Anonymous
Post 03/01/2014 12:46     Subject: Dealing with two neighbors and their barking dogs
Anonymous wrote:Did you know about the dogs when you moved in? You may end up moving again, if nothing makes you happy. They could easily bring charges against you, remember. No one likes a trouble maker.


I noted in an earlier post that no, we didn't know about the dogs before we moved in. They were not out when we first looked at the house, nor when we came for the inspection. I think I even said in an earlier post that if we'd known we very seriously would've reconsidered putting an offer on the table. We bought this house less than a year ago. Selling and moving is simply not an option. I'm confused as to what it is I would do that would result in charges being brought against me? I think it's clear that not out to harass them, although they certainly have been harassing me (albeit I suppose unknowingly on their part) for the last 9 months.
Anonymous
Post 03/01/2014 12:27     Subject: Re:Dealing with two neighbors and their barking dogs
Start construction on your addition and make some noise of your own. Amazing people here are so upset about some barking dogs but construction that goes on for a year for 6 days a week can't be complained about without your head being taken off.
Anonymous
Post 03/01/2014 11:18     Subject: Dealing with two neighbors and their barking dogs
Did you know about the dogs when you moved in? You may end up moving again, if nothing makes you happy. They could easily bring charges against you, remember. No one likes a trouble maker.
Anonymous
Post 03/01/2014 10:13     Subject: Dealing with two neighbors and their barking dogs
Anonymous wrote:The is a legal concept, "quiet enjoyment," that applies to loud dogs and parties. OP, if you've only spoken to your neighbors once, they might think you're not bothered by their barking dogs. I'd write each one of them a letter, describe how it's bothering you, and keep a log of when the dog is out and for how long they let the dog bark. If it keeps up, call the police, show them the letter and call them every time they let their dogs bark. It's outrageous on their part.


Wait, is this my DH? This is exactly the plan we came up with last night. He said that since we've only talked to them once they don't know how upset we are so we're still a step away from calling the police. We didn't think of the log, though, so thank you for that.

Again, thanks everyone!! This has honestly been driving us nuts since the first day we moved in this house and I think it's been making us anxious lately b/c we assume that when warmer weather comes (if it ever does) it's just going to get worse.
Anonymous
Post 03/01/2014 10:07     Subject: Dealing with two neighbors and their barking dogs
The is a legal concept, "quiet enjoyment," that applies to loud dogs and parties. OP, if you've only spoken to your neighbors once, they might think you're not bothered by their barking dogs. I'd write each one of them a letter, describe how it's bothering you, and keep a log of when the dog is out and for how long they let the dog bark. If it keeps up, call the police, show them the letter and call them every time they let their dogs bark. It's outrageous on their part.
Anonymous
Post 03/01/2014 10:05     Subject: Dealing with two neighbors and their barking dogs
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Some types of breeds are vocal, OP. Do you know anything about dogs? I'm not saying they could not train if they wanted to, but some people like having dogs that are similar to guard dogs. In other words, they want to know if someone/something is near the house. It is not really your place to say they can't have that.


The OP is describing dogs that bark incessantly. That is not the behavior of trained guard dogs.


This is the OP. I don't know all that much about dogs other than labs, which is what I've had. I think these dogs are some sort of terrier breed. They do not look like guard dogs. I am not implying that i would tell anyone what kind of dog they can or can't have. But why is it in their right to disturb my peace day in and day out. I don't think I mentioned this in my original post but I work from home 85% of the time, so it's not just night time that I'm subjected to this, it's throughout the day too. I don't feel that it's my right to complain about it during the daytime but at night? Yes, I think it's unacceptable.

Thank you to everyone who responded, it's good to read that we're not nuts (at least when it comes to this) and that we're justified in dealing with this situation. Believe me, we would never in a million years do anything to harm the dogs themselves (e.g. the chocolate suggestion, which I know was a joke). It's not the dogs' faults that the owners are doing this.
Anonymous
Post 03/01/2014 09:59     Subject: Dealing with two neighbors and their barking dogs
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Maybe give them some names of some dog trainers, or a Dog Whisperer DVD. The dogs need to be walked for a long time in the a.m./p.m. to help keep them quiet. There's doggie daycare as well. Maybe offer to throw in a few bucks; it would be worth it in my opinion. I had this problem when I lived in Arlington so I feel your pain! I ended up moving, as it was a rental.


OP here. When my DH went to the neighbors behind our house last night at 10 pm he asked her about training, and she blew him off saying nope, that's just the way this breed is. WTF?????


OP, I know how you feel. We have dogs, and we are very responsible and considerate about them. We would never leave them out at night, or when we leave the house.

To play Devil's Advocate for a moment, I would guess they do not like begin told what to do in their own yards, and probably have a problem with you complaining at this point. I don't think they will improve, sorry to say. This is an extremely prevalent problem.

Even if you move, you may run up against the same issue. It may be worse, with worse breeds, worse neighbors, whatever. IDK, maybe choose your battles. Are you the nosy neighbor, whine when it suits you type? Or are you the MYOB type? The latter always, always, always has more clout. No matter what the situation. After all, you really can not choose your neighbors, as much as you might try. You may have lost any clout with them at this point, by them seeing you as a complainer. They may see complainers as weak.

I don't think there is anything to talk about with them, really. I think worse case scenario, you could call the cops if it happens in the middle of the night. And I would not blame you. But the dogs may stop by the time the cops come. Do you want to be that neighbor? They will know it is you, of course.

It could be worse. Are you seeing things in proper perspective, really?



OP here. Thanks, I do appreciate your perspective. We've lived in this house since last June and in that time we've only gone to the next door neighbor once (when her dog was barking at 1 a.m.) and the neighbor behind us the one time two nights ago. So we're definitely not in the whiny/nosy neighbor category. And to some extent I agree with you that you cannot control what people do in their backyard. In our old neighborhood, our next door neighbors had lots of parties in their backyard and we would never dream of telling them they couldn't do that (it was a different situation in that we were friendly with them). But at the same time, this is a daily, constant situation and there comes a point where what you do in your backyard constantly disrupts your neighbors that you need to deal with it somehow. We can't move. We just bought this house and there's no way a move is happening.
Anonymous
Post 03/01/2014 07:27     Subject: Dealing with two neighbors and their barking dogs
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:OP can call the cops, but there would have to be actual tangible proof (not just ganging up on neighbors). Calling the dogs a nuisance does not make the dogs a nuisance.



It can, actually.

Wonder Woman had to go to court in 2010 because of her barking dogs:

http://ww2.gazette.net/stories/07072010/bethnew215805_32549.php


AND SHE WON!!!! HURRAY FOR WONDER WOMAN!!!!

Op, do you really want to start something you probably can't finish? What if she brings you into court herself for charges against you? Do you have extremely deep pockets, because this could go on as long as you let it. Just saying you might want to get over it.




She should get over being constantly disturbed? I truly do not understand people who feel they have the right to disturb other people. Not wanting to train ur animal does not trump neighbors' quiet enjoyment of their home. We used to have dogs, we NEVER allowed this kind of noise go on. Hell I did not want to hear, why would I think my neighbors would. Train ur dogs !!
Anonymous
Post 03/01/2014 07:24     Subject: Dealing with two neighbors and their barking dogs
Anonymous wrote:Some types of breeds are vocal, OP. Do you know anything about dogs? I'm not saying they could not train if they wanted to, but some people like having dogs that are similar to guard dogs. In other words, they want to know if someone/something is near the house. It is not really your place to say they can't have that.

Are you on crack ??
Signed a dog owner
Anonymous
Post 03/01/2014 02:26     Subject: Re:Dealing with two neighbors and their barking dogs
Geez, just poison them and get it over with
Anonymous
Post 02/28/2014 22:00     Subject: Dealing with two neighbors and their barking dogs
The breed is irrelevant. The neighbors don't care. That's the real problem.
Anonymous
Post 02/28/2014 21:53     Subject: Dealing with two neighbors and their barking dogs
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:OP can call the cops, but there would have to be actual tangible proof (not just ganging up on neighbors). Calling the dogs a nuisance does not make the dogs a nuisance.



It can, actually.

Wonder Woman had to go to court in 2010 because of her barking dogs:

http://ww2.gazette.net/stories/07072010/bethnew215805_32549.php


AND SHE WON!!!! HURRAY FOR WONDER WOMAN!!!!

Op, do you really want to start something you probably can't finish? What if she brings you into court herself for charges against you? Do you have extremely deep pockets, because this could go on as long as you let it. Just saying you might want to get over it.



Anonymous
Post 02/28/2014 21:35     Subject: Dealing with two neighbors and their barking dogs
Anonymous wrote:OP can call the cops, but there would have to be actual tangible proof (not just ganging up on neighbors). Calling the dogs a nuisance does not make the dogs a nuisance.



It can, actually.

Wonder Woman had to go to court in 2010 because of her barking dogs:

http://ww2.gazette.net/stories/07072010/bethnew215805_32549.php
Anonymous
Post 02/28/2014 21:34     Subject: Dealing with two neighbors and their barking dogs
Anonymous wrote:OP can call the cops, but there would have to be actual tangible proof (not just ganging up on neighbors). Calling the dogs a nuisance does not make the dogs a nuisance.



Report the dogs. If the dogs stop barking when the cops get there, next time, record the dogs with a visible clock. Done.

And barking for extended periods of time late at night does make the dogs a nuisance. Sorry.
Anonymous
Post 02/28/2014 21:32     Subject: Dealing with two neighbors and their barking dogs
OP can call the cops, but there would have to be actual tangible proof (not just ganging up on neighbors). Calling the dogs a nuisance does not make the dogs a nuisance.