is this normal to keep dogs like this?

J

Jericho

Well-Known Member
Joined
26 February 2008
Messages
2,568
Visit site
Please can someone advise whether this is acceptable and can i do anything about it?

About 4 weeks ago a new person moved in with our neighbour next door (semi detached house - just the two of us located in the country) with at least 6 dogs. The dogs bark constantly although they are fairly quiet at night with the occasional outburst - unfortunately our bedroom window looks right over where they are kept. This is making our life intolerable as you can imagine.

This lady is a breeder of border collies and shows them as well I believe. We have spoken to the man there about the noise but he didnt really say anything and he works away all week so doesnt hear it (she however is there all the time). I have been round to try and have a friendly chat about trying to minimise the noise but she wouldnt answer the door.

The 6 dogs that I can see are in a shed that backs up to our fence by our kitchen and were all in individual medium sized crates and are kept outside at night as well. They have the run of small concrete yard sometimes. I couldnt say whether they are being taken out but have seen no evidence of it. They seem in good condition but I wondered if the dogs living conditions would be seen as unacceptable. As well as the barking she keeps a radio on quite loud to apparently help them settle and to cover any noises that might be disturbing the dogs. It is bad enough with our windows being closed due to winter - in summer it is going to be horrendous. Please help - I cant believe that someone should be so selfish to realise that their dogs barking constantly might be a nuisance to someone else!!
 
Dog Warden and local council dept for environmental health re noise levels if she won't answer the door try a gentle letter. Do try to go along amicable lines if you can its not easy keeping dogs quiet and you might be setting them off yourself.
 
I'm a dog lover but I wouldn't tolerate constant barking.

I bet she doesn't have any kind of license to have a breeding kennels so if its the only way she will take note then report her.

Sounds a totally inappropriate home for dogs.
 
There are rules against keeping breeding dogs ,,,, local rules vary, if I were you i would let the Environmental Services deal with it.
There is also noise pollution legislation as well as the breeding nuisance.
I had a neighbour who kept male dogs for mating......... very noisy!!!
Make sure you know exactly how many dogs there are, and also note in a dairy any noise which has disturbed you, with times.
 
I've no issue with dogs living outdoors/in kennels if they are a hardy breed and they get enough stimulation or exercise.

However the noise is anti-social and would suggest that the dogs maybe are a bit bored/frustrated.

As mentioned there are regulations pertaining to dog breeding and it would also be worth getting the council/dog warden/environmental health to have a word.
 
Thanks all for your advice. Its very hard to know what to do. We have been told that if we lodge a complaint then if/when we try to sell our house we would have to declare that (although even if we wanted to sell at the moment I doubt that anyone would want to buy with the barking!)

CC - agree that its not necessarily a problem them being outside (although annoying from a personal view as they are more noisy), what shocked me was that they were all in individual wire crates barely big enough for them to stand up in. Feel very sorry for them if that is how they have to live for a large percentage of the time and queried whether I could get her for that. I doubt very much if she is taking them out enough to stimulate them. Poor things. I love dogs - we have a dog and thankfully she isnt reacting to their noise.
 
It's weird, I know people who show and their dogs never get to the beach or the woods in case it messes up their coats etc, I also know people who show and their dogs have fantastic, active, energetic lives, if they get muddy they get thrown in the sea or the river - and guess who's dogs actually seem to do better in the ring, the ones who are allowed to behave like dogs.
 
if there is a definitely welfare issue then report it no one likes to see dogs in distress. Do you know for definite that she's a breeder or is that just a guess based on the number of dogs that she has??
 
She has a van with her stud name on and 'border collie breeders and show dogs' - but the man said she doesnt breed any more .... not sure if I believe that. He did say, after we really pressed him, that there would eventually be 9 dogs in total ranging from 1 yr to 13 yrs old. Again that sounds like a lot of dogs for such a small environment. I think that they are slowly moving them in a few at a time. Although from what I say they did all look in reasonable condition with beautiful coats (although I guess that is because they are never allowed to get muddy -arrgghhh such a nightmare :-(
 
Kenneled Border Coliies do better in some company in much more space.Mine used to be two or three to a 6X8 kennel,with at least a couple of mad hours running in a grass paddock, they are a noisy breed if they are frustrated in space ,stimulation and freedom to run.
Sadly the rules and regs for needing a Breeders Licence are laxer than ever now,it used to be two litters a year before requirement ,now it is five,a bad move in my opinion
 
I have no constructive advice but what a hellish situation, it would drive me potty. Stupid woman if she won't even speak to you - what happened to trying to make a positive situation with your neighbours? I would drop a letter through her door asking her please to contact you to discuss it and if she won't you will have to report it. In August you will go mad!
You may have said but are they buying or renting?
 
Every time the dogs started to get too carried away I'd shout out the window and tell them to shut up! I have 7 farm dogs (not sure what planet Mistletoe is on to suggest people who have lots of dogs are selfish :confused:) and yes they bark when they hear something. I tell them to be quiet and they do. My dogs have outdoor access 24 hours a day, my neighbours live fields and fields away, so my dogs are not as restricted as dogs who live in close proximity to other peoples houses but if I did live close to neighbours then I'd have no problem with my neighbours telling them to be quiet.
 
CaveCanem said:
It's weird, I know people who show and their dogs never get to the beach or the woods in case it messes up their coats etc, I also know people who show and their dogs have fantastic, active, energetic lives, if they get muddy they get thrown in the sea or the river - and guess who's dogs actually seem to do better in the ring, the ones who are allowed to behave like dogs.
Click to expand...

Very true . most judging critique's will state that their winners at show's were ' in good hard condition ' , a show border collie needs to be fit wether it works or not, can't imagine mine been kept in a small run , they would go nuts , alot of show people don't treat their dogs as pets , they are ' items ' dragged out on a weekend to a show and popped back in a cage afterwards , rarely do i see a dog wether it has won or not been cuddled at a show , mine is , makes me angry ,
 
Jericho said:
Thanks all for your advice. Its very hard to know what to do. We have been told that if we lodge a complaint then if/when we try to sell our house we would have to declare that (although even if we wanted to sell at the moment I doubt that anyone would want to buy with the barking!)
Click to expand...

I should think that would be the least of your worries! I think options are complain and hopefully get the matter sorted, or hand perspective buyers ear plugs when they come to view!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top