What can I do about my neighbor's dog barking?

Question

My next door neighbor is an alcoholic and is often angry when he's drunk. We actually get along well, but whenever I've talked to him about his dog barking, he just shrugs it off. The dog barks sometimes at midnight, 1 or 2 A.M. 5 A.M. Sometimes it's for 10 minutes, sometimes a half an hour, sometimes on and off all day.

Here's what I've done to try to deal with this...

I talked to my neighbor a few times about it and asked if he could work on getting the dog not to bark so much. (Having it bark a little is no big deal, but it'll bark for a few hours on and off all day.)

I drove to the police station twice and politely asked them if they could talk to him about it. They did, but it didn't stop, so I called and registered a complaint, but that didn't help. In the last year, I've called them three or four times, but nothing's changed.

I tried to go out when the dog was barking and get it to be quiet, but that hasn't worked.

Nothing's seemd to work.. Any thoughts?

Answer 1

I feel for you as I have the same problem with my neighbour's dogs barking (5 of them!), plus they have roosters who hail in the morning not just at dawn, but all night long! Luckily, I can sleep through anything and it's mainly guests staying over who have mentioned the problem to me.
I can understand you not wanting to get into bad or even dangerous relations with your neighbour, but it's unfair to you.

Personally, if I was losing sleep over it and there was no chance of getting through diplomatically with your neighbour (difficult if he's an alcoholic...), I'd try talking to other neighbours in the area whom the barking was disturbing in order to get support and then, even if you don't have their's, keep on at the police. Let them know it's disturbing your peace. Sometimes you have to report an incident many times before you get taken seriously, because on such matters, the authorities prefer to keep out of it. At the same time, contact and tell your local council about the problem and maybe even the local animal rights group since it may be the dog is barking excessively due to it's mismanagement.
All this may not go in your favour with relations with your neighbour though and could even cause eventual unfair backlash due to your actions.

Answer 2

Most places have a noise bylaw like after 11pm and before 7am since the neighbor hasn't stopped itand the police haven't done much get in touch with the bylaw officer and the local humane society.
There may be a reason the dog is barking as in no food or water he has no shelter or maybe he is just plain lonely. The Humane Society will check things out and talk to the owner if he does not comply they have other measures they can use.

If all else fails sometimes it is best to get yourself some good headphones.

Good Luck

Answer 3

Barking dogs are a nuisance and are very annoying I would take your co-worker aside and explain the situation explaining you do not wish to become enemies regarding this problem but there has been many neighbors also complaining about the insistent barking of this dog, so therefore you are warning the owner that someone might do something about it either reporting it to the authorities or even worse baiting the dog. I am sure then the owner of the dog would try and curtail the problem and even thank you for being the problem to his/her attention. Good luck hope the situation improves for you

Answer 4

The dog needs to be walked. When that doesn't happen, the dog ends up having way too much energy and now way to get rid of the energy except to bark. You've gone through a lot of effort to try and quiet the dog down. Walk the dog for 45 minutes EVERYDAY and the barking will stop within a couple of days. If you can't get the alcoholic to do it, try walking the dog yourself. Trust me it will work.

Answer 5

Maybe your local police didn't do anything because you have to contact the local animal shelter....that is the way it is in the county I live in...You have to call in give your name address and the name of the person with the dogs. let them know when it is happening and that you have tried to talk to the neighbor about the problem. Talk to other neighbors and get them to call the animal control as well....most animal control officers have special police powers and can ticket people and summons them to court for the neglect of the animals. The more you and other neighbors contact the proper authorities the quicker the problem will get resolved. Call your local animal control, Humane Society, or non emergency and ask for sure the steps to take for the problem.

Answer 6

I did this to my dogs and it works. When the dogs start barking, get a glass of water, walk out to the dog and throw it in their face. It will not hurt the dog and u will get some sleep. I might take a few nights for the dog to get the idea, but once he does all you have to do is open your door and he will shut up and go in to his dog house.

Answer 7

If your police won't respond, you have a huge problem! Why not ask your neighbor if you purchase a bark collar, would he put it on his dog? The collars are about 40 dollars (ebay has a good selection)...Although it is horrible that you would have to go through the expense...40 is worth quiet nights.

The collars work well too - I've used them on a couple of unruly healers...

Answer 8

Do you have an animal precinct in your area....or animal officer....try talking to them and let them know that you have talked with the neighbor and police......talk to others in the house around you see if they have a complaint about the dog barking and if they will make a complaint or sigh something for you.....with more complaints the officers might do more about it......other than that i don't know.....move??

Answer 9

Your neighbor is an inconsiderate idiot..and the police are no help....I have also had this problem. Remember though, it is the neighbors fault...not the poor dog...he is lonely and begging for attention. You have to start recording his barking...day and night. Have the police listen to them. If they still do nothing, take your neighbor to small claims court...and sue him for ruining your quality of life....I hate these jerks who have dogs and totally ignore them...jackasses...

Answer 10

we had some old neighbors who had a dog who barked at 4am. I would open the window and scream "shut the #%@< up". sometimes that would work...other times, not so much.