My next door neighbour has 2 dogs, one is 6 and one is 10 months.  During the day they leave the dogs in a shed (6x4) which has been adapted to a type of run.  For some while now the pup has been barking more and more often and over the weekend, my neighbours were out for approx 3-4 hours each afternoon and the pup barked constantly.  During the week when I'm home it barks and every morning at 6am it barks until my neighbour gets up for it.  We can hear this because our bedroom is next to their kitchen, where the dogs are kept at night.

I think my neighbour should know that the dog is barking, but don't want it to sound like a complaint, which its not.  I just feel bad for the dog and think if the owner knows, they may be able to try something different with the dog.  However I'm not sure they'll see it that way and I'm not even sure that they will bother.  The dogs are left from 7.30am until usually around 6pm Mon-Fri, so I can understand why it barks.

Do you think I should tell my neighbour about the barking or just hope that the pup will grow out of it?

I think you should try and find a way to talk to your neighbour. Maybe you could take a small houseplant around in order to break the ice?

I agree, go round with an ice breaker and preferably a diary, if needed, so that your observations are based on recorded incidents rather than a nebulous ".......all the time".  Centre the conversation around "I am finding it difficult to................ " rather than the accusatory "you" or "your dogs" which always puts people on the defensive; it may well be that she is completely unaware of the problem and you are giving her the opportunity of a) discovery and b) action without any threat etc.

Always much better if you can sit around the table rather than wait until you lose your rag and say something inappropriate, to the inappropriate person at an inappropriate time.....................

Could you pop round and ask if anything has changed recently "Because the dogs are barking far more than they used to"... or something that implies you're not complaining as such, but ....

Doesn't it make you wonder why people get dogs as pets if they are going to leave them for almost 12 hours a day in a shed.  I agree with the previous posters, you need to pop round there and tackle the subject.  They probably are aware the dogs are barking but perhaps are not aware you're being bothered by it.  If you feel that they are unapproachable, you can contact your local council anonymously and they will write to the owners saying there has been a noise allegation made against them and they will need to do something about it.  I would imagine that just the letter from the council would get them to do something about the barking.  However, if you've already complained then they are bound to know its you which could cause more bad feeling.  Have any of the other neighbours noticed?

When we first moved into our house 17 years ago me and my my bf then were young around 20. We rescued a greyhound that the owner had grew tierd of. We were both working all day but we took the dog anyway I couldnt bare to have not taken in the poor thing.
Anyway we wasnt aware that our dog was whining all day untill the neighbour told us.
It turned out very well he said if we liked he'd come in and see to the dog while we were out. I was very glad he told us about this. He wasnt moaning but just thinking about the wellbeing of the dog. Anyway once the dog was used to her new home and routine she was a very happy dog with no more problems.
If you go about it the right way and your neighboiur as the her dogs best intrest at heart all should be ok. 

Thanks for the replies and advice.  I think I'll mention it to them at the weekend in a way that you have all suggested, rather than wait until I can't take it any more and end up moaning.  We don't know the neighbours on the other side, so not sure whether the barking bothers them or not, but they won't hear it in the morning.

Let us know how you get on.  We had a similar situation and I know how frustrating it can be.  Good luck.