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Post by migsy on Feb 10, 2014 14:56:38 GMT
Katherine;I can see your point in not knowing neighbours well enough to give them your house key,it takes a long time to get to that level of trust.I forgot to mention plug ins,my daughter swore by hers used for her new dog,and stressful times like bonfire night.
You sound as though you are fretting about leaving Lucas for fear of complaints,try not to,dogs bark at times for a reason,no one will get on your back for that,its only when they bark constantly that the authorities may perhaps investigate,and may need more than one person to complain,as they must get malicious calls to deal with.They would probably first offer advice too.Anyone would understand a young dog needs time to settle into a routine.
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Post by katherine on Feb 10, 2014 15:35:18 GMT
Yes. My mum also said that if they were to do something there might have to be more than one complaint from different people. I have just got back from a vet shop and bought Lucas a new KONG extreme which is brilliant because it is more durable, stronger and harder to get the treats out. The lady at the vet was very helpful she said to put nice things in and freeze the kong so its more of a challenge for him to get them out. Also, I've bought him some hormone de stress spray to try him with before buying the plug in. :-) so I'm pleased and the lady at the vet was lovely, very supportive.
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Post by BorderTerrier on Feb 13, 2014 19:03:29 GMT
Yes. My mum also said that if they were to do something there might have to be more than one complaint from different people. I have just got back from a vet shop and bought Lucas a new KONG extreme which is brilliant because it is more durable, stronger and harder to get the treats out. The lady at the vet was very helpful she said to put nice things in and freeze the kong so its more of a challenge for him to get them out. Also, I've bought him some hormone de stress spray to try him with before buying the plug in. :-) so I'm pleased and the lady at the vet was lovely, very supportive. Oh, I hope the Kong Ex and the the spray work for Lucas! Earl has a Kong Extreme - he only leaves a few teeth marks after a sesion and it has so far proved indestructible for him!! Some ideas of things you could stuff the Kong with: ~ His dinner - it will also stop him bolting his food ~ Peanut butter ~ Banana ~ Kong paste ~ Kong biscuits ~ Natural yoghurt You don't just have to use 'treats' - there are all sorts of dog-safe foods that would do great in the Kong! As well as just freezing the Kong, you could soak it beforehand. I hope he enjoys it and it settles him! |
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Post by katherine on Feb 14, 2014 20:31:30 GMT
Yes the lady said I could fill it with things other than treats, thanks for the tips! She also said he will then associate the Kong with me going out and actually look forward to it  Tried it out on Thursday, got home and he'd polished it off wasn't whining and I had no complaints  yay! Fingers crossed xxx |
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Post by belladad on Feb 14, 2014 22:03:04 GMT
Hi katherine, just noticed this thread and "good grief Charlie Brown" what a time you've had! We've done the usual and similar with Bella; got ready to go out calmly and quietly with as little or no interaction with her, left home for three hours max. (I worry!!!) and we've no problems, on our return it's obvious that we've woken her up! If it's me leaving her; TV (CBeebies) sound off, Classic FM on radio and Kong or Stag Bar smeared with peanut butter etc. (OTT or what!) I did once leave her a vest, unwashed, but Bella considered this a snack. Then recently I did my 'Dad leaving routine" with TV, radio etc, BUT, paid her a fair bit of attention also. Result, she found an envelope containing £50 worth of Pets At Home gift vouchers and shredded the lot  Hope all goes well for you and Lucas. Wuufs from Bella |
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Post by katherine on Feb 18, 2014 12:49:28 GMT
I had an absolute breakdown yesterday as I had to deal with her again. Liam had to come home from work she'd upset me so much. He was foaming.
The lady came back to the door yesterday and had a right go at me, I wasn't staying at home the other night so I wasn't there in the morning to see Lucas straight after Liam left for work at 8 o clock. I was barely home an hour and she was back. She was being rude pointing her fingers at me practically crossing over MY threshold and was saying rude things getting angry telling us we should 'move out' while fist clenching, suggesting we should get a 'proper house' instead of living in a flat because that's what we should do if we want a dog. However equally, if she wanted complete silence, a downstairs flat is also probably not the best place to be living. There was no reasoning with her as I explained to her how we are dealing with the problem but she wasn't being understanding about any of it. Apparently SHE is giving us 2 weeks for his whining to stop or she's getting the landlords involved. I tried to explain to her I said I had important University work to also focus on without stressing and worrying about her calling by every time he is left and she just said that 'it wasn't her problem' and that its stressing her out because she can't 'read a book' or 'watch tv'. She claims it's 'constant'. I claimed that she wasn't losing sleep over it and she referred back to Liams 21st the other week... the ONE and only time we were out late since forever.
I was trying to have an adult civil conversation but.... none of it from her. I said since the last time she called it had been stressing me out about what she's going to do next because I'm fed up of thinking when I get home she is going to call, and she told me to 'grow up' that she wasn't exactly going to call the RSPCA or anything. So cheeky and Rude. that is why I'm so angry, and to top it off, I'm missing a lecture today because I'm so frightened to leave him even with his Kong and everything else. :-(
It's such a mess, I told Liam to come straight to see me when he got home yesterday as I was practically having a panic attack from stress and how she spoke to me, but he went straight to speak to her which wasn't too nice because he was so angry about how she spoke and upset me. He was standing up for me. He told her never to come knocking on the door again and if she had a problem to go to the landlords. He's took the fuse out of the doorbell. What good has it done her coming the second time though she's just angered us more? We are aware of the problem and she was told this several times. She said the dog was our problem and so to not make it hers. I explained that I'm feeling incredibly uncomfortable too and she didn't listen at all making me see it from her viewpoint which I never argued with.
Oh my.. so stressed.
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Post by scallywag on Feb 18, 2014 13:13:53 GMT
What happened then in between Liam leaving and you arriving katherine ? Take it Lucas did a bit of whining ? was he alone for long ? she's being very un reasonable. Would it be worth you speaking to the landlord BEFORE she does and let him know how she is hassling you ? You just don't know what she's going to exaggerate about, so you give your side of the facts first. ! |
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Post by katherine on Feb 18, 2014 14:09:48 GMT
Yep he was whining, but he wasn't alone for that long or as long as it would be if I needed to go to uni.
Apparently it was 'constant'. Yes, I've told Liam the same, we should probably let our landlord know the situation. We've wrote a list of things that shes been doing like watching us and stuff. She crossed my threshold yesterday and thought it was perfectly appropriate to touch mail. Fair enough it was junk mail but how rude! She deliberately waited until she knew I was home alone. I felt totally bullied. And she says shes being perfectly reasonable because I'm not the one who has to put up with it...
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Post by scallywag on Feb 18, 2014 14:14:43 GMT
I seriously think this needs to be nipped in the bud and sooner rather than later when things get too heated. Whats others think ?
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Post by katherine on Feb 18, 2014 14:23:02 GMT
Others have said the same, that she is very unreasonable and there's clearly no reasoning with her. How dare she tell us to move out?!!!!!
My mum helped me get in touch with local dog training classes which I think I'm going to go to and the lovely man who runs it said some dogs anxiety doesn't get better. So I really don't know what we can do if after everything we try, he won't stop :-( We've actually been looking at new places to live. Not that we can really afford it but weve been looking as I'm just not comfortable here anymore. :-(
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Post by migsy on Feb 18, 2014 14:33:38 GMT
Ohhh,how to deal with unreasonable neighbours??? Would she prefer you were noisy,stamping around and playing loud music? because that's what she may end up with ,and serve her right.
You shouldn't grovel or let her know she is upsetting you,don't give her that pleasure.She probably doesn't like dogs,and is determined to make life uncomfortable for you.Would she complain if you were a couple with a baby with teething problems so cried all day? probably yes to that too.
Sounds like she has turned into the worst kind of unpleasant old lady,with nothing to do so finds things to complain about and enjoys being unpleasant.
Ignore her,plaster a big smile on your face,and take Lucas out for a walk,making a huge noisy fuss of him as you go past her door.But don't make yourself ill worrying,and don't get into arguments with her,just say thank you for letting us know and quickly close the door on her,don't allow her the chance to start 'sounding off'.Keep on friendly terms with the other residents.
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Post by katherine on Feb 18, 2014 14:46:13 GMT
Exactly! What if we had a crying baby through all hours of the night. And my dad said if she ever came back again, I would have every right to shut the door before she even spoke. I said to her its not as if we have raving parties every weekend etc... but she was just brushing off all of what I had to say. I'm sick of it, I actually think she is a wicked human. The fact that she's told both of us to 'Grow up' just proves how much of a judgmental horrible, snobby woman she is.
I had a feeling before I even got back yesterday that something was coming. Sure enough it did. But Liam gave her a taste of her own medicine and she didn't like it very much. Don't give out the pill you can't swallow yourself. ;-)
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Post by sodapop on Feb 18, 2014 16:55:40 GMT
I hate bullies and that's what she is. I know it's hard, but try not to get upset in front of her and as migsy said put a big smile on your face if you see her and if she starts complaining just say thanks for letting me know and walk away or just shut the door on her.
How old is Lucas?
My 2 dogs went through a stage where they didn't like being left, but they grew out of it before they were one year old.
I know it's not ideal and it costs money, but is there a doggy day care near where you live that you could take him to in the day while you have to go out? They are quite popular now.
The first house we bought we had horrible neighbours and when I used to play in the garden with my last 2 dogs, they used to talk loud so I could hear them and say about complaining to the council about the noise my dogs were making while they were playing, yet their kids were well out of control and they used to play loud music until late at night!
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Post by bectil on Feb 18, 2014 17:05:22 GMT
I agree with what migsy has said. Do you have a chain on your door? If so, might be worth using it so she doesn't invite herself in again. Was she like this with your other neighbours when they first got their dogs? |
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Post by Roo on Feb 18, 2014 18:06:47 GMT
Without trying to upset you (having been in this situation before when we lived in a pub), does your neighbour - no matter how horrible she is otherwise - have the right to sit and watch TV/read a book in peace?
I would recommend investing in some recording equipment (the council can give you a decibel reader thing if you ask) - this way you KNOW 100% that the dog is/isn't noisy.
Our neighbour here hates our dogs, yet we have to respect that he is entitled to do his own thing without having dogs barking.
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Tried it out on Thursday, got home and he'd polished it off wasn't whining and I had no complaints 
yay! Fingers crossed xxx
Hope all goes well for you and Lucas. Wuufs from Bella 
