Bark bark bark

[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.

[Corinna]

I had a problem with this with an old neighbor it was at night all people home and it just barked and barked No one did any thing ,asked them to do something didn't . So I started calling them in the night and just hung the phone out the window for a few mintues after a few times they fixed it alright another dog. 2 barkers guess what phone out the window 5 mintues . after about 3 nights dogs were gone. Quiet huaaaaa

[luvofallhorses]

Like others said, it is NOT the dogs fault. I would just talk to the owners about it.

[Laura's Babies]

I have never understood how people like that don't hear their dog bark.. I bet if it were YOUR dog barking they would hear it in a heartbeat.. Maybe they have the dog on the other side of their house from where they sleep? I think that phone calling of the dog barking is a great idea if talking to them don't help. Let THEM be kept awake and see what happens.

But I would try to talk to them as unemotional as possiable about it first and let them know that lack of sleep is a trigger for those awful migranes so it is not just a lack of sleep you are having to deal with. I would end with "and being the good neighbor you are, I know you will figure out how to solve this delima we find ourselves in...." (if he is otherwise a good neighbor)

[animal_rescue]

You guys calm down, she's just venting! I highly doubt she actually hurt the dog! I know I've said stuff like that before as well, saying stuff can help from physically doing something, that's the point of venting.
Now with that said!

I'm so sorry you have a horrible night! I know that when my doxie, Marty, gets locked up to long(this is usually and only at bed time) He'll start barking. It CAN get annoying and keep you awake, for such a small dog he does have a big bark! We usually just tell him to shut up and he quiets right up and goes to sleep. Either that or (my dad is whipped by him) my dad will get up and let him out of his cage and stay up with him.

[catnapper]

Ok, I'm exhausted, have a killer migraine and not even gonna pretend I read all the replies.

I got less than 2 hours sleep, busted butt at work, and was greeted home by those two barking at me from their short leash in the backyard. I KNOW the parents just went out -- him to go clubbing. He was with his clubbing buddies. When he does that, she often goes to her mom's for the night to avoid a fight. I've lived next to them for long enough to know the routine... though they haven't done it since the baby. When she's home she is constantly on those dogs to stop barking. She is very conscious of their barking, ESPECIALLY with the baby.

NO, its not the dog's fault. In fact I think they treat the dogs AWFULLY. They don't have the time or patience to train them properly. Heck, he's not even neutered after I explained she needed to neuter him. They pee allll over the place when out of the cages. Which is why they cage them. Onc caged, the girl dog pees on the blankets everywhere and ends up covered in her own pee. Its utterly disgusting. The poor dogs are caged about 20 hours a day. The other 4 hours are tied to something in the yard.

And ya know what? After 10,000 posts, I am a bit disappointed you all took my last sentence as a threat to the dogs. My god you all should know by now my sense of honor and complete devotion to animals. I'm not gonna comment on that one further.

[Kfamr]

I'm sorry if I took it wrongly but, if it wasn't meant that way than what was it meant for? I don't think you'd harm animals, not even after reading that sentence - but, I love all animals to death and I'd never imagine saying something like that. It's just not something you say on a pet forum, regardless of your intentions. Calm down when posting and take a moment to think about what you've typed.

You know I like you as a person, Kim. However, it's not the first time i've seen or heard something against dogs said by you, whether you have a dog or not... and personally I take a high offense to it.



If these dogs are caged 20 hours a day and tied to something the other 4, like you've said, then you definitely need to devote yourself and have something done about these people. That's no life for a dog and there's no wonder why he barks all the time.

*edited to add* I'm not trying to argue or make you upset, just trying to get you to see where I was coming from.

[BC_MoM]

Yeah.. I can understand why you would be upset, so everyone just take a deeeeeep breath! hehe

My neighbours Yorkies bark all the time and I too find it EXTREMELY annoying. There are many things the owners can do to keep their dogs quiet. But I do understand some dogs (especially small ones) are very vocal.

Maybe next time your neighbours go out you can offer to dogsit them at your place?