Neighbor Dogs Barking at 6:30AM!!!!?

Question

So, I've been living in my house for about 5 months now and maybe 3-4 times a week I wake up at 6:30am to the two dogs across the street barking incessantly. They are only out for about 30 minutes, but I never get back to sleep after they wake me up, and waking up angry sucks. I don't know what to do! Should I send an anonomous note? Go over and talk to them myself? Let it go and go to bed earlier? Please help!!! I've never owned a dog, so I don't know what it's like.

Answer 1

Ex Lax in a bitesize meatball.

Answer 2

It's not okay. Pet owners need to be able to control their animals. It sounds like maybe these people go to work around then and put the dogs out to keep them from destroying the house during the day. Maybe the dogs just figure after 30-minutes they might as well give up because no one is coming. If this is the case, your neighbors may not even realize it is happening. We once had a dog that was fine when first put out but would (per reports) start whimpering for 2-hours after we left. There was no way we would have known about this because we were gone to work.

Personally, I would be offended by a letter and wonder why you didn't just come over and speak to me. Plus, it is easy to misconstrue context and intention of written words without the facial expressions and tonal inflections, as you probably know if you email a lot. These are your neighbors. Unless you plan to move soon, you don't want to start bad feelings unnecessarily. We are not best friends with any of our neighbors but we always make a point of going over and saying hi if someone new moves in, and everyone on the block is familiar with one another and so raises an eyebrow if anyone suspicious is around your house and such. That's the kind of neighborhood you want if at all possible.

Just go over and remember not to be in attack mode or in a bad mood because they may not even know this is going on and being aggressive is not going to help your cause. Explain that you are waking up quite early on a regular basis because their dogs are barking and ask if there is something they can do about it.

If they turn out to be jerks and just don't care, then call the police regarding noise ordinances and barking dog ordinances. Most cities have a mediator that handles dog issues, they give a verbal warning, then a written warning, then sanctions if justified. For this process though, you would need to likely have someone else (another neighbor) also complaining that this is a problem.

Who knows, you guys might really like each other and become good friends and neighbors. Good Luck!

Afterthought: If the claim is the dogs have to go out and their is nothing they can do about it, that is simply a lame excuse. Pet owners have a repsonsibility to control their animals, which means they need to train them to go outside without barking even if that is an inconvenience to them. They chose to have the animals, the inconvenience should be theirs not yours, and there are plenty of pet shops like PetSmart that offer obedience classes. -- Also, if you call the police, they will only talk to the person if 1) the dog is barking when they get there, which could be 2-hours later, and 2) the person is actually home. Guaranteed if they are at work, the police will not follow-up and if the dog is not barking so the police officer can personally hear it s/he will do nothing (at least that is the way it is here) so a conversation would be the most effective first step. Besides, if the cops come and do nothing to stop the situation, then what do you do? Go over and say 'Hi I'm the person that sent the cops over here...".

Answer 3

Ok, sounds like you've let yourself get upset about a situation before you've done anything to remedy it. So sit back for a moment and cool down. From this description, it sounds like these owners are trying to be conscientious, but their dogs morning ventures are waking the neighborhood. I would discuss it politely with the owners, starting with something like, "You must really care for your dogs, because I don't hear them at other times, but when they're out early in the mornings their barking does wake me." I'm fairly certain that if there's something else the neighbors can do - retrain their dogs to go out later in the mornings, etc. - then they'll take the appropriate steps.

Answer 4

As a dog owner I'd like for someone in that situation to approach me first. Unless you have reason to beleive the neighbors aren't receptive to this approach. But I can completely sympathize with you. I live in an apartment complex and for 2 years now the neighbors mini pincsher starts barking at 5:30 in the morning and is still barking when I leave at 7:00. We've tried talking to them and they dont care. My suggestion to you is to talk to the owners first, if you think they'll listen. and if that doesnt solve it, or you dont talk to them, contact animal control or the local police. Alot of municipalities would consider that a violation of the noise ordinance. If that doesnt work get one of those high pitched dog whistles and step outside when they wake you up and blow that whistle. after awhile the dogs will get the hint...hopefully.

Answer 5

That's tough. I would go talk to them personally, you've definitely put up with it long enough. If they're conscientious dog-owners they'll try their best to come up with a compromise. Maybe they put their dogs out later in the morning, or maybe the owners stay outside with the dogs while they go potty and bring them in immediately. If they do nothing, call the police and file a complaint. As a good dog-owner it's up to people to keep their dogs (and their neighbors) happy, and incessantly barking dogs could be a sign that things aren't as they should be!

Answer 6

First of all, don't do anything anonymously. It comes off as being chickenshit, and might make matters even worse (same with letter writing). It's not a credible way to handle a situation. Instead, do the right thing (which is always the hardest) and confront the dog owners face to face. Be friendly and cordial but explain your situation thoroughly. Believe me, you'll be more respected and the situation will be taken more seriously. I know confrontation is hard, but it's the right thing to do and gives the power play to you.

Then again you could call Newman the mailman from Seinfeld to kidnap the dogs. Good luck!

Answer 7

You need to go over and speak to the neighbors in a non-confrontational type of way. Maybe you two can figure out a solution together. I'll bet money that they are bothered by the dogs too. If they're nasty or whatever then it's time to check into nuisance laws and calling the authorities. Best of luck!
http://www.nonoise.org/lawlib/cities/cities.htm

Answer 8

First of all, congratulations to being the bigger person and thinking this out before going over there, yelling at them, and losing respect for it, not to mention not getting anything accomplished.

Since you are already at a point of anger, I would NOT go to their house and risk saying something you might regret, or just the opposite, being too nice and not getting your point across.

YES, I WOULD send a letter, but do NOT make it annonymous. I wrote an annonymous letter to the mayor of my town once, and when he found out I wrote the letter, he gave me some good advice...If you want respect, be proud of who the letter came from. Be assertive, not bitchy.

Here's how to right the letter:

Dear neighbors,

I understand that your dogs are part of your family, and the fact that I do not have a dog myself makes me realize I'm not one to criticize their behavior. There has been a small problem that I'd like to resolve, however, and that would be the fact that I can hear your dog(s) barking at approximately 6:30am. I am not one to cause a big fuss, but I wanted to bring this to your attention, so please do not think less of me. I'd like to bring this to your attention in a civil manner before someone else has to tell you. Would it be possible that we could work out a time where you could let them out and it is convenient for the both of us? I am up at _____ in the morning. If that is convenient for you, maybe you can take them out at that time? My work requires that I am alert, and I'm afraid this small issue has deprived me of my much needed rest. If something like this arises in the future, let's handle it like adults. If you need anything, please contact me. My phone # is (optional).

Thank you,

Susan Doe

NOTE: If you ever see these people after writing the letter, don't make it awkward. Greet them kindly and act like adults. Don't give them any weird looks to make it appear as if you lost respect for them because of this issue.

Answer 9

Eyegirl: I own 2 large dogs who bark at people and other dogs when they are outside. If I were your neighbor with the dogs, I would WANT to know they are bothering you. I would like you to come to me personally and tell me ( in a nice way). I would not be offended and would be willing to work something out- letting them out later in the morning or something. I do know, when I get up, they NEED to GO- I mean literally- so maybe she has to let them out at that time.

Answer 10

First of all are they really barking at 6 am? My neighbor called the dog officer on me because I got my land surveyed and what she thought she owned I really did, so she called to get even with me. She called the officer so many times(my dogs bark only when they see something and they only go outside to do their business) that the officer told her, that it was harassment. Nicely speak to your neighbor before you call the officer.

Answer 11

Dogs barking at anytime is not acceptable. You may think 10 AM is better, but both myself and my SO are shift workers, so we frequently have to sleep during the day, but people are not considerate of our life styles.

I would go and talk to the neighbors, but I did that and it did no good. We frequently are woken up by dog barking, kids crying and motorcycles running with no one there. One time I took the key and tossed it in the sewer, after I had asked them not to do several times. Their driveway is right by our bedroom window, not only do we get noise, we get exhaust fumes.