Noise Nuisance - Dogs

[Kati]

We've just had a letter from our local council that a complaint has been made about our dogs barking, and an investigation has been started. Now don't get me wrong, I know our dogs do bark, but they are not the only dogs on the street (and some of the others are much worse).

Our dogs are not left out in the garden all day, they are brought in when we all go out or when they bark for more than 10mins at a time, they are never out before 8am or after 9pm - they bark when someone comes to the front door, when the dog two doors down barks and when the neighbours kids throw things at them or tease them. They are only let out in the back garden (never the front) so that they cannot get over-excited when people pass on the street - they can only see the front of the property through the gaps in a single gate which has been blocked by one of the wheelie bins. They never bark at all when they are in the house, just while they are outside.

My question is ... what else can we do?
I hate to think that our dogs are causing a nuisance or disturbing anyone, but they are not (IMO) actually doing anything that is bad They are just doing what comes naturally in protecting their territory! I've already spoken to one of our neighbours (not the one with the kids) who has assured us that she has no problem with our dogs (in fact she has said she is glad that they bark when someone comes into the garden as she knows that there's people around then). There are other neighbours that have said the same.

[PAWS]

Re: Noise Nuisance - Dogs

Sorry Kati, I do not have a clue what your options are but I wanted to give this a bump! :bump2:Hope this all gets sorted out.:hug:

[twigthewonderkid]

Re: Noise Nuisance - Dogs

My neighbour had the same happen to her.

The council will look for ways to help you control your dogs, they know dogs bark, they are famous for it and they certainly do not want for you to take steps that lessen the animals enjoyment of life such as muzzling, so be prepared to work with them.

In preparation you could conduct a poll with your neighbours, the questions could be quite simple:
Have you heard my dogs bark?
When do you hear them most?
Are there other dogs you can hear bark?
Do my dogs barking upset you?
Would you mind helping me understand when and what makes them bark by keeping a log for the next few days?

That might reveal who has made the complaint so you could sweet talk them better!

I know that dogs can be trained to bark less, you could show the council you are making enquiries. www.apbc.org.uk

[nemesis45]

Re: Noise Nuisance - Dogs

Hello Kati,
Our Springer Spaniel barks when the door bell rings of if she can here another dog along the 100metre hedge at the side of the gardens.
She will bark if she thinks anything untoward is happening on the property as any dog would.

Our neighbours have said they are glad she is around as houses opposite have been broken into none have around us!
Some people will complain about anything we are on a river estuary and the opposite bank is largely a military training area with
gunnery ranges, the sound of gunfire is an almost daily occurrence, new neighbours arrived a while ago who got to know my " military connections" the " man" of the house turned up complaining about the noise and said it must stop now they live here as it was disturbing their cat.
This town is the home of the Parachute Regiment and 16 Air Assault Brigade and these idiots thought they could stop the "noise" and
are habitual complainers.
Those who complain about a dog barking usually have nothing better to do!!

nem

[Kati]

Re: Noise Nuisance - Dogs

Pesonally ... I don't mind working with the council (although I still feel that my dogs are not a nuisance/too noisy). I do, however, think that this 'report' is vexatious (I 'dared' to comment about the neighbours kids attacking my fence with a screwdriver and hammer).

I have now asked most of my other neighbours (none of whom think the dogs are a problem) but this woman is so 'stand-offish' I am loathe to even knock on her door :tinysmile_hmm_t2:

I am a qualified animal psychologist (God knows why :lol and my dogs are not IMO excessive barkers - they are, if anything, too quiet seeing as they never bark while in the house at all. Not even when we are out and someone comes to the door (yes, I've recorded it a few times when they are in the house alone)

I just can't believe that someone has complained to the council

[nemesis45]

Re: Noise Nuisance - Dogs

Katie, the worst complainers are generally newcomer to an area we are in a rural area surrounded by farmland and a river, the idiotic complaints from those moving in to new build houses are constantly complaining about chickens, cow ( messy and smelly), tractors on the roads an anything else they can find that does not suit them.

Don't let them get to you!!!

nem

[Kati]

Re: Noise Nuisance - Dogs

Katie, the worst complainers are generally newcomer to an area we are in a rural area surrounded by farmland and a river, the idiotic complaints from those moving in to new build houses are constantly complaining about chickens, cow ( messy and smelly), tractors on the roads an anything else they can find that does not suit them.

Don't let them get to you!!!

nem

I know exactly what you mean Nem :tinysmile_twink_t2: my mum's got an animal sanctuary in the middle of nowhere and her new neighbours (it takes at least 5mins to walk door to door) like to complain about the 'feral' chickens eating their freshly planted seedlings or the cats leaving 'presents' on their car bonnet (or doorstep). Imagine the horror when an escapee goat got in through their wide open front door xx

[nemesis45]

Re: Noise Nuisance - Dogs

I know exactly what you mean Nem :tinysmile_twink_t2: my mum's got an animal sanctuary in the middle of nowhere and her new neighbours (it takes at least 5mins to walk door to door) like to complain about the 'feral' chickens eating their freshly planted seedlings or the cats leaving 'presents' on their car bonnet (or doorstep). Imagine the horror when an escapee goat got in through their wide open front door xx

A hundred or so years ago when I was a young officer just married and posted to Shropshire we lived an isolated village in the hills we had a dog (another springer) who roamed the village with the postie and the milkman riding on the milk float all was well until one spring evening the local bobby knocked on the door and informed me that a Rape had been reported taking me back as you can imagine, the poor lad was sweating and fidgeting it was difficult to understand the Salop brogue into the bargain.
Finally the dog Carlo came out to see what I was doing said hosifer of the law pounced on the dog and stated here's the culprit he raped Mrs xxxxxx's bitch on her front lawn it's a serious offence!!
What are you going to do about I asked the lad had no more say repeating my word emphasizing What are YOU going to do, my reply " Tell Mrs XXXXX that I want the pick of the litter!!
Idiot complaints made by sad people are bloody pest!

nem

[Kati]

Re: Noise Nuisance - Dogs

A hundred or so years ago when I was a young officer

showing your age Nem?? :tinysmile_kiss_t4:

[nemesis45]

Re: Noise Nuisance - Dogs

showing your age Nem?? :tinysmile_kiss_t4:

Feeling my age more like it Kati:rip:

[Kati]

Re: Noise Nuisance - Dogs

Feeling my age more like it Kati:rip:

As my OH says .... you're only as young as (the woman) you feel msl:
You're too young to be saying things like that Nem xx

[nemesis45]

Re: Noise Nuisance - Dogs

As my OH says .... you're only as young as (the woman) you feel msl:
You're too young to be saying things like that Nem xx

Thank you maam:tinysmile_twink_t2x

Married 50 years come December so I'd better be careful about " feeling younger women " I think:fish:!!

[Kati]

Re: Noise Nuisance - Dogs

Thank you maam:tinysmile_twink_t2x

:yo: :thumb: only telling the truth Nem

[Kati]

Re: Noise Nuisance - Dogs

How's this for a response??

In reference to your letter dated 7^thMarch 2015 notifying me of a complaint you have received, I feel a need to respond. You state that you are investigating an allegation regarding a noise nuisance in respect of dog barking emanating from my property. Something that I wholeheartedly refute.

Firstly, I feel a need to inform you that (at my last count) there are upwards of ten (10) dogs on the same side of the street as me, all of them prone to barking . The layout of the area means that the acoustics make it seem like a dog barking two (2) doors away is actually in my back garden. In essence, there is no certainty of proving that it is a certain dog that is baying without witnessing it in person.


Having lived in the aforementioned property for seventeen (17) months now,and had the dogs for the whole of this time, I have to say I am surprised to hear that my dogs are an issue. As a responsible dog owner with a diploma in animal health and psychology, I can assure you that neither of my canines should be seen as a problem in any way. From the start, they were never let out in the garden before 0730 and always kept in from whenever it gets dark (apart from necessary toilet outings where they are supervised). They are always put out in the back garden, never the front, so as to lessen the chances of them barking at people in the street. They are never left outside in inclement weather or when we go out and are brought in if they are observed 'sounding' for any length of time while in the garden. My animals have also never barked while in the house in the whole time I have resided at this property.


Admittedly my dogs do bark, as most dogs are liable to – for example if someone they don't know comes to the door when they are outside or if they hear their food being prepared – but having spoken to several of my neighbours on numerous occasions, I have been assured that this is not a problem. My older dog never barked at all until being subjected to teasing from the neighbourhood children, who seem to relish assaulting them both by throwing cans and stones at them on a daily basis. These children have been regularly observed climbing over the adjoining fence into my back garden, straddling the fence while holding balls or other toys and also hanging out of the windows in the upstairs of the property next door shouting at my dogs, all in an effort to provoke them into barking (at which point these youngsters then revert to throwing things at them). As a result of these unprovoked attacks on my dogs (and also numerous acts of vandalism on my property where these children have been observed as the perpetrators) I now do not allow my dogs into the garden as much as they themselves would like - therefore minimising any disruption to my neighbours.

I would like to take this opportunity to inform you that I am willing to take on any additional advice from yourself as to keeping my dogsquiet (if indeed they are to blame for the complaint you have received) however I fail to see what else I can do to ensure these animals are not the cause of unnecessary disturbance.


I await your response forthwith,


K

[twigthewonderkid]

Re: Noise Nuisance - Dogs

Looks good, you get the main points over especially directing their attentions to the disruptive children.