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What would you do? (Neighbor issue)

gagirl
Kinda long... sorry

We live within the City limits in a small town. (no red-lights in the entire county) Anyway... we have 4 dogs... 3 chocolate labs and 1 catahoula. Our rear Caddy-corner neighbor came to the door last night complaining about our dogs. She said they have been barking non-stop in their pen for over 2 weeks (pen was only constructed last saturday 5 days ago)Pen is about 25'x 20'. They are in the backyard alot too. She stated that my dogs have awakened her the last 2 mornings at 6-6:30 (they were inside the house sleeping until after 7 am both mornings) Now I agree that they do bark at people walking past our fence and even at her and her husband when they are in their back yard, BUT as I attempted to explain to her a dog will bark at anything perceived as a threat or not understood. I asked her if she would simply speak to the dogs when she goes outside as to let them know she is not a threat. She said it's not her problem to solve....

Ok so they dont bark at the neighbors on the other side... who do say hi to them...they dont bark at the garbage people, one of whom I had a conversation about them on new years eve. The garbage person stated that the dogs barked until she spoke to them and now dont bark at all anymore. That conversation was BEFORE the conversation with my neighbor. I even tried to explain that when a dog barks, like at the mailman, and then the mailman leaves that the dog feels as if it has done its job. She said she disagreed with me on that and that she didnt like my idea of her talking to the dogs... well I asked her if she had any suggestions or what she would like for me to do and again she said it was not her problem to solve.

Today... her husband was standing about 20'from the pen(still on his property) looking at the dogs, with a bunch of brush and small trees between them, but not saying a word to them.... it freaked the dogs out. He left after a few minutes and maybe 1/2 hour later I heard them barking and he was standing there again just looking... I stood where he could not see me and he never said a word to let the dogs know he was not a threat. He just stood there faceing them about 1/2 in view. I went outside and brought them in the house. ( yes I did make an outloud remark "I know babies you just dont know what that is over there do you? It will be ok" Of course I am not always home when they are outside and keeping them inside all the time is not really a realistic option. They are big dogs that need to run.

I called a local LEO and talked to him about what had happened.. but he had no ideas for me. I figure maybe I would print off somethings showing her what I said about talking to the dogs is true and send it to her. I would rather go face to face but she got so pissed last night when I told her it could not have been my dogs since they were inside that I dont think she would be willing to talk to me.

Now we have dogs all over the neighborhood. Ours and a guy who does rescue are the only ones that are in fenced areas. The rest run the neighborhood and/or are on chains. I know of 3 within a block, owned by different people that have bite history.

So please o wise Gunbroker people... give me your suggestions on what you would do in this situation.
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Comments

158 comments

Date Votes
  • iluvguns
    Kinda a tough situation. I don't think it is her responsibility to talk to the dogs. Maybe she and her husband just don't like animals. It is your responsibility, and every dog owner's responsibility, to keep their pet on their own property and make sure they are not a disturbance to others. Outside of being with your dogs when the neighbors are outside and trying to train them to keep quiet when they are around, I don't know what else you can do.
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  • Jacob2008
    put them out more...

    [:D][:D][:D]


    maybe get one of those shock collars and set it really really low so when they bark at them, zap
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  • get_involved
    As a person that has had to endure barking dogs over the years, be a good neighbor and keep your dogs quiet. If you have to, leave them in the house.

    The dogs barking doesn't bother you because they are your dogs, but they are EXTREMELY annoying to neighbors!
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  • gagirl
    quote:Originally posted by iluvguns
    Kinda a tough situation. I don't think it is her responsibility to talk to the dogs. Maybe she and her husband just don't like animals. It is your responsibility, and every dog owner's responsibility, to keep their pet on their own property and make sure they are not a disturbance to others. Outside of being with your dogs when the neighbors are outside and trying to train them to keep quiet when they are around, I don't know what else you can do.


    They do stay on my property and you cant "stop" a dog from barking it is their natural instinct. I cant be home 24/7 and cant control when my neighbors go into their yard. I have pulled 50+ articles on barking dogs that say to do exactly what I suggested.
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  • MFI
    I had the same problem . I ended up keeping the dogs in the house much more and got rid of the problem. You have a responsibility to control the dogs.
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  • gagirl
    quote:Originally posted by MFI
    I had the same problem . I ended up keeping the dogs in the house much more and got rid of the problem. You have a responsibility to control the dogs.

    But were your neighbors instigateing the dogs?
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  • iluvguns
    Yeah, but they are still YOUR dogs and disturbing your neighbors by barking. Like get_involved posted: They don't bother you. Mine don't bother me either, because I am used to it. If I couldn't go out in my yard and enjoy some peace and quiet because of my neighbors dogs, I would not be a happy camper either. And it would be up to my neighbor to do something about it.
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  • Warpig883
    I went through hell with barking dogs- couldn't sleep-couldn't stand to be in my house or yard because the damn mutts barked all the time. The ass clown finally got rid of them when he was faced with legal action.

    They might be pets to you but they are a worthless nuisance to your neighbor.

    I have NO SYMPATHY for a person with barking dogs. Not trying to be mean but you really need to take care of the problem.
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  • woodshermit
    Yet another reason that I'm happy to be a mile away from my nearest neighbor.

    Control of your dogs is your responsibility. Of course, you, being the dogs owner, think that you are being reasonable. My guess is that there are other "issues" here. What, if any, are local ordinances regarding dogs, noise, poop, etc? On the other hand, your neighbor should be willing to try speaking to them. I can see both sides and no easy solution comes to mind.
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  • iluvguns
    quote:But were your neighbors instigateing the dogs?

    How were your neighbors instigating the dogs? You posted that he was on HIS property, 20 feet from the cage, just staring. He wasn't yelling or throwing things. He can stand on his property anywhere he wants.
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  • gagirl
    quote:Originally posted by iluvguns
    Yeah, but they are still YOUR dogs and disturbing your neighbors by barking. Like get_involved posted: They don't bother you. Mine don't bother me either, because I am used to it. If I couldn't go out in my yard and enjoy some peace and quiet because of my neighbors dogs, I would not be a happy camper either. And it would be up to my neighbor to do something about it.


    ok... they are not bothering all my neighbors... only the 2 people they are unsure about. They dont bother the other 4 neighbors at all( I spoke with all of them today) They only bark at this one couple.
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  • calamitywood
    you did well to talk to police I would go further and speak with the chief himself. There is nothing he can do to help you at this point. However he will be prepared when your neighbors approach him, and they will. He will be up to speed and know that you have acted in good faith to deal with this problem. This is an advantage of living in a small town where people know one another. Dog problems was about 25% of the problems I dealt with as a small town officer. Getting back to the neighbors. Unfortunately there are some people that defy being reasonable. This is a disadvantage of living in town of any size. Do they rent or own the home? Maybe you could pray them out of the neighborhood? Good luck
    P.S. I have read the other posts and as harsh as they seem they have a valid point. Your town probably has an ordinance against peace disturbance and this may bite you in the rear if you can't come to terms with your neighbors. good luck
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  • tacking1
    Hey GA...

    I know you hate it but you know the answer.
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  • get_involved
    quote:Originally posted by Warpig883
    I went through hell with barking dogs- couldn't sleep-couldn't stand to be in my house or yard because the damn mutts barked all the time. The ass clown finally got rid of them when he was faced with legal action.

    They might be pets to you but they are a worthless nuisance to your neighbor.

    I have NO SYMPATHY for a person with barking dogs. Not trying to be mean but you really need to take care of the problem.


    Exactly!
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  • gagirl
    quote:Originally posted by iluvguns
    quote:But were your neighbors instigateing the dogs?

    How were your neighbors instigating the dogs? You posted that he was on HIS property, 20 feet from the cage, just staring. He wasn't yelling or throwing things. He can stand on his property anywhere he wants.


    He has yelled and thrown stuff into our back yard at them in the past.
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  • gagirl
    quote:Originally posted by Warpig883
    I went through hell with barking dogs- couldn't sleep-couldn't stand to be in my house or yard because the damn mutts barked all the time. The ass clown finally got rid of them when he was faced with legal action.

    They might be pets to you but they are a worthless nuisance to your neighbor.

    I have NO SYMPATHY for a person with barking dogs. Not trying to be mean but you really need to take care of the problem.


    They dont bark all the time... only at this one couple and if someone new (rarely) walks past our house. And it DOES bother me when they bark at this couple.
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  • iluvguns
    quote:He has yelled and thrown stuff into our back yard at them in the past.

    You didn't post that originally. Some people just don't like dogs, or some (like my sister) have an enormous fear of dogs because of being bitten in the past. Those are big dogs you have! Maybe they are scared of them. Maybe that explains whey they don't want to talk to them. Maybe their barking makes them, or one of them, nervous. I don't know. But they are still your dogs and you have to deal with their barking.
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  • gagirl
    quote:Originally posted by iluvguns
    quote:He has yelled and thrown stuff into our back yard at them in the past.

    You didn't post that originally. Some people just don't like dogs, or some (like my sister) have an enormous fear of dogs because of being bitten in the past. Those are big dogs you have! Maybe they are scared of them. Maybe that explains whey they don't want to talk to them. Maybe their barking makes them, or one of them, nervous. I don't know. But they are still your dogs and you have to deal with their barking.


    I agree and I am trying to find a way to deal with them barking... but my issue is that it is ONLY this one stimulus (rarely anything else maybe 1 time a month) I even had the Asst police chief in my back yard... ummm on the 1st... he had never been back there.. they barked he said something to them.. they stopped. I had 60+ people over the night before at various times and they never barked once... but almost everyone walked over to the pen and spoke to them. My issue is its only this one couple....
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  • bhale187
    I've dealt with this from the standpoint of a dog owner, and finaly got rid of the dog that always barked at a neighbor.
    I've also dealt with it from the standpoint of having a neighbor whose dog barked keeping me awake.
    And I've dealt with it from as a police officer responding to fights between neighbors over barking dogs.

    There's three options that will solve the problem.
    1) privacy fence
    2) get rid of the dogs
    3) you or they move
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  • GuvamintCheese
    Electric bark collars.
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  • Rocky4winds
    If the dogs are as intelligent as most labs are, then they will respond to bark collars quickly. When we lived in town our three dogs (2 Brittneys, one Springer) would bark at almost anything. We bought one bark collar and would rotate it among the three of them, and if they didn't stop barking we would walk outside holding the collar and all three would sulk. It only took us a couple of weeks to train them to not bark incessantly. They would still woof once or twice but then shut up. Now, even if the collar's battery is dead they won't bark if it is on them. We do live out in the country now, so if the dogs bark it is usually a deer or a car coming.

    Some people, usually those who treat their dogs like people instead of dogs, have a problem using the shock collars. Just remember that the collar is not to train them, but to reinforce (negative reinforcement actually) what you have already taught them (not to bark incessantly).

    When we lived in town I only called once on a barking dog, and that was because he barked non-stop from dusk until I called the cops at about 3:00 in the morning. We also only had one neighbor ever complain (once) to us and that was because the dogs barked too much for her husband (day sleeper) to sleep well. As soon as we found out about it we trained them better. Part of living close to people is being a good neighbor, and while your dogs (or kids???) may be darling to you, they may be just as big of a nuisance to your neighbor.
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  • gagirl
    quote:Originally posted by bhale187
    I've dealt with this from the standpoint of a dog owner, and finaly got rid of the dog that always barked at a neighbor.
    I've also dealt with it from the standpoint of having a neighbor whose dog barked keeping me awake.
    And I've dealt with it from as a police officer responding to fights between neighbors over barking dogs.

    There's three options that will solve the problem.
    1) privacy fence
    2) get rid of the dogs
    3) you or they move


    They sleep inside.. they come in by 7:30-8 and dont go back out, except for a quick pee/poo and thats in the front yard, until after 7 am. They are not wakeing them up... 1/2 the issue is that they are blameing barking from other dogs on mine when mine are not even outside.
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  • Maxx424
    Have you considered a bark collar? We had a barking dog a few houses down. They would light off at any time in the middle of the night. Most annoying. I asked the lady (being generous here) to get bark collars for them and she did. Problem solved. The give the dog a small jolt when they bark. Does not take long for them to learn.
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  • tomahawk
    why don't they just give the dogs a treat when they come out. then the dogs will like them, dummies[:D]
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  • gagirl
    ok guys.... all (most) valid things... but I think most of you missed several very important points.

    1. she stated they barked in their pen for the over 2 weeks.
    the pen was only constructed 5 days ago
    2. she said they woke her up at 6-630 for 2 mornings in a row.
    they were inside sleeping until after 7 am and not one of them was barking even when we went outside for them to run/goto the bathroom
    3. Since the pen has been up, 5 days, the garbage people and 4 other neighbors have no problem with the dogs barking at them.
    4. it is only this one couple. One of whom has yelled and thrown things in my backyard several times in the past 5 days.
    5. 3 of her complaints were when my dogs were inside and one when we gone and had the dogs with us.
    6. MY DOGS SLEEP INSIDE EVERY NIGHT AND THE BARKING IS NEVER AT NIGHT

    My issue is with 2 people anyother people in my neighborhood
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  • MVP
    My neighbor hates my dogs and complained with calls to the police, animal control and nailed signs on my trees about my dogs keeping him awake at night.
    One 80.00 bark collar cured the dogs from senseless barking all night.
    I told the guy I like my dogs to bark at people when they pull in my driveway or cut across my property, but I was sympathetic to the night barking so I did what I could to help.
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  • calamitywood
    quote:Originally posted by gagirl
    ok guys.... all (most) valid things... but I think most of you missed several very important points.

    1. she stated they barked in their pen for the over 2 weeks.
    the pen was only constructed 5 days ago
    2. she said they woke her up at 6-630 for 2 mornings in a row.
    they were inside sleeping until after 7 am and not one of them was barking even when we went outside for them to run/goto the bathroom
    3. Since the pen has been up, 5 days, the garbage people and 4 other neighbors have no problem with the dogs barking at them.
    4. it is only this one couple. One of whom has yelled and thrown things in my backyard several times in the past 5 days.
    5. 3 of her complaints were when my dogs were inside and one when we gone and had the dogs with us.

    My issue is with 2 people anyother people in my neighborhood
    please refer to my previous post and I would like to add this. When I was faced with a barking dog problem I didn't simply take the word of one person. I would actually investigate the complaint. I would do extra patrols and listen. Sometimes I would speak with other neighbors. Then I would determine for myself if the dog was a problem. I would the deal with the problem accordingly by either writing the owners a ticket for peace disturbance or by telling the complaining person I didn't find any grounds to their complaint. (this latter option never makes the complainer happy and I have had to answerer to my chief why I did what I did. I hope you get the same service.
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  • tomahawk
    oh since yer talking real slow i can understand now[:D] yer getting blamed for other dogs, in that case i'd thump the hag with a big stick[:D][:D][:D]
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  • yoshmyster
    City limits really "limit" what you can do. I'd check the city/county books on how many dogs (pets) one may keep on their plot. Since you may be in violation on having one too many poochies. I'd keep an eye out for "Meat Ball Superise" (rat poison or anti-freeze bon-bons).

    Now my brother had the same issue. He had dogs and the neighbor had dogs. The neighbor's dog would bark at anything (movement, noise, whatever). Now my brother was a lazy sod so he basically became a prisoner in his own home because he didn't want to hear the neighbor's dogs. So his dogs stayed mostly in the house and did their business in the yard.

    How close did you build the dog run? Close to their fence line?

    Personally if it were me I'd set up a CCTV (camera and mike) on the kennel with a VHS backing it up (old PC is very useful here). Film the activity (they're pretty cheap and easy to install). Since most are time and date stamped you can see if the time frame they give you jives. For all we know the neighbors are taking pop shots at your dogs with their "New" Red Rider BB Gun they got for christmas. If it's not your dogs yapping you have proof when they point the finger and get the LEO or Animal Control at your door.

    If you want answers call Animal Control and see what is up (LEO don't know).
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  • fishermanben
    I don't have that problem.[:D] Believe it or not, we have had complaints about having too many dogs even though my dogs have never barked once.

    I would make a move that protected my dogs. Can you move them to the other side of the yard, and obstruct their vision of the neighbor's yard?

    Ben
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