What can I do about my neighbors dogs that wont stop barking? VERY annoying!?

Answer 1

Speak to your neighbors -- politely -- and ask what may be triggering the dogs to bark so much (is it anxiety because the dogs are alone all day? are the dogs protecting their property from trespassers? or are the dogs just loud-mouthed?) See if there is some way you can assist your neighbor in helping to keep the dogs quiet.

Keep in mind that some people think of their dogs as their kids, and don't appreciate it when other people come to their homes and tell them how "bad" their "kids" are. Keep your approach upbeat and polite (even if your neighbor gets peeved at you).

If your neighbor is snarky and won't speak to you, or refuses to do anything to curb his dogs, it's them time to file a complaint with Animal Control. Don't "threaten" your neighbor with police involvement, just file your report. Before you call, though, have FACTS to give them (how often the dogs bark, for how long, what have you done to let your neighbor know that the dogs are bothering you, what was your neighbor's response, etc.) It also helps if you get your other neighbors to sign a petition stating that they're also annoyed by the dog noise.

Once they have the facts, Animal Control can step in and tell your neighbor that his dogs are a nuisance. AC may give your neighbor a certain period of time (usually 14-30 days) to get his dogs under control before citing him or taking other action against him.

Don't trespass on your neighbor's property in an attempt to quiet his dogs yourself, and don't get into a phyical altercation with your neighbor -- that will only get YOU into trouble. Try the polite approach -- and then call AC if you need to so the authorities can handle it.

Answer 2

There are several things you can do, short of wearing ear plugs.

First of all, research your local ordinances, statutes and laws. See if there are any laws that cover dogs that bark excessively or if their are laws to the effect that dogs must be quiet during certain hours of the day. Make note of these laws. You may need to utilize and enforce them later.

Approach your neighbors on a friendly visit. Explain your dilemma and give them some time to do something about it. Stay calm, regardless of the neighbor's reaction to your concern. Let them be the "bad guy" if there has to be one. Whatever you do, do not threaten them with anything. If the barking is not corrected within a reasonable amount of time, let's say two to four weeks, you have alternative methods.

You can send them a letter by USPS mail, informing them of how to stop a dog from barking. There are plenty of sites online that you can copy the info from. You do not have to sign your name. Try sending three or four different methods of stopping the barking. If this does not work, on to plan "C".

I would not call the animal welfare, I would call the local police or sheriff's department and file a "disturbing the peace" complaint, every time the dogs are disrupting your sleep. Go to court. Allow them to be fined for this as a misdemeanor. After a few trips to court, your neighbor will get the idea, hopefully.

If this does not work, consider suing your neighbor for causing sleep deprivation and ask the courts to have the animals removed, permanently, unless the owners willingly cooperate. THIS will surely get their attention. If not, most likely the court will award your request and the dogs will be gone. If they get more and they bark... start the process all over again.

Let them know you mean business. Don't back down.

Regardless, if you make your neighbors mad, you're not going to have to worry about the dogs... worry about them!!! Be prepared for the worst case scenario.
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Answer 3

I understand where you are coming from. However, I've been on both sides of this situation. My mother had a dog that she rescued that was abused. Anytime an animal went by it at night it scared it until it would bark like CRAZY for an hour... We ended up giving him to a nice old lady... However, on your side, it is against the law for your neighbor or your neighbor's dog to make noise late at night like that. I would file a complaint and ask the officer to simply speak with the owner about it, and offer ways to help the dog to not bark so much. If they refuse to figure out what is causing the barking, the dog needs to be placed in a better home. Good luck and remember, iPods help!

Answer 4

Go to your neighbor and have a talk with him about his dog barking all the time...then if he doesnt do anything about his dog then you should call the animal control and have them come down and have a talk with the owner...sometimes the animal control will give the owner a warning...but if the dog continues to bark call the animal control again and have them talk to the owner again...thats when they animal control person when right up a ticket for the dog barking to much..but if that does work and the dog keeps barking then the dog will be taken away for not stoping barking...

Answer 5

Im a neighbor with a dog that wont stop barking. He's been to two training classes and still barks like anything (he's pretty tiny too)

A lot of times our dog is barking from seperation anxiety, so we CANT go and quiet him down. we have to wait for him to calm down, which he does eventually. We are painfully aware of how annoying it is to our neighbors. Its like a crying baby sorta.

I guess my point is that there are a lot of reasons dogs bark, and yeah, its really annoying, but I think as long as the dog is inside and barking its kinda a fact of life thing. No neighborhood is perfectly quiet.

Answer 6

Oh, God, I know where you're coming from. I'm a night person and my neighbors let their annoying dog out at about 5am, just the time that I lay down to go to sleep. That thing barks non-stop, continuously. It's very rude and inconsiderate. I'm thinking about opening a window and putting a stereo in it and blasting music at about 1 or 2 in the morning. I love dogs but this is freaking rude. I really hope this dog dies.

Answer 7

I would bring it to your neighbours attention that you are very annoyed with it's barking. After a couple of days, if the neighbour has not put a sock in its mouth, so to speak, and you live in a city, contact your local police department and ask them if they know who to contact for barking dog complaints. They should give you a number. Cities 'generally' have a fast response team to deal with complaints, they also threaten people with fines if things that are complained about are not taken care of. If you live in the county, you contact animal control. I would call their emergency line for an annoying barking dog. Animal Control should respond to it within a day or so. And if they don't you get back on the phone on the animal control's emergency line and if it's the same person that you spoke to before, ask to speak to their super. You should get a response the same day. I would not jump over the dispatcher UNTIL you have tried to get something done through the dispatcher.

Answer 8

One time I nicely asked a new neighbor is she could do something about her dog barking. She slammed the door in my face. Later her brothers knocked out all the windows in my classic car. So here's a vote for not asking nicely.

Call the police.
Call health department/shelter/dog pound and have them come over and find out what the problem is.

The above lady had her dog tied out on a short leash with no water. It wasn't the dog's fault-on any count.

Answer 9

Go to your neighbors house, knock on their door and talk to them in a calm voice and say "excuse me every night I can never go to sleep because I hear your dogs barking", see what they say after you talk to them. If you yell at them they will just let their dogs out more often so they can just annoy you!

Answer 10

Have you spoken to your neighbours about it? Dog training classes are very helpful when training a dog not to bark, perhaps you could suggest this to them? Of course, be very inoffensive, just say that the dogs are very loud and it keeps you up at night or disturbs you meals etc, and that you know they aren't doing it on purpose, but could they possibly look into some sort of puppy training?

Otherwise, you will have to report them. Contact the police and file a noise complaint.