I know this thread comes up regularly, so my apologies if I am asking for the same old advice. My three dogs are left on their own twice a week for up to 4 hours; most of the time I work from home or take the dogs with me. For safety, when I go out to work, the pup goes into his crate, and the two older boys have the livingroom. I've just received a handwritten note from a next door but one neighbour pointing out that the dogs are barking (and howling). Part of this is not helped by the fact that in between our two houses builders are in the middle terrace using power tools all day long and this may be upsetting the dogs when they are alone. I do know that one of the dogs reacts every time the mailman or window cleaner comes round, whether I am in or not, and I haven't been able to stop him from barking, even though he has been introduced to both men and is happy to see them--just not on the wrong side of the window. What is my position, legally, in the event of a further complaint? I think she has dropped the letter in as a first step before complaining to the Council. I am an owner occupier so not worried about having my lease affected, but am I likely to have problems regarding environmental health and noise? Thanks again in anticipation of your advice!

I really dont know what the position is for you but, I would certainly take the bull by the horns and go and speak to the neighbour. It may well help to diffuse her a bit.
You can suggest that it will ease when the builders stop, and try the best you can to appease...
Horrible situation for you, but it is best you are seen to be acting somehow. Good luck and hope someone has good advice for you.

Karen

I would also put the dog that reacts to the postie etc in a room where he cannot sea or hear them.

In my house that means the dogs are shut in the kitchen so they cannot get to windows that face out into the world, and also I leave the TV or a Radio on to reduce outside stimulus.

I don't know about the legal aspects but I too have a barker.  Are the dogs in the same room?  My boys are both happy for me to leave them at home for a few hours, but the youngster howls like an orphan if it looks as if his pal has left him too!

My barker is stimulated by some noises but sight is the big trigger.  I can manage it pretty well when I'm at home but we also control it by restricting his view when necessary.  He stays in the utility room when we are out which is at the back of the house.  I also put him back here if I'm expecting a delivery or if I spot a potential problem before he does (sometimes the cows walk past - he hates them!!).  He has no low windows in his room and external sound is quite often muffled by our own noises such as the dishwasher, washing machine or boiler.  Our other dog is a loud snorer so perhaps that helps too!!  Do you have a different room to put your dogs in that may be quieter?  If not, perhaps closing the curtains might help.  I think mine doesn't bark much when we are out, but I've no way of proving it...

In your position I'd tackle the neighbour head on and get her onside if possible.  Thank her for telling you, explain that you are concerned and that you want to get it sorted.  Tell her that you think it might be the builders but you'd like to understand the triggers so that you can apply the best methods of desensitisation etc.   If she's friendly ask her if she'd mind keeping a noise diary for you.   If you suspect she's going to be big trouble or untruthful you might not ask this but it would help you to know if there is a problem time of day or specific event that starts them off.  If all else fails - go and sit outside in the car with a book and keep your ears open.

You both have my sympathy.  It's horrible to listen to someone else's dog barking but also very tricky to manage your own barking dogs.  Good luck :)

Also worth going on your local authority website and search under 'barking dogs and see what their stance and procedures are.

thanks Barbara and poloaussie, all the dogs are in a room with a window at the back of the house--as far away from the postman as they can get, short of the attic. They can hear the mailbox anywhere--I know because I can when I'm in. My kitchen is a miserable railway carriage shape, and not a good place to put them because the kitchen door is the main entrance--the door from the kitchen to the living room is kept shut so they can't fly out the door when any of us come home...

The radio/TV sounds like an idea. I was also wondering about Bach remedy drops in their water.

I had hoped to avoid contact with this neighbour and will write to her as a last resort--I made it plain some years ago that I wanted to keep myself to myself, no need to go into why here, but I doubt calling on her would work. 

Thanks Brainless, I've just found something under the Kirklees website (our local authority website doesn't say anything, but I imagine it's much the same) and people are told to keep a diary logging barking dogs. If deemed necessary following a visit the Council will fit monitoring equipment to measure the noise, and then issue a warning letter to the owner...ending with a noise abatement order, a court appearance, fines and legal fees.

If I could afford to I'd pack my part time job in tomorrow, but it isn't an option, neither is taking them with me to work (1 maybe, but not 3! and the barker is not a good traveller...)and neither is moving somewhere without neighbours, sadly.

thanks dogs a babe, I lived next door to people who had anywhere up to 20 dogs at any one time (some ancient Staffy rescues and others they showed/bred with huge success) with litters regularly twice a year, so I know all about barking, yapping and smell but I never complained because I felt the family had quite enough going on and deserved some understanding.

The dogs are in the same room and the youngest just joined us barely 6 weeks ago--he is the howler. I am wondering if this has always been going on or if things have been precipitated by the baby. It might be because he is in the crate on his own, but I wouldn't leave him on his own with the older boys since he can be quite the young devil with them and I'd worry that a play fight could result in someone getting hurt. The crate is easily large enough for two adults and while I sometimes put the barker in with the howler, I can't tell whether they wind each other up.

I can hear them as I walk into the backyard, but not outside it. While I have every sympathy with people who have to listen to it, it isn't that bad. When I'm at home it's quiet, apart from the frenzied 2 minutes with the mailman. I can draw the curtains but would have to crate him to stop him from getting underneath them.

The only room I could leave them in that fits your description (no accessible windows, far from the door etc) is where I sleep in the attic. They sleep there too (yes, on the bed!). I am now seriously thinking of moving the crate up there and putting them up there when I am out. There are only velux windows and they have shutters which can keep the noise out too.

Thank you all for your advice and moral support, I was feeling terrible earlier but feel a little cheerier now that there might be a way of sorting things out.

if you can get a tape recoreder.tape them while you are way and see if the are barking. first
that the what i would do.

as far away from the postman as they can get, short of the attic. They can hear the mailbox anywhere--I know because I can when I'm in.

  If the mailbox is a particular problem can you put up an outside box on the wall and ask your postman to use that. I did this and it has helped considerably with my dogs.

great idea!

good suggestion, but the barker starts before he comes anywhere near the house...I considered asking the mailman to leave the post with a neighbour, but that seems extreme. I am going to tape them, then try the attic, with a radio if I can get hold of one. Does anyone try Bach remedies to calm dogs down before they go out?

Dont know if a citronella spray collar would work for the ring leader barker, you would need to supervise the training but it could be a consideration, especially if it the situation could escalate between you and your neighbour - I would consult a behaviourist if you are unfamiliar with them (the collar, not the neighbour!). Or a large crate covered with a blanket - this can calm an excited dog and help them to relax.

thanks BarkingMad16, I have tried a covered crate and he is very good at pulling bits of blanket through the mesh and chewing it up...but the citronella collar is an option I hadn't considered and I will look into this.

Just looking this up now, would you recommend citronella over a scentless spray? Also, has anyone had experience of the collar being worn by only one of many dogs...my worry is that the others will gang up to chew it off him! I'm willing to try it but shuddering at having to replace an expensive item...

Hi, Sorry I have never used one but know lots of people that have, some with great success some not.  I would fix some board around the crate and drape a blanket over the door using something to push the blanket away from the holes so he can't grab it (you should see me now i am trying to show you what i mean LOL).  I think the citronella is more disliked when sprayed than just air but i suppose it depends on how your dog reacts to it. I think you can buy them for £50.00 or so, the remote ones are more expensive than the bark activated ones??. Sorry you are in such a tricky position.

Just had a thought!!!! The other dogs may bark and activate the collar on the dog wearing it so that is not a good idea.  A remote collar would be better but you need to be there when he is doing it.

> Just had a thought!!!! The other dogs may bark and activate the collar on the dog wearing it so that is not a good idea.  A remote collar would be better but you need to be there when he is doing it.

You can get anti bark collars that aren't triggered by other dogs in the house,just the one thats wearing it as they react to vibrations as well,http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/INNOTEK-SPRAY-ANTI-BARK-STOP-BARKING-DOG-PUPPY-COLLAR_W0QQitemZ150392293612QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Pet_Supplies_Dogs?hash=item23041448ec
I prefer the odourless refills to the citronella as the citronella smell stays on the dog for ages which I think is a bit unfair if it can still smell it when its not barking.These collars work on some dogs and not others-my sheltie just ignores the spray!

I've just had a look at this Innotek collar and it looks horrible, am I right in thinking that this has two probes in contact with his throat that give what are described as nine levels of pulse--do they mean a shock????!!!!

There is something called an UltraSonic Bark Controller which allegedly "interrupts and deters nuisance barking," but does anyone know if this is any use? My dogs are friendly, happy dogs and I want to do everything I can to make sure it stays that way.I can't say the same about my neighbours.

> I've just had a look at this Innotek collar and it looks horrible, am I right in thinking that this has two probes in contact with his throat that give what are described as nine levels of pulse--do they mean a shock????!!!!

I had to double check the link there in case I gave you the wrong one but its definately a spray collar not a shock one-I'd never recommend one of those!

I thought not, helenmd, I guess I am just so upset about the dogs and possible trouble with neighbours I'm starting to panic. I've just had a look online for a behaviourist but don't know how to choose--I could ask at our vet's I suppose, but does anyone have a recommendation for Lancashire/North Yorkshire border?

It must be a nighmare for you,Jay15,no wonder you're stressed,I have 4 dogs who bark rather a lot(my sheltie is especially yappy!) and I'd be mortified if one of the neighbours complained about them.
You could try the APDT website for a behaviourist.

>Innotek collar and it looks horrible, am I right in thinking that this has two probes in contact with his throat that give what are described as nine levels of pulse--do they mean a shock????!!!!

Innotek are indeed primarily shock collars, so do be very careful.

>> Innotek are indeed primarily shock collars, so do be very careful.

That collar I gave the link to is a spray collar not a shock collar.

Yes, helenmd, I saw that the one you recommended used spray and then had a look at their other products which is where I saw the shock collar and started to freak out...

Jay my sister has a 2 year old Border Terrier. He barked a lot also. She was having problems with neighbours also. The council were involved but she was told they couldnt do anything and not to worry. She then took the dog to training for 9 week course.  She was given a soft muzzle ( sp ) for when Angus was in the Garden. He soon got the message . I cannot believe she has the same dog he has calmed down immensely
Good luck
Jean

I've been experiencing a bit of a barking problem recently.
I have 6 dogs ranging from 11 yrs to 18 months.
We've lived in our house since 1998, with dogs and never had a problem before, but 3 months ago I came home from work and OH showed me a notice that had come through the door, it was from the council and about complaint of barking dogs.
It shocked me as the complaint had been made by our next door neighbours that we have always got on really well with.
I really wish they had spoken to us first.
The problem started when OH was made redundant and then found work that involved him being away from home for hours different to those that my dogs were used to, couple that with new neighbours on the other side starting massive building work, i.e. loads of tradesmen loads of drilling loads of bashing and crashing.
The neighbours that made the complaint had to keep records of the times that my dogs barked and we had to show that we were making effort to reduce the barking.
We sealed off our letter box and postie now leaves mail in a box outside, we leave curtains closed so that the dogs cannot see the tradesmen arrive next door, we leave either the TV or radio on quite loud.
I've spoken to my liason officer at the council and she was a lovely girl and very much a dog person herself, (she has RC's and twittered on for ages about them), she said that the last thing the council would wish to do is remove a dog from a good home and in all of her years of doing the job she'd only know it happen twice.
Their job is to soothe the waters, and it sort of worked for me, yes my dogs still bark on occasion, but the the building work next door has not finished and neighbour that made the complaint has since withdrawn it which is good, sadly it did not do a lot for our relationship.

> (my sheltie is especially yappy!)

I have 4 of the little demons, how do you shut them up :(
Can a Sheltie actually do 'quiet' in anything it does?

Thinking through why I have this problem now, I believe it has a lot to do with the new puppy and the fact that the two older dogs are not getting the exercise they have enjoyed before. When I take them all out in the morning around 6.00-6.30 on the two days I'm away, they all stay on leads (just in case of a major distraction that tests two two older dogs' recall to destruction, squirrels being a recent example), and they probably get 20 minutes as opposed to at least twice that racing about getting soaking wet and filthy. I have a 2 hr commute to work so it's an early start for all of us and a long day for them, although my son leaves much later for college and comes home earlier he doesn't sort the dogs out because he isn't convinced he can handle three leads and he isn't confident of their recall for him.

When I'm at home with them working from home it's less of an issue since they are happy to sleep at my feet, but I imagine left on their own the oldest boy is getting a combination of separation anxiety and an underspend of energy (the other dog is part sloth and is happy to go into suspended animation). I do take the older boys out by themselves for a much longer walk as often as I can but it is probably 2-3 times a week instead of every day. With the days so short it's hard to fit it all in, and the puppy is too young for that much exercise yet.

Pinky, there are a lot of similarities here. I started working away part time fairly recently around 3 months ago, and the builders have been in on and off for about a year next door. My oldest son started work last month, so he isn't around during the day any more either. I'm going to move the crate to my room in the attic for the puppy and let the two older boys sleep on (or eat) my bed and leave a radio on for them this week to see how we go.

>> I have 4 of the little demons, how do you shut them up :-(
> Can a Sheltie actually do 'quiet' in anything it does?

Absolutley not,they're genetically wired to shriek as often as possible! lol She's the only one of my 4 dogs I can't take to work with me as she drives me insane there.The short time that I did take her coincided strangely enough with 2 complaints from the Dog wardens about excessive noise(its a grooming salon).
She's so funny as she bounces up and down shrieking behind the doors even when they're open and can go through them! And she's the one that the spray collar doesn't work on at all.I've threatened her with a shock collar many times but just stopped short of that lol

we had the neighbour across the road complain to us about our dogs to my husband, hubby asked when - the neighbour gave him the times and it turned out it was when I was at an agility competition for 2 weeks so it couldnt have been our dogs.  Turns out it is the dog up the road.

So I would ask the neighbour if they can keep a diary as to when the dogs bark and you can then try different things (you keep a diary as well) that way you can marry up the two diaries and see what is working and what doesnt.  You might even be surprised and find out that it isnt entirely your dogs. 

If you have insurance, your vet could refer you to a behaviourist, saving you a few pounds - just the excess.