Barking dogs: leave note, or face to face discussion?

[Vipergrün]

To preface this post, I do have two small dogs, so I am dog tolerant :--)

I have two neighbors with small yappy dogs, who leave the house for hours on end and leave the dogs outside. I get the fact that dogs will bark at the trash men, gardeners, etc. This is way beyond that. They bark all day, sometimes starting at 6:30 am and continuing throughout the day. It's gotten so bad I cannot leave windows open, eat outside, etc. I work remote, and there's nothing worse than a barking dog in the background during a conference call.

So, I need to approach both owners. Should I leave a note on their front doors, or try to discuss the issue with them?

I don't want to go straight to Animal Control without trying to address it with the owners first.

Luckily there are a few of us whom are fed up, so maybe we can get something to change.

Thoughts?

[porsche4life]

Go talk face to face.

Also get on Amazon there are done devices you can buy to put in your yard that will supposedly stop that stuff.

[Gogar]

ALWAYS face to face. Always. You know, like a neighbor might do.

It's possible they just don't realize. Not likely, but possible. Give them the benefit of the doubt and see what happens.

[futurefun]

Face to face see what response you get, hopefully you have a good relationship with your neighbor already. If there is not an effort & improvement then do call & take the steps with Animal Control. Barking dogs can be very stressful so do what you need to for peace at home. Good luck.

[J P Stein]

Face to face (with some tact) first. Animal control if they don't cure the probem. BTDT

[Don Ro]

Back in my old town, Menlo Park, CA, the city had an ordinance re: barking dogs.
The annoyed neighbor(s) had to prove that the dogs barked continuously for X amount of time.
.
My neighbors had two big dogs that barked a lot...had to keep the doors/windows closed in the summer...and the neighbor's wife was a b_ _ _ _!
No love from her re: her dogs..."Don, what do you want? They're dogs. Dogs bark!" So I recorded the dogs and played it for the Code Enforcement Officer.
Neighbors moved the dogs to their other house up in the hills. Peace & quiet from then on, but she sure let me know that I was a bad guy.
.
BTW, I've read that barking dogs are the #1 neighborhood complaint in America.
Not your neighbor's young hot wife hanging out her laundry in the nude...but barking dogs.

[Hendog]

Often times dogs don't bark much until the owner leaves. The owner is clueless his dogs are barking all day. Face to face for starters then go from there.

[Vipergrün]

Thanks for the input! In the day of 6-foot cinderblock walls, dense neighborhoods, and busy schedules, getting to know thy neighbor can be challenging. Kind of sucks actually.

I will give them the benefit of doubt and will discuss face to face. I suppose there is a chance they just don't know, doubt it, though.

I will post pics of nude hot wives as soon as I can...LOL

[rattlsnak]

We had a similar neighbor who left for work at 6:00am and left his dog outside barking ALL day starting at 6:01am. Called animal control on him and they sat outside and measured and recorded how many times he barked in a certain amount of time and after the second time they showed up they paid the owner a visit and now the dog now stays inside.

[john walker's workshop]

record it and play it on back yard speakers on continuous loop cranked to 11 if they don't respond to kindness.

[Bill Douglas]

Mt nieghbours yappy dogs annoy everyone. Someone, not me, had complained and the "dog man" was around there having a talk with them. The dogs are generally well behaved when the owners are home, but to demonstrate to dog man what the dogs are like I intentionally walked past the house dragging my heels a bit. The dogs went nuts at me, haha, for dragging my heels.

[gamin]

porsche4life - What pray tell is a "done device" as mentioned in your post above. If there is something that can be placed in the yard for barking dogs I want it.

[porsche4life]

Originally Posted by gamin

porsche4life - What pray tell is a "done device" as mentioned in your post above. If there is something that can be placed in the yard for barking dogs I want it.

Amazon.com : Lentek Super Bark Free Dog Training Device : Sonic Barking Deterrents : Pet Supplies

There are several types, all seem to get mixed reviews but worth a try.

[kidrock]

Originally Posted by gamin

porsche4life - What pray tell is a "done device" as mentioned in your post above. If there is something that can be placed in the yard for barking dogs I want it.

I had one that was low profile...built like a bird house, so the neighbors wouldn't get too pee'd off. Worked great for about 2 months, then just quit. Build quality, unfortunately, wasn't all that great.

But the peace and quiet was great...for 2 months.

[Cajundaddy]

If chatting with the neighbor doesn't work, this is plan "B".

Amazon.com : Outdoor No Barking Ultrasonic Deter Nuisance Annoying Anti Bark Control Pet Dog : Pet Supplies

[campbellcj]

We had a cowardly neighbor leave a really passive-aggressive note a few years ago. We had two sibling Aussies at the time, and they were very active and rambunctious but I never thought they were annoying (unlike some other neighborhood dogs). With no certainty over who left the note, we couldn't go talk to them or really do much else so we just tossed the note...

Our neighbors across the street now have a dog that must be dain bramaged or something, as it barks incessantly at the same things and people day in, day out. You'd think it would get used to a particular person after hundreds of encounters...but no.

[Heel n Toe]

Originally Posted by Cajundaddy

If chatting with the neighbor doesn't work, this is plan "B".

Amazon.com : Outdoor No Barking Ultrasonic Deter Nuisance Annoying Anti Bark Control Pet Dog : Pet Supplies

In Viper's case, that one is probably not what he needs... it's always good to read through some of the customer reviews...

Here's the key to whether this works or not......
By David Imm on November 25, 2013

Here's the key. I put 2 of these close to my neighbor's little yapper dog, who barks at me as soon as I set foot in my backyard, until I go back inside. I set them up in trees, and close to the dog. It was of course barking. The neighbors don't care. Very inconsiderate.

Neither of them would activate at all. They worked fine, and I actually tested them by barking at the device form the same range.

Here's the key..... The smaller dogs don't have a deep enough bark to have the sensors pick it up! I'm a DJ in my spare time, and have many sound activated devices. This works the same way. The vibrations of a bigger dog's bark sets it off easily.

I guess I'm doomed to live next door to a barking annoying yapper dog and my inconsiderate neighbors for life. It's a shame, because we are nice people, and we really wanted to get to know these people. We are good friends with all our other neighbors, and all of them feel the same way.

[...] I'm sure they would work great for a dog with a deeper bark.

[motion]

Feel for you.... I had to sell a house once because of the neighbor's wiener dog. It was pure hell for the 12 months I lived there.

[recycled sixtie]

Here in Edmonton I can phone the city and can register my complaint with them. I complained about our neighbors' dogs and it was discovered that the dogs were not licensed. We have lived next to them for years and the dogs still bark at us even though they have known us for years.

The neighbors have sworn at my wife over the fence. They have three dogs. That is the limit here. I find it is easier on the blood pressure to complaint about them to the City. I find people get defensive if you complain to them directly. By complaining to the authorities the offenders are faced with their being told about the bylaws and ultimately fines which hits them financially which most offenders hate. Just my 5 cents.....
G

[yetibone]

When the next door neighbors' Shelties go out side, they bark constantly. After about 20 minutes, I blow the train horn in their direction for a few seconds. Neighbors let them back in after that. My way of letting the neighbors know their dogs are done with their outdoor business and are now just yelling at random stuff.