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Post by Pawsforthought on Dec 1, 2017 11:52:07 GMT
Hi guys, I really would just like some advice on what you would do about this.
We have close neighbours all around us, and all of them have dogs. Most of them do not give us any issues; however, the people behind us have a rescue GSD who barks at night right behind our house and wakes us up. Finn does not react to any of our other neighbours' dogs but he goes absolutely mad when the GSD barks, flying around the room barking, with a look of terror on his face. They've had him a couple of years now and we thought maybe with time he'd calm down, but it's only gotten worse. Last night he woke me up at 2am and was barking for ages. We've noticed that he seems to bark continuously until Finn replies and then he stops!! After that, it's hard to calm Finn down and I hate the thought of him being woken like that. It happens several times every single night into the early hours of the morning.
We have thought about sending them a letter asking them if they would try to stop him barking or at least not let him out so late. It slightly complicates things that we think they may not be the best owners, without saying too much, and we hear them screaming and shouting at him in the garden if he barks when our dogs are outside and they reply. I'm conscious of not wanting to cause them to take anything out on the dog, if that makes sense?
Basically we're unsure whether to try sending a letter, perhaps without mentioning who we are or that we have dogs just in case it causes strife, or complain to the council. In a way, I want to give them a chance, but I also think that if you don't realise letting your dog bark right behind someone's house at 2am every night isn't ok, having a letter sent to you isn't going to change your perception. I don't know though, what does everyone think? TIA!
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Post by caz2golden on Dec 1, 2017 16:01:13 GMT
I think if you asked 100 people you probably will get 100 different answers. I understand inconsiderate neighbours! Better not go on a rant about our situation at present!! lol  Do you think the GSD is barking to get Finn going as it feels lonely and by hearing another dog it gives it comfort? If you write a note then best done without names and without mentioning Finn. Just imply their dog is disturbing you. Would end with unless there is improvement over a given period of time (to allow for training etc) then the council will have to be informed. Part of me would be tempted to just message the council requesting Dog warden has a 'quiet and informal' chat (i.e you are not wanting them to get into any formal trouble but think it would be best coming from someone in authority)regarding the barking of the dog late at night. I can understand you concern about them not taking it out on the dog. Always wonder if that is the case then maybe dog is better being re-homed (depending on what your local authorities rules are on pound dogs, locally thankfully it seems they go to rescue to be rehomed). Maybe it would be worth mentioning your concerns that it might be taken out on the dog to the dog warden so they are forearmed if they do go to chat with them. They also might keep eye on place after chat if they know. |
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Post by bectil on Dec 1, 2017 18:02:26 GMT
Personally, I wouldn't go the letter route. I think if an anonymous person put a random letter through my door, I would probably be slightly offended. I would rather the matter was addressed face to face.
I agree with Caz, the dog warden would be better off having a word with your neighbours about the barking. You and Finn are probably not the only ones who are being bothered by the barking.
My old neighbour had a letter from the council about her dogs barking. It made her and the dog sitter temporally stop the dogs barking, but nothing permanent. She probably gave in because she knew she was moving!
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Post by chantel on Dec 1, 2017 18:44:45 GMT
I agree I wouldn’t go down the letter route it may cause more issues ☹️
We have a simular thing with a German shepherd on the back of us barks most of the night - sounds like it is outside.
Most of you know Riley has a noise phobia so any noise whatsoever would make him very anxious and then he would start howling ☹️He would then be up for most of the night☹️
The only solution for us was to allow Riley to sleep upstairs with us and when he hears the barking he normally settles back down after a few minutes 😊Riley feels much safer with us although this is not everybody’s solution ☹️
Sorry not much advice to give other than like the others have mentioned about the dog warden/ hope you find a solution 😊I know how annoying this can be especially when you have to be up for work the next morning ☹️
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Post by Pawsforthought on Dec 1, 2017 22:32:35 GMT
Thanks very much for your input guys. It's a tricky one with the letter because if we knew them better obviously we'd go directly to them to discuss it, so they don't have to have that visit/letter from the council. However, as we don't know them well enough, we don't feel confident about saying who we are in case of repercussions (ie. worrying about being reported to the council in retaliation etc etc.) so we feel we are only left with the two options of writing an anonymous letter or reporting to the council. I feel bad to do that to a fellow dog owner but I guess they clearly don't give us much consideration so I should try not to feel too bad. I'm glad to hear your thoughts and opinions. caz2golden not really sure why he waits for Finn, but he is very dog reactive so the owner told us the ONE time we saw them walking him. They were walking him a good 100m ahead of us and kept glancing back at us and eventually told us he ISN'T good with dogs, and asked where we were going so they could avoid us. That was the first time we saw him and they were acting like he was some uncontrollable beast so we were a bit worried lol! If he barks when Milo is in the garden at the same time and Milo responds, both of them go mad at the hedge between them (which thankfully has fencing in it!) so he doesn't strike me as a dog who particularly likes canine company. chantel Finn's noise phobia is, we think, why he is so sensitive to this dog barking  it really shakes him up! Sorry to hear Riley has to deal with that too but at least you have found a solution for him  I'd love to have Finn in my room with me at night but alas, he can't get up the stairs! We don't have a dog warden in our area any more, so I'm confused as to who deals with issues relating to dogs. I'll have to find out a bit more before we write a complaint I think! |
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Post by chantel on Dec 1, 2017 22:53:12 GMT
Thanks very much for your input guys. It's a tricky one with the letter because if we knew them better obviously we'd go directly to them to discuss it, so they don't have to have that visit/letter from the council. However, as we don't know them well enough, we don't feel confident about saying who we are in case of repercussions (ie. worrying about being reported to the council in retaliation etc etc.) so we feel we are only left with the two options of writing an anonymous letter or reporting to the council. I feel bad to do that to a fellow dog owner but I guess they clearly don't give us much consideration so I should try not to feel too bad. I'm glad to hear your thoughts and opinions. caz2golden not really sure why he waits for Finn, but he is very dog reactive so the owner told us the ONE time we saw them walking him. They were walking him a good 100m ahead of us and kept glancing back at us and eventually told us he ISN'T good with dogs, and asked where we were going so they could avoid us. That was the first time we saw him and they were acting like he was some uncontrollable beast so we were a bit worried lol! If he barks when Milo is in the garden at the same time and Milo responds, both of them go mad at the hedge between them (which thankfully has fencing in it!) so he doesn't strike me as a dog who particularly likes canine company. chantel Finn's noise phobia is, we think, why he is so sensitive to this dog barking it really shakes him up! Sorry to hear Riley has to deal with that too but at least you have found a solution for him I'd love to have Finn in my room with me at night but alas, he can't get up the stairs! We don't have a dog warden in our area any more, so I'm confused as to who deals with issues relating to dogs. I'll have to find out a bit more before we write a complaint I think! Yes it’s a real tricky one ☹️Poor poor Finn ☹️Dealing with noise phobias is a real struggle/ Riley suffers with anxiety due to his severe noise phobia and some days are a real struggle especially these last few weeks during firework season ☹️ Have you tried any herbal remedies for Finn - Riley takes nutra- calm tablets daily they are only herbal but only available from the vets , it just takes the edge of his anxiety a bit . I have also tried pet remedy spray which has also helped a little they also do a plug-in but I have not tried that / we have tried so many things ☹️ As for going upstairs Riley will go up but is scared to come down due to the laminated floor - that is another phobia that Riley suffers i’ll not even go into that one 😂 So hubby has to carry him down and he’s not exactly a light weight 😊 I hope you really get things sorted has it is a really struggle on a daily basis when you have a dog with some kind of anxiety/ phobia and it can effect the owner as well ☹️ Keep us updated x |
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Post by boxerluver30 on Dec 2, 2017 12:45:39 GMT
Pawsforthought our dog warden is with the environmental health department of the council, may be worth contacting your council's department and enquiring. I do agree the dog warden will probably be the best bet here, just keep yourself anonymous to avoid causing problems with them. You said you have other neighbours with dogs and the German shepherds barking will probably be annoying them (and everyone else) too so it won't be hard to remain anonymous. Someone may have already made a noise complaint if the dog is barking until 2am. This must be very stressful for you and Finn so hope the issue gets resolved soon
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Post by boxerluver30 on Dec 2, 2017 12:47:14 GMT
Pawsforthought our dog warden is with the environmental health department of the council, may be worth contacting your council's department and enquiring. I do agree the dog warden will probably be the best bet here, just keep yourself anonymous to avoid causing problems with the neighbours. You said you have other neighbours with dogs and the German shepherds barking will probably be annoying them (and everyone else) too so it won't be hard to remain anonymous. Someone may have already made a noise complaint if the dog is barking until 2am. This must be very stressful for you and Finn so hope the issue gets resolved soon
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Post by Pawsforthought on Dec 5, 2017 13:22:05 GMT
Thanks for the responses everyone. At the moment we are keeping a written account of 'incidents' and will report to the council if we get another period of particularly disruptive barking! As I said, I don't want to upset anyone but if it continues to wake/keep us up we won't have a choice :/
Last night wasn't too bad as he went out around 11pm and didn't bark again after that. It was a near miss though as Milo had just come in from his wee and he would not have been happy if the dog had barked while he was out! They never seem to bother to check if ours are out before letting him out, but then if they hear ours barking back they start shouting at him to come back inside! *eyeroll*
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Post by migsy on Dec 9, 2017 14:33:57 GMT
It really is difficult, as the last thing you want is ill feeling between neighbours.It sounds as though the dog hasn't been socialised,so acting nervous and wanting to distance themselves during the dogs walks won't improve matters.Dogs usually settle down if they get a decent walk before hand. Perhaps the warden is a better idea, as they can read people snd situations,and they certainly sound as though they need some advice. It doesn't sound great if they are shouting and screaming at the poor dog,perhaps they aren't coping.
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it really shakes him up! Sorry to hear Riley has to deal with that too but at least you have found a solution for him 
I'd love to have Finn in my room with me at night but alas, he can't get up the stairs! 
