The Barking Is Driving Me CRAZY!! What would you do??
By copperkitten
@copperkitten (3473)
United States
March 23, 2008 10:12pm CST
So heres the deal. I have lived in my new house for 6 months now. The people who live on the street behind us have two small dogs. The darn things Bark ALL the time!! I have about had enough. 
Its not just a bark here or there its constant and late at night...10 pm, 1am, 3am, 6am. Sometimes I think the dogs live outside. Mind you its only in the 20s here. I live a street away and can hear them in my house over my TV!! Everytime we go outside they bark, everytime I let my dogs out to go potty they bark, if a darn tree blows in the wind they bark! Its getting to be to much.
I havent done anything about it up untill now. Tonight was my breaking point. They were barking like crazy for an HOUR straight! Mind you its now 10:30 and my kids and husband are sleeping. 
So I got dressed and went over. I banged on her door hard and Loud. She comes to the door.
"Yes?"
I said "Cant you hear your dogs Barking?"
She says "Im sorry I fell asleep"
I Say "This isnt just a tonight thing..this is EVERY NIGHT for the last 6 Months!!"
She says "Sorry"
I say "If you dont do something about the barking all the time I will call the cops and have them do something about it. This is your warning. This is getting out of control."
Once again she says "sorry"
I left and she let the dang dogs in..Thank GOD!!
Now heres whats funny about that. If she heard me bang on her door, which was open, how did she not hear the dogs barking?? Who falls asleep with there front door open and there dogs outside at 10:30 at night?? I just think she dosent care.
What would you do if you had this happening? I am to the point where I want to call the cops and make a report. I have listened to it long enough. Its not like my dogs go out and bark all the time. I DONT allow it. One bark and I correct them. Especially late at night. Its respect for the neighbors. And If I can hear her dogs in my house a street away how does she not hear them?
Do you think I did the right thing by confronting her about it? My husband told me not to but I did anyway. Im tired of having to turn up my tv, or not being able to go to sleep because there barking. I was nice about it but let her know I wasnt happy. Im seriouse about calling the cops. If they continue to bark late at night Im going to. I can understand a couple barks to say there ready to come in but the constant barking has to STOP!
Thank you for listening to my rant. 
Its not just a bark here or there its constant and late at night...10 pm, 1am, 3am, 6am. Sometimes I think the dogs live outside. Mind you its only in the 20s here. I live a street away and can hear them in my house over my TV!! Everytime we go outside they bark, everytime I let my dogs out to go potty they bark, if a darn tree blows in the wind they bark! Its getting to be to much.
I havent done anything about it up untill now. Tonight was my breaking point. They were barking like crazy for an HOUR straight! Mind you its now 10:30 and my kids and husband are sleeping. So I got dressed and went over. I banged on her door hard and Loud. She comes to the door.
"Yes?"
I said "Cant you hear your dogs Barking?"
She says "Im sorry I fell asleep"
I Say "This isnt just a tonight thing..this is EVERY NIGHT for the last 6 Months!!"
She says "Sorry"
I say "If you dont do something about the barking all the time I will call the cops and have them do something about it. This is your warning. This is getting out of control."
Once again she says "sorry"
I left and she let the dang dogs in..Thank GOD!!
Now heres whats funny about that. If she heard me bang on her door, which was open, how did she not hear the dogs barking?? Who falls asleep with there front door open and there dogs outside at 10:30 at night?? I just think she dosent care.
What would you do if you had this happening? I am to the point where I want to call the cops and make a report. I have listened to it long enough. Its not like my dogs go out and bark all the time. I DONT allow it. One bark and I correct them. Especially late at night. Its respect for the neighbors. And If I can hear her dogs in my house a street away how does she not hear them?
Do you think I did the right thing by confronting her about it? My husband told me not to but I did anyway. Im tired of having to turn up my tv, or not being able to go to sleep because there barking. I was nice about it but let her know I wasnt happy. Im seriouse about calling the cops. If they continue to bark late at night Im going to. I can understand a couple barks to say there ready to come in but the constant barking has to STOP!
Thank you for listening to my rant. 8 people like this
19 responses
@cortjo73 (6498)
• United States
24 Mar 08
Is it too early in our relationship to tell you that I think I love you? Just kidding! But, is it too early in our relationship to ask you to come to my house and talk to my next door neighbors and my backyard neighbors for me, like that? I'm serious about that one! LOL! I have a huge dog with a good huge dog bark and, if on the rare occasion, he starts barking while he is in the back yard, and I only let him out when he asks, otherwise he is in the house with me, I too stop him and yell at him and tell him to get inside. A barking dog is a public nuisance and, for someone to let their dog continue to bark, that is rude. There was a dog that lived in the house behind mine about 2 years ago for roughly 4 years. That dog would also bark all day long and all night long. I was too chicken to do anything as brave as you. But, in my mind, I was all heroic what with the mind dialing and the mind talking to the police and the mind filing a mind police report! LOL! Yup! I am a brave, big bada$$ inside of my own mind! LOL!
There is another dog that barks repeatedly throughout the day and the evening and, our next door neighbors dog barks for long periods throughout the day and early morning since they both get up earlier than the hubby and I to go to work. They just let him bark. What the heck? I know that if I can hear it in my house, you can hear it in yours. One of my backyard neighbors once accused my dog of being the barker until I corrected them and told them just whose dog it was. But, that ticks me off that I am frequently the one who takes the blame for the barking dog when it isn't mine. Mine rarely barks in the backyard unless a rabbit or a neighborhood cat gets over or under the fence and scares him as no one else of the furry nature is supposed to be back there with him.
So, you did was was necessary! People need to be called out on their bad behavior. And, yes! Ignoring your barking dog all ours of the day and night is bad behavior.
Bravo! Now, when can I expect you to come do the same for me?
You are my hero!
3 people like this
@copperkitten (3473)
• United States
24 Mar 08
LOL! 
Thank you for the laugh. I needed it.
Im the same as you. My dogs go out when they have to and then they are in the house with me. The very rarely ever bark and I stop it as soon as they do. I say NO BARKING loud enough that if someone is listening they heard me. I dont want to be the one in the neighborhood who has the barking dog.
Thats the other thing I dont get. If I can hear it in my house you should be able to too. Considering there in your backyard. I guess some people are imune to the barking. Not me. I HATE it, its very disturbing especially when im trying to sleep {im a light sleeper which dosent help}, and most nights it wakes up my kids. UGG!!!
Well I will need directions to your house. Then I can come and kick some neighbor but!! LOL!!! I know you can do it though. Just go over and Politly ask them to make there dog stop barking. Its getting to be annoying. Or call the Humane society or ASPCA and ask them what to do. Thats what im doing first thing in the morning.
I hope your barking gets taken care of!! And again thanx for the laugh!!
Thank you for the laugh. I needed it.
Im the same as you. My dogs go out when they have to and then they are in the house with me. The very rarely ever bark and I stop it as soon as they do. I say NO BARKING loud enough that if someone is listening they heard me. I dont want to be the one in the neighborhood who has the barking dog.
Thats the other thing I dont get. If I can hear it in my house you should be able to too. Considering there in your backyard. I guess some people are imune to the barking. Not me. I HATE it, its very disturbing especially when im trying to sleep {im a light sleeper which dosent help}, and most nights it wakes up my kids. UGG!!!
Well I will need directions to your house. Then I can come and kick some neighbor but!! LOL!!! I know you can do it though. Just go over and Politly ask them to make there dog stop barking. Its getting to be annoying. Or call the Humane society or ASPCA and ask them what to do. Thats what im doing first thing in the morning.
I hope your barking gets taken care of!! And again thanx for the laugh!!3 people like this
@cortjo73 (6498)
• United States
24 Mar 08
LOL! My pleasure!
I do the same thing. I reprimand my dog by loudly saying "no barking" too. I want people who could hear him barking, especially the ones next door whose dog does bark a lot, to know that barking is unacceptable. I won't tolerate it from my dog and others should follow suit! LOL!
I too am a really light sleeper. I also don't fall asleep very easily at all so, if I am disturbed out of my sleep, which probably took me about 3 hours to finally get to, I am extra crispy fried ticked off if the source of my wake up was a dog at 3 am! Ugh! How dare you! LOL!
I will try to be brave next time and do what needs to be done! I'll just try to channel you when I have to! LOL!
How dare you! LOL!
I will try to be brave next time and do what needs to be done! I'll just try to channel you when I have to! LOL!1 person likes this
@mrsbrian (1949)
• United States
24 Mar 08
I must say you are a better woman than me cause I would have been all over them long ago.I cant imagine that there next door neighbors have not said something to them or called the police before now. i know there is a law about barking dogs after 10:. pm so if they were barking again than I would make that call.
3 people like this
@copperkitten (3473)
• United States
24 Mar 08
Well thank you. I have been wanting to do it for a while but just havent. My husband dosent want me causing problems with the neighbors...which I understand we have to live here but COME ON!! I dont know if other neighbors have called on her before or not. Maybe they have and they just dont have enough complaints to do something about it. Either way Im feed up with it and want something done about it.
2 people like this
@icyorchid (2564)
• United States
24 Mar 08
Sorry you are having such problems. Seems to me that she is the type of neighbor who doesn't care if her dogs disrupts the neighborhood. If I were you, I'd check with your neighbors and if they have had that problem longer, I'd start a petition on either getting rid of the dogs, or she has to put her dogs inside at night.
I would not put up with it and yes you can call the police as that is a disturbance to you especially if it is late at night. Now as far as the door being left open and her sleeping, sounds a bit crazy to me. I don't sleep with my door open and if I would hear someone knocking, I'd definately hear the dogs barking, as dogs are a lot LOUDER! 
I wish you lots of luck on this and I hope it all gets settled soon.
Hope you have a better day
I wish you lots of luck on this and I hope it all gets settled soon.
Hope you have a better day2 people like this
@icyorchid (2564)
• United States
26 Mar 08
I hope you got a better night's sleep last night.
Good Luck with getting this taken care of.
Good Luck with getting this taken care of. 1 person likes this
@copperkitten (3473)
• United States
26 Mar 08
Actually I did sleep much better. There wasnt ANY barking at ALL!! YIPPY! Maybe she got the point! I sure hope so. I also have noticed there hasnt been barking tonight either!
@copperkitten (3473)
• United States
25 Mar 08
Thank you. I know right if she hear me knock she could hear the dogs. She just didnt want to deal with it.
I will see what happens tonight as far as if they bark constantly or not. Lets hope NOT.
@coffeeshot (3783)
• Australia
24 Mar 08
Hi. Yes of course you did the right thing by standing up for your rights as a member of the neighbourhood. The only thing I think you could have done differently is speak a bit nicer to her. Instead of saying "every night for the past 6 months!" you should have said it in a more friendly tone. This will get you further in the case. However, I too would have been fed up with the barking and probably wouldn't have been able to hold myself back! 6 months is a long time to put up with something as annoying as that.
This person is a bad pet owner. These dogs obviously don't have any boundaries and have not been disciplined enough to know when and when not to bark. I would suggest getting in touch with the local council as opposed to the police. The council should be able to deal with the problem without getting the big guys involved. You never know, this lady might get angry once she realises you've called the cops on her.
Good luck, I hope this problem can be resolved. All it will take is a few dog obedience classes and some discipline from the owner.
@copperkitten (3473)
• United States
24 Mar 08
I did say it nicely. I didnt yell I kept a steady tone...even though I was shivering because its so darn cold out.
What do you mean by local council? Like the Humane society? Im going to call them tomorrow and see what they can do for me.
And I really dont care if she gets mad. Its her responcibility as a pet owner to keep her animals under control.
I hope it can get resolved too. I really hate the barking and Im not going to leave because if it. All she has to do is go to the door when the dogs bark the first couple times. Then we wouldnt have a problem. I always stand at the door and watch my dogs do there buisness..as soon as there done I let them in. Thats all she has to do.
2 people like this
@violeta_va (4831)
• Australia
24 Mar 08
Lets just hope things will change from now. As much as I love animals barking drives me mad as well. We have new neighbours that have 2 very big dogs and every time I turn a light on in the house they bark like crazy. One night I turned my kitchen light on and went outside to get something and the dogs started barking so the lady came out and yelled out "turn your f%&^& lights off" I told her that in my house I would do what I want to and if she is yelling she should be doing so to the dogs not me. After that day I hardly ever hear them bark. So lets hope that things will change for you as well.
2 people like this
@copperkitten (3473)
• United States
24 Mar 08
The nerve of some people. I cant believe she told you to turn off your lights. Maybe she should tell her dogs to turn off the barking!! LOL!! I would have said the same thing as you. Its my house I pay the bills and can have on any light I want!! Im glad you dont have to deal with the barking anymore. Hopefully I wont have to deal with it much longer either.
1 person likes this
@violeta_va (4831)
• Australia
24 Mar 08
Well yeah I still cant belive she said that but she must have realised that she was wrong or she would not have put a stop to it
2 people like this
@Nushka (75)
• Argentina
24 Mar 08
Is there any kind of regulation in your city for loud noises? Sometimes we are protected by the law but we don't know. You have earned your right to sleep and rest. If they keep barking, call the police. You can tell them that you suspect that these animals are receiving a bad treatment and that your neighbor is negligent.
@copperkitten (3473)
• United States
24 Mar 08
There is a noise ordanance. No disturbing loud noises after 10 pm. I do feel they are recieving bad treatment. They might not be abused per say but they are left outside for hours on end in the snow and rain and cold. Thats abuse if you ask me. And its not like shes an old lady she is in her 30s. She is very capable of getting to the door to let them in.
By the way WELCOME to MyLot!!! I hope you enjoy it.
I hope you enjoy it.2 people like this
@copperkitten (3473)
• United States
24 Mar 08
Your welcome and glad to hear it. You have to sift through the masses of discussions to find good ones but its worth it.
2 people like this
@Thoroughrob (11742)
• United States
25 Mar 08
I don't think you did anything wrong. I probably would not have confronted her, I would have called the police. It has to bother more than you.
1 person likes this
@copperkitten (3473)
• United States
4 Apr 08
Thank you for responding!
~May The Kisses Of An Angel Cover And Protect You Always~ Copper
@mbs730 (2147)
• Canada
25 Mar 08
I am sure your city would have regulations. Call the city if it doesn't stop. There are ways to control the barking. I have a miniature schnauzer who never shuts up, especially when someone comes to the door. Most dogs would bark hearing a ring but my dog goes on and on for a while and I admit its annoying. Sometimes what helps to stop is spraying water from a water bottle. It may sound kind of mean but its the most humane way to discourage a dog from barking. Most of the time it works unless he is way over excited.
1 person likes this
@mbs730 (2147)
• Canada
25 Mar 08
The lady who bred my dog used bark collars for her dogs but I agree, that is quite barbaric. Besides water is more effective because since that kind of dog hates water anyway, he'll eventually connect water to too much barking. He still barks but I think there has been some improvement lol, unless he is too over excited.
1 person likes this
@copperkitten (3473)
• United States
25 Mar 08
Thats a better idea than most. One person on here said they use a shock collar which in my opinion is "abuse". Squirting them with water when they bark is a great idea. It tells them your not happy with the behavior and dosent harm them in any way.
@webeishere (36313)
• United States
24 Mar 08
If they are a street away and you could hear it that has to a violation of some noise ordinance or something. If you had not confronted her when it first started you should have just called the cops. As it is so far from your house and you hear it they would never know who complained anyhow. Plus the cops do not reveal whom complained. They say a neighbor. I've had the cops called on Buster before and they would not say whom called. Even though I know who did. Anyhow next time defintely call the cops. Talking to them sounds like you talked to a wall. A sleeping wall at that.
HAPPY POSTINGS FROM GRANDPA BOB !!~
@webeishere (36313)
• United States
24 Mar 08
Well then next time call the cops as you
have warned her you will. Good luck also.
Yeah, they might have listened better.
HAPPY POSTINGS FROM GRANDPA BOB !!~
HAPPY POSTINGS FROM GRANDPA BOB !!~1 person likes this
@copperkitten (3473)
• United States
24 Mar 08
I was hoping by confronting her she would get the point that people dont want to hear her dogs. I honestly dont care if she knows im the one who complained. Enough is enough and 6 months is WAY to long. I probably would have had better luck talking to the dogs!! LOL! Well see what happens!
1 person likes this
@maximax8 (31046)
• United Kingdom
24 Mar 08
My friend has two dogs and when they were puppies they used to bark a lot. One day she got a letter from her local council saying that they had had a complaint about the barking. One of her neighbors was a police man and one the people that lived near her was a nurse and she slept in the day when she had to work on the night shift. My friend's dogs are now adult and she keeps a closer eye and stops them barking. For a while she was on tender hooks because her local council could have forced her to get rid of her dogs. There are laws about the nuisance of noise and dogs barking in the night is annoying. Good luck if you speak to your neighbor again. If I was you I would seek advise from my citizens advice center. I hope that things will soon improve for you.
2 people like this
@copperkitten (3473)
• United States
4 Apr 08
Thank you for responding to my discussion!!
~May The Kisses Of An Angel Cover And Protect You Always~ Copper
@carmelanirel (20942)
• United States
4 Apr 08
That sounds good, except I probably will leave out the calling the cops part and just go over late and see if she will realize the problem..
The reason I won't say anything is this lady has enough money, she practically runs the whole community and has a couple of times to get us forced to move out and last time, she almost succeeded..
1 person likes this
@copperkitten (3473)
• United States
4 Apr 08
Well that sucks. I dont see why just because she has money she should be able to let her dogs bark like that. Its not fair. I would go over everynight the dog barks and compline untill she gets it. I really hope you can get this resolved without causing to much trouble.
~May The Kisses Of An Angel Cover And Protect You Always~ Copper
1 person likes this
@kriztin08 (28)
• Philippines
24 Mar 08
u did the right thing... and besides, u were being patient for 6 months.. if i were u i'll do the same thing...
2 people like this
@copperkitten (3473)
• United States
4 Apr 08
Thank you for your response!
~May The Kisses Of An Angel Cover And Protect You Always~ Copper
@tessah (6617)
• United States
24 Mar 08
you sound like MY neighbor!! if you live in the country, and people have dogs.. hello? dogs bark! and if they live outside.. hello? theyre animals, not everyone keeps their animals INSIDE! my neighbors dog is kept indoors constantly, and hes the most overweight unhealthy mangy UNHAPPY lookin thing imagineable, and he whines and complains about my beagle barking, and calls the cops. ive been forced to get a shocker collar that now electrocutes my poor mutt because if i hadnt, theydve taken away my pooch and killed him just for simply doing what it is in an animals nature to do. keeping him inside constant isnt an option unless i want him to be miserable, and i love my puppy too much for that. if being in a country setting, where people have a tendency to have animals shouldve been a given, move back to an apt in the city.
1 person likes this
@copperkitten (3473)
• United States
24 Mar 08
Well for one we dont live in the country we live in town.
For two its very cold here and the animal has no shelter outside if it is living inside.
For three I understand its there nature to bark but you as an owner have to control it. My dogs NEVER bark not because they cant because I dont allow it. There is no reason for it.
For four I keep my animals in the house most of the time and they are still happy and healthy. They do get to go out for potty and for walks everyday. If you love your dog you would train him not to bark at evey little thing.
As far as the shock collar goes thats abuse in my eyes. How would you like to be shocked everytime you talked?? There are other ways of controling it. Train him, correct him when he does it or get a muzzle. A muzzle will keep his mouth shut so he cant bark but he can still drink and breath. Less paiunfull than a shock collar.
@copperkitten (3473)
• United States
25 Mar 08
Whatever you want to think because apperantly you know whats best!! A muzzle DOES stop barking and biting....if it stops biting which is the dog opening the mouth it also stops barking which is the dog opening its mouth.
It is your right to have your dog outside but you must keep it under control even in your own yard.
I dont go snooping I can see her yard from my upstairs window. Which I look out to see where the barking is coming from. Wouldnt want to accuse the wrong person for there dogs barking.
I have gone 6 Months without so much as a word. I think I have held my toung long enough. Just so you know it is a disturbance if a dog is barking which apperantly you know because you have gotten in trouble for it.
People like you annoy me as well thinking there above the law and always right. Im sorry but Im done explaining myself to you. **Rolls EYES** WHATEVER!
I hope you have a WONDERFULL DAY!
@tessah (6617)
• United States
25 Mar 08
hmm yer original post said that you lived an entire street away and their barking was so loud frmo that distance you could hear it over yer tv.. now theyre close enough for you to view their entire backyard from your window easilly..? which is it? also.. a muzzle does not prevent an animal from opening its mouth.. it prevents skin contact happening because of the cage that is placed over the face of the animal, so that if they go to bite.. what comes into contact with the target, is touched by the cage,not the animals teeth. but, same as you, ive had quite enough of this assanine conversation with someone that cant even keep their own stories straight, much less anything else.
1 person likes this
@copperkitten (3473)
• United States
4 Apr 08
Thank for the response!
~May The Kisses Of An Angel Cover And Protect You Always~ Copper
@smacksman (6053)
•
24 Mar 08
The classic response when all else fails is to find her telephone number.
Then at 2.30 in the morning, phone her and go 'Bark, bark, bark, bark, ...'
Repeat until the message gets through!
It also works with 'Cöck a doodle doo' as well. haha
@copperkitten (3473)
• United States
4 Apr 08
Thank you for responding!
~May The Kisses Of An Angel Cover And Protect You Always~ Copper
@terilee79720 (3621)
• United States
24 Mar 08
Hi copperkitten,
You certainly did the right thing by knocking on her door. Most poeple wouldn't have the nerve, especially that late at night.
If the problem continues, you should send the woman a letter, something in writing, with a CC (carbon copy) to the police department explaining you are taking the proper action. Her seeing you've sent a copy to the police department should give her 'fair warning'. If the problem persists, then you should call the police and make a formal complaint.
The complaint is 'disturbing the peace'. While it of course is the dogs who are disturbing the peace, it is she who will suffer the consequences for allowing her dogs to bark uncontrollably. Noise like that after 10pm is a nuisance.
Good for you......
1 person likes this
@copperkitten (3473)
• United States
4 Apr 08
Thank you for taking the time to respond!!
~May The Kisses Of An Angel Cover And Protect You Always~ Copper
@ciades (1623)
• Philippines
25 Mar 08
We have dogs and we love them as the way my father love them. My father is a dog lover. I like them when they are not barking. My father dog is to loud. Always barking....Well, I just bark them too. AWawawAWAWAWawawawawawawawawa. louder than them. grrrrrrrr.
1 person likes this
@copperkitten (3473)
• United States
4 Apr 08
Thank you for your reponse!
~May The Kisses Of An Angel Cover And Protect You Always~ Copper
@ayou82 (3450)
• Philippines
24 Mar 08
In that case if I can hear the dog barking and it is annoying the crap bloody oath I will go to my neighbors house and tell them to minimize the noise of their dogs keep them in a dog house coz they are not the only ones who sleeps and have a work the next morning.
1 person likes this
@copperkitten (3473)
• United States
4 Apr 08
Thank you for responding!
~May The Kisses Of An Angel Cover And Protect You Always~ Copper
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
24 Mar 08
copperkitten I think you will have to call the policeasthey must keep their dogs quiet at night. we had a dog next door us here that yapped all night and just about drove me crazy but all of a sudden I guess someone eithercomplained orthey took the dog in at night because the barking did stop.where we live here coyotes and possums come down out ot the Tustin hills at night and I think that was what that poor dog was barking at. we dare notleave garbage bins out at night as the possums come down and raid them at night
1 person likes this
@copperkitten (3473)
• United States
4 Apr 08
Thank you for taking the time to respond!!
~May The Kisses Of An Angel Cover And Protect You Always~ Copper
