How to Get Your Neighbor’s Dog to Stop Barking Continuously

In theory, dogs are fine. They are loyal, loving companions who will sit with you after a hard day and tilt their heads sympathetically when you feel overwhelmed. But there are dogs who love to hear barking. It is especially offensive when your neighbor’s dog likes to bark all night long, or barks every time you approach her house. Luckily, there are a few things you can do to keep this puppy quiet and have the peace and quiet you need without being a jerk.

Talk to your neighbor first

This should be taken for granted, but you should talk to your neighbor before trying anything else. Chances are, they don’t realize that their dog is barking so much – for example, when they leave for work – or they may be aware of the problem and are already working on it. Give them the opportunity to doubt and avoid harsh accusations, as this will only force them to defend themselves.

It is also important that you do this personally. Leaving an anonymous note at their door may seem like the best way to avoid confrontation, but it’s easiest for them to ignore. Talk to them in person and show them who they influence. Use this as an opportunity to get to know them and to side with them to make them want to solve the problem. If you refuse to talk to your neighbors, you are half the problem.

If they are inexperienced dog owners and don’t know what to do, nudge them in the right direction. Show them bark training tips from, for example, the Humane Society , or recommend them to a professional trainer in your area. If you do the hard work and give them information, they are more likely to give it a try.

Block the dog’s view, make friends, be present

If your dog barks every time you step out into the backyard, blocking his vision can help. The dog is probably trying to defend its territory, but if it cannot see you, there is no danger. Set up a fence or plant trees and shrubs along the border between you and your neighbor’s yard.

Of course, it could just be your sound in the yard or even your smell. If you can’t close the dog’s view, it’s time to kill him – wait – with kindness. The dog barks at you because he sees you as a danger to himself and his family. So, in order for it to stop barking, you should not be perceived as a danger.

Jen DeHaan, dog trainer and founder of DOGthusiast.com , invites you to befriend your dog . Politely ask your neighbor if you can meet his dog and maybe play a little with it. You want the dog to get used to your presence and your scent. DeHaan recommends that a neighbor also bring his dog to your yard so that they can get a good look at the area and its many smells.

Food is the easy way to a dog’s heart, but don’t feed someone else’s dog without his permission. The dog may have trouble digesting foods that other dogs may eat, it may be on a timed diet for health reasons, or it may have allergies. The last thing you want to do is infect your neighbor’s dog. If you feel this inclined, ask the owner what dog treats they use and ask if you can give them one from time to time.

Finally, the dog may bark at you every time you enter the yard, because you do not return there very often . He needs to get used to your presence, but he won’t be able to if you only go there once a week. Find a way to spend more time there. Put on your noise canceling headphones and read a book, set up a garden, or exercise in the grass. At the very least, take old shoes, T-shirts, and socks and place them along the fence so the dog can get used to your scent. Make your presence known so it no longer surprises the dog.

Use a dog whistle or sonic trainer.

Dog whistles emit sound in the ultrasonic range, which means that we, lame-hearing people, cannot hear them. But dogs can, and the sound drives them crazy. This is why they are useful for training. If you’ve been talking to your neighbors and their dog still can’t keep quiet, you canuse the dog’s whistle to train them yourself from the comfort of your own home. It works like this:

1. Receive HOG WHISTLE. You can find them online for between $ 5 and $ 15 .
2. Keep the whistle in a place that you can easily reach at all times.
3. When the dog starts barking, blow the whistle.

This may make them bark even harder at the gate at first, but your persistence will pay off. The dog will hate it – don’t worry, it won’t hurt them – and eventually it will learn that every time it barks, it must hear a sound, so it will stop. There are even dog whistle apps ( iOS , Android ), but they may not be loud enough to be used with your neighbor’s dog. A real dog whistle will definitely be loud enough and can be used through shared walls if you live in an apartment building.

If you don’t think you can keep up with the training, you might want to consider a sound training device like the Instecho Sonic Birdhouse or the Vicvol ultrasonic outdoor bark controller . You hang them on a tree in front of your neighbor’s yard, and every time the dog barks, it automatically emits an ultrasonic sound, similar to a dog’s whistle.

File a formal noise complaint

When all else fails, the nuclear option remains: to file a formal complaint with your homeowner, the homeowners’ association, animal control, or even the police if you are in a rural area. Noisy pets often violate the terms of rental contracts and homeowners association contracts , especially if barking occurs at night after a certain hour. And in some communities, animal support services may refer to people whose dogs are disturbing the peace.

Be sure to check your local laws and city codes. For example, the Los Angeles Municipal Code defines “excessive noise” as “noise that is unreasonably annoying, disturbing, offending, or that unreasonably interferes with the comfortable living or possession of property of one or more occupants of property in a community or area in reasonable proximity to the property. where the dog or dogs are kept. “

Most cities have similar laws. If you file a complaint, they will receive a warning. If this continues and there is evidence of noise, they will have to go to court. If that’s not enough to get your neighbor’s ass in motion, you may just need to move.

This story was originally published in February 2017 and updated on January 12, 2021 to replace dead links and revise content in line with current Lifehacker style guidelines.