Hey Folks,

Well, summer time is here and nothing beats being able to sit on your back porch, BBQ, and play with your dog in the back yard (thats Heaven to me). Unless, of course, your neighbors have a small toy dog that rushes to the fence and barks so loud and for such long periods of time you think it is going to send itself into a stroke.

Some Background:
We are on pretty good terms with our neighbors, but we don't mix with them in a social way. About three months ago I was talking to my female neighbor and she showed me a small toy dog that she purchased from some so called "breeder" at four-weeks of age. The dog badly needs some socialization and barks until you think it would go into some type of trance.

Now, I've always kept to myself and am not the type to offer unsolicited advice out of respect for people and their privacy. However, the dog is driving me nuts and although my GSD could reallly care less about it there are time when he'll bark back (sort of like a short "SHUT-UP" bark).

How should I go about offering some help and tips in socializing the dog without coming off like a "busy body?"
I like my neighbor and their dog, but I like enjoying my backyard in peace as well.

Well, I think you have to start by admiring the toy dog. You could say that you would like the dogs to interact, but right now your guy is too big, so they need a gentle introduction to other small dogs, and then offer to orchestrate that. It depends on how much effort you want to make.

james,
i had the same problem with neighbors across the street. they adopted two grown st. bernards who barked all day long while i was trying to work.

fortunately, i've been on very friendly terms with these neighbors. i called them and said, "you know how much i love dogs, and especially st. bernards. i'm really, really sorry to tell you this, but your dogs are barking all day and driving me crazy."

fortunately, they knew this and got a bark collar to train the dogs, and it worked.

perhaps you could have a very, very friendly chat with your neighbor and give them some information you've printed off the internet that tells them about bark collars and how they work, and how to use them. that way, you aren't dumping the problem in their laps without offering a solution.

hope that helps!

Go to neighbor and say, "Hey, I like to train my dog and I thought you might like to get together and do some dog training together. I have some experience and it might make our doggies into friends for life!"

Then you let your dog eat the little one. . .



End of problem.

<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

James,

I had the same problem w/my neighbor. She kept 4 dogs unruly dogs at her home. They were permitted to bark ad nauseum. I tried to ignore it but it was just too difficult, especially during the nice weather when I was outside gardening and such. I tolerated it (2 years) until they moved because I thought I had too. I later learned that you can complain to your local police dept. who can issue them a warning, etc. I realize you are on good terms with this neighbor of yours and you might not want to start out this way but it is my opinion that if you're hearing her dog bark, she can too and is choosing not to do anything about it.

So, if it were me, I wouldn't go with the approach of offering unsolicited advice for a couple of reasons, one being it is just that, unsolicited. You are right. She could get her nose out of joint thinking you are being a "busy body".

Although it's not as easy, I'd be polite, simple and direct. Hopefully she will appreciate your frankness. It saves her from having to read between the lines. If she's astute and eventually figures out what you were really trying to accomplish with your "unsolicited advice", she may feel a little foolish and more than a little resentful.

Explain what should be easy for anyone to understand in this day and age...that you find your backyard a haven from the work week and with her dog barking so often, it has been difficult for you to relax in your yard. And with your request for her attention to this problem, you could offer your help to her in answering any questions she may have in raising her puppy <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> .

I'm with Mr. Robert VandeCamp <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Seriously though, how about using humor? Relating to your neighbor during "over the fence talk" the idiotic things dogs sometimes do, etc...maybe relate a story about an embarrassing thing your dog put you through or something. Perhaps a training issue you have problems with and "oh what a headache it can be!!!" Establish some dialogue.
See if you can LET THEM bring up the crazy little dog barking and what a problem it is for them, they will hopefully confide in you that they don't know what to do about it, yadda, then, suddenly, YOU become the hero. You get to tell them about LEERBURG!!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> Tell them this is what is working for you, (or something that is working for you like e-collars, whatever). Tell them you'll print them some training articles, etc.

If they are too dense to get it, make an anonymous call to the humane society. Have you complained or mentioned anything about the bark issue to this neighbor already? If you have, it blows the anonymous thing. They'll always think it was you. Ultimately though, who cares? A warning from authorities (after having had other options) may be the wake up call they need to get their dog into some behavior modification.

I mean
I'm with Mr. Van Camp <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Nothing annoys me more than hysterical barkers <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" />

In my neighborhood it would go like this. "Shut that F'en dog up would ya!"

Where I grew up it would be more like, "That is a LOVELY dog!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <Insert gushing compliments here> Gosh, I remember when my dog was that age. He nearly drove me INSANE with all the barking. I hear your puppy barking, and I know exactly what your going thru. Good luck keeping him quiet. I certainly don't envy you." (roll your eyes and then smile) And hopefully they'll get the point. If not go to my neighborhood's procedure <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> jk

Or you could ask them if your dogs barking is disturbing them. Tell them you try to keep him as quiet as possible but sometimes he barks, blah, blah, blah. Maybe a light bulb will flash in their mind.

Or you could just be straight up and say, listen, your dog's barking is annoying. I don't want to be rude, but could you please keep him a little more quiet? My wife gets migraines, the baby's nap gets disturbed, or any other excuse you can think of.

Or you could just call your towns noise control number and report them anonymously. Good luck <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Tell your clueless & inconsiderate neighbors that you saw 2 HUGE Rottweilers (or rattlesnakes, or ravens, or Ramulens) in their yard stalking poor "Poopsie" and if you hadn't been home to drive the rabid things away with bear-spray & a baseball bat, there would have been nothing left of their little wind-up toy, er, I mean watchdog <:-O Then add, with a straight face, "Wow, I'd keep Poopsie inside your house where it's SAFE from now on..."