Am I wrong?

[Pink Partridge]

Is that the same one where a father makes his daughter do chores (but not his son) because she's less likely to get a scholarship and he has to pay for her hygiene products?

That just made me laugh and now I feel badly if that is a true story. I am just starting to read Reddit these past few months and some of the things are terrifyingly funny, yet crazy.

 

[tzolkin]

Our neighbors have two dogs and the barking one has been outside most of the summer. The dog barks incessantly every time we are outside even if I just step out to get the mail or get into my car. We practically live on our porches and bought this house specifically for the outdoor space, but I will often have to go inside because I start losing my mind with the barking. I recognize that I have a very low tolerance for barking, but for hours on end would wear on anyone.

My husband has gone over and asked them to take the dog in when we have been outside with company. The whole family is home. They have to hear it barking from inside. The only thing we can come up with is that the dog is probably extremely irritating to them and barking inside so putting it outside is better for them and they simply don't care how much it annoys everyone else. It is so selfish and infuriating to me.

The other dog (lab) just goes out to the bathroom unless the family is outside. The barking one is a small dog and it stands on their deck right by the sliding glass door so it can see over the fence to bark at us. Since it's right by the house/door, I am absolutely certain that they can hear and see the dog is barking. They just deliberately choose to leave it outside.

it shocks me-truly shocks me, that dog owners allow their dogs to bark for hours on end with no regard for their neighbors, or even themselves. Doesn’t it annoy THEM?

Many years ago when my kids were babies we had neighbors who got a basset hound. They would put the dog outside and it would just howl by the back door because it wanted to go in. I gave them a bit of grace because they had just adopted the dog and I figured it needed to be trained, but one morning the husband put the dog out when he left for work at 4:30am and by 6:00 I was about to lose my mind. (He did this every morning, but not usually for that long) I couldn't figure out how the wife could possibly be sleeping through it, so I got a phone book and called them. I politely said, "I'm not sure if you're aware, but your dog has been barking/howling for an hour and a half." She responded, "I know. It's soooo annoying isn't it? We're trying to teach him to stop by not letting him in while he's barking."

 

[Judique]

I have a dog that barks at anything and a huge fenced yard that I can let him run loose in. I would never dream of allowing barking to continue, and disturb any of my neighbors.

Just wrong.

If he barks, he has to come in. Or, I have to go out and leash him and walk him (in my extended yard) if he needs to attend to going to the bathroom or whatever. Usually barking will occur if the neighbors grandchildren are visiting and go into the yard and I don't notice when he's put out. Or when a neighbor a few doors down have their dog out. Both will bark. And both of us attend to it.

Your neighbor is not a decent, responsible dog owner. That is a problem. Personally I don't like any device that is meant to control a dog. But - I can't disagree with the OP using one, if the barking is incessant and prolonged without intervention from the owner. It's what happens when dog owners don't do the right things - lets face it - some people shouldn't be allowed to own dogs. They put their pet at risk when they allow it to misbehave. It's too bad that the pet ends up being the victim of bad ownership, even to being put down.

Don't get a dog unless you are prepared to be responsible for it's needs for it's lifetime.

OP - you definitely should use all legal means to curtail this through the owner, such as call police, dog pound, hoa - whatever has any jurisdiction in your area. Looks like your neighbor needs some training.

 

[china mom]

Albeit I didn't spend a lot of time on it, but my internet search revealed no articles that indicated that the sonic sound causes any physical harm to dogs. I did find an article (referenced by a PP) that had concerns about possible psychological damage.

Nothing in this discussion has changed my mind. I still feel that the OP is doing the right thing and I plan on purchasing one for my barking dog.

As to the neighbor's threat of a lawsuit over the dog's hearing damage - I am not a lawyer but have hung out in a lot of courtrooms. the neighbor would have to
a) show that there was harm done
b) prove that it wasn't pre-existing
c) that the cause was the sonic sound

 

[kymom99]

Albeit I didn't spend a lot of time on it, but my internet search revealed no articles that indicated that the sonic sound causes any physical harm to dogs. I did find an article (referenced by a PP) that had concerns about possible psychological damage.

Nothing in this discussion has changed my mind. I still feel that the OP is doing the right thing and I plan on purchasing one for my barking dog.

As to the neighbor's threat of a lawsuit over the dog's hearing damage - I am not a lawyer but have hung out in a lot of courtrooms. the neighbor would have to
a) show that there was harm done
b) prove that it wasn't pre-existing
c) that the cause was the sonic sound

Not to mention the cost of a lawyer, and since he can't afford dog training, I'm guessing he doesn't have lawyer money either.

 

[wilbret]

If you are wrong, then so am I. Many moons ago, I did exactly the same thing, it just wasn't a bird house.

 

[luvnwdwgal]

You’re not wrong at all and I’d definitely get another one. You deserve to have some peace and quiet in your own back yard.

 

[Heigh-Ho]

well....being married to the crappy neighbor, talking to the county sheriff ( who had not solution), soothing the neighbors .the only thing that could happen to the dog that was barking was to kill it...but my wife wouldn't...because it was her dads last moment on earth...the dog was his for 9 months and then he died...she kept the dog for another 12 years. All of the humans involved with my wife dog were very concerned...the dog needed to be put down, it was out of control...but my wife wouldn't....until it bit one too many people.. the dog was a bad dog from day of birth (the stories I heard as a pup)...should have been put down a long time ago...some bad dogs have a reason for still being around...for years her children told her to put the dog down.

That's a very sad story But I would assume if the dog in question was aggressive or became aggressive then the police or HOA would be involved (that's normally what happens). Of course I didn't say anything about the dog having to stay around though it doesn't sound like this dog the author of the thread is aggressive at the moment.

 

[bgirldeb]

You’re not wrong, OP, and I would get another birdhouse for the other part of the yard.

The anti barking devices are not torture for dogs, but training devices.

We had a neighbor across the street from us that let her hunting-trained labs out in their back yard for hours on end every day, and they barked like maniacs at every squirrel they saw. We have a lot of trees and squirrels in the neighborhood! It was awful. We could hear them inside our house all day with our windows shut. It made me anxious because I am always on alert to make sure my dogs aren’t barking like crazy outside.

One day this neighbor posted a picture on Nextdoor of what they thought was a camera or rodent repeller their rear neighbor mounted on a tree pointed at their house. Turns out it was an anti bark device like one of the birdhouse ones. Awkward! she actually said “they don’t bark much. getting onto a barking dog it like getting onto a person for talking.”

 

[jo-jo]

I have a question, if OP is wrong for this birdhouse thing, what about the owners who have an invisible fence? Don't the dogs get zapped or something when they go near the fence line?

 

[TheIncredibles!]

Just tell the guy you will take it down as soon as his dog is done with obedience school.

 

[Pink Partridge]

it doesn't sound like this dog the author of the thread is aggressive at the moment.

Absolutely not aggressive. It is a cute Australian Shepherd. Probably very smart, with very lazy owners.

 

[Pink Partridge]

Thank you everyone for your opinions. Even the people that think I am wrong, I respect what you said.

We bought a house with two patios (upper and lower) and looked forward to lots of time spent outdoors. We are unable to do that due to our entitled and lazy neighbors.

My neighbor lives in a beautiful home and drives vehicles I could never afford. I am sure this dog also cost a pretty penny. He can afford to have the dog trained. He would just rather let it outside to bother everyone else.

I think I can train this dog with one more anti bark birdhouse. It worked in the lower part of yard. I will be ordering another tonight.

 

[Pink Partridge]

she actually said “they don’t bark much. getting onto a barking dog it like getting onto a person for talking.

Entitled.

It's more like a neighbor turning their speakers towards your house and blasting music for hours upon hours.

 

[Pink Partridge]

You're both wrong.

The dog needs training, it does not nor should it be trained by someone else other than its owner (other than an actual dog training class or trainer), you could be doing so much more harm to the dog than you realize, not only with the sound, but the association and you could be making it harder for the owner to actually do the training if they ever actually do it. And as others mentioned what about the other dogs around.

These devices may sound (no pun intended) great but shouldn't be used by strangers annoyed by the sound. You legitimately have a valid complaint. Just about no one actually likes dogs barking but it doesn't make it right either to install a device such as this either.

Please take that birdhouse down immediately!

Thank you for your opinion. And while I respect it, I have to say I really don't care if I am making it more difficult to train the dog in the future. I am more than "annoyed by the sound". It is causing an unwanted lifestyle change for me. The hours and hours and hours of barking sometimes seem like torture. I can no longer use areas of my home because of it. I am not about to pay for a house where I can't use the outside spaces and where I can't open my windows. I am going to solve my problem.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

I have a question, if OP is wrong for this birdhouse thing, what about the owners who have an invisible fence? Don't the dogs get zapped or something when they go near the fence line?

uh huh.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

The key to me is whether this birdhouse is bark-activated. If it is, and the high pitched sound only goes off for a short time, then I think this is a good alternative. I think subjecting a dog to a constant high-pitched noise would be mean, as the dog can’t get away from it (and again, none of this is his fault; the poor thing just happens to have a lazy, uneducated and uncaring owner). But I don’t think this is the case here. It does stink that the dog will never be able to bark, and that is a natural function for dogs, but this is what the players involved are left with when one won’t do the right thing.

An Australian Shepherd is a highly intelligent, very energetic dog bred to work. It is one of the herding breeds. Obviously the dog is totally frustrated. Working dogs not given a job will make one up themselves. And this dog has done just that. Once he can’t bark anymore, he will find another - digging, fence running, biting, rock chewing, ie whatever he can figure out while left in the yard alone all day. Which sucks for the dog.

Re the previous Psychology Today article that was posted - I think it predicted psychological damage based on being subjected to this hypersonic sound. Not sure I agree with that if the sound is bark-triggered and intermittent. I do agree with most of the rest of the article though, especially about shock collars.

Another, better owner than this one could come along and fairly easily stop this dog’s constant barking. How? By engaging with the dog. It’s really that simple. Owning this type of dog (or any dog) comes with a responsibility of treating it right.

Now, can we talk about constantly clucking chickens and roosters?

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Forgot to say, I looked at some YouTube videos about this particular product. Along with the sound, a colored light goes on when it’s emitting the sound. It seemed like it was a green light. And the dogs saw it. And that seemed to impact them. So they learn that if the light comes on, they hear this unpleasant noise, and it deters them. It seemed like a red light goes on when the noise stops. Then no lights in between activation (because one said it goes through batteries frequently). There also seemed to be very mixed reviews, with some showing it works, and some showing it doesn’t. It may depend on the circumstances and locations. Jury is still out.

 

[Kathryn Merteuil]

I don't think you're wrong at all.