come down."

I told him he is welcome to call the police on me and my "bird house", said the conversation was over, and gently shut the door.

I think the funniest part of this all is we both had masks on. Lol. Both trying to be polite, yet arguing. Through masks. It was a sight to be seen.

So am I wrong? And would you get another anti barking device for the upper part of your yard?

 

[cabanafrau]

Obedience classes are part of dog ownership. It's not like that was unexpected going in.

 

[FreeTime]

I don’t think you are wrong. Maybe I’ll get one as we have the same problem next door.

 

[mousefan73]

Sounds fair.. he can do what he wants in his yard ( have a loud dog) and you can do what you want to do ( decorate your yard). I would have loved to seen that mask arguement..

I hate such dog owners.. We had a guy in our neighborhood put his dog in a cage during the day outside..He would yelp, howl and bark ALL frigin day... dog passed away as much as I looove dogs, we were not sad. (plus the fact this dog was not well trained and dangerous for the breed it was)

 

[Christine]

You're not wrong. My neighbor also has a dog like this. To the point that I cannot enjoy my deck or spend any time out in the yard. My husband finally "had it out with" the owner. It's a shame it had to come to this because it has literally destroyed any kind of good, neighborly relationship.

Our county has a noise ordinance that includes barking dogs. Any sustained barking for over 10 minutes is cause for a call and they will likely get a citation. If there are multiple offenses the owners have to go to court, etc. My husband warned them that that was the next step.

At least now, they do bring their dog in when we are outside and make a small attempt to stop it. They were not successful with training the dog.

I feel for you--this really just ruins your home enjoyment.

I have a dog myself (and have various dogs for 25 years). Whenever my dog even STARTS to bark, I'm out there bringing her in the house.

 

[gotomu212]

Are there other dogs in the area? They’ll be hearing the same sonic sound. We had a big issue in our HOA because one of these was hurting non-barking dogs in the vicinity of a barking dog which seems pretty cruel.

 

[anniemae]

If he does not have money for obedience classes he should not have a dog. Pets cost money between food costs, vet bills, grooming, any meds/ supplements and yes obedience training. It is part of pet ownership responsibility. I don't know what the birdhouse thing is, but as long as it is legal and is on your property, I don't see what he can do. Does it actually hurt the dog? It sounds like the issue may take care of itself as it seems the whole neighborhood is upset with him LOL.

The police could probably only help if the dog is aggressive towards you or if the dog is barking during any town "quiet hours."

 

[CdnCarrie]

WHy doesn't he just bring the dog inside when it barks? Why is the dog outside so much?

 

[Ellie008]

Not wrong. If it is truly something that hurts the dogs ears, then I feel a bit sad for the dog. But hey, it is teaching the dog not to bark. The dog obviously figured that part out on its own. If the owner refuses to control the barking, I would absolutely get another one and hope the dog doesn't find a spot on the opposite side of its yard that your birdhouse can't reach.

 

[anniemae]

WHy doesn't he just bring the dog inside when it barks? Why is the dog outside so much?

My guess would be that if they brought it in every time it barks, the dog would never be outside. Especially if it is a large breed , they need to run a lot or they will tear up the house. He needs to either train the dog or take it to the dog park where he can bark all he wants.

 

[Praying Colonel]

I feel bad for the dog. A properly trained and supervised dog is a happy dog. His owner is failing him.

 

[Ellie008]

WHy doesn't he just bring the dog inside when it barks? Why is the dog outside so much?

I can tell you that my neighbor does the same thing. They don't leave the dog out all the time, but it is in and out frequently throughout the day. If any one of us is out the back yard and their dog is out the dog barks at us relentlessly. Usually they will come and let it back in, but it can take a while. And sometimes the dog doesn't want to go back in. It wants to sit and bark at me. They can't catch it (fenced yard, the dog runs away, while barking), and it doesn't always listen to them, so it sits and barks.

They are great neighbors other than this, and I don't want to cause friction. So, we live with it.

 

[parasail_of_congress]

Are there other dogs in the area? They’ll be hearing the same sonic sound. We had a big issue in our HOA because one of these was hurting non-barking dogs in the vicinity of a barking dog which seems pretty cruel.

From what I understand, it's an annoying sound for dogs and doesn't physically hurt them unless the dog is right next to the machine.

 

[sam_gordon]

Nope, you're not wrong. Tell the neighbor that once his dog learns to not to bark if the device isn't there, you're more than happy to take it down. And you're willing to try turning it off for a short time (ETA: to see if the dog doesn't bark). But if the barking continues, it gets turned back on.

 

[JaxDad]

Do they have those bird houses for kids?

 

[Hikergirl]

I'm a dog owner, my dog is a barker. She isn't a constant barker but of course she's territorial and will bark at other dogs, or people when they walk by. I do not leave my dog out unattended in the front of the house so I am able to control her. If she's out in the back (on the deck) and I'm inside and she barks more than a couple times then I bring her in. I live in a subdivision with houses fairly close, I will not allow my dog to be a nuisance to them. We have no HOA but that's just common courtesy.
You are not wrong. That neighbor needs to train their dog, it is possible to do without obedience school. Yes dogs will bark from time to time and at certain things. I also have no problem with having a barking dog, especially when dh travels but dogs should not be barking ALL THE TIME. If I had to deal with that I would do the same thing as you.

 

[CdnCarrie]

I'm a dog owner, my dog is a barker. She isn't a constant barker but of course she's territorial and will bark at other dogs, or people when they walk by. I do not leave my dog out unattended in the front of the house so I am able to control her. If she's out in the back (on the deck) and I'm inside and she barks more than a couple times then I bring her in. I live in a subdivision with houses fairly close, I will not allow my dog to be a nuisance to them. We have no HOA but that's just common courtesy.
You are not wrong. That neighbor needs to train their dog, it is possible to do without obedience school. Yes dogs will bark from time to time and at certain things. I also have no problem with having a barking dog, especially when dh travels but dogs should not be barking ALL THE TIME. If I had to deal with that I would do the same thing as you.

This. My dog is a barker. But if its more than a short bark at another dog walking by or something we go and haul him inside. We also make sure he's not barking too early or late at night.

 

[Kitty 34]

OP, your post made me LOL; not your situation but how you worded it!

Now to be serious......you betcha I would have "birdhouses" all around, too. If he doesn't want to hurt his doggy's ears; then take the yapper inside.

 

[HashberryOTG]

Our neighbor's dogs are barkers. We think the husband wants them to be outdoor dogs, but the wife doesn't. 3. LIttle. Yappy. Dogs. Now, they do bring them inside when its scalding hot out (yay Texas).

When their dogs start barking, my dogs start barking. I have 2 husky mixes and a hound. They can outbark the crap out of those lil guys. I bring mine in when they start up, after about 5ish minutes or so. Most people don't mind if a dog barks, but they DO mind nuisance barking.

 

[kdonnel]

Your a little wrong but not nearly as wrong as your neighbor.