Neighbor's dog barking!

My neighbor's dog has been barking non-stop since early this morning! This is not the first time the dog has done this. I think he/ she may possibly do this while they are gone. We live in an apartment building that is very acceptable to pets(which is great!). I know that this apartment has 2 cats. We were told that the lady below us has 2 cats, a middle school aged daughter, and wanted to know more about us from the landlord before we moved in. We were also told that we were in a very quiet section. No problem. Last summer they got a dog. It barks non-stop for hours until they get home. This is not the first time.

Is there anything I can do? The barking disturbs Summer a lot too. I was thinking of leaving a note o warn them about the problem. I don't want to seem like a meanie either.

Poor dog.
And poor you!
You should try slipping it bacon while they're gone.

I slipped a note under their door that said:

Your dog has been barking non-stop for hours!!! This is not the first time either. We understand that your dog may just be bored when you're not home. Please just know that it is a nuisance to those you live by.


How does that sound?

Very nice. Polite, but firm.

Your note was very well thought out....I hope it accomplishes what you are hoping for.

I feel badly for dogs in this situation...all cooped up and alone. Poor thing. We haven't lived in an apartment in many, MANY years but when we lived in the subdivison, before moving here last year, we had many neighborhood dogs that would bark all the time! It was annoying to say the least...but...that's what outdoor dogs do alot of...they bark...they can't help it...they bark. If people who have outdoor dogs would pay more attention when their dogs are barking, some awful things might be avoided. Please bare (or is it bear? I dunno) with me while I explain:

I know of a young woman who loves pit bulls. Her boyfriend bought her a very expensive ($1,000.00!!!!!!) baby pit. Well, don't ask me why she did this, but she put him outside and tied him up somewhere. Now, this gal also has a donkey that she keeps tied up outside (they tie their animals alot around there, I don't know why either). Anyway...she has lots of other dogs on her property and they all started barking. Well, she just ignored it and when she finally decided to go check on what was happening...she met with a sight that made her very ill. Her puppy's chain and her donkey's chain had somehow gotten tangled up and the pup ended up danglin' from the donkey's neck...dead of course.

You just can't ignore it when outdoor dogs start barking...(please understand that I am talking about outdoor dogs here...not indoor dogs like that one you're talking about...just want to clear that up before its taken wrong...thanks!)

Sorry you're having such problems...I hope your neighbors understand and try and work something out.

Hilda>^..^<

I hope so too. I wanted to tell them that there is special training that they could do etc, but I didn't want to come across the wrong way. I even restrained from telling them that next time I would make phone calls (to our landlord or the police) since we do have noise ordinances in our city.

A similar thing happened while we lived in our old apartment, only it was a smaller dog and it literally barked all day long for at least 8 hours straight. I told our landlord (they allowed cats but not dogs). I said "I'm not trying to be a tattletale because I know you don't allow dogs but I don't think it's healthy for any dog to bark for 8 hours straight". She said she agreed. I saw a girl come check it out and listen, and I never heard the dog again. I'm sure the tenant had to remove it from the property.

I grew up with dogs and love them, however, I know that they are very different animals than cats that require different needs and responsibilities. I don't think a lot of people think of that before getting a dog or any animal. It's sad.

I am sorry that the dog is barking and disturbing you.

But barking dogs don't really bother me, that is what dogs do, they just bark.

Sounds like a seperation anxiety issue to me.
I'm going through it with my neighbors, but their dog is still a pup, we'll see if he gets any better with age.

My boy only barks when it's appropriate, though he does have seperation anxiety, we crate him before we leave him home alone, he knows that we'll be back in a few hours.
The most he does is cry a bit.

Maybe if they are amenable to it, you could offer to help them come up with some solutions that might work in their case.
Unless it's terribly bad, this is usually something that is fairly easy to remedy with some routine.

Originally Posted by LSULOVER

I am sorry that the dog is barking and disturbing you.

But barking dogs don't really bother me, that is what dogs do, they just bark.

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I grew up with dogs and understand that they bark, and it doesn't bother me when they bark at strangers, when they're excited and playing, etc. But, I feel sorry for the dog that has to resort to barking non-stop ,for hours at a time. There's quite a distinction between the two. This dog has barked for more than 6 hours before. That is unhealthy. I blame the owner, not the dog.

That's sad...and Hilda...what a DREADFUL story about the pittie and the donkey!!! I couldn't imagine walking out and finding that.

I think you did the right thing by leaving a note. Sometimes it's hard to be a neighbor, and have to be the one to bring something like that to someone else's attention...it's likely that they weren't even aware that the dog was being noisy while they are away. Perhaps you could recommend that they find a pet sitter or doggie daycare or something...even a dog walking service that would help eliminate stress and boredom for the poor baby.

Good luck!

I have the same problem with a dog across the street he is doing it now as he does all the time, the thing that really makes me so mad is that the people are sitting right there right now they NEVER tell the jerk to shut up I have sent them messages in the mail and I have more then one time listened to it till I thought I was going to blow up and finally went outside and screamed shut that dog up.
I love dogs but this is one I could choke, I hate to call animal services but that may be the last resort they never make him stop. My poor DH used to work graveyard and they are right across from our bedroom I guess Thank God he can barely hear because he would have never gotten to sleep.
When I say bark he will run up and down the fence and jump over there small kids and keep right on barking, He barkes at AIR there does not have to be anything around. I don't understand how any pet owner can be so rude I think they must be drunk or loaded if they let it just go over there heads all the time. I am right now thinking about going out there and screaming at it & them.

Originally Posted by wookie130

That's sad...and Hilda...what a DREADFUL story about the pittie and the donkey!!!

I couldn't imagine walking out and finding that.

I think you did the right thing by leaving a note. Sometimes it's hard to be a neighbor, and have to be the one to bring something like that to someone else's attention...it's likely that they weren't even aware that the dog was being noisy while they are away. Perhaps you could recommend that they find a pet sitter or doggie daycare or something...even a dog walking service that would help eliminate stress and boredom for the poor baby.

Good luck!

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Yep, I cannot even imagine walking out and seeing something like that! I think what's worse is that is was HER pup...had to be awful.

I just read the suggestion that maybe a walking service would be the answer. Sofiecusion...do you work away from your apartment, or are you home alot? Reason I ask is that puurrrhaps you could offer to walk their dog for them...I know its asking alot but maybe it would be a way to help the situation out and it would relieve the tension...I dunno...it is just a thought...

Hilda>^..^<

This poor dog! He may need to be walked, or he may be bored and lonely... or he may just need some training. I'm so afraid the owner might be the kind of person who, if pressed, would just give the dog to the pound or something! Maybe you should follow up with some information on nearby dog training classes (shelters often have free ones), or as Hilda said, if you like dogs, you might offer to walk him once during the day.

I have to tell this: in an apartment I once lived in, I kept being awakened around midnight by the barking of two yippy little dogs somewhere near my bedroom window. Night after night at the same time, and it went on for at least an hour. I was frantic.

Finally one night, I got up, put on my robe and slippers, and stomped downstairs to go see about this once and for all -- but by the time I got down there, the barking had stopped. I walked around a bit, peering up at the buildings in search of the culprits. Finally, I spied two little chihuahua faces peeking down at me between the balcony bars. They were perfectly still and quiet. I stared up at them for a moment, and finally said, "Is it you two?"

YUP! they said. Yup!Yup!Yup!Yup!Yup!Yup!Yup!Yup!

I just had to laugh. They were cute as buttons, and although I still hated being woken up, at least I wasn't really angry anymore -- they were just two sweet little pups who didn't like being put out on their balcony when their owners went to bed.

I finally did leave a note asking if the owners would mind keeping their dogs indoors at night, and they immediately started doing so. Nice people, nice dogs.

Originally Posted by LSULOVER

I am sorry that the dog is barking and disturbing you.

But barking dogs don't really bother me, that is what dogs do, they just bark.

Click to expand...

yep that's how the express themselves! that poor dog must be bored out of its' skull. It sounds like the dog needs a play date or someone to spend more time with the dog. My dogs get enough time spent with them and I have a dog that is a hound that barks at anything and everything but he doesn't bark out of boredem.. he's a hound. Maybe you can ask them if you can walk the dog sometimes if you are comfortable with doing that? How long are they gone for and what breed is this dog?

Thanks for sharing your story!


I'm not sure of the breed, but it isn't a small dog. I've encountered many dogs in my life and to be honest, it sounds like a lab or lab mix. I never see them since we don't even live on the same floor. However, I do know that the woman is home on the weekday mornings. She may work a different shift or only part time. Everytime I haven't worked during the week, she turns on her stereo in the mornings, sometimes so loud I can hear the words. I've never complained about this since usually we are at work, and I actually like what she listens to. It's not unbearable either. I never hear the dog bark otherwise. It seems that the dog only barks when both her and the daughter are gone (which is usually on weekends). I will offer suggestions if it happens again. Thanks.

I hear ya.. the neighbor has a yellow lab named Willie that lives outdoors and I hear him howl every night. me and my parents have put blankets in the yard and they were gone the next day. I think the owner had something to do with it. I have given him treats and food before.. If we didn't have 4 dogs of our own, we would ask the owner if we could have Willie.

I go visit him and his friends have dogs that come over so he isn't alone.. but what makes me angry is they leave theirs outside unattended, too with Willie. I know Willie wouldn't hurt a fly, but I would never leave my dogs outside unattended because someone could easily poison them. I don't let strangers give my dogs or cats treats unless I give them a treat and say here you can give it to them. I am just paranoid.. but anyways labs get bored very easily. They are very active dogs and need to be with their people. I have two lab mixes and they are the best dogs I have ever had. Is this dog a young dog or do you know?

I mean, any breed will get bored if you don't do something with them. It's good she is home with the dog in the morning, though. Do you have any dogs that you can have play with her dog or know if your friends may be willing for their dogs to have a play date with your neighbor's dog?

I just went through this with a neighbor whose dogs were driving all the other neighbors crazy. They only barked when the husband and wife were at work, which was for about 9 hours straight. I called and spoke to them, offered ideas on how to correct the problem, and suggested they call me whenever they tried something and I'd let them know how it was working. It took 3 or 4 calls, plus a trip to their house, but I was persistent and polite. I haven't heard the dogs in a couple weeks except for occasional barking (which is what dogs should do) and they still have them. In fact, they got through the fence and were running around in our pasture last night.

I think what turned out to be most effective was a citronella (sp?) collar.

I also spoke to animal control and had all the info I needed in case I had to go that route, which I was prepared to do. Fortunately they were nice people and really didn't know what was going on when they were gone.

At least you are taking an interest in this poor dogs welfare. I think you have to be commended for this. Earlier this year in the city I live in an entire building ingnored the barking and bellowig of a dog and the results were terribly emotional. http://www.ottawahumane.ca/enews/boxer/index.html
I think the idea of writing a little note letting them know that the constant barking is bothing you is a good idea. It will let them know there is a problem without putting it to the serious step of informing the building management.