I'm Going Out of my MIND! Need to Vent!
 

So obviously I'm a dog lover BUT I've come to the point of pure frustration due to my neighbors 2 barking dogs.

My BF and I have lived in our home for a year and a half. We live next door to a large family with two dogs that bark CONSTANTLY! Non stop, for hours at a time, sometimes from the afternoon till 4 a.m. Its absolutely RIDICULOUS. I love these people, they are a wonderful family but i can't stand their dogs! We've been very friendly, but i just find it purely inconsiderate that they let this happen. I know i can't possibly be the only neighbor with this frustration, but we've got it the worst due to our bedroom being directly across the yard from their backyard and deck where their dogs stay. During the summer its horrible, they close their home up and kick the dogs out. we don't have AC, so we listen to them all night while they are cozy in bed and can't hear a thing. I told myself i couldn't do it another summer and i'd have to say something.... well it looks like the time has come early! I’m not the confrontational type, so it’ll take a lot to work myself up to knock on their door.

Im sitting here trying to finish a school project I have been working on for three nights and I'm about to pull my hair out. They have been barking since i got home from work this evening. I haven't had a good nights sleep this whole week and I’m dreading this summer.

So, any suggestions? Im not the type to call our county animal services to make a report. I'd confront them myself before that. I started writing a letter, but figured it might be better to just knock on their door instead. Uughhhhh!!!!!!! :mad:

I feel your pain. I was in the same situation about 14 years ago. We finally moved (not because of that). I wonder if a bark deterrent would help,one of the outdoor ones. I have an indoor/outdoor one that I used for my indoor dogs, but found that we were setting it off more than the dogs. If you put one on the side of your house near the neighbors it just might work, but then again if it doesn't you will just be adding additional noise, unless you get one that only dogs can hear.

Hopefully you can work it out with your neighbor. I don't like confrontation, so I never did. I was so tempted, though, to call up in the middle of the night (before caller ID) and bark,bark, bark into the phone and hang up. LOL

Just knock on there door and tell them!

It might be something that they aren't even aware of.

If the nieghbors are aware of it,how is it that they might not be? Sounds like they are just inconsiderate.

Yah, I don't believe they are aware of how bad it is. They must have sound proof windows because I don't know how they can even stand it!

I've talked to one neighbor that feeds their dogs while they are away, and their teenage daughter told me she found a note on the door once about their dogs barking. I don't think she gave it to them. Its SOOOOO unbelievably bad when they are out of town.

Maybe ear plugs are an option.. just thought of that! I should go take a video of it so you guys can understand just how bad it is, but my BF would probably think im crazy.

I have the same problem. I am seriously considering putting a letter on their door. Or maybe sending it in the mail. I will write this:

Yap, yap, yap, yap, yap, yap, yap, yap, yap, yap, yap, yap, yap, yap, yap, yap, yap, yap, yap,....filling the whole page and in big letters at the bottom:

GET IT?

I know it is difficult...especially if you like the people. I do like my neighbors, but it gets absolutely ridiculous sometimes. My situation isn't nearly as bad as yours, I don't think. Mine doesn't go on all night. Just everytime I am or someone else is in my yard.

My heart goes out to you. It is just a sad and sorry situation. Fact is...they need to so something so you can get some sleep. Period.

Maybe you could start with "I don't know if you are aware of this, but I need to tell you......." What do you think we can do about finding a solution?

All the best to you.

Most towns have a nucense (sp?) ordinance. Get the police to knock on their door when the dogs are barking. (They actually may take it better from them than from a neighbor) I do feel your pain. At our old house, no matter when I put my dogs out, the guy next door would have his out and his dog used to climb under our fence. MY dogs were the ones barking and I would bring them right in because I didn't want to annoy the other neighbors. But, I hated the fact that I could never let my dogs out into my own back yard because of his dog. That is one thing I don't miss since we moved!

Just curious...but have you by chance spoken to them about his problem? I mean, a problem for some might not be a problem for others, you know... And quite frankly, Im a firm believer that "closed mouths dont get fed"...and if you dont say anything, than you cant just expect something to be done... ya know :) I hope everything works out for ya... best of luck ;)

There was an article in our paper about the same thing the other day here, the neighbors finally called the cops and told them that the dogs were barking all hours of the night to where they couldn't sleep, so, the law came out and told them to either keep the dogs quiet, or get rid of them..I would go over to them first and nicely explain that you're having a hard time studying, sleeping, etc. and you would appreciate it if they could somehow keep the dogs quiet at night...if that doesn't work, then, you may have to call the law..the cops won't tell them who called.(or they're not supposed too), they're supposed to tell them they've had a complaint...

Did you go talk to them?

I haven't said anything YET. I plan to go over there this weekend. I know they will be nice about because they are nice people, and so am I. They are probably just unaware.

I was close to knocking on their door last night, but I figured knocking on their door at almost midnight would be a little dramatic. I did write a letter out of my frustration.... but i'll never give it to them. This is it:

From your neighbors....

"This letter is written in hopes that your family will make an effort to quiet your dogs. I do not know if you are aware that your dogs bark for hours at a time, sometimes from the afternoon until wee hours of the morning. We have patiently dealt with this situation for a very long period of time hoping for a change, but it has come to the point of pure frustration.

This is our attempt to politely ask that an effort is made to remedy this situation.

Thank you"

I was going to leave it anonimous, but decided a friendly confrontation would be better than anything. People have told me to make a report, but I'd rather go about it the 'friendly neighbor way' and call it upon their attention first.