barking dogs issue with neighbor

[Dznypal]

Last yr the duplex was sold--the mother bought it and lives upstairs her adult son lives downstairs

the son has 2 dogs a large doberman and a beagle--they let the dogs out one at a time--as soon as the first one is out he barks for 15-20 minutes then its the next ones turn--this goes on several times a day--

a few months ago both people were gone--the son left around midnight--it was a hot summer night and their driveway is right outside our bedroom window which was wide open--there windows were also wide open

I heard those dogs bark from 2am till 430am when I heard the guy come home
I had to work the next morning at 6am(this was a Sat nite)

so when I got home I went over and talked to her about it--her response was yeah they drive me nuts too!!!!!

ok things were better for a awhile and then came winter--now its just over summer and it starts all over--this time we let the city take care of it

well today she asks DH if we (actually me more then him) wrote a letter about barking dogs--

she said who ever wrote the letter was very rude--that dogs will bark--yeah they bark when they want to come in!!!
so Im rude for reporting barking dogs but its not rude to let your dogs bark!!!

the people the live 5 houses down from us say they hear the dogs barking--they can imangine how it is for us

was I wrong for sending the city a letter--even after talking to her about it

Im anxious to hear what you have to say

 

[ChristmasElf]

Heck no! You did the right thing. People don't realize how much barking dogs can aggravate people.

As a dog owner, let them out to do their duty and the second they start barking, I tell them to stop and get back in the house.
They do pretty good for the most part, unless the neighbors dog is out and then it's a "barkathon" and we put them back inside.

Barking in the middle of the night? I would call the cops for that!

 

[wilkeliza]

You did the right thing.

My dog went through a bout of separation anxiety each time we moved. While she was get accustome to the new surroundings we would always make sure we were home at a decent time and even would ask our neighbors if they heard anything. She barks for 2 seconds to see if anyone will come and then stops. We only know this because for a week we recorder her when we weren't home so we knew what we were up against.

She is much better now but had my neighbors ever said anything we would have been more than appologetic and probably would have sent them a flower basket with candies just to say we are sorry haha.

 

[Hrhpd]

Last yr the duplex was sold--the mother bought it and lives upstairs her adult son lives downstairs

the son has 2 dogs a large doberman and a beagle--they let the dogs out one at a time--as soon as the first one is out he barks for 15-20 minutes then its the next ones turn--this goes on several times a day--

a few months ago both people were gone--the son left around midnight--it was a hot summer night and their driveway is right outside our bedroom window which was wide open--there windows were also wide open

I heard those dogs bark from 2am till 430am when I heard the guy come home
I had to work the next morning at 6am(this was a Sat nite)

so when I got home I went over and talked to her about it--her response was yeah they drive me nuts too!!!!!

ok things were better for a awhile and then came winter--now its just over summer and it starts all over--this time we let the city take care of it

well today she asks DH if we (actually me more then him) wrote a letter about barking dogs--

she said who ever wrote the letter was very rude--that dogs will bark--yeah they bark when they want to come in!!!
so Im rude for reporting barking dogs but its not rude to let your dogs bark!!!

the people the live 5 houses down from us say they hear the dogs barking--they can imangine how it is for us

was I wrong for sending the city a letter--even after talking to her about it

Im anxious to hear what you have to say

So, the dogs were inside the house when they were barking? You only heard it because their window and your window was open?

Yes, to complain about dogs barking in their own house is a bit extreme. Shut your window and get a fan.

However, depending on how often the dogs are left out during the day to bark, that would be something to report. Also, I would have approached the son as the owner of the dogs, not the mother before I wrote the city.

 

[minniecarousel]

"Shut your windows and get a fan"! Seriously? If both houses' windows are open, you can hear the dogs as clear as if they were outside.

The OP did her part and talked to someone in that house. What you did was fine, OP.

 

[wilkeliza]

So, the dogs were inside the house when they were barking? You only heard it because their window and your window was open?

Yes, to complain about dogs barking in their own house is a bit extreme. Shut your window and get a fan.

However, depending on how often the dogs are left out during the day to bark, that would be something to report. Also, I would have approached the son as the owner of the dogs, not the mother before I wrote the city.

I could understand you stance if it was in the afternoon but the OP said it was 2-4am. Those are hours your dogs really shouldn't be barking unless there is an intruder in your house.

 

[minnie mum]

So, the dogs were inside the house when they were barking? You only heard it because their window and your window was open?

Yes, to complain about dogs barking in their own house is a bit extreme. Shut your window and get a fan.

However, depending on how often the dogs are left out during the day to bark, that would be something to report. Also, I would have approached the son as the owner of the dogs, not the mother before I wrote the city.

Seriously? The neighbour is responsible for the unnecessary noise in the middle of the night. And it is their responsibility to limit the nuisance. Doesn't matter if it's barking dogs, loud music, or yelling and screaming. If anyone should keep their windows shut its them.

OP, I think you did the right thing. You tried to be civil by speaking to them once. Rather than escalating things with another personal confrontation, allowing the city to handle the issue was probably the more prudent (and hopefully effective) route to take.

 

[Disney Doll]

I'm a dog lover.
That being said, you did the right thing.

 

[Luvchefmic]

So, the dogs were inside the house when they were barking? You only heard it because their window and your window was open?

Yes, to complain about dogs barking in their own house is a bit extreme. Shut your window and get a fan.

However, depending on how often the dogs are left out during the day to bark, that would be something to report. Also, I would have approached the son as the owner of the dogs, not the mother before I wrote the city.

IIRC a duplex shares common walls, so basically you are living in the same building. Even so, OP has ever right to complain. She shouldn't have to close windows, turn on a fan, or wear earmuffs. I would have spoken to the son as the dog owner and then all bets are off time to get the authorities involved.

 

[StirlingSilver83]

I'm a dog loved and I have 3 dogs. Currently a little dog that is a huge yapper...we manage it well though and 2 big dogs who only bark if they see someone in front of the house. When we let our dogs out the minute they start barking they come in. Our houses are very close together and I don't want my dogs bothering my neighbors. When we aren't home I can't really control them if they bark but I leave the windows closed so if they do bark it's not as loud. It's very irresponsible as a dog owner to let your dogs be outside and constantly bark.

 

[nugov2]

I feel your pain. Our neighbor across the street has a loud dog. He can't keep quiet. I hear him barking at 5 am and he barks the entire time he is outside. We can't even have the kids playing front when the dog is outside b/c he barks non stop. Luckily we live in houses compared to a duplex so I can't hear the dog when he is inside. They are sometimes good about bringing him in, but there are lots of times the dogs barking drives me insane. We have a Lab who barks, but the second I tell her to stop even if she is outside with us, she does. We never complained though. In your situation I would for sure.

Your response to her complaint about someone writing a letter to the city: Yeah, that would annoy me too.

 

[goofyintoronto]

I agree with Hrhpd, shut your window and get a fan!!!! If i had my window open all night, i'd NEVER get to sleep. Its sad that even on nice days i have to shut my window and turn my fan on, but I do it so I can get a good nights sleep! With my fan on, i dont hear anything outside. Its wonderful.

The dogs are barking INSIDE the house, not outside. Therefore, im not sure there's a lot you can do OP. It would be different if they left the dogs out in the yard all night. Im not even sure there's a lot the city can do since the dogs were inside the home?

So, the dogs were inside the house when they were barking? You only heard it because their window and your window was open?

Yes, to complain about dogs barking in their own house is a bit extreme. Shut your window and get a fan.

However, depending on how often the dogs are left out during the day to bark, that would be something to report. Also, I would have approached the son as the owner of the dogs, not the mother before I wrote the city.

 

[Luvchefmic]

Seriously? The neighbour is responsible for the unnecessary noise in the middle of the night. And it is their responsibility to limit the nuisance. Doesn't matter if it's barking dogs, loud music, or yelling and screaming. If anyone should keep their windows shut its them.

OP, I think you did the right thing. You tried to be civil by speaking to them once. Rather than escalating things with another personal confrontation, allowing the city to handle the issue was probably the more prudent (and hopefully effective) route to take.

I agree with Hrhpd, shut your window and get a fan!!!! If i had my window open all night, i'd NEVER get to sleep. Its sad that even on nice days i have to shut my window and turn my fan on, but I do it so I can get a good nights sleep! With my fan on, i dont hear anything outside. Its wonderful.

The dogs are barking INSIDE the house, not outside. Therefore, im not sure there's a lot you can do OP. It would be different if they left the dogs out in the yard all night. Im not even sure there's a lot the city can do since the dogs were inside the home?

Have to agree with what Minnie Mum said, it's the noise in the middle of the night.

If it was a loud party it would be the same exact thing.

 

[duh]

Have to agree with what Minnie Mum said, it's the noise in the middle of the night.

But the noise is coming from inside the house, and unless there's a bylaw that indicates what level of noise is acceptable, there's not a lot that can be done. Im sure there is a bylaw thou that indicates at what level is noise unacceptable etc. Think about it, if the owner cant make the dogs keep quiet, what do you suggest they do? Give the dogs away?

 

[HelenePA]

I agree with Hrhpd, shut your window and get a fan!!!! If i had my window open all night, i'd NEVER get to sleep. Its sad that even on nice days i have to shut my window and turn my fan on, but I do it so I can get a good nights sleep! With my fan on, i dont hear anything outside. Its wonderful.

The dogs are barking INSIDE the house, not outside. Therefore, im not sure there's a lot you can do OP. It would be different if they left the dogs out in the yard all night. Im not even sure there's a lot the city can do since the dogs were inside the home?

So would you feel different if it was someone practicing drums from 2-4am? that would be okay since it was in their house?

OP call the cops (non emergency number) the next time you hear them and keep calling until something is done about it..

 

[goofyintoronto]

Have to agree with what Minnie Mum said, it's the noise in the middle of the night.

If it was a loud party it would be the same exact thing.

Regardless, its from inside their home. Sure, they can shut their windows. Funny enough, a lady a few doors down from me is going thru the same thing. Someone complained to the city about her dog barking too much in the YARD, during the day too! Nothing was done. Not a thing.

So would you feel different if it was someone practicing drums from 2-4am? that would be okay since it was in their house?

OP call the cops (non emergency number) the next time you hear them and keep calling until something is done about it..

Calling the cops wont do a thing. I've done it. The only thing the cop will do is ask them to tone it down. And by the way, by the time the cops show up (if theyre not busy), it could take hours. As for the drums, honestly, if i had my windows open it would probably bother me BUT I wouldnt keep my windows open with all that racket going on. I wouldnt complain to the neighbour if the noise is coming from INSIDE their house. If they were in their yard, thats a different story!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I agree with Hrhpd, shut your window and get a fan!!!! If i had my window open all night, i'd NEVER get to sleep. Its sad that even on nice days i have to shut my window and turn my fan on, but I do it so I can get a good nights sleep! With my fan on, i dont hear anything outside. Its wonderful.

The dogs are barking INSIDE the house, not outside. Therefore, im not sure there's a lot you can do OP. It would be different if they left the dogs out in the yard all night. Im not even sure there's a lot the city can do since the dogs were inside the home?

Noise ordinances don't suddenly go away just because the noise is inside your home.

So yes, if the noise violates the noise ordinance, the city can regulate it.

 

[Hrhpd]

Seriously? The neighbour is responsible for the unnecessary noise in the middle of the night. And it is their responsibility to limit the nuisance. Doesn't matter if it's barking dogs, loud music, or yelling and screaming. If anyone should keep their windows shut its them.

OP, I think you did the right thing. You tried to be civil by speaking to them once. Rather than escalating things with another personal confrontation, allowing the city to handle the issue was probably the more prudent (and hopefully effective) route to take.

According to the OP, the night time barking happened ONCE. A single Saturday night when she had to go to work the next morning. The dogs barked for a couple of hours. For that, I would not have called, unless it was a nightly thing. I always give neighbors one pass on being annoying. I would have shut my window, turned on the fan and be done with it for that night. I do not call the city on a one time mistake of my neighbors. In my opinion, that was a bit extreme.

She said the daytime barking happened several times a day. That is a legit concern, as I mentioned.

However, she did not speak to the owner of the dogs. She spoke to the tenant in the upstairs, even it it was his mother. How does she even know the owner of the dogs got the message?

I would have spoken to the actual owner of the dogs and if that did not work, then I would have followed the OP's path and got the city involved.

And I don't understand how the dogs didn't bark all summer, but now that it is fall, they are barking outside again. Did this happen just once again and the OP ran to the city?

Last yr the duplex was sold--the mother bought it and lives upstairs her adult son lives downstairs

the son has 2 dogs a large doberman and a beagle--they let the dogs out one at a time--as soon as the first one is out he barks for 15-20 minutes then its the next ones turn--this goes on several times a day--here she says the barking happens several times a day - legit concern

a few months ago both people were gone one time occurrence - nothing to write the city about --the son left around midnight--it was a hot summer night another reference that this was a one time, one night occurrence
and their driveway is right outside our bedroom window which was wide open--there windows were also wide open

I heard those dogs bark from 2am till 430am when I heard the guy come home
I had to work the next morning at 6am(this was a Sat nite) yet another reference that this was a one night occurrence. The OP does not say that this happens on a regular basis at night. It was ONE Saturday night,

so when I got home I went over and talked to her about it--her response was yeah they drive me nuts too!!!!!

ok things were better for a awhile and then came winter--now its just over summer and it starts all over--this time we let the city take care of it So, the dogs did not bark all winter and summer? When did she talk to the Mother? It sounds like last year, before it started up again. Again, I would have spoken to the son, the actual owner of the dogs before I went to the city. But that is just me. I like to try to resolve things between neighbors before getting acrimonious and writing a letter to the city.

well today she asks DH if we (actually me more then him) wrote a letter about barking dogs--

she said who ever wrote the letter was very rude--that dogs will bark--yeah they bark when they want to come in!!!
so Im rude for reporting barking dogs but its not rude to let your dogs bark!!!

the people the live 5 houses down from us say they hear the dogs barking--they can imangine how it is for us

was I wrong for sending the city a letter--even after talking to her about it She says the dogs belong to the son. The son lives downstairs, the mother lives upstairs, so basically two different apartments. Would anyone complain to the apartment above a neighbor who was annoying and expect results? It doesn't matter if they are related or not. Per the OP, they do not live together. The OP DID NOT talk to the owner of the dogs. So, yes, it is my opinion she was wrong to write a letter before actually speaking to the owner of the dogs. But to each their own. Now she is "that" neighbor.

Im anxious to hear what you have to say

 

[HelenePA]

Regardless, its from inside their home. Sure, they can shut their windows. Funny enough, a lady a few doors down from me is going thru the same thing. Someone complained to the city about her dog barking too much in the YARD, during the day too! Nothing was done. Not a thing.



Calling the cops wont do a thing. I've done it. The only thing the cop will do is ask them to tone it down. And by the way, by the time the cops show up (if theyre not busy), it could take hours. As for the drums, honestly, if i had my windows open it would probably bother me BUT I wouldnt keep my windows open with all that racket going on. I wouldnt complain to the neighbour if the noise is coming from INSIDE their house. If they were in their yard, thats a different story!

You aren't the OP you have NO idea what her cops will do. If you call enough times they will do something. I know enough police to know this. If they keep getting called to the same address over and over again, trust me they'll do something!

 

[Luvchefmic]

But the noise is coming from inside the house, and unless there's a bylaw that indicates what level of noise is acceptable, there's not a lot that can be done. Im sure there is a bylaw thou that indicates at what level is noise unacceptable etc. Think about it, if the owner cant make the dogs keep quiet, what do you suggest they do? Give the dogs away?

If you knew me at all you would realize that would NOT be an option. What is needed here is training, for the humans.

That being said, MOST areas people live in do have laws about level of noise after certain times, and yes police often give "disturbing the peace violation" tickets.