All dogs bark sometimes it's what they do surely, but what to you would be excessive.  We are having a bit of a battle with a woman over the road who claims our dogs are barkings for too  long.  She's even got the environment agency on to us - lovely.

I have a quite a few dogs as I show and breed but the dogs tend to run in and out and do have the odd bark but they don't bark non stop for hours or anything like that. We live in a rural location in a small village.   I just feel that we can't relax anymore - every little noise and I'm up calling them in, I just can't relax.  Doesn't help that this person has now started to leave ALL her windows wide open all day (previously you never saw one open) and when her grandchildren are about they walk up and down the road whistling, obviously
to intentionally annoy the dogs.We are not the first neighbour this person has had an issue with.  To my knowledge she is not talking to at least 2 others for various reasons so she is known to be a stirrer.

Have any of you had a similar experience.  It's really not nice.

Thank you. 

If you do a search you will find quite a few posts on this subject.

I had a similar situation last year. I first had a call from the RSPCA who virtually pushed their way through my front door as they had received a complaint from someone that my dogs were being kept in cages 24/7. Once inside they asked where the cages were as they could only see one very large one which two of my boys sleep in of a night. They searched the whole house and garage and found none (just as I had told them) and were satisfied that it was just a nuisance call.
A couple of weeks later I received a visit from an Environmental Health Officer complaining about the dogs barking at all hours. He said sound equipment would be set up in the complainants property but I heard nothing more. My dogs bark only when I arrive home, and occasionally they get a bit over-excited when their dinner is being prepared and that is it - apart from when the postman hammers on the front door like his life depended on it.
I assumed both complaints were from my next door neighbour but it is now about 18 months ago and I have heard nothing so I assume all was OK with the sound equipment.
It is very worrying at the time because all sorts of things go through your head, like having to re-home your dogs but I think in most cases, unless your dogs are barking from morning till night or during the night, you should be OK. Dogs DO bark, it's what they do and they are allowed to do it (in moderation)!

This is a difficult one, i have three dogs and i have always trained each one not to bark in the garden. An odd bark is ok but anymore i feel is not fare on other people trying to enjoy their garden. i can see it from both sides as next door to us have a terrier that doesn't bark non stop but either runs round the garden barking or barks every time someone walks past. it's a high pitch sound that goes right through you and can be heard when we are in the house as well.
in the end i had a word with them, in a nice way and asked if they could calm his barking down a bit but although they were fine when i spoke to them the women doesn't speak to me unless she has to now and the dog still barks,with no telling off when he does.
sometimes i think people don't realise how much their dog/s bark because their used to it.
so the question is how much is too much? even being a dog owner i don't like listening to other peoples dogs barking.
This person may well be being over the top but i can not judge that, although it is not fare that they are making noises to make your dogs bark.
i'm not trying to say your in the wrong but i would say that barking drives some people mad, i know it does for me with our neighbours and the stupid thing is no one else in our close likes it either but want say anything to them as they don't want to upset anyone. it's stupid as they'd rather be annoyed by the dog than speak up about it. All this makes it worst for me as i look like i'm the only one with a problem.
hope you can some how sort this out as falling out with people is horrible. 

I'd love to be able to calm down my boys barking.
He has been a stressy pest since very young, we tried teaching him to speak, using a spray collar, and general things, to no avail.
He is almost 4 now and barks as much if not more than ever.
Any hints or tips gladly accepted.

Karen

my method has always been to be in the garden at all times from getting the dog/pup. i carry treats in my pocket and use distraction by calling the dog if they look like their going to bark or i hear a noise that would set them off, then get them to sit and reward with the treat.this either calms them down or what ever they were going to bark at has gone.
it takes time and patience, never telling them off but always being on top of what their doing and reading their body language. it took a few weeks of this to sort my last dog out who wasn't used to a lot of things as she came from a kennel and was older than a puppy but it worked and now i can leave them all in the garden with a very odd bark which i soon put a stop to by distraction or calling them in side.
they now know that if they didn't stop barking they come in side.
i'm afraid it's not a quick fix and you need to put a lot of effort into it but so worth it not to bother other people. A lot of people give up after a few days or are not consistent with what they expect from their dogs and thats when it falls down.
it's not to late to change your dog but will take a lot of your time, no point doing it one day and not another time as they just get confused with what your asking of them.
hope this helps.  

No actual definition I don't think. Yes if you search you will find a lot on the subject here -I myself had 8 complaints, NONE of them proved -but I moved house as I didn't want to live next door to such horrible people. (Long story.) This is what it says on Trevor Cooper's website:
http://www.doglaw.co.uk/nuisance.php

i'm afraid it's not a quick fix and you need to put a lot of effort into it but so worth it not to bother other people

I would argue though that to not let dogs bark at ALL would not be right, it's against their nature and I've heard it mentioned several times that dogs that previously weren't allowed to bark when they wanted to, became a lot happier when they were allowed to. I know I read a behaviour article about it a couple of weeks ago, just can't remember where or what now......

my dogs do bark in the house sometimes when playing, when people come to the door and when out on walks in the country where it doesn't have an affect on other people.
i'm not saying they can never bark i'm saying people shouldn't have to put up with my dogs when they are enjoying their garden.
my dogs are waggy tailed and happy and enjoy being rewarded for doing anything and think it's a game.
this article may well be right but dogs can be happy with out barking all the time.
not having a go at you but i think i'd know if my dogs life was some how not as good just because i don't allow barking in the garden.
i think it's all about compromise when people live together what ever noise your making, although i know some people can be over the top about it. 

Its a shame you are having problems with your nabour.

i have barking dogs on both sides. on one side i have a westy that barks a lot, any noise out side she is out and even when there isnt any noises she goes out and barks and barks. she has free acess to the garden all the time by a cat flap and for a while the dog would wake my up most nights. most dogs ive met will bark maby 2 - 5 barks and stop unless there is something making them bark that carries on. but this westy would bark from about 5-20 minits non stop! in the day it wasnt too bad i just turned the tv up but at 1am it was very annoying. i mentioned it to them and i found out that they couldnt hear the dog (apperantly) and they told my to tell the dog to be quiet if i hurd her. i now have her trained to stop if i whistle, and the owners are taking the dog out on more walks now so she doesnt bark like that that often now, so we are both happy and still friends.
on the other side we have newish nabours who have about 6 dogs (dogs seem to magicaly appair over night) the husband says they are hobby breeders but the wife is saying that they dont breed. no one sees them taking the dogs out for walks and they also seem to be outside dogs and dont seem to get much attention. one of the pack will bark, howl, wine and scream often and if we go into our garden it is there barking and barking at us. it is less now that they have settled in but i think 2 people in my road have complained to the council allready. i was putting up new fencing as there dogs had eaten a hold in there fence trying to escape and they hadnt fixed it and the dog was barking the whole time and no one came out to see what was the matter with there dog. but they are slowley getting better.

Dont get me wrong yes i agree dogs bark which i dont mind after all dogs will be dogs, its just when it goes on for like five minits non stop for no reason and happens often then it can becom a nusence, it there is a reason for the barking then fair enough.

If i was you i would speak to your other nabours and see what they think about your dogs barking it may just be a case that she is just targeting you for no reason, in which case im sure the environment agency will figure that out. Maby you could also speak to Cisitancen Advice and see what they suggest.
Prehaps your dogs are barking for a reason, maby there is something living in the garden you dont know about making them bark (pleany of mice up by me).

Trouble is it is an individul dog thing.............he is the elder of the 2 that I have and he IS a stressy dog, who cant help himself, currently in the kennels with me/us visiting and walking a couple of times a day, every time he sees us and/or gets his lead on he barks andd he really cant help himself.
He is corrected and encouraged when he quitens etc, but even so it is his personality. When we meeet up with people who stop to chat (happens a lot here). I ask please dont talk to him, dont give him eye contact or anything to encourage as it will set of the bark. Well even the most animal minded say ah it's okay...Agh...why dont they listen to me? He is off again. Tyhe younger one is okay.

KAren :)

I realised my neighbour had a problem with my dogs barking when he installed a bark alarm and directed it into my garden. My dogs actually are really good in the garden, they won't stay out there unless someone is out with them. They do, however, bark when a dog passes the front window. Since my neighbour installed the alarm I have been more aware of when they are barking and make every effort to stop them. As I said the garden isn't a problem but indoors when they bark I have tried lots of different tactics e.g. treats, ignoring. The thing that has worked best for me is as soon as he starts to bark (my cairn is the main culprit) I don't speak to him or interact in any way I just pick him up and remove him from the room. Once he has settled he is allowed back in. If I was able to I would keep him away from the window (it is a huge picture window) but to do that would mean he is shut in the kitchen all the time. I am waiting to have the window changed so that he can't see out and hopefully that will help. I have found it is trial and error finding what your dog responds to. Good luck.
jane

My four dogs can bark for England at various times but mostly they are quiet.  They are good in the garden usually but we now have three bichon frisees who have moved in next door.  if they start barking it sets mine off but as soon mine start,  I get them in.  Also if a dog (or anything unusual) passes the window that winds them up.  In my kitchen which looks out on to the back garden they are pretty quiet so this is where I leave them if I have to go out.  My westie is very vocal (as westies are). When we get to the moor for our walks no sooner is she out of the car than she starts.  Barks her head off for about 5 minutes, it is awful - excitement I suppose - but I am afraid that that is what westies do!!!  My sheltie is not an inverate barker but boy! when she starts it is earsplitting as other shelties owners will know, quite unbearable.  She "talks" as well with the ear splitting yaps!

I never let mine carry on  barking though,  I shout at them and get them in the kitchen until they have calmed down.  We are trying to move house and with 4 dogs - it has to have a large garden and preferably be detached and not too near anyone else.  Why do I sometimes think I have shot myself in the foot with four dogs???

Snowflake