Any advice on barking dogs?

J

Jericho

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Am at my wits end and was wondering if anyone has similar experiences or can offer advice...

Basically we have lived in our house for four years and we are in a group of 5 houses. Our next door neighbour and the next one to them are rented cottages belonging to the farmer who owns all the surrounding fields which run at the back of the houses and down the side of our garden and horses field.

Until recently things have been lovely and very peaceful but about 6 weeks ago someone moved in to the next door but one house and built kennels for 8 dogs at the back of the garden, so they can see across into our garden. We found out it is the new farm manager.

Anyway the dogs bark quite a lot. They start at 6.30am when they get fed and wake us up. Then they bark everytime I am i nthe garden, hear a bird, see movement etc and then another frenzy of barking at about 7 - 8pm when they get taken out for walks. Unfortunately we have a decking area which has great views and was lovely place to sit in the evening sun but it is view of the dogs cue barking etc.

Also everytime they get taken out for a walk (twice a day) its past out garden around the edge of the farmers field and I have seen their dogs tearing around the horses field, having got through the fencing. Now I have young children and we often ride in the field and the horses are skittish now as they are wary of dogs bursting through the hedge. We also have chickens which would make a very tasty dinner for a dog! The owners try and whistle them back and there is always lots of screaming shouting whistling and barking (put it this way - you know when they are going for a walk)

I have tried to go around and have been very welcoming and said that I would be grateful if they could keep their dogs out of the field ... young children riding, horses getting upset, chickens etc and the woman (farm managers wife) said Ok but she thinks it was a fox I have seen .....ummmm no I know the difference between a fox and a golden retriever and a springer spaniel!!!

I have been out in the field having been woken by the dogs and thought I might as well get up and do the horses now and seen the farm manager take the dogs out on their 'mad rush' and seen the dogs come through the fence - I duly shouted 'please keep your dogs out of the horses field' and on each occassion he blatantly ignored me, whislted to his dogs and carried on.

So... is this trespass?? Considered a noise nuisance? Can we do anything about it - i.e. the barking .... (its not constant but it certainly is annoying - and I know 3 other neighbours are upset by it) I dont want to have fork out for fencing to keep the dogs from seeing us (it would spoil the views we have) nor fencing to keep them coming into our fields (at least 400 metres to do). The farmer is particularly villager friendly either so not sure we would get much help from him....

Phew a big class of pinot and a rather nice box of Flake choccies that OH bought me yesterday if you got this far.....
 
As Mrs M, start now, logging when they bark, have a word with the nighbours, if that fails, with the landlodr and then with Environmental health Office. It drives you crackers doesn't it!
 
I think that between 8am and 8pm, you don't have much right to complain. Outwith thos hours, you have a case. The local councils environmental services are the ones to contact.
I don't know about the trespass thing as in Scotland we have no laws of trespass. I should think that perhaps you need to have a word with the farmer and tell him about the noise, chicken, field etc. and see if he has any suggestions.
It's a shame that your peace has been shattered. Hope you get it sorted.
 
Shoot them
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if its the owners I should shoot - yes I gladly would. Hate people who have a lack of respect for other people and keep their dogs in cages where they feel the need to bark.

I love dogs ... normally but would prefer them to be seen and not heard too often!
 
Make a log of everything over the next two weeks. i.e keep a record of the incident, the duration, time and date.

Try to get photos of the dogs when they are in your field.

Contact the local district council environmental officer and also te local district councils dog warden.

The local district council can use the 'Enviromental Protection Act (as ammended) to sort out the problem with the dogs.
 
Shooting seems a bit drastic as its not the dogs fault they are kept in cages.

Re-barking, have you asked if you could be introduced to the dogs? If they know you they may be less inclined to bark every time they see you.
Also I have found out riding that if you call them a 'good boy! What a smart dog!' etc.. in a suitably friendly terms most stop barking and wag their tails in confusion =)

About entering the field, Im not sue what your fencing is but would it be possible to string electirc wire along at 'dog' height and then put a decent charge on it (hooked to mains via an adapter), this will discourage most dogs.

With regards to the owner, make it clear that you will belt / throw stones at, and forcibly eject any dog entering your field.
 
I used to ride past a dog that used chase the horses and bark viciously at them through the fence and if the gates were open chase them up the road! I spoke to the owners nicely and tried everything by the book ( a friend even sent them a letter from there solicitor after her horse fell over on the road after being chased), but nothing worked (ignorant owners).
In the end it chased me and the 18hh+ hunter I was on up the road one day and I lost the plot turned round and cantered at it chasing it back to there garden, the owner was just watching from the OPEN kitchen window!! My blood was boiling so I shouted the house down telling them if there dog did it again I would come round, hang it outside there front door and slit it's throat!!! (very unlike me, and only said in the heat of the moment, didn't mean it), But the dog was always kept under control after that!!

Moral of the story try nicely first, then the law, then LET RIP!! or shoot it!
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