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Neighbor's dogs barking....need advice

Started 10 months ago by New2WS
Latest reply from babalou

New2WS
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We moved to WS a few months ago. After a week or so we discovered that the neighbor across from us has 2 dogs that bark non-stop. One day at 5am I had enough, went to their door and confronted them. Point taken- the dogs are now relatively quite at night/early morning. However from 8am-9pm they bark non-stop at the top of their lungs. There's a gap in the shrubs so they look out onto the sidewalk and bark at anything that moves...we have a lot of dog-walker traffic which just makes it worse. The two dogs also bark at each other.

I am at my wit's end. I have to turn up the radio/TV when I get home just to drown them out. The owner is very confrontational and I feel that asking her to buy bark collars and fill in her fence gap will only cause a dispute of some sort.

Any suggestions? Thanks!

Posted 10 months ago #
kootchman
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if you call King County... you have to have three people sign a complaint petition... (State Supreme court decision re: Boeing shift worker complaint) That would be you, and two additional neighbors. If the petition is signed by three parties, submitted to King County Animal Control...you are on your way to a good old fashioned neighborhood feud. Even if an animal control officer witnessed non-stop barking...no petition, no enforcement. Lots of things to consider.. ie high crime area? Fearful senior citizen etc... just a lazy ass neighbor that leaves the dogs out while at work..? Guess the weight of the dogs, check recommended dose rates, and chuck some sedative laden meat over the fence. Don' get caught though... probable result... you will get used to it or you will move. Now if your TV or radio is too loud...and your neighbor complains...that the city would respond to with decibel readings... pet noises not included.

Posted 10 months ago #
cjboffoli
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Kootchman: Aren't there a couple of steps before that? As I understand it, you can call and register a complaint, which generates a letter to the owners informing them that a complaint has been made and requesting compliance with noise ordinances. They also check to see that the dogs are property licensed at that address and if they're not the owners can be fined. Am I mistaken?

Posted 10 months ago #
wsguy
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That's tough. Dog's invariably will bark at people passing by their territory i.e; their fence. As a dog owner I try to balance letting my pets get fresh air and run around the yard and trying to be the best neighbor I can.

The key according to an animal control officer I spoke to is sustained barking. I believe the definition may be 5 minutes (which is a long time if you are being irritated). If that is happening on a continual basis then that is on the owner.

Barking at people passing by the fence is just going to happen, but the owner can & should try to minimize that as well.

The best thing may be to approach the neighbor in a conciliatory manner (perhaps not at 5AM) and explain the impact it is having on you. Hopefully a non -confrontational approach will save you the hassle of going through official channels and probably will result in a longer lasting mitigation and not generate any neighborly hard feelings...

Then if that doesn't work you always have the other route...

Posted 10 months ago #
kootchman
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Nope..checked the ordnance... and since I have to contact the city on a professional level regarding noise.I talked to a contact I knew ... doggies don't get investigated UNTIL King county forwards the complaint to the city. As explained to me by animal control, the petition is universal for all King County... ie Kent might have a dog bark ordnance whereas Seattle does not.. Seattle Muni Code Chapter 25.08.... After the petition then the SPD and city piles on with any other infractions, like licensing .... KIng County will not respond without the petition

Posted 10 months ago #
kootchman
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Sounds like the owner tried to mitigate a little bit ..so you may have a good neighbor at the core... glad it wasn't my two beasts...!!

Posted 10 months ago #
maude
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I opened this thread with some trepidation since my dogs bark their fool heads off on a daily basis. I'm sure my neighbors are more upset by my foul mouth as I throw open the door and tell my dogs to shut the *&$% up! I don't really like them to bark at everything but sometimes there are shady characters in the alley and I'm fine with the dogs letting that person know there are dogs here. I hope you and the dog owner find a resolution.

Posted 10 months ago #
New2WS
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That's just it- the owner makes no effort to quiet her dogs. Not even a "shut up!". They are never walked or played with as far as I can tell. What kills me is that they go in the house via doggy door and still bark like that...doesn't the owner hear them?? The sound would be deafening!

Our first encounter was when I yelled at her dogs to be quiet...the owner came out of the house and asked if I had a problem. I said yes and she said "Well, they're going to bark".

Sure, I understand that dogs bark at things, but to carry on for 3 minutes after the jogger has left?

Posted 10 months ago #
maplesyrup
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New2WS, are you my new neighbor? What you're describing sounds EXACTLY like the situation we have with some dogs across the street.

I'm curious how you confronted the neighbor though. We had a dog issue with them when they first moved in and when I mentioned it, they were apologetic and embarrassed- and the problem stopped immediately afterward.

Not placing the blame on you; just wondering how it went down (in case you really are my neighbor ;)).

Anyway the way I would usually prefer to handle these things is to exhaust all possible actions before getting the authorities involved. No point in going nuclear right away. Try talking to them again.

Posted 10 months ago #
mpento
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I did a quick web search and noticed one option is some kind of ultrasonic device but I have no idea if they work. Or with the 4th of July coming up some well placed fireworks or tying a doggie treat to a rocket with a long fuse might be an option. Given the number of barking humans that read these posts I WAS ONLY JOKING ABOUT THE USE OF FIREWORKS :P

Posted 10 months ago #
velo_nut
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Bark back?

Posted 10 months ago #
DP
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City of Seattle barking dog contact info:

http://www.seattle.gov/animalshelter/response.htm?col2=open#CollapsiblePanel2

You don't need to have anyone else complain with you, but, as with any thing like this, the more complainants you have, the more seriously the authorities will take you.

In any case, the City will follow up your complaint with a "barking dog letter" to the owner. If that doesn't work, a visit from an Animal Shelter officer will follow, provided that you have filled out the necessary complaint declaration form.

Theoretically, if the owner still doesn't behave, eventually he/she be cited for noise pollution or some such thing.

Personally, I prefer using a device called the "Dog Silencer Pro."

http://www.dogsilencerpro.net/

The Dog Silencer Pro makes a high-pitched trill whenever my neighbor's dog barks, and theoretically trains the dog to shut up.

To be honest, I'm not sure the dog even hears the sound of my Dog Silencer Pro. But the owner sure does. As a result both she and her dog have stopped barking at me.

Posted 10 months ago #
Kevin
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Looks like a device that really DOES work. And it appears to come with a 30 day money back guarantee. No way you can lose.

Posted 10 months ago #
kootchman
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We are all nervous that it is our dog(s).... but since no one has knocked on the door lately... I think I get a pass. Looks like you have two options, a city and county... both are lengthy and tedious. I can tell you this though.... I broke up a dog fight involving three Jack Russell terriers.... one was getting mauled mercilessly by the other two... I threw the floor mat from my car and extracted the "victim" .... no licenses, no rabies shot tags... 911 call, and I was told that there are four animal control officers for Seattle, and being Saturday ... one on duty and not available for hours. I wouldn't hold my breath too long...

Posted 10 months ago #
New2WS
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We're in Admiral so that'll let some of you off the hook :)

Maple- the 5 am incident went OK. I was nice, I just said "Look, it's 5am....". The owner looked like hell, I looked like hell as we both just woke up. She had a little smile and said "I got it." Done. I never see her but if I did I think we'd be on good terms. I will have "the talk" with her when I get up the nerve...or when I lose my mind!

We've looked into the silencers, I think I might try one before causing a ruckus.

Posted 10 months ago #
Genesee Hill
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You mean I am not the only one that looks like hell just after getting up at 0500 AM? LOL

Posted 10 months ago #
nothend
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If it's close to 49th and Walker, I'll sign the petition!

Posted 10 months ago #
maplesyrup
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I've got some heavy duty Visqueen in the garage if one of you will volunteer to run it across the gap in the shrubs. :)

Posted 10 months ago #
ellenater
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Good luck with that. That sucks. It's debilitating. As a dog owner, I like my dog to bark FOR A FEW SECONDS to let intruders know she is here. Beyond that, I consider that really lame for those around the area. There are some dogs on around 42nd and Oregon that are ALWAYS in the yard and always barking like crazy. I don't personally think it's great to let your dogs do that. My dog is for protection but she is also my friends. Barking dogs are agitated and I don't think it's great for them. I have never seen the owners...

Posted 10 months ago #
New2WS
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MapleSyrup and Nothend- stop by anytime this week if you want to discuss. I agree- the next step should be to speak with the owner. Any volunteers??

Posted 10 months ago #
yeah-me
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Note: this was several years ago before funds were cut so drastically, but..

I was out one night having drinks and while gone, to my surprise, my dog sat out on the back porch and howled and barked. A police came to the house right as I came home to tell me that a neighbor had complained about the noise. So maybe you need to call the non-emergency number during the late eve or early morning when noise compliance laws are in effect.

Posted 10 months ago #
maplesyrup
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This is a chronic thing though, not an isolated incident. If it's the same house I'm thinking of, these dogs are out in the yard most days and bark and jump at all passing dogs and most passing pedestrians. I get the feeling they're just kind of lonely and not all that menacing (I'm a softie for dogs and not that afraid of them) but I can see how their activity would annoy some people.

Posted 10 months ago #
nothend
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I'll talk to them...

Posted 10 months ago #
dbsea
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Speaking directly with the neighbor is my first step. It's also neighborly. Simply stating why it's a problem for you, without making accusations, will hopefully give the owner something to think about and result in positive changes. If reasonable requests alone don't get them to be decent then follow DP's post above, (No. 12). I've had some success with one, or both steps. Depends on the neighbor and whether they give a damn about anything. But repeated complaints will get the "authorities" on them.

I've never tried the sonic device, but sounds like it has real potential if within range.

Good luck

Posted 10 months ago #
changingtimes
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Ellenater you r very close minded and wrong. Before I got my dogs my house was broken into 3 times. We have had bums from the junction breaking in and sleeping in my garage, one who had to be tassed twice in my back yard to comply with the cops once I called them. We have also had a drunko try to kick in our back door one night at 4am. I am home alone with children most of the time so yes my dogs are outside and yes the bark. They each have there own bed and food and water so they are not neglected. The senior living center has a caretaker that brings his patients to come kick the ball with my dogs twice sometimes three times a day. He tells me this is sometimes the highlight of his clients day. So guess what my dogs are pampered and they keep me safe and they are reconized in the community to bringing joy to the elderly. They do bark because they have been taught to protect my house and my family. I apologize that they jump and bark at you, maybe next time just say hi.

Posted 10 months ago #
New2WS
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Hi neighbors, just wondering if anyone's spoken to the owners yet and if so, what was their response? Thanks!

Posted 10 months ago #
babalou
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A puppy was crying with high high pitched yelping all morning. Sounded like in pain so I went over to see. Puppy was begging to be let in the (empty?) house. I just don't know...Dog barking breaks the peace and quiet of the neighborhood. BIG TIME . I have noticed that people use their dogs to express their passive aggression and anger, whether it be shitting on the side walk without picking up or biting people. I guess noise is all about what you focus on. It sure isn't the dog's fault. . . The neighborhood dogs have started to bark again...beter switch my focus.

Posted 10 months ago #
babalou
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Posted 10 months ago #