Neighbor's Dog Barking at 4Am/5am

Updated on January 07, 2011
M.B. asks from Milwaukee, WI
16 answers

Help! My neighbor's have this awful nasty beagle mix that barks viciously at everything anytime she is outside. I'm actually afraid to let my 2 y/o near their fence because she is so vicious - and I have a wonderful dog and grew up with them. My problem is they leave the dog outside in the very early morning hours and she starts barking - and it's always right outside of our bedroom window because she can see the road/sidewalk from there, so of course it wakes us up without fail. And it's not a little bark or howl - it's a loud grating bark that goes on and on until they finally bring her in. I talked to them about this in the fall and they were great and changed something and we hadn't been woken up by her barking in the past 3 or 4 months.

Well the past two nights she's woken us up barking at 5:00am yesterday and 4:00am this morning. I was beyond angry and couldn't fall back asleep. I am due in a month with baby#2 and she will be sleeping in our room with us and I can't deal with waking up all night with her AND a vicious dog. What in the world can I do?

1 mom found this helpful

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J.L.

answers from Chicago on

If they do it again tomorrow. Talk to them again. If that doesn't work look up the oridnance for where you live so you have that information. If it doesn't get any better...Call the police to have them enforce it.

5 moms found this helpful
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K.B.

answers from Columbus on

My parents have two beagles and I know the annoying constant bark you're talking about. My parents are very responsible dog owners, but once they didn't hear them barking (they have a really big yard) and one of the neighbors called the police. When a cop showed up at the house, they got the message. They now take them out on leashes instead of just putting them out in the yard. That means no barking! I would call the cops. They won't tell them who called, and you can continue to be nice to them and they probably won't think it's you!

4 moms found this helpful

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E.M.

answers from Johnstown on

Talk to your neighbors again. Explain to them that you have a very high tolerance to dogs, but that you can NOT be woken up that early in the morning...it affects your daily performance as well as your significant other's. They need to do something about the dog or you'll have to call the authorities to complain.

7 moms found this helpful

A.W.

answers from Kalamazoo on

Well, if you're in city limits, there is probably a city noise ordinace which prohibits loud noise after and before a certain time. If so, call the cops. I've called the cops on one of our neighbors whose dog was outside barking at 11pm. They weren't home, they had left the dog outside, it was winter and about 5 degrees outside - so no wonder the poor dog was barking! By the time the officer arrived, the people were home and he issued them a warning.

6 moms found this helpful
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S.W.

answers from Minneapolis on

In Minneapolis the city has a noise ordinance and a barking dog, at any time of the day, is a violation. Here, all we need to do is fill out an online form to report a complaint and the Animal Control will investigate, give a warning, and then fine the owner if nothing changes. Check with your city offices.

4 moms found this helpful
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R.J.

answers from Salt Lake City on

I would just go over and talk to them, honestly nobody can be angry with a pregnant woman.

4 moms found this helpful
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S.D.

answers from Dothan on

vuvuzela, get one.....honk at the dog every morning. That will teach him!

3 moms found this helpful

C.G.

answers from Denver on

Ok, gotta love soteria's answer but I'm going to go one better.

Get the vuvuzela and every time new baby is up in the middle of the night, get outside and blow that sucker for all it's worth.

Ok, well, that may not be feasible but call animal control AFTER you make a recording, or 3 or 4 of the dog.

2 moms found this helpful
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D.K.

answers from State College on

Since talking to them worked before, I would try that again. It is possible something has changed in their schedule or one of the dogs needs to potty early in the morning currently. They may be able to put up something that will block the dogs view of the sidewalk to try and keep the barking to a minimum. Our dog will bark if someone comes to the door and yes she sounds like she wants to eat them, but she is actually very nice, just has a killer bark on her.

2 moms found this helpful
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K.H.

answers from Minneapolis on

call the city an complain..there is a dog barking ordinance...file a complaint.

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M.I.

answers from Duluth on

call your city government offices!

most cities require certain things of dog owners, some require license and etc. but ALL, even my local town of 300 people, take dogs seriously.

please call your city and tell them the situation. especially since you did take steps to resolve the problem between yourselves, and it didnt work, or hasnt changed.

good luck

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A.C.

answers from Columbus on

I think you have 2 options:

If you're on decent terms with your neighbors, go and talk to them again.

If not, call your city municipality and find out about dogs/noise ordinances. There are probably rules (in our city, it's something 20 min of non=stop barking or X mins total in a hour is something you can be fined for (you get a warning first), or something like that).

Also, try to think of it like the dog: the dog is not vicious (dogs don't do things without a reason). The dog is barking because it's trying to protect it's territory (most likely) and sees cars/people/etc going by the house as interlopers on the territory. You, also, unfortunately, sound like you are being viewed as strangers/interlopers. The dog's job (in his mind) is protect his family & his pack (his humans), and he is just doing his job. That doesn't make him a bad dog, just not compatible with living with neighbors.

I would suggest trying to make friends with the dog. Every time you see the dog, when you're in your yard, throw the dog a biscuit (check with owners first). If every time you see him he gets a little treat, he'll soon come to like you. Or, if he's not a treat dog, but will chase balls, throw the ball for him.

Do start talking to your 2yo about the dog, and safety (ie, we never go up to pet a strange dog without getting permission first; no feeding the dog unless you have permission, etc). I know one of the vet hospitals used to send vet tech outs for community service to the local schools to give safety tips for dealing with dogs. (if a dog is chasing you, get something between you and the dog and then "be a tree" [stand tall and don't make eye contact; keep still and keep your arms/hands down, make no noise, etc.)

Good luck!

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S.C.

answers from Minneapolis on

We have two nice retriever type dogs next to us! One they let the dog "escape" under the garage door and it would bound outsite and make where it pleased! In other words that is the way they "walked" the dog. Of course most cities including ours has a Leash Law. The other thing an elderly couple nearby chatting in front of their home the dog ran up and jumped and knocked down the man Twice or more. He wanted to understandbly put the dog to sleep before more harm came to him.
Our view we did not like that the dogs barking made the nuisance dog on the other corner bark even more that it already did! It took only one time of someone not sure who reported the dog running out side with no leash to make in the city. They corrected that behavior really fast glad to say. The other corner dog we know one the owners and the spouse we kind of know. They are busy people and animal lovers. But their "sweet" dog has one of the loudest barks I have heard! He barks when the Garbage truck visits, when squirrels climb trees, when children get off the school bus etc. etc. I felt we could never enjoy our backyard ever AGAIN. But after calling the animal control and police several times they reduced the dogs outside time. So was much better for awhile. Then it starting happening again! Trying to be considerate let the dog bark itself out but after that another round and then another round. So Again the animal control / police had to be called. I felt the need to be considerate of these folks and tried to Call them First to let them know the dogs barking problem but they did not appreciate even that! So next time just called the Police to take care of it. the problem is by the time the police get there if the dog quieted down you will be the "problem" so As soon as you think there will be a lot of barking and is the "day" call right away the police or animal control. I even stick the phone outside to the let the advisor hear the barking just in case they miss it! And glad to say rarely is the dog that is set free, free and they pay more attention to it. And the other corner dog also have heard barking outside less and less and pray that will continue. We did buy a fancy with Remote barking control machine to put outside it did help some but with so much barking the batteried probably run out so then they need to be changed! Since the dog barks so early maybe get an automatic sound conttrolled tape recorder and stick it outside but put on it the date and time roughly when it was placed there and when it would be stopped. Then you can let animal control have a reason to go there and maybe they will try to be there also early.

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K.P.

answers from Fargo on

Call the city. Most cities have ordinances relating to animals, and fines for violations.

You should be able to find guidance there.

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L.D.

answers from Minneapolis on

I had this exact same problem. It's touchy because the dog belongs to your neighbor. In my neighborhood, people are friends and we try to keep it that way. So calling in a complaint to the police, while correct, IS touchy.

Beagle are notorious for barking but not viciousness. The viciousness is more likely due to the owner's poor or non-existent dog-training skills. The older the animal gets, the worse it becomes, and less likely it will be to correct without serious, ongoing, life-long professional dog training help.

Your neighbor sounds like a lousy dog owner. Even if you're on decent terms with your neighbor, telling him/her that they are bad owners will probably not work and just make them mad. Your neighbor will not get rid of the dog because you ask him/her to. The only remedy is to continue to call in complaints to the city (non-emergency phone number) for disturbing the peace. In most cities, after 3 strikes, your neighbor will get a ticket and fine. The next 3 strikes, more tickets and fines. Just keep at it. (Talk to your other neighbors and encourage THEM to also call in barking to the city. That way you don't look like the only whiny person in the neighborhood)

If the dog BITES anyone, call it in. Usually, 3 biting strike-outs results in mandatory euthanasia.

Always, speak calmly and rationally. I know you're tired and pissed off, but when you make a complaint, it's important for the dispatcher to take you seriously.

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K.I.

answers from Oklahoma City on

call animal control if they don't do something, or if you don't mind buy a dog barking silencer or something like this there are a lot of devices for this ... and install it right outside your window and when you hear the dog just push the botton and save a lot of trouble..............
we just move to a new neighborhood and the fenced is really bad situated so one half of my house side is on the neighbor yard and their dog love to bark in the mornings too, I told my husband about talking to them but my DH says the easiest thing to do is buy that device....

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