Does your neighbor's dog keep you up all night? The time has come to do something. The quickest way to stop the noise is to talk to the neighbor personally and find a solution to the problem. If you don't get results, call the police to deal with the matter. In the meantime, try using a dog whistle or other technique to help the dog feel comfortable.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Talk to the Neighbor
Step 1. Talk to your neighbor
Many people immediately switch to drastic measures, instead of starting a civil discussion about the problem. Unless you are on bad terms with him, the best way to settle the matter is a quiet confrontation. You can approach your neighbor the next time you see him in the garden, or write him a note to arrange a meeting.
- At this point your tone should be friendly, polite but firm. Don't threaten legal action; you can do it later, for now keep the matter on a civilian level.
- Consider the possibility that the neighbor is not aware of the problem. Try to approach yourself with these words: "Hi, I wanted to inform you that we hear Fido when he barks at night, especially since our bedroom overlooks your garden".
- Explain that barking does not allow you to sleep, that you are unable to concentrate at work, and so on, and that you would like to find a solution.
- Thank him for listening to you and for his commitment to remedy. Most civilian neighbors will do their best to accommodate you immediately.
Step 2. Make some helpful suggestions
Maybe your neighbor is perfectly aware of the problem, but doesn't know how to stop the dog from barking. If you are quite sure what the problem may be, there is nothing wrong with giving advice. This is particularly effective if you have a dog too: you can understand how difficult it is to silence an animal. Here are some problems you can try to consider:
- Dogs that are outdoors usually bark out of boredom; this is especially true of very dynamic breeds such as German Shepherds, Terriers (including Pit Bulls) and guard dogs such as Dobermans and Rottweilers. Try suggesting more physical activity.
- Some specimens are particularly nervous and excitable and will bark at anything that moves. In this case, an obedience training course could be useful. Try giving the neighbor some reputable dog school names.
- Dogs also bark when it is too cold or too hot. Many people live in the mistaken belief that dogs' fur is able to keep them warm even when temperatures drop below freezing; this is not true, unless it is a Husky. If you have seen the dog shivering in the cold or broken during the day from the heat, inform your neighbor that the dog is barking because he is not comfortable with the weather.
Step 3. Try to discuss to reach a concrete solution
Instead of expecting the neighbor to put a stop to the dog's barking, it may be more useful for both of you to agree on a practical and achievable solution that is suitable for your needs. Here are some tips on this that you can adapt according to your specific situation:
- Try asking your neighbor if he or she is willing to keep the dog indoors for a few hours, for example from 10pm to 7am.
- If the dog causes discomfort by barking during the day because it is left alone in the open, ask its owner to set up a kennel or a small house where the animal can take refuge. Remember to also discuss the date by which the kennel should be installed.
- If the pet has behavioral problems and your neighbor agrees that they need to be resolved, decide with him a date to enroll the dog in an obedience course.
Step 4. Discuss with the rest of the neighborhood
If the dog owner ignores your needs and doesn't make any changes even after your polite requests, it may be helpful to involve other neighbors. Talk to the people who live next to you to see if they too can't sleep because of the dog. If the problem isn't yours alone, you can talk to the owner again as a group and he should take you seriously at this point.
- If you do not wish to form a group with the other neighbors, ask them to speak to the owner of the dog individually. In this way, he will not be able to feel targeted and threatened.
- The best thing of all would be for the whole neighborhood to come together to find a good solution together that doesn't make anyone feel banned. However, if the dog owner does not seem to want to listen to your reasons and the barking continues unchecked, then you will need to change your approach and involve the authorities.
Method 2 of 3: Contact the police
Step 1. Research your council's ordinances on public peace, especially barking
Check your city website or read the dog statute, codes and regulations. There may be an ordinance regarding "unruly" pets or pets that bark incessantly at night; in many locations there are specific rules and regulations for dog noises and / or barking. There may also be a law punishing landlords who ignore the demands of the neighborhood.
- Often justices of the peace or condominium administrators issue a short rulebook regarding dog ownership, as this is a very common complaint. Check if there has been a history in your neighborhood.
- It is worth letting the pet owner know about the results of your searches, so as to give him a second chance before calling the authorities. If you're pretty sure it wouldn't work anyway, go straight to the next step.
Step 2. Call the competent authority to report the situation
Find the municipal, provincial or regional office responsible for disturbing noises produced by pets, so that you can file a regular complaint. The authorities will speak to the owner of the dog and fix the situation. Usually you will be informed about the results of their intervention. If nothing changes, call the office again after some time.
- Ask if it is possible for the report to remain anonymous. In some cases it may not be a problem, especially if it is clear as sunshine that it was you who requested the intervention of the police, given that you have discussed several times with the dog's owner. However, if there are other neighbors annoyed by the animal, anonymity could prevent you from retaliation.
- In some municipalities anonymity is absolutely accepted, while in others it is required that the report be accompanied by name, surname and address, even if these data will not be transmitted to the owner of the dog. Check if the report will be anonymous or not before releasing it.
Step 3. Call animal protection
If you are concerned that the barking is the result of negligence or another form of mistreatment, call animal protection or the competent ASL. If there are clear signs of abuse on the animal, it will be confiscated from the owner, although in most cases animal protection officials will not take the dog away. On the contrary, they will try to find a solution and try to educate the owner on how to take care of it.
- If the dog is left outside when it is very hot or very cold, this is an excellent reason to call animal protection.
- If the animal appears undernourished or dehydrated, call animal protection.
Step 4. Ask other neighbors to fill out the same report
If the authorities receive multiple complaints about the same dog owner, they will be encouraged to act faster. These are the cases where numbers matter, so try to get as many people together as possible to remedy the problem.
Step 5. You sue the owner of the animal in the civil court
Some stubborn owners do nothing to silence their pet, even after the authorities have intervened. If there is no other solution, take this person to court with a civil suit. Your goal will be to declare that the dog's constant barking prevents you from enjoying your home and deprives you of sleep. If you win the case, the dog owner would have to pay you a certain amount of money. Prepare the cause as follows:
- Try to find a deal with the neighbor so you can prove to the judge that you have done everything possible.
- Decide how much to ask for compensation. A lawyer will be able to help you monetize the damage.
- Get witnesses and other evidence, such as photographs and recordings.
Method 3 of 3: Use Dog Whistles and Try Other Solutions
Step 1. Use a silent dog whistle
There are many rather conflicting reviews on the effectiveness of this tool. A silent dog whistle makes a sound that humans can't hear but dogs can, so your neighbors won't even realize you're using it. Whenever the dog barks, you whistle. It will take several tries, but eventually your dog will associate barking with the high-pitched, shrill sound of the whistle and stop doing it.
Step 2. Try an ultrasound training system
This uses more advanced technology, but is based on the same principle as the whistle. Again, the results obtained are not in agreement: it seems to work better with some types of dogs than others. If you no longer know which saint to vote for, it's worth investing in the (not cheap) cost of this device and giving it a try.
Step 3. Block the dog's view
If the animal barks every time it sees movement, make sure it cannot perceive them. Thicken the fence and close off those areas where the dog can see activity; if he gets aroused by the presence of your cats or other pets walking around the garden at night, this trick should work.
