New neighbor's dog never stops barking!

[Jennasis]

I'm grateful I live on a farm out in the country...I can't hear my neighbors dogs (occasionally I hear the cows moo). But more importantly, THEY can't hear my hound dog. I joke all the time that I'd have to have her voice box removed if we ever had to live in a suburban area (or if the zombie apocalypse came...she'd give away our position in a heart beat). However, when she gets really into baying at something, I put an end to it and bring her inside because it annoys me! She's outside right now, all nice a quiet...but God forbid a tractor should go by the house...

 

[yoopermom]

I'm grateful I live on a farm out in the country...I can't hear my neighbors dogs (occasionally I hear the cows moo). But more importantly, THEY can't hear my hound dog. I joke all the time that I'd have to have her voice box removed if we ever had to live in a suburban area (or if the zombie apocalypse came...she'd give away our position in a heart beat).

You are so funny! We live in the country with our four hounds (and one boston terror), and I keep telling DH that once they're all gone we can finally move back to suburbia by our extended families! And ours would DEFINITELY be zombie fodder!

Back to OP, here is a link to the effects of chaining a dog out long term:
http://www.humanesociety.org/issues/chaining_tethering/facts/chaining_tethering_facts.html
It can cause huge psychological issues. I would personally rather see a dog given up for adoption rather than chained out. Makes me sick.

You've been given lots of good suggestions.

Terri

 

[JanaDee]

I feel your pain, OP. We had a similar situation in our neighborhood years ago. Numerous people talked to the offending owners, they didn't care and the problem continued. Once the police were involved, the problem was solved immediately.

The neighborhood still did a little jig when they moved, though.

Call the non-emergency police number. That is usually the fastest way to get the problem to stop.

 

[TeresaNJ]

Any advice?

Our next door neighbors moved in two months ago. I've only met the parents once, but the kids hang out with my kids. The problem is their big dog (don't know what kind, I think it's a mix). They tie the poor thing up outside at 7 am, and the barking begins. They go to work, and leave the dog tied up outside ALL DAY LONG. The barking continues until they bring him inside. Last night it was 10:45 pm and I could hear it. The dog is tied up to a huge barn, so it has the option to go out of the sun if need be. Also there is a bucket of water for it to drink. Still, I feel very sorry for the poor dog.

However, I feel more sorry for ME! Since they've moved in, I cannot sit outside, keep my windows open, or relax. It is the most horrible, annoying, non-stop sound. I've been wearing headphones and listening to music from 7 am to 11 pm. If I take my headphones out and the dog happens to be quiet for a second, I enjoy the silence, and then he inevitably starts right up again. This is really causing me great anxiety. Other neighbors have complained about it too. Until this point, everyone around us with dogs was overly considerate. You barely knew any of our neighbors had dogs because as soon as they barked, they'd bring the dog in.

Can you make an anonymous call to the dog warden? Would they take that seriously, or do you have to leave your name? I don't want a bad relationship with these neighbors, even though they are ruining my peace.

Alternatively, I started looking into dog repellant sound emitters, but the reviews are pretty mixed on those.

Has anyone actually had success with getting a neighbor's dog to stop barking, either by talking to them about it (which is the least favorable option, in my opinion) or having a dog warden step in?
Thanks.

To the bolded, YES, you can, and should. It is cruel to leave a dog tied up all day! I follow a FB page that rescues dogs like this all the time, called Justice Rescue. They are in the Philadelphia area, but they may be able to direct you to a group in your area.

 

[MichelleVW]

Poor dog. I don't understand why people don't take care of their animals. My girls grew up with animals and would never sit in the house with their dogs barking tied up outside.

You need to say something.

 

[Luvchefmic]

To the bolded, YES, you can, and should. It is cruel to leave a dog tied up all day! I follow a FB page that rescues dogs like this all the time, called Justice Rescue. They are in the Philadelphia area, but they may be able to direct you to a group in your area.

It may be cruel BUT it may not be unlawful. This dog isn't out 24/7 with an embedded chain in it's neck. I'm familiar with the group you are mentioning but I hardly think this is called for, seems a little over the top IMHO. They're pretty controversial.

http://www.opposingviews.com/i/soci...eft-charges-against-biker-group-dropped-video


That being said, not all calls will remain anonymous. If you call the Sheriff here who handles it they go talk to the person and then go right to the neighbor(s) that reported it. Brilliant

 

[TAX GUY]

I'll be short and sweet...

Just go talk to them about it. I wouldn't suggest skipping over being an adult and talking to them directly first. If you are greeted with a hefty mind your business THEN take the next step. Also, lets not assume the teen kids are being lazy and sleeping all day or playing video games. How does anyone here know what they are doing? Man up and talk face to face like grown ups do.


Here's a slightly different twist that happened in my neighborhood. Neighbor 1 was irritated at neighbor 2 because #2 was blowing a few leaves and grass clippings across the street, close to #1's house. Rather than asking him to please stop, they decided to write a letter and mail. Problem? They mailed it to the wrong house!! Now neighbor 3 posts that letter, with a response onto the mail box (we have a bundle of mail boxes at certain sections of the development). Now the entire neighborhood sees the dilemma. The response was something like "rather than trying to stay anonymous and not confronting the matter in person, at least mail it the RIGHT house".

 

[PrincessShmoo]

We had this same situation a number of years ago. New neighbor - constantly barking dog. Although, in this case, it was 2 dogs. Barked all day and all night. Turns out the neighbor was hard of hearing and wasn't aware that the dogs were barking that much.

We played the game like this. First we talked to the neighbor, she claimed it wasn't true. Next we called animal control. They told us, unless there was abuse they couldn't do anything. We called the police, they told us unless we could document the barking was 24/7 nothing they could do.

So we set up our tape recorder on our balcony. And let it run/record for 3 days. Periodically we would go out and announce the time of day. After giving the tape to the police, they contacted the owner. She still claimed that her dogs did not bark. After playing the tape for her, she was informed that she was violating the noise ordinance. She found a new home for the dogs.

Only contact we had with her after that was about 6 months later (just before she moved out), apologizing and telling us that her doctor had recently told her that she needed hearing aids due to high frequency hearing loss, an extreme case. She could basically hear, but not certain pitches. She really couldn't hear her dogs.

I'd suggest start by talking to the "adult" in the house and telling her what you told us.

 

[yoopermom]

In our rural, poor area,our animal control officer has explained to me that it's not enough, according to our area's legal statues for the dog to have food/water/shelter. For example, it has to have clean, accessible water 24/7. A "large barn" would not be considered adequate shelter if the dog was not able to get far enough into it to get into shade/out of the rain. It definitely would not be considered "shelter" once the weather got colder, since it would not be like a dog house that the dog's body heat could keep warm. There also can't be any impediments that could cause the dog to get wrapped up in its chain, and not be able to reach any of the above. There are also legal restrictions on the length and weight of the chain.

I wish that they would just outlaw the use of them all together, but I know that will never happen, realistically. (And I also know how much $$ we've spent on kenneling and yard fencing...)

Terri

 

[Wishing on a star]

Sad....
I really feel for these animals.
In this poor, southern, rural (po-dunk) area where we currently live, I don't think there are any legal requirements of animal owners.
Numerous mentally deficient folks with dogs that LIVE... 24/7... their entire lives, on chains behind some dilapidated trailer.

Yet, animal control comes out when we first got our Lab, and he got out and was in a neighbors back yard....

OP, if there would animal control, or noise control, laws in your community, that might actually be enforced... YES, I would call.

 

[TeresaNJ]

It may be cruel BUT it may not be unlawful. This dog isn't out 24/7 with an embedded chain in it's neck. I'm familiar with the group you are mentioning but I hardly think this is called for, seems a little over the top IMHO. They're pretty controversial.

http://www.opposingviews.com/i/soci...eft-charges-against-biker-group-dropped-video


That being said, not all calls will remain anonymous. If you call the Sheriff here who handles it they go talk to the person and then go right to the neighbor(s) that reported it. Brilliant

Considering the police work with them all the time, I think those who have a problem with them just want to have a problem with them. Let the OP make up her own mind. Leaving a dog tied up all day outside is cruel. Since when do we measure cruelness on a stick? Sheesh.

 

[jerseygal]

There might be a Noise Ordinance or something similar that exists(or should exist)IMO, in your town! Call the town and explore the existing ordinances.

UNFAIR to those around the home that wish to sleep and enjoy the outside of their homes! Not to mention, unfair to the dog! IMO, the dog barking is ruining the "quality of life and enjoyment" of the neighborhood!

 

[emer95]

I appreciate all of the responses and advice. Here's a very strange update- it is 10 am and I have not heard that dog bark once this morning!! I can't see it from my house (I have to walk to the end of my driveway, because their barn is in the way) so I don't know if it is outside or not. I'd have to guess it's not, because if it's outside, it's barking.

???? I wonder if a different neighbor said something? Or if the mom possibly reads the DIS?

I opened my windows today for the first time all summer! I'm cautiously optimistic!

 

[Luvchefmic]

Considering the police work with them all the time, I think those who have a problem with them just want to have a problem with them. Let the OP make up her own mind. Leaving a dog tied up all day outside is cruel. Since when do we measure cruelness on a stick? Sheesh.

http://www.opposingviews.com/i/soci...eft-charges-against-biker-group-dropped-video


You are entitled to your opinion about this rescue group. I am entitled to mine. That's why the article is in " Opposing views" OK ? Put your stick away, not sure where you even got that.

 

[Luvchefmic]

I appreciate all of the responses and advice. Here's a very strange update- it is 10 am and I have not heard that dog bark once this morning!! I can't see it from my house (I have to walk to the end of my driveway, because their barn is in the way) so I don't know if it is outside or not. I'd have to guess it's not, because if it's outside, it's barking.

???? I wonder if a different neighbor said something? Or if the mom possibly reads the DIS?

I opened my windows today for the first time all summer! I'm cautiously optimistic!

Wonderful !! Nothing like fresh air and quiet. Let's hope you continue to have peace ...probably is a Disser

 

[Glenn]

Hope the poster is enjoying the quiet. The dog might be barking because its lonely but also maybe bored. Can you see if it has any play toys, chew things?
My cousin used to have their dog out of the house for about half of the day. They had a bunch of dog toys theyd give him. To keep it interesting theyd rotate the toys so something sort of new every day. Hed also get a little treat when they put him outside and when the kids got home and he could run around. Good luck

 

[CdnCarrie]

There is someone at home and the dog is tied up outside all day long! That's abuse plain and simple. Phone a make a complaint ASAP if it starts up again.

 

[Luvchefmic]

There is someone at home and the dog is tied up outside all day long! That's abuse plain and simple. Phone a make a complaint ASAP if it starts up again.

The problem is the majority of compassionate people feel this way, however it is not legally considered abuse or neglect in all states all jurisdictions.

Example I think it is cruel and abusive to have a dog riding around in the back bed part of a pick up truck. It's the "norm" when I moved here and I am the "nutty" one to think otherwise. In NY where I did live this would have called out the law enforcement calvary, down here not a crime at all.

We were the talk of the town when we fenced in a big part of the front of our property for our dogs. " Born Free" is taken literally and many dogs just roam.

 

[fairestoneofall]

This thread is so interesting to me.

My neighbors had a Brittany that was tied up all day and barked constantly. They finally re-homed her and kept their other puppy. That one yaps every time they put her out. It's high-pitched and annoying. And they sometimes put her out at 5:30 am and yes, it wakes me up.

Apparently, on Saturday, the neighbor behind us rang their doorbell and told them that if they didn't shut her up, he'd complain to the homeowner's association about the noise. We only know because she asked my DH if they'd talked to us too.

And no, they've not said anything to us because we don't let our dogs yap all day. Even this morning, my female was carrying on. I was upstairs, so opened the window to tell her to hush. When she didn't, I went downstairs and made her come inside. Because that is what you do when your dog won't quit barking.

 

[Amelia Peabody]

Another victim here. I live in an apartment/townhouse complex. A neighbor 4 doors away has a puppy, cute little bugger. I've seen the son out with it once or twice. It's obvious he doesn't know to interact with a dog. Sits in a lawn chair and puts his hands down a bit. Take it for a run! Throw a ball! Play tug with a toy!

The puppy is tied up on the patio with a short leash. Short I assume to keep it confined to "their" area. Barking starts at 6am and continues until I leave around 7:30. One night I got home at 9:30 and it was barking - still barking at 10:45. It stands up and peers into the patio door barking its little heart out, poor thing. It has one of those barks that reminds me of basketball sneaker squeaks and there's a reason I hate basketball!

What I can't understand is the other neighbors between us must be going completely crazy! Management would take care of things if they knew. There are at least 7 families in the immediate area. How has no one said anything?

I won't because I keep a low profile here. Just had to put my story down too!