The dog upstairs - advice needed

I would first talk to her about it or leave a polite note. Since she's not home, she may not know the extent of the barking. I got a very nasty note on my door once regarding our dogs barking, except I didn't know they were doing it becuase when we left in the morning they were quiet and by the time I got home in the evening they were (almost always) quiet. It was during the day, and I had no way of knowing, and the note really ticked me off becuase it just assumed I was a terrible, negligent person.

So I'd approach her just by saying (or writing), "I'm not sure if you're aware of this, but..." And try to get a commitment from her that she'll work on it. A nuisance barking dog is probably not going to be solved over night, though there are definately a number of different ways to approach solving the problem. It may take some trial and error and I'd express to her that you're okay with her trying some new things out to see if they work, as long as she's trying something.

ORIGINAL: houndlove

I would first talk to her about it or leave a polite note. Since she's not home, she may not know the extent of the barking. I got a very nasty note on my door once regarding our dogs barking, except I didn't know they were doing it becuase when we left in the morning they were quiet and by the time I got home in the evening they were (almost always) quiet. It was during the day, and I had no way of knowing, and the note really ticked me off becuase it just assumed I was a terrible, negligent person.

So I'd approach her just by saying (or writing), "I'm not sure if you're aware of this, but..." And try to get a commitment from her that she'll work on it. A nuisance barking dog is probably not going to be solved over night, though there are definately a number of different ways to approach solving the problem. It may take some trial and error and I'd express to her that you're okay with her trying some new things out to see if they work, as long as she's trying something.

I'm just waiting for her to get home now.  We're on good terms, so hopefully it will go well.  I'll just say that I'm not complaining at this point, but she should know her dog spends the whole day barking and howling.  I know this because I come home for my lunch break.

But really, what would her options be?
 a)  Get another dog to keep it company (my family had two dogs all the time for this reason)
 b)  Get rid of the dog altogether (I don't really want her to have to do this)
 c)  Quit her job

Seriously, what would her options be in this situation?

Depending on what she's already doing, there are a lot of options.

Dogs bark usually becuase they are either distressed or bored. These are both issues that can be solved through managing the environment (if the dog is barking at people walking by, confine to a back room and/or close the shades, for instance), upping the exercise the dog recieves and WAY upping the amount of mental stimulation the dog gets. I'd be cooked if it weren't for interactive dog toys such as the Kong and the Busy Buddy. I leave them with my barky dog and he spends the first couple hours that I'm gone trying to get his breakfast, and the rest of the time sleeping after the effort of doing that.

Moreover, if the dog is suffering from seperation anxiety, while this is a much tougher problem, there are things that can be done about that too, though it's often best to consult with a professional behaviorist if that's the issue because SA is a mental disorder and needs a proper evaluation from a pro.

I'm just waiting for her to get home now. We're on good terms, so hopefully it will go well. I'll just say that I'm not complaining at this point, but she should know her dog spends the whole day barking and howling. I know this because I come home for my lunch break.

But really, what would her options be?
a) Get another dog to keep it company (my family had two dogs all the time for this reason)
b) Get rid of the dog altogether (I don't really want her to have to do this)
c) Quit her job

Seriously, what would her options be in this situation?

 
There could be many options depending on the reasons it is occurring…is it separation anxiety, boredom…lots of different things. 
 
My greyhounds are super quiet…they are a breed that rarely barks but a few months back I got home to a message on my machine from my next door neighbor saying that one of my dogs had been crying while I was away at work the previous few days.  I guess she was literally crying like she was in pain and they thought their might be something wrong with her.  I had NO idea this was going on because it has never been a problem.  Well we had taken them the previous week to be boarded at the rescue while we went out of town. Apparently I think that Prudence thought we were going away for a week again and not just 8 hours so she was very distressed. It only took a week for her to get back in her normal “routine” and to trust we weren#%92t leaving her for an extended period.  
 
Perhaps this dog needs kongs or things to chew on while the owner is away, or no access to the windows where she can see things to bark at. Or maybe the lady needs to come home at lunch or have someone check on or walk the dog mid day. 
 
I think just making her aware of the situation is a good start and perhaps she may be able to tell you of something that might be causing the dog to react in this manner.  
 

ORIGINAL: houndlove

Moreover, if the dog is suffering from seperation anxiety, while this is a much tougher problem, there are things that can be done about that too, though it's often best to consult with a professional behaviorist if that's the issue because SA is a mental disorder and needs a proper evaluation from a pro.

On thinking about it, it is probably seperation anxiety causing the issue.  As I said, she lives alone and I guess the only time the dog sees anyone else is when she's there.  I do have other concerns, I don't think she walks him often if at all.  So he may have all this pent up energy, but who the hell am I to ask her to make sure she walks him daily, and if not every other day?  I know dogs need that, but sometimes the owners can't provide.

As for the woman upstairs, I doubt she has the dog for 'protection', as he's a scrappy little thing, but more for companionship.  Trouble is obviously, she's out most of the time.

The noise I hear in my flat is bearable, I can't say it is disruptive or anything.  I just hate to hear an animal cry, for so long, and so often.  I want her to sort this out for her dog more than anything, and then the noise thing is a bonus for me. 

The only time it truly gets on my nerves is if she works a 6am shift, and the dog is howling thereafter waking - and keeping - me up.

I do have other concerns, I don't think she walks him often if at all. So he may have all this pent up energy, but who the hell am I to ask her to make sure she walks him daily, and if not every other day? I know dogs need that, but sometimes the owners can't provide.

 
Perhaps you can say that you are on a dog forum and that you know there are many dogs owners on there that have similar problems and sometimes even just a real good walk before work tires them out enough to sleep most the day...
 
My guys have to have a good 30 minute walk in the a.m. (we live in a condo so no yard to romp in...), and they get stuffed kongs, Prudence gets crated (JJ does not) and they get music left on for them. That is the normal routine and if I come home even 30 minutes early from work, they are still sleeping...they are happy to have the rest and quiet time.  [] 

I would definitly not suggest she get another dog, that makes no sense at all. Masybe you could find and print out some stuff on the subject of seperation anxiety. There are keys signs other then just barking that would prove to her the severity of the issue....such as not eating or playing with toys while the owners are gone
Also suggest leaving the tv on to drown out outside noise
hearty walks prior to being left alone
kongs
walkers, a lot of high school students are willing to do this for cheap, craigs list is a great resource for that

Well, my across the hall neighbor just recently got a 4 month old little dog.  And, I didn't know about him until I heard him barking and barking one day.  So, after she got home I went over and very nicely (friendly) asked if I could meet who was making all the commotion all day.  And, she said, "oh, he was barking, I'm so sorry." 

So, we talking for awhile about her schedule and ended up on three days I take him for a walk right before I take Willow. 

He's now really quiet except for when I first drop him off after our walks.  But, the extra attention, exercise has really helped. 

Maybe you could take him for a walk or if your home have him at your place?? She could just hide a key or something that's what we do.
 
If Willow got along with other dogs we'd have him over if we were home until she got back. 

I know some dogs who don't bark unless they can see out the window. Maybe she just needs to limit his access to windows to improve it. Certainly if she gave the dog sufficient exercise, he would be tired enough to sleep for most of the day.
 
Since you seem to care about dogs, maybe you could offer to walk him once a day for a nominal fee? []

ORIGINAL: Scout in Canada

I know some dogs who don't bark unless they can see out the window. Maybe she just needs to limit his access to windows to improve it. Certainly if she gave the dog sufficient exercise, he would be tired enough to sleep for most of the day.

Since you seem to care about dogs, maybe you could offer to walk him once a day for a nominal fee? []

I will advise her to close her front curtain, as in my letter below.  As for offering to walk him, I'm probably on similar time constraints to her (this is why I don't have a dog) and wouldn't be able to offer her anything she couldn't do herself.  She could do what I could offer herself.


Seeing as she is not in, I have written her a small letter.  I'll transcribe:

Dear xxxx,

Please don't view this as a complaint, but I thought you should be aware that when you are not at home, Buster makes a lot of fuss. 

I first really noticed it over the holidays.  He will constantly bark and howl throughout the day.  Barking at every passer by and visitors to my house.

When you have early shifts, he will bark and howl soon after you leave, sometimes keeping me awake.  He will go on for hours.  He is always making noise when I am home on my lunch break.

I don't want to tell you how to keep your dog by any means, but perhaps I can offer some suggestions?
PTO

'Kong' toys:  These are rubber toys you hide biscuits in.  They have to work to get them out.
Walking:  Hard work, I know (believe me!), but maybe that would get rid of some of his energy.
Curtains:  Perhaps close the front curtains so he can't see what to bark at.
TV/Radio:  Leaving the TV or radio on can make a dog feel  less 'alone'

Please remember, I'm not complaining, but maybe Buster needs something to entertain himself when you're out.  Don't get me wrong, I love dogs.  I just thought you should know.

Your neighbour,

my name


I wish I could handwrite as fast as I could type...  Took me ages to write that letter, and minutes to type it.  I need a printer.

What do you think?

I think thats a great letter!

ORIGINAL: sheprano

I think thats a great letter!

Turned out that the letter didn't matter, what a waste of time!  By the time I was ready to deliver it, she was home anyway so I just went and knocked on the door.  Went a lot better than I thought, she opened the door and I said that it was about Buster (her dogs name).   I said basically everything I have said in this thread.  I asked about his walking habits, and she said (quite reasonably, as I live in Ipswich UK - the international focus of some recent murders) that she doesn't walk him after dark these days.  I said that anytime she needs me to give him a walk, I'd do it for a couple pints of milk or something like that.  She's going to get her boyfriend a key cut and said she'd do one for me too as we're neighbours anyway, and then maybe I could walk him.

I suggested also that she close her front blind when not in, and she agreed.  She was suprisingly welcome to my comments, and even thanked me for them.  I made friends with her dog at the door, he did a lot of licking (he's a Jack Russell I found out).

In short, I voiced my concerns which she thanked me for and will be addressing the best she can.  She'll be taking extra measures (like getting her boyfriend and me a key cut so we can calm/walk the dog) and wants me to report any more noise or bad behaviour from him.  She definitely ruled out another dog, because then she'd have another mouth to feed and possibly another dogs worth of trouble!  She also ruled out any extra time off.  (without me suggesting either of those things, she obviously thought like I did)

Very succesful mission I think, but I did want to ask dog owners how they'd feel about a situation like this. 

Oh great!! I'm sure that is a weight lifted off of your shoulders and I'm sure that she appreciates the fact that you are so considerate. There are plenty of neighbors who would say "shut that darn dog up"! Plus like you mentioend she could very well have had no idea this was happening and botton line is a responsible dog owner cares about their dogs well being, physically and mentally.

Turned out that the letter didn't matter, what a waste of time! By the time I was ready to deliver it, she was home anyway so I just went and knocked on the door. Went a lot better than I thought, she opened the door and I said that it was about Buster (her dogs name). I said basically everything I have said in this thread. I asked about his walking habits, and she said (quite reasonably, as I live in Ipswich UK - the international focus of some recent murders) that she doesn't walk him after dark these days. I said that anytime she needs me to give him a walk, I'd do it for a couple pints of milk or something like that. She's going to get her boyfriend a key cut and said she'd do one for me too as we're neighbours anyway, and then maybe I could walk him.

I suggested also that she close her front blind when not in, and she agreed. She was suprisingly welcome to my comments, and even thanked me for them. I made friends with her dog at the door, he did a lot of licking (he's a Jack Russell I found out).

In short, I voiced my concerns which she thanked me for and will be addressing the best she can. She'll be taking extra measures (like getting her boyfriend and me a key cut so we can calm/walk the dog) and wants me to report any more noise or bad behaviour from him. She definitely ruled out another dog, because then she'd have another mouth to feed and possibly another dogs worth of trouble! She also ruled out any extra time off. (without me suggesting either of those things, she obviously thought like I did)

Very succesful mission I think, but I did want to ask dog owners how they'd feel about a situation like this.

[sm=clapping%20hands%20smiley.gif]Good for you ...it sounds like it went the best it possibly could.  I am glad she was open to discussing it and in truth you did her a favor by approaching her this way because what if it had come from another neighbor that wasn't so nice.  I was very happy that my next door neighbors told me about the problem with Prudence versus me getting a nasty letter from the Home Owners Association or something.

I am sure Buster appreciates it too...he will likely get more walks out of it and will be a happier pup! []