I'm not sure what to do now

WelshD

WelshD

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I have two dogs - a nine year old welsh terrier and a six month old Jack Russell

They will play nicely but when the puppy 'loses' he barks at the older dog until the older dog barks back, they then have a wrestle, a bit more barking and it sorts itself out amicably

I know that this escalates a bit when there are few other distractions - ie when we are not in, when they wake up from sleeping and are hungry etc, the puppy always sets the older dog off, never vice versa, the older dog on his own is very quiet

the lady next door knocked about six weeks ago to say the dogs barking was disturbing them to which I apologised and said i would do my best to separate them where I could. Since then I have tried to take the puppy to work when I think I may be late home, walked them more and try to have at least one with me when at the stables. My husband works on a Sunday and I drive him in at 7am so each week I take a dog in the car with me to avoid disturbing the neighbours on a Sunday

This morning we forgot and I came home to an unhappy neighbour

The trouble is that she exaggerates and this doesnt help matters, she says they bark at 6am but we are always home then and know they don't, she says the barking has been bad for six months but we haven't had the puppy all that time, I have even taking to sitting in the car outside the house and know that when they have supposedly been barking they haven't made any noise

I just apologise constantly and tell her what I have done to help things but I know the husband is the sort to get angry about it long term, I don't answer back when she says about 6am barking and have never mentioned that their dog is left for quite come considerable hours and barks for sometimes hours at a time when left alone (four hours almost solid one evening last week)

I know the dogs arent blameless but they have a good life so its not like they are neglected, hardly ever left for long periods of time and they have three acres to run around on and are outside at least four hours a day. with the efforts I have been making I'd like to think that they neighbours would be of the opinion that noise is reduced by 80% and they can live with it but it seems not, I was only gone for 40 minutes this morning..

realistically I am asking two questions,- what action could be taken against me, if they decide to take action? (I own my home, its not rented or housing association) and is there anything else I can do to stop the barking, do I resort to anti bark collars? I've considered crating the puppy but think that just may make him bark more

thank you for any replies
 
I don't profess to be any kind of expert and sure someone much more qualified will be along soon but have a similar dynamic at home. Lurcher is 5, whippet 16 months. Neither bark at noises visitors etc but the whippet can be very vocal in play or if the lurcher has something he wants .... much like a demanding, naughty child in fact! Absolutely no point yelling as he just gets more excited so I have found that removing him from the room just for a short while calms him and he will then come back in quietly. He is starting to learn that when he's told to stop, if he does not, he'll have to leave the room and go on the naughty step alone, so to speak!

I'm very lucky I have fab neighbours and they've never mentioned barking so assume the dogs are quiet when I'm not there - which figures as I don't leave them alone with highly prized items such as bones etc

Sorry - can't be of much more help than that and may not be of much help anyway!
 
crate train them - its not fair on your neighbours to have a dog that barks for any length of time - all you need is a complaint to council and them to record enough barking and your life could be very difficult.
 
I've had this problem with my neighbours. My elderly dog was a bit senile in his last year's and would bark for no reason.
I got a voice activated dictaphone and left it with the dogs when I wasn't there.
Although there was barking it was exaggerated by the neighbours.
It's a good way of finding out how much they do bark though.
Your neighbour could report you to environmental health. They would give your neighbour a log to keep and if necessary set up recording equipment.
I know this as I was worried and looked it up!
You might get a letter from environmental health, they could in theory take you to court but it's unlikely.
I think you probably are doing your best to keep them quiet by extra walks taking them out as much as possible etc.

Would you be able to leave them with stuffed Kong's or bones to keep them quiet?
I soak a bit of kibble and stuff hollow bones and then freeze.
A Dap diffuser may help and leaving tv or radio on low for them might help.

I tried to keep mine away from the wall between me and neighbours.

I know how worrying it is. Hope you get it sorted.
 
Thank you both

I know it's not fair but do think I've gone way beyond what a lot of people would do to try and improve matters and am still keen to keep everyone happy. Like I said their dog is left on his own for long periods, they are frequently out all day and all evening where we are home a lot more, it was only 40 mins I was gone this morning. Their dog was taken everywhere as a pup so barks a lot now it's left alone for hours as an older dog. if it becomes a tit for tat situation we could prove their dog was more noisy but I really don't want it to come to that and would rather concentrate on what I can control

Both my dogs are crate trained and have crates but I'm not convinced that they wouldn't still bark in crates, certainly when the pup is in one it doesn't shut him up when we are at home! not sure if it would when we are out but willing to try do you think crates in different rooms would help?
 
Could you just put them in different rooms while you are out and give them a frozen bone or something to occupy them?
I know it's difficult with neighbours, mine used to moan about barking but it was ok for me to have to put up with slamming doors, shouting and loud music.
 
Thanks SS I think I may have to do that, it's a shame to have two dogs so they can keep each other company then have to separate them but if that's what it takes....
 
I think I would be very plain in my language to your neighbour.

They have a dog, they understand the issues that having one can create, and that in your case you're trying to address it. If they complain about 6am barking, correct them.

Tell them that you are patient in terms of their own barking which is caused by separation anxiety, and you'd appreciate the same latitude with your dogs.
 
I would also have to point out that their dog barks too.
I would try recording yours for a couple of days so you can be sure how much they are really barking.
It is a shame to separate them, but hopefully the pup will out grow the barking.
 
amymay said:
I think I would be very plain in my language to your neighbour.

They have a dog, they understand the issues that having one can create, and that in your case you're trying to address it. If they complain about 6am barking, correct them.

Tell them that you are patient in terms of their own barking which is caused by separation anxiety, and you'd appreciate the same latitude with your dogs.
Click to expand...

I agree with AM, as long as you stay calm and polite you shouldn't be causing an argument. The young dog does need to learn to be left though, apparently Cayla on here does a good crate training guide, it might help if he settles better?

Incessantly barking dogs are a nightmare, from either side, and once somethnig has started to annoy you you look for it, that is unfortunately human nature.
 
amymay said:
I think I would be very plain in my language to your neighbour.

They have a dog, they understand the issues that having one can create, and that in your case you're trying to address it. If they complain about 6am barking, correct them.

Tell them that you are patient in terms of their own barking which is caused by separation anxiety, and you'd appreciate the same latitude with your dogs.
Click to expand...

This, exactly!
 
Do you have 2 Apple Devices? Ie an iPad and an iPhone?

You can download an app called "Dog Monitor" which you can set up to spy on the dogs. 1. You'll know exactly what they are up to and 2. you can speak to them through the app and shut them up if needed!

My pup (10 months) is going through a teenage phase, and although crated, can decide to rip at his bed when alone (he's totally chilled out, just being a pickle, its a bit odd). The app has been great! My voice suddenly comes out of nowhere "pack it in finley!", he turns his head towards the noise (busted! lol!) and then curls up in a ball and goes back to sleep!!! Monkey!
 
What Amymay said. Record them, tell neighbour it's not true about 6am barking and tell her about her dog barking for 4 hours. Ridiculous neighbour!
 
Thank you all very much

I do have two Apple products so the app sounds like it could work

I will put on my big girl pants next time I see the neighbours I think.
 
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