Neighbours dog
Discussion
This has been done to death, but I've never seen a thread end with a resolution. I've been awoken regularly for about a year now by a mastiff type dog with a hound of the Baskervilles type bark that a neighbour keeps outside day and night. I have a dog myself, who is only outside in our garden to allow her to go to the toilet, or who is with us and attended and quiet while we're outside. It's obviously clearly possible to have a dog and not have it branded a nuisance.
Because I'm a dog owner, I've tried to make allowances, but the neighbours dog will bark seemingly when it hears a squirrel fart at any time of the night. This obviously wakes us and my dog up at whatever hour of the night this happens, and I currently have to be up for work at 6.15 am. At my wife's request, I've avoided confronting the owner. However, recently, after a particularly disturbed night followed by an early start and long day, I got home, parked up, and addressed the owner.
We clearly have very different views on dog ownership, the reasons for their existence in our lives, and what is and isn't reasonable behaviour as an owner and a neighbour. By his own admission, he keeps the dog as a guard, he leaves his kids bicycles etc in the back where the dog lives, they've just had new carpets and his wife doesn't want the dog making them dirty, etc, etc. His claim that he has spoken to other neighbours who tell him that they don't regard it as a problem flies in the face of the people I've spoken to locally. I suspect that in reality, the neighbours aren't mad about the idea of telling him the truth, as he's big and intimidating to look at, although, in fact, not intimidating to speak to.
I told him that it was a problem. He countered by relating the reasons above for it happening. I pointed out that I had early starts. He seemed to think that doesn't matter, as he also has to start early. I suggested that having a dog that disturbed him was his decision, but that it shouldn't be allowed to affect others lives. In short, I got nowhere with him, he doesn't regard the noise as anything to be concerned about, and short of physical violence, dealing with him face to face isn't likely to yield a satisfactory outcome.
As I understand it, Environmental health is the next step. I can't see any other way, but I really don't want to if there are alternatives, as I fear it will be the dog that suffers and it's a problem of the owners making. There's something about going down this route that just sits very badly with me, and I'd almost rather have to kick off properly with the owner face to face than have them involved, although I can see that's beyond ridiculous.
Has anyone got to this stage and found a way forward? I'm sleeping quite badly now because of either the actual noise or the expectation of it.
Sorry for the long post.
Because I'm a dog owner, I've tried to make allowances, but the neighbours dog will bark seemingly when it hears a squirrel fart at any time of the night. This obviously wakes us and my dog up at whatever hour of the night this happens, and I currently have to be up for work at 6.15 am. At my wife's request, I've avoided confronting the owner. However, recently, after a particularly disturbed night followed by an early start and long day, I got home, parked up, and addressed the owner.
We clearly have very different views on dog ownership, the reasons for their existence in our lives, and what is and isn't reasonable behaviour as an owner and a neighbour. By his own admission, he keeps the dog as a guard, he leaves his kids bicycles etc in the back where the dog lives, they've just had new carpets and his wife doesn't want the dog making them dirty, etc, etc. His claim that he has spoken to other neighbours who tell him that they don't regard it as a problem flies in the face of the people I've spoken to locally. I suspect that in reality, the neighbours aren't mad about the idea of telling him the truth, as he's big and intimidating to look at, although, in fact, not intimidating to speak to.
I told him that it was a problem. He countered by relating the reasons above for it happening. I pointed out that I had early starts. He seemed to think that doesn't matter, as he also has to start early. I suggested that having a dog that disturbed him was his decision, but that it shouldn't be allowed to affect others lives. In short, I got nowhere with him, he doesn't regard the noise as anything to be concerned about, and short of physical violence, dealing with him face to face isn't likely to yield a satisfactory outcome.
As I understand it, Environmental health is the next step. I can't see any other way, but I really don't want to if there are alternatives, as I fear it will be the dog that suffers and it's a problem of the owners making. There's something about going down this route that just sits very badly with me, and I'd almost rather have to kick off properly with the owner face to face than have them involved, although I can see that's beyond ridiculous.
Has anyone got to this stage and found a way forward? I'm sleeping quite badly now because of either the actual noise or the expectation of it.
Sorry for the long post.
My condolences. There is really nothing more irritating. I had a a similar issue in SW London where a lady had an enormous dog who she used to let out into the garden at 5am to start barking. In the end I got in touch with the council’s environmental health team who wrote to her and it stopped pretty much straight away. I think this is your best bet.
There are some very inconsiderate dog owners out there, aside from the very poor life this dog seems to lead, solely as a protector "of stuff " rather than a loved member of the family like most pets are, but also the impact on others around him.
My two I'm very aware of making noises, when outside they play and can become boisterous, and as soon as they do I call them in, and when we pop out I close the curtains, as they love nothing better than looking out the window , and then barking at anyone who dares to walk past "their " property
.....I feel for you as a former shift worker, sleeping when either up early, or on nights and trying to catch up during the day, when everyone else was up, was a nightmare.
I would go the dog warden route, as although speaking to you there seems to be no immediate resolution, often folks report an improvement once they are contacted.
My two I'm very aware of making noises, when outside they play and can become boisterous, and as soon as they do I call them in, and when we pop out I close the curtains, as they love nothing better than looking out the window , and then barking at anyone who dares to walk past "their " property
.....I feel for you as a former shift worker, sleeping when either up early, or on nights and trying to catch up during the day, when everyone else was up, was a nightmare.
I would go the dog warden route, as although speaking to you there seems to be no immediate resolution, often folks report an improvement once they are contacted.
LosingGrip said:
No quick answer, but environmental health for noise complaint. Local dog warden as above is a good shout.
Keep a diary on times/dates and how long long. If windows were open etc. Film it from inside your address the sound. Or an app that says how loud something is.
I forgot to mention that I did this too - kept a diary and recorded the barking. The iPhone will timestamp audio recordings too which is helpful. Keep a diary on times/dates and how long long. If windows were open etc. Film it from inside your address the sound. Or an app that says how loud something is.
Tebbers said:
I forgot to mention that I did this too - kept a diary and recorded the barking. The iPhone will timestamp audio recordings too which is helpful.
Stage 2 is to hook the playback up to a large PA in the garden and leave on a high volume loop when you go out. See how they like it when the shoe's on the other foot!I had a similar issue. Not early in the morning but neighbors dog would bark in the evening when I was trying to get to sleep. They were a lovely couple but the dog was a bit neglected, and they would leave it in back garden while they sat in the lounge at the front of the house. Guess they couldn't hear the barking or ignored it.
Came to a head when I went out and banged on the fence one evening so the dog went absolutely apes
t. The lady came out and I told her to stop the bloody thing barking.
They subsequently moved out and we then had much worse noise problems thanks to a teenage son and his mates
We moved out last week to a lovely house not attached to anyone.
Came to a head when I went out and banged on the fence one evening so the dog went absolutely apes
t. The lady came out and I told her to stop the bloody thing barking.They subsequently moved out and we then had much worse noise problems thanks to a teenage son and his mates
We moved out last week to a lovely house not attached to anyone.
Thanks for the replies. I live right in the city centre, and was aware that there would be noises from people ( it's a University city, so always lots of students out on the lash when covid isn't putting a stop to their fun! ), a hospital over the road, so sirens, etc,and those are noises you learn to sleep through, but I didn't sign up for this. It's directly behind our house, we have a small private garden, with a footpath behind that, the neighbour's garden is on the other side of the footpath. The dog is maybe 40 ft away at all times. It's an echo chamber, so the noise is immense when it happens. I typed my op last night at about 1.30 am, it was barking at the time!
I'm genuinely more concerned about the welfare of the dog when considering a resolution, what I don't want is for it to become the focus of a problem the owner is responsible for.
I've accepted reading the replies that I have no choice but to take the next step of gathering evidence and listing times and dates and pursuing it through EH, but it feels underhand. I wish I could make the owner see sense without resorting to this, but I gave him that chance and the problem persists.
I'm genuinely more concerned about the welfare of the dog when considering a resolution, what I don't want is for it to become the focus of a problem the owner is responsible for.
I've accepted reading the replies that I have no choice but to take the next step of gathering evidence and listing times and dates and pursuing it through EH, but it feels underhand. I wish I could make the owner see sense without resorting to this, but I gave him that chance and the problem persists.
Edited by Heaveho on Saturday 3rd July 10:17
Tebbers said:
My condolences. There is really nothing more irritating. I had a a similar issue in SW London where a lady had an enormous dog who she used to let out into the garden at 5am to start barking. In the end I got in touch with the council’s environmental health team who wrote to her and it stopped pretty much straight away. I think this is your best bet.
I have the same issue with my wife who I've told multiple times not to let our dog out without a lead first thing in the morning.Does she listen...?
Fortunately it's not at 5am but even before 9 on a weekend I think is a bit antisocial.
Edited by meatballs on Saturday 3rd July 10:23
When I've had nuisance neighbours I've always tried to go the extra mile for them to solve their problems. Even then it doesn't work.
From what you've written:
1 - He is worried about security of kids bike in the garden. Offer to install a ground anchor and bike lock for him?
2 - His wife is worried the dog will make her new carpet dirty. Offer to go round and vax clean it once a month for her?
They are selfish for not considering your sleep/early starts.
From what you've written:
1 - He is worried about security of kids bike in the garden. Offer to install a ground anchor and bike lock for him?
2 - His wife is worried the dog will make her new carpet dirty. Offer to go round and vax clean it once a month for her?
They are selfish for not considering your sleep/early starts.
MikeStroud said:
When I've had nuisance neighbours I've always tried to go the extra mile for them to solve their problems. Even then it doesn't work.
From what you've written:
1 - He is worried about security of kids bike in the garden. Offer to install a ground anchor and bike lock for him?
2 - His wife is worried the dog will make her new carpet dirty. Offer to go round and vax clean it once a month for her?
They are selfish for not considering your sleep/early starts.
Your last sentence is fair enough. I'm not sure if I'm due a whoosh for perhaps erroneously taking the first two suggestions seriously?From what you've written:
1 - He is worried about security of kids bike in the garden. Offer to install a ground anchor and bike lock for him?
2 - His wife is worried the dog will make her new carpet dirty. Offer to go round and vax clean it once a month for her?
They are selfish for not considering your sleep/early starts.
I'm not about to reward them for their selfishness with free services in what little spare time I have. I try to live in a considerate way and to make sure my behaviour doesn't cause my neighbours a problem. I'm a sole trader, I'm known locally to be reasonably adept at fixing stuff , I already do a fair bit for others here, as generally, that's the kind of place it is, and I don't mind when it's reciprocal.
But inconsiderate actions should have consequences, not be rewarded. They live in a large house, certainly large enough to find space for a couple of bikes. They don't have to have carpets, we have wood flooring for specifically dog related reasons. The " problems " they say they have are no different to those of many others, the way they address them isn't normal behaviour. Pointing all this out, as I have done, has fallen on deaf ears.
If I thought they were incapable of providing their own solution to this, I'd be more sympathetic. However, they are choosing to make their problems become those of others. I'd be more inclined to do something to help if there had been any suggestion that they were willing to accept there own position wasn't reasonable, as it stands they're quite happy for it to carry on while they feel the other residents will allow it.
I did what many wouldn't and tried to address it face to face, something I'm not mad about doing, as knocking on a persons door to complain seems like a confrontational thing to do, and in my mind is as likely to escalate the issue as it is to provide a solution. But having done so, I feel I can fall back on the fact that the owner has been given the opportunity to hear the reason for the complaint first hand, and have it explained in detail why it's a problem.
Realistically, I can't see how he can be surprised when the EH comes knocking in future, but as I said, I'll do it very reluctantly. I feel like I'm considering the future welfare of their dog more than they are, and quite apart from the nuisance of the noise, I am concerned for the dog as to how the situation will be resolved should things get legal.
Again, sorry for the long post, writing stuff down like this is useful for me to refer back to.
Ussrcossack said:
Befriend the dog, then let it free.
It just bum it
Feel for you though OP
In an ideal world, I'd let my dog and his sort it out between them. His might be a mastiff, but so far this one has been attacked by 2 Mastiffs, a Staffie, an Akita and a Rottweiler, and chinned the lot of them! It just bum it
Feel for you though OP
MikeStroud said:
When I've had nuisance neighbours I've always tried to go the extra mile for them to solve their problems.
2 - His wife is worried the dog will make her new carpet dirty
Or, 2 - His wife is worried the dog will make her new carpet dirty
Have an affair with the wife, get CCTV footage of you kissing at work, leak to the press, they split up, she won't be worried about the carpets any more!
Thinking outside the box at it's best!
Ian Geary said:
Or,
Have an affair with the wife, get CCTV footage of you kissing at work, leak to the press, they split up, she won't be worried about the carpets any more!
Thinking outside the box at it's best!
You haven't seen the wife obvs! Have an affair with the wife, get CCTV footage of you kissing at work, leak to the press, they split up, she won't be worried about the carpets any more!
Thinking outside the box at it's best!
Face like a nail bomb sniffer dog. If they're really worried about theft, they should leave her outside all night and let the Mastiff back in!
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