Is driving us round the bend!!! Aaaw that sounds awful doesn't it, but we have tried to persevere with the constant barking a woo wooing. He is a rescue and they have had him since the first week of January and whenever he is left alone he barks and howls. They both work full time and one of them does come home at lunch time for a while but for the rest of the time he's sooo unsettled. They go out a lot in the evenings too - like now..........he's been at it constantly since 6pm:rolleyes: After his first night, they came round with a card and choccies to apologise because he had barked all night long - I told them not to worry, that we understood and also mentioned joining CD for any advice that they might need but haven't really seen them since to speak. I really don't know how to deal with this, we've only lived here for 7 months and I don't want to fall out with them or cause any ill feeling but it is driving us nuts so we're going to have to say something! The joys of being semi detatched in a new build house with card board walls:rolleyes: How would you deal with a situation like this?

Hayley

Maybe just pop round to say you wanted to let them know incase they were unaware of the situation.  They might not be, if he's doing it when he's on his own they might not know or know how bad it is.  If he's barking when they get home - they might just assume that he's barking beacuse he's heard them coming home.  Let them know that you are worried about how distressed he is when on his own and maybe suggest some things to make it easier for him, like kongs, interactive toys etc.

Karen

Do they know what he does when they are out????
I would want my neighbour to tell me.
I know Ebba barks and crys as I go out but dont know what she does the rest of the time, but am positive if she does bark or cry my neighbour would tell me.
How about broaching the subgect with them????
Lea :)

Yes your right, I will pop round tomorrow. It bugs me that he's alone so much, I know that people do have work to go to and social lives but then why get a dog if he's going to be left alone most of the time.....

I'm surprised that the rescue society allowed them to have a dog if they both work full time.

Hmmm, well they did!! I'm not against people owning dogs if they work full time so long as someone can get home mid way through the day for toilet break/cuddles/exercise (which my neighbour does do) and then spend quality time in the evenings........thats got to be a better life than being shacked up in a cage at a rescue centre BUT he's alone a lot most evenings too. We've had this four nights since Sunday and another bug bear that I have is the garden full of poo............knocks me sick and I'm dreading the summer time with only a fence separating us - YUK! I'm on one now

Hayley

Have to agree with JG they should never have had the dog in the first place, it is obviously a dog which craves attention, (like most) and being a rescue in my book needs even more extra attention.

At least they are apologetic and trying to do the right thing by you, but to be honest how can the situation ever improve, the dog is lonely and is barking, the only way to stop it is to have someone home. If they are at work, and then out in the evenings too, it can't be fixed.

Kongs, bones, toys will keep it occupied for only so long, they need to change hours, have a dog walker/pet sitter to keep him company, or give him back to rescue where he can find a family to be there for him.

None of which you can advise them to do, by all means tell them that the dog is constantly barking all the time, and you will have to be brave too and mention that you can smell the dog poo, (even if you can't yet) hopefully they will do the right thing, I do sympathies, but feel really sorry for the dog too.

Maybe the rescue centre didn't know they both worked full time? some people don't always tell the truth to get what they want :(

Good point Missie.  I don't suppose the rescue places have any way of checking.

I just know that someone did it round here to get a dog, took the day off work when the home check was booked. Don't know why when they are both out all day :(

It's awful isn't it?  Why on earth do people who work full time and are out every evening want dogs?  Do they really think they don't need company or much exercise apart from weekends (assuming they're not away for those too )  Even with dog walkers involved, this doesn't sound like a good situation to me. :(

If you know which rescue they got him from you could contact them and tell them you are concerned.  If you tell them you are also concerned about keeping good relations with them and that they are not bad people you could, perhaps, suggest they just do a 'follow up' visit to see how things are going and they could perhaps say they had called at other times and found the dog howling having had appropriate times suggested by you when you knew they were not about.  A tad dishonest some might say but I think all parties will share the dogs interest at heart really. 

Brilliant idea isabel! :)  Luvhandles i would do exactly as she suggested,and maybe the rescue can give them some tips about the barking and dog poops and any other stuff you dont want to have to talk to them about ;)

I was rather hoping the rescue would just take him away :)   I can't see them ever being able to give him an adequate life although I do hope they can also persuade them of this so they don't just go and get another from somewhere else.

They are a professional couple - very nice and I don't think its a case of 'not caring' more lack of knowledge. All went quiet last night around 10pm - that was 4 solid hours of barking and howling after being alone almost all day  :-(  I notice that they have bought a crate and hope he isn't confined in there all the time he is alone Today is another day and all is quiet and forgotten (for now) so I'm not going to go round..........think I'll take Isabel's advice and contact the rescue centre.

Hmmmm a sensitive subject for me this morning when we've just received a letter from local council to say they have received a complaint against a <howling> dog at our address.

We've only been here 5 weeks so are still settling but we've been pleased with how the dogs have settled so far.  However, we do work full time so maybe we're only getting half the picture but it feels a really crap way to find out if we're wrong and they are noisey throughout the day.

Why couldn't someone have mentioned it to us before being so cowardly and reporting us in this way? We're not scarey people and we thought we'd made a genuine effort to accommodate our new neighbours.:(

Looks like our heartbreaking decision to return our long-awaited and much loved import back to her breeder and for me to take my other mal to work with me as often as possible seems the only solution.

I really wish we lived on an otherwise uninhabited island. :( :( :(

I've always loved my dogs (usually more so than the people in my life) but its really made me think about owning another dog and I'm not sure I'd consider it again until I retire in 25+ years :( 

I'm sorry it might involve you loosing your dog but I don't really see what difference the outcome would make however the news was brought to you that things are not as settled at home as you thought.  Either you can improve things somehow or it isn't a adequate lifestyle and it is better that you know that surely.

>but its really made me think about owning another dog

What ever the rights and wrongs of dog owner when working full time, really thinking about it has to be a good thing doesn't it?

There is nothing worse than listening to a dog barking, howling etc for long periods. How I symathise! I posted recently about owners who have dog flaps & think it's ok for dogs to be left in gardens all day. We have a springer spaniel 2 doors away who is left in the garden. She barked 60 times in 1 minute the other day. She never stops & it is driving me mad. I went to see them & have put something in writing. They keep her in for while, but then it's back to normal. My next step will be to report them unfortunately. Most dog owners do care about their dogs, these neighbours do not, they should never have had one. It has probably only had about 10 walks in 3 years, it's boring life is spent in the garden barking.

I'm sorry Debs that you've had to find out this way but it can be very difficult to know how to broach a neighbour directly on this subject - even apparently really nice people can turn nasty when confronted with something they maybe don't want to hear.

When I've had a new dog or puppy in the past, I've always made a point of asking the neighbours to let me know if they do start barking when I go out - that way, I've opened the door and made it more comfortable for them to approach me directly. 

I'm very sorry you feel you have no option but to rehome your dog.  Could you not try the advice I gave to someone else recently, ie when you're home, leaving the dog in question in a separate room for short periods, maybe with a child gate and with something with your scent on to comfort her.  If she starts to bark, howl etc, do not return to her, only when she is quiet.  Gradually increase the length of time you're leaving her and hopefully she will start to feel confident that you will return and she doesn't need to panic.  Needless to say, inform the neighbours that you are trying to resolve the problem so if she does start to bark while you're doing this, they will hopefully be more understanding.

Don't know what arrangements you make for your dogs to have company/exercise during the day but maybe this is something else you might need to think about.

I do have sympathy with your neighbours too - it is really awful to listen to a constantly barking/howling dog but if they are pleasant people, I would be inclined to go and apologise if the dogs have been upsetting them and try to get them back on your side.

Hope this helps a little and you manage to resolve things.

Thanks Annie....you always word your advice so nicely :)

Firstly....and maybe I didn't make things very clear....there's been alot of emotional as well as physical trauma at home recently which involved the dogs fighting to the point at which my partner's health was put at risk.  This is not meant to sound dramatic - he has a heart condition and couldn't split the two mals when they were seriously fighting - hence the decision to return her to her breeder.  It took him 5+ days to feel right after the fight and I cannot (and will not) risk losing him because the dogs cannot be trusted together.  She already loathed my old GSD (with the ongoing diarrheoa) and attacked her and bullied her at every opportunity.:(  It has broken my heart to even consider returning her and the pain hasn't lessened yet.

I will NOT give up on my male (and yes, it has felt like I've given up on my imported bitch and yes, I've beaten myself up about it but it there was any other way I'd be taking it with both hands)...alas this is why I am doubly determined to make what is left of my old GSD's life and my male's as perfect as possible.  I KNOW she is not noisey - she's too deaf to hear half of what is going on......:rolleyes:

Neighbours were asked when we moved in to let us know if the dogs were ever an issue.....we've alway been polite and I would have hoped all neighbours felt comfortable broaching any problems with us.

As for asking someone to exercise our male.....I'm not sure that could happen.  He is a very large, very powerful dog who is not particularly sociable with other dogs despite our making every effort to socialise him as a puppy etc.  It looks like he'll be coming to work with me most of the time now although this isn't a perfect solution.

I just feel very hurt about this complaint.  Its a horrible feeling knowing that someone is so p*ssed at you that they feel the need to complain to local authorities....guess I'm too much of an optimist and expect people to be nicer.

I see Debs, obviously the situation is much more complex than I realised.  From what you say, it does sound like you must consider returning your girl although I can appreciate how hard that will be.  Do you know for sure which dog is doing all the barking?

I just feel very hurt about this complaint
Yes I can understand that but to be fair to them I assume you have no idea just how bad the barking/howling problem has been and even a small amount of constant barking can go a long way to driving someone mad.  Maybe they just reached the end of their tether and as I said before, even very nice people can get very defensive about their dogs so maybe they just didn't have the courage to approach you direct. :)

Actually sounds like this has just prompted a decision you realise you have to make anyway?

How is your girl with the diarrhoea?  Is she still on the medication?

Yep - still on it and its working.  I just hope the long-term side-effects don't happen too soon :(

Yep - still on it and its working.

That's good news :)  Hopefully regaining some weight and strength then.

>I was rather hoping the rescue would just take him away

That would be the ideal scenario,i hope they do!

>we've just received a letter from local council to say they have received a complaint against a <howling> dog at our address

Debs-Do the council actually have to hear the dog howl/bark first,before sending out a letter,or is a phone complaint enough?
If they dont have to hear it for themselves,perhaps the complainant is exaggerating,and your dog isnt as bad as has been made out?

I sure hope you find a solution where in both you and your dogs can be happy, and can end up keeping both of them.

Sending good vibes and hugs your way :)

Good luck!

I also live next door to somebody who's dogs bark non stop from 7am till 10pm. They are shut outside for that time even though she is at home and although I have tried nicely saying something all I get off her is "well they're his dogs, nothing to do with me" or "they bark at a cat that sits on the fence". So a cat sits there for 15 hours a day just to annoy these dogs??!!!!

If you make a complaint they bring them in but then eventually it goes back to normal.

My problem is because all the neighbours know that I have a few large dogs they all think it is me. There is one particularly nasty lady who shouts obscenities at me if she sees me and all sorts. This in the lovely quiet village I grew up in lol!!! My dogs of course occasionally bark like all dogs do but a)are not locked outside for 15 hours a day and b)only bark if there is something to bark at...not non stop. I am at home with them 99% of the time and most of the time if they are outside so am I. Am not sure what to do about my situation yet. We are desperately looking to move, have our eye on a cottage with no neighbours for 2 miles so am keeping my fingers crossed about that!!

Forgot to say.......there is a whole lot of other issues about these neighbours as well and that is one whole new post as I need lots of advice!!!

Thanks Ktee.

The letter says they have not actually witnessed the dog howling as yet - but are writing to inform us a complaint has been received.:(

I really do feel that if they do come and listen there will be nothing more than the odd moan throughout the day.  And by "moan" I mean a one-off howl just to let someone know he's bored.  It is not incessant barking (in fact, he never barks) or constant howling.  I suspect it is my male mal (who seemed determined this morning to prove my indignation at being reported totally unjustified after he let out a howl after returning from our 6 mile hike with him runing on his springer alongside the bike) :rolleyes:

I've always made every effort to ensure they have been exercised, fed, watered etc if I'm going to be out for some time.  The only thing I cannot do is leave bones, toys etc if they are left together as he will bully my old girl.

I guess the next step is to respond to the letter as requested if I wish to put my point of view....

Then I imagine if they receive a further complaint they will then visit and monitor?

I had cause to complain about someone nearby who had 2 lovely Dobes that braked off and on for 12 hours a day. I put a letter through their door to let them know it was happening and I gave my name and address. They ignored the letter and the dogs carried on so I had to resort to the council. The council informed them that they had received a complaint and asked them to make sure the dogs noise was kept down (it wasn't) and then I was asked to keep a diary of the barking as were several other neighbours.

Once the diary had been collected in, I understand the council parked up nearby and listened for themselves before making an order against the people. The noiose turned out to be that they left the patio doors open and the dogs were running in and out , barking at ANY noise they heard. Simple solution was to close the patio doors, which they did eventually.

I have always said to neighbours to let me know if the dogs make a noise (like you) but, having lived here for 6 years now, most people would know that they can approach me - I hope! I constantly ask my newest neighbours if they can hear the Mals ...but then they have a toddler who hammers up and down the laminate floor so I think we are quits LOL

Hope things settle for you Debs .....but don't forget, the letter from the council is only for information and there are opportunities for you to make sure the noise (if there is any!) is kept down. Can you or Phil put in a CCTV camera to monitor the dogs so you can SEE if they make any noise? Could be that the neighbours has heard another persons dog ..it does happen ;)

Could be that the neighbours has heard another persons dog ..it does happen 

Interesting that you should say that Mel.....neighbours on one side have a very sweet youngish dog who we often hear standing at their patio doors whining to be let in.... :(

I have a feeling this might trigger a reaction from our loony but I certainly have no control over when they shut their dog out :rolleyes:

The council's letter does ask if it could be a malicious complaint and I have this awful feeling it may be more about the non-doggy  neighbours not approving of our beautiful new kennels and feel that if they complain we may rehome all the dogs and then the kennel would be redundant....

I don't know....I just know it feels like crap when people do this to you and its hard not to take it personally :(

Just write a lovely happy reply back, inviting them to your house to meet the dogs maybe? Explain that you did approach all the neighbours , asking them to let you know if there was a problem and that you are surprised that anyone would write to the council directly?

Can't think of anyhting else at the moment Debs, sorry :(

I received a letter like that, and was pretty upset.

It turned out that someone had complained about the pups 'being put out' as early as 6am.

They were at pains to point out that the adult dogs were no trouble at all.

I had rather been congratulating myself that the pups had in the main not made a peep until after 7.30am, and not done the being weaned demented seagull chorus until 8.30 - 9am when given their breakfast.

I explained to the council man that the biological needs of pups meant that between 6 to 8 weeks yes they would need to toilet and sometimes would wake early, but this was a short term thing, and in fact would cease very shortly as the pups went to their new homes and/or got older and learnt to be quieter.

The council man was pretty good and said he would report back to the complainant saying this was a temporary situation and that would be that.

It is best to get straight in there and speak to  the council to put your side.

My next door neighbours work full time & as I'm at home most of the time they ask me to keep an ear out for them LOL they are so quiet some days I go round to make sure they are ok ! I must be so lucky as they are lovely people & when their lurcher needed a mid day tablet they asked me to pop round & give him it. Our dogs are all quite good watch dogs(lol no good as guards as they will lick you to death !!)

On the other hand there is a dog further in the village that barks all day & it's owner is home all day !!!!!!!1

You must be a godsend to them MM. :)

On the other hand there is a dog further in the village that barks all day & it's owner is home all day

How does he/she stand it?  There is definitely a different bark tolerance level in everyone.  Even though I have two dogs, mine is very low :P

Haven't a clue the dog is in a kennel outside so if they have double glazing & are deaf they might not be able to hear it !

When my neighbours moved in(it's a new build) & I saw they had a dog(lol they now have two ;) ) we got on well & they asked me to let them know if their dog barked during the day He only ever barks if there is someone around so I told them it was a good thing !

Yes, that kind of barking is OK I agree.  It's just if it goes on and on!  I have a rather noisy youngster who feels he has to make me aware of everyone walking past the house on the pavement, people parking in their own drives and as for the postman......   Fortunately though, my next door neighbours have a dog which reacts in exactly the same way (though he is about 9 years older than my dog :)) so we are mutually tolerant. :P  Mine is at least learning to stop barking when I tell him so I don't end up tearing my hair out!

We have been in our new home now for 8 weeks, and we have had no end of complaint from our neighbours on one side saying they are barking day and night.(2 Labs) I don't work anymore and the only time that I am out for most of the day is Thursdays.  I have been in touch with the local environmental health who have advised that you have to give a dog at least 6 months for dogs to get used to the new sounds in a new home, I went round and explained all this her reply I also don't like them having their poohs in teh back either, I have come to the conclusion that she just doesn't like animals.  she told me that she thinks it would be better if I got rid of them (do't think so) I have had my dogs for over 3 years and never one complaint.

Thats awful Linda.....what a great start!! Perhaps you should suggest that your neighbour moves home if she doesn't like it  ;-)

Quick update...........haven't seen nor mentioned anything to neighbour yet but apart from a couple of hours on Saturday afternoon, all has been quiet. I'm gonna see how this week goes - keep a log and if still no better then I will have to say something.

I have come to the conclusion that she just doesn't like animals.  she told me that she thinks it would be better if I got rid of them

Blooming nerve!   I think environmental health have to investigate all complaints but I'm sure they will soon realise if the complaint is unfounded and malicious.  As for the poo, I would just clean up asap - I do that anyway as I don't like to see it lying around - so she can't complain about that.

whose garden is it anyway........

Well yes, quite but I have lived next door to people who hardly ever cleaned up their garden (despite the fact that they had a small child) and it was not pleasant!  Not implying that this is the case here of course - the neighbour may just not like to see the dogs actually going, in which case that is her bad luck! :)