Neighbor Complaining About Dog...?

Question

Okay, so I have a miniature schnauzer, for those of you who have them, you know they are very vocal and opinionated dogs. His name is Maverick and when I am home he is very well behaved, aside from having seperation anxiety (he loves his mama)...I also have a cocker spaniel, but nothing seems to bother her...anyway we have a neighbor who has reported us for having them off the leash in the front yard (we live in an apartment) but they are used to having a backyard and have difficulty pottying when leashed. They do not bother people, approach other dogs or anything of the sort...there are also several other residents around us who have dogs that they leave off the leash, but she chose to report me. Anyway, no I come home and she had put a post-it on my door that says, "Invest in a shock-collar, your dogs are barking for hours when you are gone"...now this is a gross exageration. Maverick barks when he sees other dogs outside, but otherwise he never barks...

I think most dogs bark when they see other dogs outside and if we lived in a house I would tell her to blow it out her ***, but since she has already reported us once and gotten us in trouble I am seeking a solution. What is a good way to control his barking when I am not home without having to resort to a cruel shock-collar?

Lee,

I am not gone a lot. I work during the day, but when I am gone my husband is at home and vice versa. I am a receptionist and my husband is a bartender...I work days, he works nights. The only time we ever leave is after 7:00PM and we are always back by 10PM...so I do have the time for them and they do get a lot of attention.

Answer 1

pet sitter.

Answer 2

You don't have to use a shock collar to get results.. You can also use a water bottle. Whenever they are barking and it is not something you want them to be doing then spray the water in their face.. The shock of being sprayed usually gets them quiet.. As for not being on a leash, I am afraid that if it is the rules of the complex you may have to adjust.. Take the dogs for a walk in the after noon.. carry something pick up their mess with.. Find a local off the leash dog park.. They are great... Just make sure you pick up after your dogs.. I would say that you have a nosy neighbor that needs to get a life..

If they are barking when you are not at home there is not a lot you can do other than put something up during the day in the windows so that the dogs can not see out.. If it is other dogs that is making them bark then what they cant see is all the better for them.. Not the best solution but an idea...

I too have dogs that are use to a large yard to run in.. So I understand what you are going through.. We moved to a new neighborhood that the yard it much smaller so my dogs are having to learn a leash is good for them.. Just be patient.. It will work out in the end.. Good luck..

Answer 3

Well I really feel for you, barking is a normal behavior of dogs but since you do live in an apartment if your dog(s) barking is upsetting you neighbor you have to do something.

I had a dog that was barking way too much when I was out because he was bored and alone---I talked to a trainer and he told me that I had to make sure that I take my dog on walks everyday for mental stimulation--at least one hour. I do this before I leave for the day in the morning.

Since I could not always be home during the time when he was displaying the excessive barking, when I did return home I had to work on teaching my dog the "Quiet Command". Basically anytime your dog starts barking you just get a treat out and hold it to his nose and say the command "quiet"(or whatever you want the command to be) and wait until he stops then give me the treat and praise him.

I also did this in combination with a citronella collar, which releases a bitter scent that the dogs don't like and makes them be quiet. I would use the collar while I was away during the day. With all this training combined my dog did stop his excessive barking I hope you find some help in something I said. Good luck!

Answer 4

There are a few good points of advice in these posts.

The first thing you should try, before a shock or bark collar, would be giving your pet a sense of security. That coud be a TV on or a radio. You could even create a CD of yourself talking to your pet and play that throughout the day.

The bottom line is, if your community has a leash law you should keep your dog on a leash and train them to go while on it. Otherwise you risk having your pet taken from you or getting fined t poverty. The laws protect other people as well as your dog.

Dogs do bark, but it sounds like your dog may be barking a little too much. I have to ask, how do you know your dog only barks at other dogs while you are gone? You share walls and you should think about that throughout your day. You pay rent, but so do they.

Answer 5

I want to point something out to you. You said that your dog only barks when he sees other dogs. YOU ARE NOT HOME!!! How would you know what he's doing? You should put up a video camera so you can record what's up. Or at least a voice recorder.

I have been on both side of this issue. I had a westie (similar to your schnauzer. I kept getting complaints about him barking. So I set up tape recorders upstairs and downstairs to see how much he was barking. Oh LORD I felt like such a jerk. No wonder he was so quiet when I got home... he'd been barking literally ALL DAY. I took him to a trainer. There are a lot of resources out there. Shock collars aren't the only way. We got Mr. Belvedere these devices that you post in your house and they emit a high pitched noise dogs hate (but that humans can barely hear). That was many years ago and Mr. Belvedere has passed away.

My neighbor now (I am also in an apartment) has a maltese that barks ALL THE TIME. Even when they are home. And they don't do anything about it. They walk her in the morning around 6:30 and she barks her head off. WTF? It's 6:30 in the morning! Shut Up!!

So, I try to be patient but this dog just NEVER stops. It is driving me crazy. So, your neighbor is probably just frustrated and at the end of her rope.

Check out this website.

http://www.gooddeals.com/category/15/Bark+Control.aspx

and this one is vet approved.

http://www.ultimatebarkcontrol.com/ds_Pro.htm

Answer 6

Well most places have leash laws and it's your responsiblity to follow those rules. Your dogs will eventually learn to do their business on the leash.

As for the barking, if your not their you don't know how much they are barking so you need to stand away from the apartment and see if they are actually barking... and if they are you need to address the problem. Noone likes constant barking dogs. I sure don't and I have 2 dogs and do NOT let them bark..

You could check into a doggy daycare.. That seems to be the new thing for pet owners. Otherwise the shock training collar might need to be done.

Good luck

Answer 7

I have evil dog neighbors too. German shepherds that never get played with and when their daddy leaves, they bark every time the wind blows. And he is such a jerk, he doesn't believe me when I tell him how bad they bark.
So believe me, I'm sure your neighbor isn't making it up and it probably is very annoying. The way I chose my dog was she was the one at the shelter that wasn't barking away incessantly.
Since we have leash laws, you must keep your dogs on a leash. If you need a yard for your dogs, you had better find better living conditions, like a house with a yard. Some dogs just aren't cut out for apartment living.

Answer 8

Maybe your neighbor works nights or something. I have a bark collar for my dog and I love her dearly but I have a neighbor who's a nurse and works nights so I had to collar my dog for a few months until she learned. It's not as bad as it sounds you could always get the spray kind instead (no pain just very annoying to dogs). About the leashes. If there is a leash law you could be fined and/or ticketed so it's up to you if you want to take that chance.

Answer 9

First, check the laws in your city, if there is a leash law, obey it...not only for the safety of other people, but also for the safety of your dogs, and to prevent yourself from having fines levied against you. For some reason this lady chose to target you, and not the other dog owners...your dogs can learn to potty while on leash, if you work with them and be patient. She was stupid to suggest a shock collar and should be required to wear one and see if she likes it. As for the barking, you really can't say what your dogs do when you are not at home to observe them, they very well could be barking often. Perhaps you could look into a doggy day care sort of program for your pups so that they can interact with other dogs during the day and maybe ease a bit of that separation anxiety. Be sure you have them up to date on their shots. The following website has a bit of info on daycare for pooches. http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/pet_pourri/37569

Answer 10

That's a tough call. I do understand the neighbor's frustration. Your little guy is happy when you are home but is letting the whole world know when you are not. Since he has the security of another dog for comfort, I'm surprised he is barking. Is there much foot traffic outside during the day? If so, he will probably keep reacting to that. Maybe leaving a TV or radio on would help calm him. If there is much traffic near your apartment, you might want to consider moving to another apartment.

Answer 11

As for the leash issue Is there a park nearby that you could walk the dog to go potty instead of on the apartment property.
Also I have to disagree while I know it can take time I myself have a dog that would not potty on leash Well let's say would not in the start. She is a rescue and I am unsure of her past issues,
I found though that taking her out and walking her and not allowing her the CHOICE to go off leash.
She will in fact go on leash if she has to go. She is housebroke and knows not to go inside She knows she has to go outside. She learned there was only one option to do so while on leash.
It is simply a matter of you training or in this case re-training your dog.

I have had many dogs I have fostered who were used to going potty in a yard or just where they pleased. It is up to use as owners to train and lead and guide.
A few tips are when you get up in the morning Allow for extra time for a week or so. Take the dog for their first Am walk. NO off leash. Keep walking until he/she goes potty. Early morning is usually a good time to start because they have to go after all night. When they go while leashed Praise them and make it special.
When ever you take them walk until they do it. Believe me in time they learn and in most cases it will not take long.
Added bonus is the walks are good for both of you.. :0)


For the barking. I would try sneaking back and listening. Just sitting in the hall or stairs a bit See when the barking starts and how long it lasts.
Try this a few times.
if you do not find that he is barking a lot ask other neighbors on your floor if they have found him to be doing a lot of barking Even those on other floors. if they say no then ask them if they would mind writing a letter stating these facts.
Now go to see the landlord and let them know That A you are working on the leash issue with retraining and that you have always cleaned up after your dog (I am guessing you do that, right?). B. You have doubled back as well as asked other neighbors and have not found him to be barking excessively if at all. Except for the occasional knocks on a neighbors door or seeing another dog out the window which happen and then stop just as fast as they start.
If in fact you find he is barking though that is another training task. Yes it can be trained.
We are the leaders. Dogs only do what WE train them to do.
Oh and the anxiety issues should be addressed now if you already know they exist. Why let them grow and grow and become issues if you know in fact there is a potential for a issue.
Work on the anxiety and separation issues now before it becomes a issue.
If you need any tips I can send you some links and stuff. just email me.

Oh and by the way unless you have intention and plans of moving or you enjoy these ongoing issues with this neighbor I would truly attempt to have a neighborly relationship and get on good terms with her.

Is she right next to you? if so knock on the door invite her over for coffee and cake and let her get to know your dog. Also ask her more about the barking issues.
Explain to her that you will be working on the leash and potty issues and retraining him As well as working on the Anxiety issues. Let her know that you hope that if in fact there are future issues she can feel free to come to you so that you can work on them
Do it politely without rolling over and playing total submissive.
Ask her what if any tips she may have.
ESPECIALLY if she owns a dog.

Good Luck
remember You can also always move. If moving is not a option though try getting the dog into a obedience class. Get her advanced training even take it all the way to a Good canine Citizenship certificate. landlords tend to accept a dog with good training and certificates help.