Home › Forums › Open Discussion › Barking Barking Barking
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March 30, 2011 at 5:04 pm #598462
dbseaMemberIn our Gatewood neighborhood we seem to be surrounded by barking dogs. Not just the occasional bark but long term, all afternoon, much of the weekend barking. 730 on weekend mornings. 600 on weekday mornings. Even after speaking with neighbors about it, which isn’t easy to do, it continues. And with open window season coming it’s only going to get worse. What to do !?!? Any good suggestions?
You’d think that common courtesy would keep this under control but seemingly responsible residents don’t seem to notice or mind hours and hours of their dog’s barking.
March 30, 2011 at 5:12 pm #721267
lucky chickMemberHere’s some bad advice :): I once went to a neighbor’s house near Dakota and 35th to ask her to stop her mentally deranged visla from barking, and she TORE into me with some non-logic about how it didn’t bother her and so it can’t possibly be bothering me and it’s not her problem if I’m bothered and basically how I could go **** myself. Of course, I didn’t think of any smart comebacks until hours later. But this psycho aside, you’d think people would be reasonable – maybe get a coalition of neighbors to make a stronger request?
March 30, 2011 at 5:14 pm #721268
kmweinerMemberIf the place is somewhat near you could purchase an out of doors “stop barking” ultra sound device. It is voice activated and makes a sound only dogs can hear and really don’t like. I googles stop barking devices and found tons of options. Good Luck.
March 30, 2011 at 5:19 pm #721269
dbseaMemberI am seriously considering purchasing a couple of the ultrsonic stop barking devices. Definitely worth a shot. Thanks for the feedback and “bad advice!”
March 30, 2011 at 7:28 pm #721270
flowerpetalMemberThere’s a noise ordinance in Seattle, and these dogs (and owners therefore) violate it.
And here’s how to respond at 386-PETS,
http://www.seattle.gov/animalshelter/response.htm?col2=open#CollapsiblePanel2
March 30, 2011 at 7:55 pm #721271
marc123MemberTry 1130PM and 5:00 AM on a regular basis! We feel your pain over here on 50th Ave and Edmunds! Sounds like its time for you to involve the city rather than spend your own dollars on country dogs in the city. Good Luck
March 30, 2011 at 8:51 pm #721272
dbseaMemberThanks all for the additional info. I will follow up with the City and I appreciate your help.
And are there any success stories out there regarding City intervention?
March 30, 2011 at 9:23 pm #721273
DianeParticipantthis is exactly why I am searching for a “no pets allowed” apt building; at the very least, a “no dogs allowed”; can you imagine having that barking coming through wall/floor/ceiling of attached apartment?
~
last house I lived in, at 48th & Hudson, neighbors got Bassett Hound pup that would stand under my bedroom window late at night and howl; they seemed to sleep right through it; thankfully they were very nice and it only took 1 phone call for them to find a solution, followed by nice note of apology
March 30, 2011 at 9:39 pm #721274
queseraMemberYou can call the police, if you want. If it’s a noise ordinance issue, they can deal with it. Fair warning though: just because it annoys you doesn’t mean it’s a violation. They may tell you to just live with it.
Someone complained about our dogs once, and it actually kind of cracked me up. “Wait, who are you? Oh, the family with the kid who never stops screaming? You have a problem with the dogs? What? Sorry, I can’t hear you over your kid’s shrieking. Yes, dogs are terrible beasts. What? What? Oh, sorry, I thought your kid was dying, with all that howling. Yes, sorry about the dogs.”
March 30, 2011 at 9:55 pm #721275
GoGoParticipantExcellent point, quesera!!
March 30, 2011 at 10:04 pm #721276
dbseaMemberI’m actually looking for helpways to deal with what is a nuisance in my neighborhood. But if you feel the need to dish out smarta** cracks go right ahead. I don’t blast a stereo at night, hammer, run power tools, tune up my Harley etc. at all hours and I expect my neighbors to be considerate as well. That includes, but isn’t limited to barking.
March 30, 2011 at 10:20 pm #721277
thansenMemberThe hard part about this is there are humans involved and they’re not always sane and logical.
I have 2 dogs who used to be outdoors while I was at work. I didn’t know they barked all day, I was at work. Two years ago a neighbor came over and just starting yelling at me, dropping f bombs all over the place. I tried to stay calm, but that’s hard when the other person keeps yelling.
But I understood how annoying it is. So from that day one of the dogs comes with me to work and other stays inside. And since then my dogs are never outside if I’m not home. That guy never did come over and apologize or say thanks.
If the owner won’t do anything, call the city, give as many addresses as you can. They are responsive and will fine the owners.
March 30, 2011 at 10:48 pm #721278
DPMemberAnd are there any success stories out there regarding City intervention?
–Yeah. I’ve had partial success with it. First, the City will send the owner a “barking dog letter” letting the owner know they’re breaking an ordinance. If that doesn’t work, and you keep complaining, someone from the City will pay the owner a personal visit and possibly also give a ticket, if they personally witness the barking.
Be aware that with the legal route, you’re really depending on the annoyance factor more than anything. I had the City send a letter to my neighbor over her little noise machine. The barking got better for a while and then resumed as her memory of the City’s nasty-gram faded.
Eventually, I bought an anti-bark device, which works better.
Frankly, I think the anti-barking device works primarily because I leave it on the “audible” setting. Every time the dog starts yapping, both dog and dog owner hear the shrill whine of the anti-bark device. At that point the neighbor magically remembers that her dog’s barking is annoying to others, and she calls the dog back inside.
Currently I’m working on a device that delivers a painful shock to politicians whenever they:
–Lie
–Waste taxpayer money
–Fail to deliver on a promise
The main engineering challenge is how to keep the device from constantly overloading.
March 30, 2011 at 10:50 pm #721279
dbseaMemberThanks again for the replies. And I want to state here that just because it bothers me doesn’t mean it is unreasonable. Or that I’m automatically right and the dog owners are wrong. It is just something that really bothers my wife and I and we hope to improve on the situation.
March 30, 2011 at 10:56 pm #721280
abstractParticipantI would file a complaint with animal control:
http://www.seattle.gov/animalshelter/contact.htm
I have done it in the past for various reasons including a dog that barked 24/7 and was outside at all times. Within a few days they went to the home, met with the owners, and guess what? The dog was brought inside more often, and only barked on occasion. Animal control called me back and explained that the dogs owners had recently had a baby and seemed to be preoccupied with that. Good luck!
March 30, 2011 at 11:59 pm #721281
yeah-meParticipantI think it is only a violation if it is during quiet hours? I had someone complain about my dog barking at night. The police actually showed up at my house — the same time I pulled up after being out to dinner. I didn’t know my dog was doing it.
If you know your neighbors and are moderately friendly with them, you might just let them know. It is likely that they are not home and do not know their dogs bark all day. I didn’t know mine did until it was brought to my attention. I was gone all day and the dogs were happy to see me when I got home. I really didn’t know they barked all day until my neighbors told me.
I don’t think those bark control devices work very well. I have tried them with little success. I have a new puppy and she barks and barks and barks. I just purchased a Citronella Collar and it seems to help.
Best of luck!
March 31, 2011 at 12:41 am #721282
angelescrestParticipantNeighbors seem to fall into two categories (at least):
1)Those who would hate to think they were causing their neighbors any bother/annoyance/disruption; they’ll apologize, they may cringe when they see you a bit–they become fabulous neighbors and friends;
and
2)Those who will play victim, go into denial, try to make it look like you’re the one with the problem. They’ll ignore you when you drive up; avert their eyes when they see you. Yes, they may even cuss and growl.
Sometimes, if you’re patient enough–and it isn’t easy–the neighbors in the second group will come around…enough so, that you can rely on them in case of emergency. By calling animal patrol, the situation falls out of your hands–and I imagine it would be hard to establish a good neighbor relationship after that.
Believe me, having patience is really tough.
March 31, 2011 at 4:42 am #721283
austinMemberDP I may be interested in purchasing the device you are pioneering. I have an idea on how to power it with banana peels and driver incompetence.
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