Bark bark bark

[Cookiebaker]

Please remember that it is NOT the dogs fault that it is barking all night. He is more unhappy than you are. And please don't assume the circumstances that the owners left him. Is this the first time he has barked all night?? Maybe an emergency came up for them or something, and that is why they weren't home.

[moosmom]

That's why I'm glad I have cats. You don't have to walk them. And you don't have neighbors complaining about their barking.

I do hope you got SOME sleep. I'd definitely talk to them, if they're the kind of neighbors you can talk to. Just explain the situation nicely (as nicely as possible). If they get obnoxious or the barking continues, call ACO. Let THEM deal with it.

[chocolatepuppy]

I'm starting to have not-so-friendly thought of what to do to that dog.

Please direct your anger toward the owner! I'd try talking to them, if possible. (I know there's no talking to some people) then I would report it to the police. There should be a nuisance law where you live and all night noise is ,indeed ,a nuisance.

[christa]

We had similar problems when we lived in the apartments. We had to talk to the dog's owners. And don't worry Kim, when I posted about it on here, I got the same responses - people got mad at me for being mad at the dogs . . . anyway, I would suggest those little foamy ear plugs if the owners don't do anything about it. They do work wonders. Just make sure that your alarm is near your head or you won't hear it cause they do block out any and all sound! Or tell someone to wake you up!

[chocolatepuppy]

people got mad at me for being mad at the dogs .

Just to make it clear, I'm not mad at Kim. I too have had barking dog problems before and had to 'remind' myself it's not their fault.

[Karen]

Talk to the owners, ask them to consider crating them inside!

[Cataholic]

Kim,
I totally feel for you. Totally. I have this same problem with many of my neighbors. We live on very small city lots. I could thow a softball and hit most of the houses backdoors, with no problem, and I don't have a good arm.

My one neighbor's most barky dog died several months ago. YES, I was sad about the death, but, not about the barking. I think maybe it might have to do with not having dogs ourselves that makes the barking more significant?

My other neighbor has left her chow mix (breed mentioning is significant for reasons I will explain in a moment) outside when she leaves for the hours at a time. This dog, whom I adore, barks, barks and barks. Last weekend, we reached a whopping high of 42 degrees. He sat outside for 3 hours. He woke Jonah twice from his nap (and, trust me, this is probably the biggest issue for a full time working mom- no naps, or, a cranky kid). This dog, despite being a chow mix, is reguarly shaved down, AND, lives inside most of the time. So, his coat isn't super thick, as you might expect. I left her a VERY terse voice mail. I told her I would be happy to let the dog in and out as often as once an hour. I told her that it was totally inconsiderate, that I have told her this before, and that I hoped we could come to an understanding. I, too, had very bad thoughts about the dog.

She stopped me in the driveway a few days later, said she never remembered me saying anything about him barking non stop- crap- I used her housekey to let him in! Duh. Of course I mentioned it to her. Her dog was sitting in her house when she came home last time. She then said, "well, it really wasn't that cold out", and last? "Well, he wouldn't come inside, what could I do"?

Maybe walk the ten steps it would take to cross our yards and get him? I dunno, just a thought. Oh, yeah, and why I am at it- walk your dog once a month, please! Give him some exercise! But, that is another thread.

Maybe it is just the people on my street and the one behind me. But, if I had to base my opinion of dog owners on these two streets alone, I would say dog owners don't seem to care that their dogs bark, bark and bark. 2 am, 6 am, 3 pm, it doesn't seem to matter. Why I can hear it as plain as day and they can't is beyond me. I know dogs bark. I am not asking for complete quiet. But, if your dog has been barking 10 minutes- bring it inside.

If I were you, I would try a very nice note, or phone message, with the offer to let them in/out, or babysit them...they won't take you up on it, and they will have a hard time being nasty with you when you are being so polite to them.

[dukedogsmom]

Wow, you've got a dog yourself. you should know it's not the dog's fault. Talk to your neighbors and if that doesn't work, make complaints to animal services.