How can I deal with a neighbor's barking dog?

Question

We tried legal method but the county rep was completely incompetent. So we just decided to move. But until then... the dog barks CONSTANTLY!

Any ideas that don't involve dealing with the owner are welcome (because according to him, the dog never barks).

Wow--thanks for all the great answers! To answer your questions, We did get together with 2 other neighbors to complain "officially". The process took a year and thougth we had recordings of the dogs barking, and had an official noise meter reading, the case was eventually dropped because the county employee's documentation was inadequate. We kept logs for over a year, but that was not good enough. The 3rd neighbor finally decided to drop out because it was too much trouble to document. The other 2 neighbors that hear it don't want to get involved. And after dealing with the dog owners, I understand why! So the 1 other neighbor and us have just decided to move because we would like to enjoy our lives!

Sad, isint it?

Both kinds of bark collars are effective when they are used, but the owner won't keep them on. Police won't come because it is a "noise" issue. Noise control is the one who screwed up our case to begin with!

I just need tips to deal for now... :-(

Answer 1

Do you live in the city limits???? call the local police and put in a complaint.
If you live in the county then there is nothing they will do as it is the country. The only thing they may do is tell the neighbor they have to try and keep the dog quiet, but in all reality,from experiance with me living in the country there is nothing they will do other than make the complaintant the laughing stock of the neighborhood.

Answer 2

I once had an elderly lady for a friend. She had a wonderful little dog. A mix of some sort. She had the dog trained well and it behaved very well. Learn here https://tr.im/05juU

She kept an uncovered candy dish on her coffee table with candy in it. The dog was forbidden to eat the candy. When she was in the room observing the dog he did not even appear to notice the candy. One day while she was in her dinning room she happened to look in a mirror and could see her dog in the living room. He did not know he was being watched. For several minutes he was sitting in front of the candy bowl staring at the candy. Finally he reached in and took one. He placed it on the table and stared at it, he woofed at it. He stared some more, licked his chops and PUT IT BACK in the bowl and walked away. Did he want the candy, oh yeah. Did he eat it? Nope. They can be trained that well but most, I'll admit, are not trained that well. When I was a young boy, maybe 5 years old. We had a german shepherd. He was very well trained also. My mom could leave food unattended on the table, no problem. She would open the oven door and set a pan roast beef or roast chicken on the door to cool. No problem. He would not touch it, watched or not. But butter? Whole other story. You leave a stick of butter anywhere he could reach and it was gone. He was a large shepherd so there were not many places he could not reach. Really, I think the number of dogs trained to the point they will leave food alone when not being supervised is very small indeed.
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Now if we are talking obedience training, not food grubbing, that is a different story. Way back when I was first learning obedience training one of the final exercises was to put our dogs in a down/stay and not only leave the room but leave the building for 15 minutes. The only person that stayed was our trainer, not the owners. Most of the dogs in my class did not break their stay, which would be an automatic fail. I'm happy to report my dog was one of the ones that passed.

Answer 3

Does the dog only bark when your neighbour is out? If so then there are ways to stop it - the owner may genuinely not be aware that it is such a big problem (it becomes a bit like background noise and then you don't notice it) It is a shame you feel you can't talk to the owners - it's the only way really to deal with this thing nicely. If you take a "lets try and sort this problem out between us" attitude it may help more - are you SURE the barking is coming from that particular house as I often go out to shout at my dogs only to discover that the barking is actually way down the street!

Answer 4

you did the right thing in approaching your neighbor about the barking dog. How ever your neighbor may have felt about your visit is their problem. If the dog continues to bark constantly, just write them a note that the dog is disturbing the peace instead of a visit next time and make it anonymous. Ask your neighbors that are also bothered by the barking dog to write notes as well. If the barking is still severe call the cops.

Answer 5

You went through the animal control and they would not do anything? This is odd and I would HATE to be in your shoes!
I guess all you can do then is turn UP your radio or TV and try your best to deal with it. Why should you have to move?
The cops may be called to your home to turn your radio or TV down when you do the barking can be herd by the cops. The dog barking is too a noise control problem, might get your problem noticed?
Just my thoughts....

P.S Get a petition going having all the neighbors sign it. Take this to the law and run the owner out of his home, or at least make him address the problem of his dog?

Answer 6

I can't believe you have to move because your neighbor is such a bad dog owner!!!
Can you videotape, and get the police involved? You will need proof that you have a legitimate noise complaint. If you have a video recording of the dog barking for long amounts of time, you have a case. If your neighbor was able to listen to you (sounds like he can't....) you might have been able to talk him into a citronella collar for the dog or something. Probably too late for that now.
I highly recommend avoiding personal conflict though. I'm sure you're angry (I would be too!) but please solve this through legal methods. Good luck!

Answer 7

I would say that getting a petition together of all surrounding neighbors would certainly force legal action against the dog owner. Having been a dog owner, dogs will bark. But a respectful owner will take measures against nuisance barking.

Depending on laws in your area I would think that most police would respond but most treat it as a nuisance and tend to dismiss unfortunatly. Ordinances may vary though.

Answer 8

I had that problem. There is most likely a city ordince after a certian time call the police. If they come out more than once your neighbor will get a ticket. But the dog has to be barking when they get there

Answer 9

If the owner says he does't bark, if you own a tape recorder or video recorder tape the dog, and then show the owner that the dog does bark and you would like to have some peace and quite every now and then. Plus if there is people outside bothering the dog, then the dog will bark at them. Some dogs are very protective of their terratory.

Answer 10

Call the police for noise violation.