How can I debunk my neighbor claims that my dog barks excessively?

Question

I recieved a complaint letter from the LA Animal services( complaint from neighbor) saying my dog barks all day. He does not. Most of the day he is laying on the floor of my living room or swinging on the proch swing. I've been observing him. He has an average of 6 barks a day.
Average incedents:
incedent one: A racoon comes into our yard. Three barks, goes back to swinging on swing.
Incedent three: Stranger comes to our isolated area on a hill. Turns out he's lost. three barks.
I live in a dangerous neighborhood with gangs. I want him to bark if a stranger comes. Nieghbor is from elsewhere, I guess they don't have these problems.
If neighbor complains a second time my dog can be taken away. She does ot want him to make any noise at all. She does not even like it when we go in our own yard. What can I do to protect my dog! Help!

I've talked to all my other neighbors and they have said they really never noticed my dog barking at all. Including the person who owns he house she is renting. There is always someone home with my dog. Their are 5 people living here, my grandparnets are movig in too. This is a noisy neighborhood, load music, gun shots helicopters, load music.

Answer 1

I very much doubt the dog will just be taken away. They can't do that without some kind of evidence - can't go taking animals away from people just on hearsay!!

Best thing for you to do is ring the animal services and find out what might happen, and present your side of it. Don't wait for them to turn up on your doorstep. If your neighbour is approachable it would also be a good idea to have a POLITE word with them and see what they have to say and if you can sort something out.

Don't panic, just find out what the actual situation is, stay calm and present your side. If things are as you say, you shouldn't have a problem.

Chalice

Answer 2

I have been fighting this same battle for 3 years. I live rural but there are many of us out here. One neighbor that is over 2 acres away has dragged this to mediation twice. He also calls at all hours to tell me my dogs are barking. Well, they are never barking when he calls. I have even stepped out on the porch and asked if he could hear them? He is unreasonable. Now, I want to explain, between my next three neighbors they have 30 dogs! 8 at one house, 12 at one of the houses and 10 at the third house. So, why does this person insist it is my dogs? Because he can see my dogs when he comes over to our road and he cannot see the neighbors dogs, they are behind walls. I have purchased bark collars, bark preventing devices that send out a high pitched sound when dogs bark, have an intercom from my house to the yard so I can hear the dogs even if the house is closed up..... I also had a couple of the dogs debarked. At this point in time, the last time he called me, I just told him that my dogs were not barking at that time and the only suggestion I have is that he take me to court. He has left me alone since then. You see, he would have to provide proof that it is my dogs that are disturbing him. He obviously cannot do that.

Answer 3

What about when you are not home?
Maybe this neighbor just doesn't like your dog? Have you tried talking to him/her? If your dog is a barker get something that will stop the barking, like a ultrasonic bark stopper or bark collar, then you will not be fined or forced to place the dog or move....
First time offenders are fined down here in OC, too. 250. what is your fine? I would also get the other neighbors to sign a letter stating that they do not hear your dog barking excessively, 4 or more immediate neighbors, behind you, beside you, in front of you, if possible to back you up.

Answer 4

I think if you got a letter from Animal Services, that your dog has been accurately identified as a nuisance to the neigbhbor. I know in my neigbhorhood that Animal Services will not do a thing about a dog complaint until the complainer has kept a diary of when the dog barks and for how long.

I think your better option would be to try and work something out with the neighbor and maybe find out their schedule and try and accomodate their schedule. Your dog does not have the right to disturb that neigbhors peaceful enjoyment of their premises (that is a legal definition, by the way). I think sometimes dog owners become oblivious to their own dogs barking--I know they do in my neigbhorhood, don't know how the hell some people can't hear their dog barking for 2 hours straight when I can 4 houses away....

Answer 5

Ehhh, I got one of those too!. I called and was ticked off.

Call them and tell them your side. What has to happen is that the letter is just a nice little formality. You aren't guilty yet, they are just letting you know that a complaint came in. When I called my animal control office they said "oh do you think it wasn't your dog" I said, he!! yea it wasn't my dog. They asked if any neighbors had a vendetta or score to settle and I said yes, one guy did. They took my statements about why I thought it wasn't my dogs. Then they told me that the letter is only the first step. They also mention that sometimes people report hte wrong person because they really don't know where the barking is coming from so they guess. When she looked up my complaitant (she wouldn't tell me who it was) she noticed that the address the complainer gave was in my neighborhood, but they really aren't all that close to me which she mentioned was indeed odd . . . so call and explain and ask them to put that on record that you are indeed denoucning the complaint

What happens next is, if there is a complaint, someone has to come to your house to verify that the dog is indeed barking. If they show up and your dog isn't - nothing happens. It takes a lot for this to get further than the letter stage, but call them and give them your side and then let it go.

neighbors like that are *******. Why not just come talk to you directly??!! What ever happened to common courtesy I will never know . ..

Good luck - breathe - if you know your dog is not barking you have absolutely NOTHING to worry about!!

Answer 6

Use a video recorder. If you're home all day it makes it easier than just setting a camera up.
I have 2 dogs, they don't bark all the time, only when someone comes to the door or if they detect something on the other side of the fence (privacy fence).
Record everything you can to show proof your dog doesn't bark constantly, Courts like documentation.
The other thought is to see if you can talk with the person complaining.

Answer 7

Have you talked to your neighbor about this? Is she maybe confusing your dog for someone else's dog who lives near by? I know what a neighbor's dog barking all day is like, and it isn't three barks a day, it is a constant non stop barking. Like 300 barks a day. I think you should first talk to your neighbor, and ask them when they are hearing barking. If it isn't cleared up by talking to them, then talk to animal control and explain the situation. Good Luck!!

Answer 8

Hi, I understand that you are looking for some advice or resources to help fully train your dog or fix behavior problems. If a professional dog trainer is not an option at this time, or if you want to trt training your dog on your own (a great way to bond), I'd suggest you https://tr.im/NzvHv

A friend recommened it to me a few years ago, and I was amazed how quickly it worked, which is why I recommend it to others. The dog training academy also has as an excellent home training course.

Answer 9

Put a tape recorder out where he stays all day. Use an 8 hour tape that can cover the whole day while you are at work. If there are only a few incidents of barking, then you have proof.

Answer 10

Make a recording of through out the day to prove that she is wrong. As long as you have SOME type of proof against her claim you should be good!