Barking-Problems w/ Neighboor-help

[K-9Girl]

I need some advice as to what I should do about this......

My husband and I recently moved and started new jobs and we usually will work for 10 hours a day. Both Kodi and Lucky have stayed in their kennels from the time they were puppies when no one is home. They are used to staying in their kennels for 6, maybe 8 hours, being let out side half way during the time to use the rest room. I felt that 10 hours all day long with no potty break was a lot to ask, and on top of this Kodi has kidney problems, urinates a lot and drinks a lot of water. So, I recently put in a doggie door so that the dogs could get out during the day. I do have a secure gate with a lock and my block walls are 6 feet high. Well, tonight when we got home from work there was a note taped on our front door saying "Your barking dog has cost me may hours of sleep over the last 3 nights. Your attention in this matter would be appreciated. Your neighbor." Here are my questions:

Why didn't they leave their name or address? I am more than willing to talk to them and apologize if my dogs are being a problem, and to come to a happy medium. My husband and I are gone from 12 noon to 10:30 pm and when we get home the dogs are with us and they don't go outside hardly at all because they want to be with us. It's not like they are outside barking at 2 am, and during the night they don't go outside because they are asleep in our room with us. Is it going to harm Kodi's kidneys more if he is kenneled 10 hrs a day, can't drink or get outside to use the restroom?? I am going tomorrow to talk to the two neighboors that live on either side of me and see if they are the ones that are being bothered...I just wish that the person had left their name or number so that I could have personally talked to them. I did check the Albuquerque city noise ordanances and that really didn't tell me much....I might call animal control and try to find out more.

If my dogs are barking I am more than willing to control it....they are my responcibility and I am aware of that. I also know from experience that a barking dog is annoying! I don't want to annoy my neighboors and most of all I don't want mad neighboors trying to get even to harm my dogs. But I am also concerned for the wellfare of my dogs. Is 10 hrs too long? What would you do? Am I over reacting to this little note? I just don't want to cause a problem....

Thanks for letting me talk....and thanks for any input.

Sara

[poohbearsmom]

Well, since you don't come home until late at night, doggie day care is probably out of the question. Is there a pet sitting service in your area that could come out and play with the dogs for an hour or so during the day? Are you against the use of bark collars?

It's too bad that your neighbor would not identify him/herself, as this would give you an opportunity to show him that you're willing to rectify the situation, and that you truly do not mean to cause disruption in the 'hood.

I am a neighbor who listens to incescent barking 24/7. There's a young couple that live behind me who house their 2 GSD's on the back porch. The dogs bark all day, all night, Maryann. I have to turn on the TV and keep the windows closed in order not to wake up 4 or 5 times a night. I NEED my beauty sleep.... LOL

My next door neighbor is becoming quite irritated, and suggested that he'd like to throw "rat poison" over the fence.... After letting him know how I felt about THAT tactic....it's not the dogs' fault.... I decided I need to do something nice before someone else does something not so nice.

So, I will be knocking on the young couples door this afternoon, and I will introduce myself. Offer some suggestions, if they wish to hear them. If not, I will contact my neighborhood association, and start calling the Sheriff Dept. in the middle of the night to knock on their door, and wake them up. And, in the meantime, I will fend off the next door neighbor and his quick solution.

The reason I'm telling you this, is because there ARE people who would just as soon do away with your dogs, because of barking, rather than deal with you head on. At least this person left a note, asking for your cooperation. I'd be pro-active about this if I were you.

Good luck..

[HerculesMomma]

Hi Sara,

I can understand your problem as my dog has turned out to be a bit of a barker too. Luckily, I work the usual 9 to 5 shift so I can at least be home to deal with his barking. I too am looking into a doggy door for those days when I might work a little late since I'm the only one in the house.

I can telll you one day Hercules had to go 12 hours due to a daytime business trip with my boss that ran longer than expected. I was upset and finally told my boss I just had to leave (which probably didn't do much for my job/boss). But Hercules held it no problem and when I got home he was more excited to see me than he was to go out However, I think 10 hours is the most I would want to leave my dog without poddy breaks on a regular basis (especially if there was a kidney problem involved). Is it possible as poohbearsmom mentioned to get someone to come by, like a pet sitter, to bring the dogs in at 6:00 or 7:00 at night? Are you close enough to run home on a lunch break and let them in?

I wouldn't be too upset that the neighbor just left a note. I think it's common nature for people to try and avoid something that they think might turn into a confrontation, albeit it may come off as being rude. But if they don't know you then they don't know that you would be receptive to their concerns. Obviously you are taking your neighbors concerns seriously and that is all the neighbor really wants. Animal control should know what the local ordinaces are - my guess is that it will be 9:00 or 10:00 pm. But as poohbearsmom mentioned, you don't want your neighbor mad in any case or you might wind up with dead dogs

I've been racking my brains trying to think of an alternative to letting them in the house after a certain time, but the pet sitter was all I could think of. Too bad you didn't live close to me, I'd let them in for you!

[Joanne in NJ]

Put a couple of bark collars on them. They're self adjusting (so don't switch collars). Get the rechargable ones, the batteries are expensive and you never know when they'll decide to stop working (until you get another nasty note or a dead dog).

With your situation, I don't see anything else to do other than have somebody come over suppertime to potty them. It's kind of hard (and a bit unfair) to not allow them to bark at all, but you need consideration for you rneighbors also.

I've been blamed (and got nasty phone calls) for barking dogs simply because I'm the most visible person around with dogs. I wish the person had identified themselves because I don't think my dogs are to blame. There's people around here that leave their dogs out 24/7 and they do bark at all hours. If mine bark, I always make them come in. I can't quite get that through my husbands head sometimes to do the same.

[SABELLESMOM]

I've never tried a bark collar, nor have I known a friend who used them. So I don't know how well they work. But, hey if they DO work out...great! It sounds reasonable.

Another thought, if your city ordinance indicates noise should be at a minimum late at night/early in the morning then could a friend pop over, put your dogs in and lock the doggy door? That way they wouldn't bark after, say, 8 or 9 o'clock?

[K-9Girl]

Thank you guys for all your help, I really appreciate it. My mom works fairly close by where I live and I am thinking about asking her if she would be willing to drive by and put them inside when she gets off work about 3:30. That would mean that they were only in their kennels about 6 hrs.....I was also thinking about letting them stay out a couple days of the week and then kenneling them the rest of the days....And I will also look into pet sitters (I have never thought of this, but sounds like a great idea). Are they expensive?

From working in vet clinics and seeing dogs come in that have been poisioned, that is what I am terrified about. I know that there are people out there that would do this. They feel that they will take matters into their own hands if the barking dog is not quieted. This is why if they need to be kenneled for 10 hrs or let in early, or whatever, I will do it. The lives of my dogs is too important to ignore this note. Once again thank you all for your help.

Sara

[HerculesMomma]

Try this site to locate a pet sitter near you:

http://www.petsit.com/locate/default.asp

My experience from looking into them through that site is that the prices generally run from $8 to $12 per visit (I'm sure it will vary depending on location). But this usually for a 20 to 30 minute visit. If you are not concerned about them staying with your dogs, maybe you can work out a deal with them to cut their rate a little lower since they will only be stopping in for 5 minutes or so? I have thought about this option with my dog too, just haven't pursued it yet.

Good luck!

[Judi W]

It doesn't matter what the ordinances say if your dogs are being annoying to the neighbor. You don't know what their work schedule is or what hours they really need their sleep. (you yourself have off hours). I suggest bark collars. Having them outside barking for 6 hours with someone coming over is not any better for relations than 10 hours. It means that neighbors cannot enjoy their own back yards or live in peace.

Invest in the collars or kennel them indoors with someone to let them out to relieve themselves and then bring them back in the house. I know I hate being barked at when I am on my own property attempting to enjoy my life.

[rottsnroses]

Hmmm. I generally don't leave collars on my dogs when we are not home. I guess I've heard too many stories about dogs getting them caught on something and seriously hurting or killing themselves.

This happened to my stepbrother's GSD and rottweiler/GSD mix. The dogs were out in their yard playing and the rottweiler got his tooth caught in one of the holes in the GSD's collar. The two were writhing around trying to get loose from each other, and it almost asphyxiated the GSD. Fortunately my stepbrother was home and heard the commotion and was able to cut the collar off. He thought the GSD was dead as he was limp and pretty much lifeless by the time he got to them. If no one was home, there is no doubt that the GSD would have died.

I would check with your vet on the kidney issue, but maybe either a petsitter or doggie daycare would work for you. If your mom is willing, she could pick them up from daycare for you and bring them home, or you could keep them inside your house when you are at work and have the petsitter or your mom come by and let them out to potty and run around a bit.

[poohbearsmom]

Originally Posted by rottsnroses

Hmmm. I generally don't leave collars on my dogs when we are not home. I guess I've heard too many stories about dogs getting them caught on something and seriously hurting or killing themselves.

This happened to my stepbrother's GSD and rottweiler/GSD mix. The dogs were out in their yard playing and the rottweiler got his tooth caught in one of the holes in the GSD's collar. The two were writhing around trying to get loose from each other, and it almost asphyxiated the GSD. Fortunately my stepbrother was home and heard the commotion and was able to cut the collar off. He thought the GSD was dead as he was limp and pretty much lifeless by the time he got to them. If no one was home, there is no doubt that the GSD would have died.

I would check with your vet on the kidney issue, but maybe either a petsitter or doggie daycare would work for you. If your mom is willing, she could pick them up from daycare for you and bring them home, or you could keep them inside your house when you are at work and have the petsitter or your mom come by and let them out to potty and run around a bit.

While accidents happen with collars on dogs, a bark collar fits quite tightly around the dog's neck, so they can connect with the skin through the fur. I'd put a bark collar on my dog (one of them wore one while being kenneled for a few weeks last summer), no problem. It's less risky than a pissed off neighbor.

[Max and I]

if you must use a bark collar id reccomend... the type with the learning modes... it turns up the "stimuli" (intensity) the more the dog barks. these are better if you NEED to use them. the dog sees/learns that its the barking thats making the irritation around his/her neck. i used one for 1 week and max's barking outside has all but stopped... he will bark once and stop. this was learned cause if he barked twice... he would be shocked.

there are some with up to 24 levels of correction.

ive been able to just stay with im lately and wait for the second bark to come out. the second that it does, he gets corrected by me. one bark is okay, anymore than one he gets corrected... even when im not around, well so says my neighbor. max will bark once, and thats it.

[tugger5000]

I'm not sure about effectiveness, but there are alternatives to bark collars:
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...&N=2001+113215

[Soulworx]

USE CITRONELLA BARK COLLARS... FAR MORE HUMANE AND JUST AS EFFECTIVE IF NOT MORE!!
They release a jet of citrus scent right infront of the dogs nose, along with the hiss of the release mechanism its enough to grab the dogs attention and let them know their barking isn't on... works great and no chances of painful malfunctions!

Here's the proof!
http://www.news.cornell.edu/Chronicl...6/barking.html

[banchesmom]

My English Setter barks at the birds and was becoming a real pain. I have a rechargeable bark collar and it really works for her. I only wish my neighbor would do the same with his dog. Someone in my neighborhood calling the police to report Lucys' barking, but the chow next door barks 24-7 and no one ever complained about her. My rottie rarely barks--just an occasional woof, so far!
Smart dogs can learn to outsmart the citronella collars, by barking so much the cannister empties!
Banchie's Mom

[Soulworx]

Genious! wish i was that smart