Neighbour barking dog

So here’s the scenario. Neighbours for almost 20 years, nice detached estate, we all moved in as new builds, got on reasonably through babies, now teenagers, all grown up now, some minor frictions here and there, and now don’t really speak much.

Neighbours got a pup a year and a half ago, it’s quite barky, but they only let it out in their garden after 10 in the morning and not after 9 at night; it’s only out there for short periods to have a wee play and a pee. The guy works from home or if not, someone else is in and they walk it at least 3 times a day, so it craps somewhere else I guess.

So this dog and it’s barking annoys me so I have installed some motion activated ultrasonic cat and dog deterrent machines along our boundary fence, right at the edge pointing directly into the fence and his area. I had hoped it would shut the animal up, but it seems to be making it more agitated and more barky….

The guy may have realised I have put these in as he has put some plywood boards on his side of the fence, presumably to block the motion sensors that set off the ultrasonic noises, which in turn freak the dog out. I was just wanting some peace.

So, what next ?

Speak to him?

Nah, he thinks I’m a dick, I’ve been a bit short with him and other neighbours through lockdown as have been feeling the pressure a bit.. TBH, I don’t think much of any of them now.

Too late for that I fear.

it’s only out there for short periods to have a wee play and a pee.

Is it barking indoors? How much barking?

So, what next ?

You could move to a private island?

Not sure what can be done really? It isn’t out very often by the sounds of it so I guess the problem is you. Weird passive-aggressive tactics like installing motion sensors will just annoy your neighbour and mark you down as the neighbourhood weirdo.

Don’t think it barks indoors, just when it gets out and maybe just for 5 mins as it’s excited. Think my ultrasonic machines make it bark more but hey ho..

If it was persistent you could contact council but, from your post, I don’t think the council would be interested – it’s only out for short periods.
Why not talk with neighbour?
If you want to destroy neighbourly relations get a dog whistle and a hornit (140db) and use them when the dog barks.
Get a recording of a lion roaring and play that loudly outside.
I don’t think you have many options – unfortunately.

It’s probably annoying and frustrating him in equal measure. Having a neighbour put some daft ultrasonic jobbies in surely only escalates animosity between yourselves. They sound like responsible dog owners from what you said..the fencing is probably to shield you from its noise as much as possible.

Wait, hold on…is this one of these reverse thread things where you’re actually the dog owner encouraging hatred towards the knob next door putting up dog deterrents?

paino, yes, and no.

I am the dog owner, and I’m trying to suss out the why around the neighbour putting in these machines that are upsetting our dog. All is factual. I don’t hate the guy, he has become very odd in last few years ( a married with teenagers 50 something bloke with a high paid job). He has started complaining to env health about other neighbours washing cars at 8am, about bins blowing over, all sorts.

If you, the installer, think the ultrasonic things are making it worse…

Could you not… take the ultrasonic things down?

Just a thought.

Do I win anything?
My (new) opinion then. He’s lonely and probably clinically depressed. Take the guy out for a beer, explain your situation, get him to meet, even walk the dog. Sounds like he needs help.

Wouldn’t the dog deterrent things just upset the dog more?

Re the plywood you could get into a great battleships type game of strategy and deception moving your dog enragers or drill a network of tiny holes in the ply from the back, might take you months to get the ply transparent enough for the detectors but definitely worth it

Ultrasonic machines are meant to drive the animal elsewhere. It’s in its own garden, where else is it meant to go? It’s not doing it at anti social times, it’s not doing it for long. Dog doesn’t seem to be the problem

Ha, ha, thought it was a strange initial post.

One possibility is that the neighbors hate dogs. My parents are generally not entirely unreasonable but my dad absolutely hates dogs. To the point that they will not have friends and relatives around who have dogs and it has lead to a fair few arguments. Unfortunately, I doubt you will be able to change how they feel. If you want to appease, then you could negotiate on what bits of the garden the dog uses and timings.

ahh I see. Drilling holes in your dog is likely to be counterproductive so forget that.

Paino, he’s unapproachable, back in the day we had garden bbq’s and beers, now he won’t nod a hello, to me, the wife, or any of the neighbours. My wife took his son to the station the other day as he was walking in the rain as she drive to work. Agree he’s likely sad and down, but he cannae take it out on the wee dog…

It’s intermittent and infrequent. I’m afraid you will have to suck it up. Why not offer to take the dog for a walk.

I’m a dog owner with a puppy who barks with excitement. I dislike barking too, and try and entertain my puppy when he’s in the garden. It’s infrequent and he gets excited. I’d be annoyed if my neighbour installed motion sensors and ultrasound overlooking my garden too. It won’t be helping.

paino – you are Sherlock Holmes and I claim my £5.

^^^ a tenner if he’ll be Lucy Lui…, my dear Watson 😁

However, back on topic..

Get the dog some noise cancelling headphones.

^^^ i actually did wonder about that !, he says naw..

So this dog and it’s barking annoys me so I have installed some motion activated ultrasonic cat and dog deterrent machines along our boundary fence, right at the edge pointing directly into the fence and his area.

This is so weird and hostile I wouldn’t know where to go from there. If the emitters are right at the edge I’d be very tempted to shut them up with a squirt of expanding foam but I can’t really see that ending in handshakes and smiles. Maybe report them to the council as a noise nuisance – which tbf they are.

Bah, well played Paino – I was trying to work out how this was Ukraine/Russia

Is it always about noise ?  Wonder if he’s got tinnitus or something

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hyperacusis/

What’s this nonsense about getting back on topic?
This is STW.

Sorry – what if OP bums the dog on the neighbour’s lawn (pre-sausaged, of course) ?

^^ **** that, I’m not shaggin ma own dog !

^^ **** that, I’m not shaggin ma own dog !

Noted that you’re not ruling out dog shagging completely.

^^^ I haven’t done a parachute jump either, and I probably never will…

Bin the ultrasonics, get yourself some NC earbuds/headphones and move on with your life.
You’re making an active choice to let a neighbours dog annoy you.
Stop doing it.
You’ll feel happier once you get over it.
I’m not blaming either side btw.

@martymac read the whole thread!

Is it just me, but paino correctly suggested that the OP was actually the one with the dog , which the OP admitted was correct , then this was followed by several posts that would suggest the dog belonged to the neighbour. Do people not read the threads before posting ??

it’s only out there for short periods to have a wee play and a pee

How often are these short periods though and is there any rhyme or reason to the timing. It could be its even more stressful for them having the barking for several minutes before stopping and then just waiting for it to kick off again half an hour or so later.

I had hoped it would shut the animal up, but it seems to be making it more agitated and more barky

Or it might be they are trying to make the garden uncomfortable for it and hence hoping it would stop going out there?
Certainly odd behaviour from them but might be worth expanding your attempts to get into their mind.

I think you have cause to complain to Env Health, if the ultrasonics are triggered by something in your own garden.

Yeah I clearly didn’t rtwt.
Sounds to me like the neighbour has some issues. So, you could try and avoid him completely, or kick his head in.

Difficult one with neighbour.

Take the dog for longer walk so that it is tired and sleep more rather than getting too excited?

People that let there dogs bark in the garden are absolute ***** in my opinion. Used to have a neighbour who’s dog barked continually for about 45 minutes at a time.
Got in touch with dog warden and it ended. And then they sold house and moved.

I’m with the person who does not like the dog barking in next doors garden.  Its unsocial

och a wee doggy barking for 5 minutes when its let out is hardly endless barking! one of our neghbours lets their dog out at 10pm on te dot, it barks precisely once presumably to relieve the stress of the day,i like it.

Hoours of howling and barking on the other hand sucks balls.

Do people not read the threads before posting ??

Are you new here? 🤣

I’d be onto Environmental Health – not sure they can prove or do much, but I can’t think of anything else.