When a Neighbor Has a Problem With Your Dog

[Oh Little Oji]

I searched "neighbor" on here and it didn't seem there was a general thread on the topic – only specific ones. So maybe this can be a thread in which neighbor/dog problems can be discussed.

Our next door neighbor, well, I'm not a fan of the guy. His wife is okay, although she did come to the fence and glare with a really angry look toward our yard once after Oji had a barking exchange with one of their dogs. This leads me to:

The man, yesterday, made it clear that he has been harboring a dislike for Oji.

Probably over a year ago, he asked (demanded rudely) that I get my dog to stop barking. The incident was: I took my youngest daughter for one loop on her tricycle up to the end of our short street and back. This took probably 3 minutes. I had decided to leave Oji in the backyard, knowing he would bark the entire time. I almost never do this, but I figured this very brief one would be okay. When we got back near our house, the guy told me to get my dog to stop.

Yesterday we were out on the back porch carving pumpkins when Oji started barking at their dog through the rickety fence. They have two dogs. The one of them and Oji do not get along. So, they bark at each other and we promptly pull our dogs back inside the house. Neither dog is being bad. They're just being dogs. Well, as I go over to quietly tell Oji to stop, I hear the neighbor's door sort of slam, and I see the guy walking out. He keeps walking, though, to a point where they can see around some bushes into our yard. I'm standing right there (and keep in mind that I don't like this guy for other reasons as well) and I wait to see if he is going to pull anything. Well, he walks up to the fence (their yard is up about 2 feet or so above ours, and the fence is low) an he stands there and looks at me and says "It's getting old."

Immediately, I am ticked off and feeling aggressive. I fire back with "WHAT?" "You're crazy!" "It's not excessive!" Honestly, folks, it's not. I never even leave Oji out there long enough for me to go take a pee. I can't. He'll bark. So, when he does have a barking outburst at someone walking their dog down our street, I am on it. I go out immediately and call him in. The outbursts last, at the longest, like 15 - 20 seconds. Yes, it it right up against the neighbor's yard/house, and is quite loud, but think about it. This is not an excessive barking problem like you see many times out there, and like I've had to deal with in the past.

The other thing Oji does is Squirrel Bursts. He explodes off the back porch and maniacally barks and runs after a squirrel. This takes him to the other side of the yard and he is blocked from the neighbor for part of this by our garage.

Yet another thing he does is if I have him leashed on the front porch as I'm out front working on something, he will explode into barking if anyone walks a dog on our street. I may let him do this for like 5 - 10 seconds then I have him stop.

Dogs bark. I think I control it very well. I am not willing to try to force my dog to never bark in his own yard. He barks occasionally for very brief (again we're talking seconds) periods and then I make him stop. Of course we never leave him in the yard when we leave the house. He's crated in the basement, unfortunately. Yes, he barks in the crate and you can hear it from outside the house, but that's all I can do. I wouldn't think the barking from inside my house would be bothersome to someone in their house or yard. Even if it is, I think he has no valid legal complaint there. My dog is inside my house.

Oh, speaking of complaints: He says he is going to call the police about it, and another neighbor agrees with him on this. I just said "Yeah, try that."

 

[Rits]

My man shouldn't live in the city if he doesn't like noises like dogs barking, lol. I get it if its someone leaves their dog outside for over 10 minutes and the dog never shuts up. But to want complete silence? He should move out of the city.

Ripley does something similar. She can go outside quiet most of the time but if there is something to alert to, she will. The difference with her and say someone else letting their dog yap is she can and will be quiet. In my mind, she is a doberman, it is in her genes to be alert and alert me to movement. She doesn't know that the neighbors aren't on her property. She will do the same for the vehicle if someone gets too close, yet she won't do that if we aren't in there. There isn't a reason to, her people aren't there to protect. So for both instances I let her bark for 5-10 seconds then I look at whatever she is barking at, look down to her and I tell her "thank you, thats enough." to cue her to be quiet, and to me thats just how it should be for these guys.

Yes, he barks in the crate and you can hear it from outside the house, but that's all I can do. I wouldn't think the barking from inside my house would be bothersome to someone in their house or yard. Even if it is, I think he has no valid legal complaint there. My dog is inside my house.

I'm not entirely sure how far noise complaints can work and you would think a dog barking wouldn't be up there with loud music from in the house. Its one thing to bark for alerting but another for separation anxiety. Have you tried a bark collar while you are gone?

 

[JanS]

I'm so glad we don't have neighbors. One of the neighbors places across the road used to have a bunch of dogs outside barking nearly 24/7 and that did get on my nerves since we never let our dogs bark for more than a minute or so outside. We since bought that neighbors place so it's nice and quiet. Our now closest neighbor (not very close) has some bigger dogs that bark to alert but no more than our dogs. I talk to him quite often since he flies out on a regular basis and neither of us have a problem with each others dogs.

Oji started barking at their dog through the rickety fence. They have two dogs. The one of them and Oji do not get along. So, they bark at each other and we promptly pull our dogs back inside the house.

Well then he's part of the problem too. The pot should never call the kettle black.

I agree that if the guy has a problem with reasonable sounds he should not live in town.

 

[Kswoodssue]

I tried to find the legal definition of excessive barking, and it varied, but was roughly defined as a continuous 5 min of barking, or several one minute periods of barking within a certain period of time. I think if he keeps reporting you, it could get ugly. I would try to be proactive and be able to show that I was working to address the issue with training, etc.

 

[Oh Little Oji]

I tried to find the legal definition of excessive barking, and it varied, but was roughly defined as a continuous 5 min of barking, or several one minute periods of barking within a certain period of time. I think if he keeps reporting you, it could get ugly. I would try to be proactive and be able to show that I was working to address the issue with training, etc.

That's interesting. Thank you for looking up that definition. I really do appreciate it. Oji does not bark enough to even come close to either of those measures. I have very little concern over this guy reporting me. First, he is clueless in that he said he'd call the police. The cops, at least in this city, will not do a thing. Now, if he gets smarter and tries to call, say, animal control or the "animal warden" that I've heard mentioned since living here (there is such a thing?) that'd come closer to something that he could actually do. Still, though, unless he happens to know someone who could unfairly act against me, he's got nothing. Except...

If this barking from within my house is a.) part of what he is talking about b.) something that is considered an actual violation. We live in a single-family, or as I guess they say in Canada, "detached" house. In other words, we don't live in a duplex, townhouse or apartment. Our house does not adjoin anything. Yes, absolutely, if it did, then I've have the responsibility to prevent my dog from barking excessively in my home. I've lived in several apartments over the years, and dogs within the building barking is absolutely a problem.

Honestly, I don't have any inclination to prove anything in terms of taking measures to get Oji to bark less as you suggest. I do, however, definitely have the ability to demonstrate that my dog can be ordered to stop barking. That's already in place, as it has been with each of my Dobes thus far.

 

[Oh Little Oji]

I think what we have here consists mostly of unrealistic expectations. A couple of you have said as much. We live in the city, or at least a neighborhood. Unfortunately, the houses are something like 15 or maybe 20 feet apart. I have come to really hate just how close together they are, especially the more problems we have with the nextdoor neighbors.

Also at work here are a couple factors with which I've dealt in my history: Dog breed bias, and, how do I put it into words, a dislike/discomfort with a resident of a street (me) who isn't part of the "we've lived here for a long time and we all know each other" club. I'm reminded of my living situation years ago when I stayed with my sister and brother in law for some months as I joined with him to do some work. Granted, it turns out they didn't have permission to allow me to live in that rented house with them, much less have a large intimidating dog; but some of the longtime residents of that little neighborhood and I clashed – especially the nextdoor neighbors, who specifically had a problem with my Dobe. The woman found it "cruel" that I had him walk on the deck railing and turn around in both directions (which I feel is great training for them for a couple of reasons), but it turns out she didn't like that when I was out going for runs with him I had a mean look on my face.

So my current nextdoor neighbor guy is kind of a, I don't know, dominant guy and also a sort of gossip. The first time I talked to him, he had no qualms about saying some critical things about some of the neighbors, including the folks we bought the house from, and even said something about his daughter not wanting to move out of the house.

He's part of the little club of longer-time residents of the street and I think he just isn't comfortable with me. Well, I know he wasn't comfortable with me motioning a time or two for him to slow down as he tears up or down the street in his car. Something odd the other day as well: I was walking Oji in the morning and I had let him pee on the ground cover that grows over some stones that come right out to the sidewalk. They are not on his property, but his nextdoor neighbor's, but they are part of what he maintains (not that maintenance is required, really). Yes, I do think that Oji's pee has killed back a small amount of that ground cover; but the reality, in my mind, is that anything that comes right out to the sidewalk (be it vegetation or a fence or retaining wall, or stones) is just going to receive dog pee. I know some will disagree, but that really is just the reality in a city setting. Dogs WILL pee on stuff close to the sidewalk, and also, you have to expect that the 3 or 4 feet of your front lawn closest to the sidewalk will get peed and pooped on. I don't like it, but dog owners let it happen. So that morning, I was at the end of the street and turned the corner and looked back and saw the man standing there by that spot where Oji had peed, and he is just staring my direction. I figured he was probably indeed staring at me, but at the same time, it seemed unreasonable enough that I felt I might be mistaken. Regardless, I don't feel he has an absolute right to have a problem with that. Now, if we were to have a civil conversation and he asked that I stop letting my dog pee there, I would probably honor that.

 

[Oh Little Oji]

Well, after that semi in-depth analysis of my neighbor and the situation I have an update:

I saw him out getting some things out of his car as I was coming home, so I quickly thought about whether I should just go over and talk to him. I haven't mentioned this here yet, but on the day of our last confrontation, I actually proposed to my wife that she and I go over there and talk to them. I thought bringing my wife along would help reassure them that I was coming in peace. My wife didn't initially say yes to that (she doesn't like confrontation, generally, and I think she probably also didn't trust me to not get aggressive); but their cars were gone at that time.

So, this morning I walked over in front of his house and he wasn't there, but I stayed out a minute back over at my driveway and listened. When I heard footsteps, I went back over there. I offered the olive branch, saying I shouldn't have said what I said to him. I also said that I would like to know just what his complaints were.

Well, this all worked, and we now have things resolved in terms of hostilities.

He said the problems were just that my dog barks at anyone who walks their dog down the street, and he said it's just an aggressive bark. More importantly, and I had wondered about this, is that his dog that Oji does not get along with is elderly and he expressed that she could possibly have a heart attack (during those exchanges).

So there we go.

 

[MyBuddy]

When I heard footsteps, I went back over there. I offered the olive branch, saying I shouldn't have said what I said to him. I also said that I would like to know just what his complaints were.

Well, this all worked, and we now have things resolved in terms of hostilities.

Coming back with an open honest and polite conversation will often calm a bully down. I remember hearing one time, "Anger is an outward manifestation of hurt, fear and frustration." I think that's very true. So to hit anger with anger usually does nothing. But to understand what is beneath that anger (in any situation ) is key. You going to talk to him calmly turned his anger into, "Thank you for understanding!"

Well done!

 

[obbanner]

In my state, barking nuisance is part of the municipal code. You can look it up in the public library and it may be online. My town had codes online, but they're not quite the same as what's in the library. I never found out which rules prevail because I have yet to have a need. The online codes have a very generic feel.

 

[Gelcoater]

Well, after that semi in-depth analysis of my neighbor and the situation I have an update:

I saw him out getting some things out of his car as I was coming home, so I quickly thought about whether I should just go over and talk to him. I haven't mentioned this here yet, but on the day of our last confrontation, I actually proposed to my wife that she and I go over there and talk to them. I thought bringing my wife along would help reassure them that I was coming in peace. My wife didn't initially say yes to that (she doesn't like confrontation, generally, and I think she probably also didn't trust me to not get aggressive); but their cars were gone at that time.

So, this morning I walked over in front of his house and he wasn't there, but I stayed out a minute back over at my driveway and listened. When I heard footsteps, I went back over there. I offered the olive branch, saying I shouldn't have said what I said to him. I also said that I would like to know just what his complaints were.

Well, this all worked, and we now have things resolved in terms of hostilities.

He said the problems were just that my dog barks at anyone who walks their dog down the street, and he said it's just an aggressive bark. More importantly, and I had wondered about this, is that his dog that Oji does not get along with is elderly and he expressed that she could possibly have a heart attack (during those exchanges).

So there we go.

Sounds like progress to me.

I’d like to point out in your original post you mentioned you don’t like the neighbor much.
I’d also like to point out our Dobermans can read us like a book.
If you don’t like the guy, Oji doesn’t either by default. Only, he’s much more vocal about your mutual dislike. Because

Perhaps a mindset change on Tad’s part can help Oji change his a little along with your guidance.


I’m pretty sure we will be dealing with a similar issue here as well pretty soon.
The widow lady next door sold a year ago or so and neither dogs are at all welcoming.
The new neighbors don’t smell like Barbra nor do they have a Chicago accent!

 

[Kaiser2016]

I’d like to point out in your original post you mentioned you don’t like the neighbor much.
I’d also like to point out our Dobermans can read us like a book.
If you don’t like the guy, Oji doesn’t either by default. Only, he’s much more vocal about your mutual dislike. Because

Exactly!

 

[Foxrider714]

Ya I have the same thing here with one of my neighbors.. he don’t like Bruce when he barks cause he has that big scary bark

 

[Dasz88]

You handled it well Oji!! People get overly terrified of any sound a doberman makes! If a little ankle biter barks for hours on end, no one blinks. But a dkberman barks like a normal dog for a minute and people have heart attacks (or, apparently, their dogs do).

 

[MyBuddy]

People get overly terrified of any sound a doberman makes! If a little ankle biter barks for hours on end, no one blinks.

Not not necessarily true. A big bark definitely puts someone on edge that it's a big dog and can do a lot of harm. But a yappy little dog can be very irritating. Case in point was a past neighbor who had a Welsh Corgi. That dog didn't yap and they don't have a big dog bark but this one would do an irritating, 'Woof........Woof........Woof...... just like that. One little bark, well, kind of a loud bark, with about 2 seconds in between. And do that for like an hour! Or as long as I was outside. Lol it was just weird. And a bit irritating. Because it was just that constant slow bark every time he saw someone outside and he was in his back kennel.

And a little dog like my Kali can also be just as irritating if she keeps barking. Luckily the only time she does that is through the window at a squirrel. She doesn't bark at people. She does the butt wiggle.

 

[Oh Little Oji]

Not not necessarily true. A big bark definitely puts someone on edge that it's a big dog and can do a lot of harm. But a yappy little dog can be very irritating. Case in point was a past neighbor who had a Welsh Corgi. That dog didn't yap and they don't have a big dog bark but this one would do an irritating, 'Woof........Woof........Woof...... just like that. One little bark, well, kind of a loud bark, with about 2 seconds in between. And do that for like an hour! Or as long as I was outside. Lol it was just weird. And a bit irritating. Because it was just that constant slow bark every time he saw someone outside and he was in his back kennel.

And a little dog like my Kali can also be just as irritating if she keeps barking. Luckily the only time she does that is through the window at a squirrel. She doesn't bark at people. She does the butt wiggle.

Oh yes, for me, this is pretty much the crux of the issue. To me, a dog barking problem is when the owner lets it go on and on. I have dealt with that several places that I've lived – both large, medium and small barks. It absolutely sucks!!

Oh, and I'd have to say I agree also with @Dasz88 , and I mentioned this aspect in my comments above: To an extent, I am experiencing breed bias. I feel pretty sure that the neighbor, consciously or subconsciously, dislikes or is uncomfortable with Oji due to his breed (and the fact he has cropped ears). What's more, he is a serious dog and I treat him as such. The neighbor doesn't hear me talking to him like a human, and he certainly doesn't hear me baby talking him or being playful with him. In fact, I'm sure they've heard me issuing commands in the foreign language in which he mostly trained, and I even issue those commands forcefully when the situation calls for it. I have not told my neighbor my dog's name (people love to know a dog's name) and I have been seen playing flirt pole in my driveway and in the street – in the street simply because we have precious little room in our yard and I don't want Oji tearing up the grass or yard during the flirt pole sessions. I've also had Oji heel with me as I carry a bite tug and when he has exhibited sufficient obedience, I let him hit the tug and we have a rousing tug session, which always includes growling and shaking. So, I am pretty sure he doesn't like my serious guard dog with the pointy ears.

Oji's barking is in short but loud and usually explosive (as I call it) bursts. I only let the bursts go on for 5 to maybe 20 seconds then I make him stop. These bursts, of a variety of types, might happen from 0 to 4 or 5 times per day – 1 or 2 times being more common. Some days, it doesn't happen at all. Remember, we are talking about only 5 to 20 seconds of barking each time!

Yes, I understand his concern about the brief fence-fighting sessions with his elderly dog and the worry that it might harm her health; but I also believe they just dislike the fence-fighting exchanges because it offends them. Me? I don't at all take it personally that his dog aggressively barks at my dog through the fence. They are dogs! It's silly to take it personally! Some dogs get along, some don't. In fact, his other dog and Oji actually have had really cute interactions through the fence. They've even bumped noses!

Yes, I understand that it has to be quite annoying to have Oji explode for a few seconds right next to the guy's house (and as the man put it, it sounds aggressive) but that's just the situation. I sure wish our houses were not some 15 feet apart!!

 

[Katyusharocket]

Coming back with an open honest and polite conversation will often calm a bully down. I remember hearing one time, "Anger is an outward manifestation of hurt, fear and frustration." I think that's very true. So to hit anger with anger usually does nothing. But to understand what is beneath that anger (in any situation ) is key. You going to talk to him calmly turned his anger into, "Thank you for understanding!"

Extremely good insight, and this idea is worth remembering or even running it through in your head each morning before you get to interact with anyone.

So my current nextdoor neighbor guy is kind of a, I don't know, dominant guy and also a sort of gossip. The first time I talked to him, he had no qualms about saying some critical things about some of the neighbors, including the folks we bought the house from, and even said something about his daughter not wanting to move out of the house.

Someone that quick to talk smack about others before you even get the chance to meet them, may not even like himself, IMHO. The shameful part is that you have to interact with him regardless of his own psychology. I feel like it's a him problem, not a you problem. I don't have any advice for you, I just feel for you in this situation.

 

[Mars]

Mars only barked at Coyotes on the other side of his wall. Literally, nothing else. Finn will bark maybe once or twice a week and we live in the city. I trained Mars to be quiet unless there was a threat, Finn just came the way he is.

I’m going to ask how old Oji is, it will help to understand his behavior. As adults, Mars had a kennel and Finn still has one. But, the door is almost never closed. I treat the kennel/crate as a space they can escape to to chill/relax. Even when I’m gone for a while he has run of the house and his doggy door to go relieve his stresses.

If Oji is through the dober shark years try giving him some of that freedom. It will reduce anxiety which will dramatically reduce barking while your at work.

 

[Oh Little Oji]

Mars only barked at Coyotes on the other side of his wall. Literally, nothing else. Finn will bark maybe once or twice a week and we live in the city. I trained Mars to be quiet unless there was a threat, Finn just came the way he is.

I’m going to ask how old Oji is, it will help to understand his behavior. As adults, Mars had a kennel and Finn still has one. But, the door is almost never closed. I treat the kennel/crate as a space they can escape to to chill/relax. Even when I’m gone for a while he has run of the house and his doggy door to go relieve his stresses.

If Oji is through the dober shark years try giving him some of that freedom. It will reduce anxiety which will dramatically reduce barking while your at work.

Thanks for asking. Well, Oji was already 7+ years old at the time. He had free reign of the house – except when we were gone. He could not be trusted. We tried and it failed, and yes, we gave it a good effort over time. He had separation anxiety from the time we got him at 11 or 12 weeks.

My first Doberman, years ago, didn't bark unless there was a reason. I was proud of that, and really appreciated him. I contrasted it with my roommate's German Shepherd. My next two Dobes, however, were problem barkers – especially Oji. That said, I could leave my 2nd (working) Dobe out in our fairly large yard with underground fence and we could go places and leave him and his Husky sister in the yard. Only a few times did I approach home and hear a dog barking and realize it was Dax. Once, I'm pretty sure he detected some deer and just commenced incessant barking.

We could not leave Oji in the yard. I couldn't even have him in the yard and me go take a quick restroom break in the house. Too great a chance he would start barking in that space of a minute and a half or so. This, especially since we became aware that our nextdoor neighbor had such a low tolerance for even short bursts of barking.

So, it's like we lived in an apartment even though we own our single-family house.