Harrassment by Neighbors

Be careful my dogs got poisoned by our neighbors and the cops would not do a thing. our dogs wasn't the only ones there was others.

Let me say this and maybe you will give yourself a second thought. I have been to many peoples houses that have barking dogs and thought they bark too much , I mean way too much.

When I moved out of my mother's house and got a house dog of my own , my dog barks all the time and I don't think anything about it.

That's just the way it is , your dogs are your own children and you don't think anything about it even though you don't mean to disturb the neighbors.

When I moved here into my new neighborhood , I asked my neighbor (respectively) time to time if my dogs bother them barking.

One neighbor said no. One neighbor wanted to know what their names were so they could talk to them when they bark.

I asked that neighbor later how my dogs were doing they said they're doing fine now.

So you just need to be fair with them and try to see both sides of everything and not be so protective of your dogs.

I suggest a privacy fence, 6-7 feet tall, around the back yard. Only let the dogs out when you can be with them. If you are in the county, there are no rules for barking dogs. Mention the firecracker to the police as harassment. Been there, done that.

Back in my wilder days(another life), the Sheriff's Dept knew our neighborhood pretty well. Having a neighbor that is a gossip mill didn't help.

quote:

Originally posted by littlemeanmama:
I suggest a privacy fence, 6-7 feet tall, around the back yard. Only let the dogs out when you can be with them. If you are in the county, there are rules for barking dogs. Mention the firecracker to the police as harassment. Been there, done that.

You're losing big times. 1. Privacy fence is NOt going to keep them fom barking at noises. 2. You need to try to get alone with your neighbors the best you know how.

You never met my neighbors!

If you have a MinPin then you are right and your neighbors are screwed up. i would save up soe min pin poop and maybe scatter it around the drivers side door of all cars. Some people are just *******s.

quote:

Originally posted by jailbyrdrn@comcast.net:
Just wanted to know if anyone out there has ever had any trouble with their neighbors and if so what did you do to end it? We have two neighbors on the left side of our house that harrasses us continually about our dogs. Two years ago they took me to court. Their complaint is that they bark. We have a poodle and a miniture pincher. They are inside dogs. They spend no time outside at night. They only bark when someone bothers them or a car passes. We don't live on a busy street. One set of neighbors sit out in their garage that faces our back yard drinking and smoking. The other set is two old people. The old man who owns the house doesn't really bother us, but the bitty that stays with him all the time does. She just walked out this evening and threw a firecracker when my husband and daughter came home. We bought this house almost five years ago because of the great backyard for our dogs. Now we have to constantly have to worry about them and what kind of trouble they'll try to start. We don't give them the satifaction of fighting back anymore, we just ignore them and go on our merry way. Anyway, kind of a long post, but any help out there would be greatly appreciated.

(Respectfully)I had neighbors that had barking dogs, and I will say it was a real P.I.T.A. (pain in the ***). I asked these neighbors several times to do something about it, but they said, oh well they bark at everything, not just you, they went on about their bussiness and never said anything about it.
One occasion, one of them almost came over the rock wall to attack me, while I was working in my vegtable garden. Well, I can say he wouldn't have survived the trip back across.

Jailbryd, try to put yourself in yourself in their shoes.

It was extremly miserable coming home listening to that and not even being able to go about my daily routine without having a bunch of yapping going on that wasn't even something that belonged to me.

Anyways, thats my opinon.

jailbyrdrn,

I also currently and have had problems with other people's dogs. I currently have a neighbors dog coming into my yard and taking stuff off or chewing it up, not to mention having dog shi? in my yard. I really find it hard to believe someone would spend the money and take to time to go to court if there was not a problem. I sounds like from your letter they stay out during the day. Could it be they are barking all the time when you are not there? As a responsible pet owner it is your responsibility to make sure you dog is not a nuisance. I love animals. My beautiful golden died a few years back and I have yet to get another for these reasons & due to my work schedule.

my neighbors on both sides have 2 outside dogs each..they were constantly barking at each other, across my chain-fenced yard..since i've put up a privacy wood fence for my pool, it totally stopped..

i made friends with one set of dogs by tossing treats to them (owner's approval, of course) when i'd go in my back yard..they hardly ever bark while i'm out there now, just wag their tails off....when they do that wailing at the sirens, i just wail with them, bonding i guess!

when my house was being built, my workers complained of the smell..i went to my neighbor, told him the complaint, and offered a solution..he immediately took care of the problem, and we are able to 'neighborly' solve the few problems that do arise..

that's what worked for me..

I have a neighbor who has a small yappy dog that barks incessantly every time I make any noise in my back yard. It is extremely irritating that I cannot enjoy some peace and quiet in by back yard because of that darn dog.

It drive the wife crazy, too. Especially when we are trying to enjoy a glass of wine aftera long day at work.

So, if you do indeed have a yappy dog, please respect your neighbors right to peace and quiet. An occasional barking dog is no bid deal. I'm a dog person. I love them. I have a dog. But a yappy dog that yaps so much that it disturbs the neighbors is just not cool. Perhaps you can consider a muzzle for the dog on occasion?

Please respect your neighbors. Keep the dogs quiet.

I understand both sides of this one. I have been both the one that had the dog that barked too much and the one that couldn't stand it.

I had a friend that went to Iraq and I kept his Redbone Hound for him in my privacy fenced back yard. That dog barked at a bug if it was bored. I admit he was awful and when my neighbors complained to me, I apologized, explained the siutation and tried to hush him up when I could. Unfortunately, many dogs bark at sounds that we don't hear and we don't know why they are barking (i.e. ambulance siren 5 miles away). My situation took care of itself as he took the dog back when he got back from Iraq.

As far as your situation, anything that the neighbors do, i.e. firecrackers -- is abuse and they should be reported for such acts. I realize they are annoyed, but that is no reason to attack the dog. I would suggest some sort of video survelance (sp?) to document their attacks on your dogs in case anything ever does happen to them--you have proof. If you put up the camera and notify your neighbors that you are recording their actions -- maybe that would help the situation, but it could make it worse.

If your dogs are inside dogs and are rarely outside, there is not a lot that your neighbors can do "legally" to you for the dogs. If they were outside dogs, you might would be required to privacy fence or other measures. So long as you have X number of dogs there is no "law" that addresses them. If you had enough to be considered a "rescue" or "kennel" or somethng--it might be different. A friend that rescues strays ran into that a few years ago and resorted to giving some away and bringing the dogs (large and small) inside her home in the evening to keep the "noise down" so the rich neighbor would stop complaining to the police.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by GoFish:
Perhaps you can consider a muzzle for the dog on occasion?

I agree with GoFish. It might stop more problems.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by jailbyrdrn@comcast.net: Two years ago they took me to court. Their complaint is that they bark.

What was the ruling?

quote:

Originally posted by Heub:
If you have a MinPin then you are right and your neighbors are screwed up. i would save up soe min pin poop and maybe scatter it around the drivers side door of all cars. Some people are just *******s.

Now I know whose crap I stepped in one day at Petco.

Well....Everyone here knows....I have two Minn Pinns myself....Every morning....around 5 or so...I let them out to potty shall we call it....well...my neighbor has 4 Sooners....and I am sitting right smack in the middle of 6 acres...and his dogs come running over here barking and carrying on.....and one of them actually jumped on my Female....she is very small...maybe 3 pounds....and his dogs...all four....each one will go 30 pounds atleast....and I had the paper chewing problem also....So....here is what I did....I called the Sherrif's dept. and asked them what I could do....to detour these dogs from coming over in my yard...without me getting into trouble....because....thats all I need...especially being self employed....and my name hitting the news paper for animal cruelty...well..I am done....So...I had to protect myself as well as the puppies....now...we are only outside for a matter of 5 minutes or so....just long enough for them to do their business...but every morning....all four of his makes a bee line....right over here....So the Sherrif's dept. to me...get a bb gun....Yes...thats right....something to sting...but not kill...and I did....I popped three of them in the tail end a couple times.....Solved my problem.....now when we go outside...I dont even carry the bb gun....just the bb's in a plastic container....when the dogs start to head over this way...I just shake the bb's...and they do a power slide and head home...Cost me about $35.00 for the pump bb gun and ammo....but..cheaper than a Wood fence up around 6 acres....Price that.....

High Tech to the rescue once again.

http://www.smarthome.com/61392-stop-dog-barking.html

DF

Been there, done that several times over the years.

I have found out it is so much better to try to work things out with the PEOPLE involved, because dogs are just going to be DOGS, and they bark!!!

I have been very fortunate, even with one that I "fussed" with for nearly a year. Got tired of fussing about dogs, so I just went over and "talked" to them one evening. I sat there through 3 pots of Coffee and we became friends instead of foes.

The dogs continued to bark, but for some reason, it didn't rub on my every nerve.

I love Dogs, I am a DOG PERSON, my dog owns me!! lol. But I DO realize that getting along with PEOPLE, if possible, is the best avenue.

quote:

Originally posted by Kindred:
Been there, done that several times over the years.

I have found out it is so much better to try to work things out with the PEOPLE involved, because dogs are just going to be DOGS, and they bark!!!

I have been very fortunate, even with one that I "fussed" with for nearly a year. Got tired of fussing about dogs, so I just went over and "talked" to them one evening. I sat there through 3 pots of Coffee and we became friends instead of foes.

The dogs continued to bark, but for some reason, it didn't rub on my every nerve.

I love Dogs, I am a DOG PERSON, my dog owns me!! lol. But I DO realize that getting along with PEOPLE, if possible, is the best avenue.

After 3 pots of coffee , how many trees did you climb ?

they sell a collar that gives them a mild shock if the dogs keep barking. It gives a noise warning and then if they keep yapping it gives them a little buzz. Used it on a dog and it only got shocked 2 times

My dogs are not yappy. They do however 'yap' when one of the neighbors walks over to the fence with a video camera, harrasses them to make them bark and then actually thinks that a lawyer is going to think she has a case. These neighbors yell insults at me, my husband and even my teenage daughters, obsence gestures and even the old lady once flashed her sagging boobs(and I do mean SAGGING) at us. I had nightmares for weeks! We did what the courts told us to do and the case was dismissed. They thought they would make us get rid of our dogs. Even tried to get Animal Control in on it and they told them that they had no problems with our dogs. We have a well manicured yard and a nice home. We would never let our dogs bother anyone. When they were most complaining and took me to court my husband worked nightshift and we had a baby who took naps. Our bedroom is on the back of the house where the dogs are when they are out and he was NEVER awaken by them barking. So, we really feel like they are just big bullies who very badly need a hobbie.

quote:

Originally posted by GoFish:
I have a neighbor who has a small yappy dog that barks incessantly every time I make any noise in my back yard. It is extremely irritating that I cannot enjoy some peace and quiet in by back yard because of that darn dog.

It drive the wife crazy, too. Especially when we are trying to enjoy a glass of wine aftera long day at work.

So, if you do indeed have a yappy dog, please respect your neighbors right to peace and quiet. An occasional barking dog is no bid deal. I'm a dog person. I love them. I have a dog. But a yappy dog that yaps so much that it disturbs the neighbors is just not cool. Perhaps you can consider a muzzle for the dog on occasion?

Please respect your neighbors. Keep the dogs quiet.

I am a very responsible dog owner. We did the shock collars like the courts said and they were still harrassing. We put up a pen(with privacy fence) to keep them as far away from the neighbors and they were caught going into the yard next to ours to put a tape recorder because obviously it wasn't loud enough at their house to record. Still sound like I'm the problem? Don't think so. So, my answer is that they get no reaction from my family anymore. You know the old saying 'what goes around, comes around'? Them harrassing my family like they do will come back to haunt them one day.
I pray for them every day.

quote:

Originally posted by HIFLYER:
jailbyrdrn,

I also currently and have had problems with other people's dogs. I currently have a neighbors dog coming into my yard and taking stuff off or chewing it up, not to mention having dog shi? in my yard. I really find it hard to believe someone would spend the money and take to time to go to court if there was not a problem. I sounds like from your letter they stay out during the day. Could it be they are barking all the time when you are not there? As a responsible pet owner it is your responsibility to make sure you dog is not a nuisance. I love animals. My beautiful golden died a few years back and I have yet to get another for these reasons & due to my work schedule.

Watch out.I understand that Michael Vick will be out in a couple of years.Your neighbors might hire him to pay you a visit.

quote:

I am a very responsible dog owner. We did the shock collars like the courts said and they were still harrassing. We put up a pen(with privacy fence) to keep them as far away from the neighbors and they were caught going into the yard next to ours to put a tape recorder because obviously it wasn't loud enough at their house to record. Still sound like I'm the problem? Don't think so. So, my answer is that they get no reaction from my family anymore. You know the old saying 'what goes around, comes around'? Them harrassing my family like they do will come back to haunt them one day.
I pray for them every day.

It sounds like you have some screwy neighbors. And it sounds like they are definitely harassing you. I would call the police every time they do anything and file a report so it will be on the record. If they are threatening you, something should be said to them by the law. You could report grandma was a flasher and have her arrested for indecent exposure!!! Make their life miserable and maybe they will leave you alone because they are dealing with their own problems. Just a suggestion....

These people make Vick look like the poster child for PAWS

quote:

Originally posted by geddon97:
Watch out.I understand that Michael Vick will be out in a couple of years.Your neighbors might hire him to pay you a visit.

Muzzling a dog prevents them from eating or drinking or defending themselves. Do they make muzzles for humans? Maybe I could just Muzzle them. Sounds fair. Does it sound fair to muzzle a dog than when it isn't barking they come to the fence if they think no ones home and harrass the dogs. I've caught them doing that. I was home and all the cars were gone. Unfortunetly my video camera's battery was down and I can't prove it. Great neighbors huh? Thought about sending them popsicle sticks and glue so they'd have a hobby and take some of their attention off of us. I wish I had so much time on my hands that I could pay that much attention to my neighbors.

quote:

Originally posted by Taciturn:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by GoFish:
Perhaps you can consider a muzzle for the dog on occasion?

I agree with GoFish. It might stop more problems.

Jailbyrd -- you can invest in a security camera fairly cheaply these days -- and even get one that if you don't want them to know what it is -- it can look something more functional -- etc...please invest in one. I realize yappy dogs get on peoples nerves, but if your neighbors are taunting them -- I'd want to kick their buts. Then you can get a restraining order on your neighbors and if abuse is documented -- have charges filed...

quote:

Originally posted by jailbyrdrn@comcast.net:
Muzzling a dog prevents them from eating or drinking or defending themselves. Do they make muzzles for humans? Maybe I could just Muzzle them. Sounds fair. Does it sound fair to muzzle a dog than when it isn't barking they come to the fence if they think no ones home and harrass the dogs. I've caught them doing that. I was home and all the cars were gone. Unfortunetly my video camera's battery was down and I can't prove it. Great neighbors huh? Thought about sending them popsicle sticks and glue so they'd have a hobby and take some of their attention off of us. I wish I had so much time on my hands that I could pay that much attention to my neighbors.

quote:

Originally posted by Taciturn:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by GoFish:
Perhaps you can consider a muzzle for the dog on occasion?

I agree with GoFish. It might stop more problems.

it

Some people are just going to be problems, & there just doesn't seem to be a way around it. I wished that I had answers, because I know how frustrating it is to try to get along, or just live your life by minding your own, when there are disrespectful, nosey people around. Some people like to make rules for others but do as they please, or just be rude because they're mean & have issues. I'm looking to buy a home, but I'm always judging what I notice next door at what could be my future neighbors, it makes me nervous what I might have to put up with when moving into a new place. Sometimes I think the bad neighbors that may not be around during the time of looking at a home, help the saler drop the price to get away from crazy neighbors.

I guess like in-laws, having good neighbors is such a blessing.

The neighbors are complaining about dogs that bark INSIDE the house? Touchy, touchy. Try my neighborhood. I have to wear earplugs at night now whether my snoring hubby is home or not. My neighbors must wear earplugs, too, and their kids can now sleep through a tornado...haha. It's a cute and sweet dog, but that dog would drive me crazy. But if the dog were inside their house, I'd sleep fine.

I haven't complained, but I've thought about it a few times.

A few years ago, we had a neighbor (they've moved) with a small dog that for some reason liked to come right in front of our yard & yip half the night. Well, since the neighbor didn't know what to do about it, I did. I got up every night with the water hose & sprayed that dog back into it's yard. Poor thing probably thought I was a psycho. However, a few nights of this & the dog decided it could yip from it's own yard. And guess what? The neighbor decided they actually could do something about the dog once it was waking them up instead of me.

I think courtesy demands that you discipline your dogs (In a humane way! Do not be cruel to our little doggie friends!), put them in a fenced back yard 'if you can' or don't get one. Respecting your neighbor's boundaries when you have pets is common courtesy.

In this particular case, however, the opposite is true. These crazy people in your neighborhood are not respecting your boundaries as a pet owner. The dogs are inside, for pete's sake. If this goes on & your hands are tied, I would seriously think about moving, but that's just my opinion. You do what you see best.

quote:

Originally posted by _Joy_:

A few years ago, we had a neighbor (they've moved) with a small dog that for some reason liked to come right in front of our yard & yip half the night. Well, since the neighbor didn't know what to do about it, I did. I got up every night with the water hose & sprayed that dog back into it's yard. Poor thing probably thought I was a psycho. However, a few nights of this & the dog decided it could yip from it's own yard. And guess what? The neighbor decided they actually could do something about the dog once it was waking them up instead of me.

Joy, you always seem to have creative solutions to these kinds of problems. Help me out, please (and I mean this sincerely).

Our dog is a Schnauzer mix, that only barks when someone knocks at the door, the cats get in a fight, or our neighbor's dogs start barking (at something? about something?, but not every time they bark).

I don't mind the neighbors dogs, they are across the street, but when they get going, my dog gets going whether she is inside or out.

Have you got a cure? If you do, it could solve both our problems.

Oh, goodness, CrustyMac. I think mine was more an act of desperation from lack of sleep. I know, I'll stay up all night & give you answer about 4 a.m. Just kidding!

Well, you know the Pavlov's Dog principle? I think the dog will have to associate something negative with barking when the other dogs bark. Unfortunately, that means you have to give him something negative, which seems totally unfair! The other dogs started it!

If the dog dislikes water, you can use the water bottle & spray him (works great with cats), but many dogs love water & would just see it as a game.

How about one of those dog whistles that makes the high frequency sound only dogs can hear?

Basically, it's kind of like disciplining a child when you take away the gameboy or the car keys. Find out what bothers your dog (nothing cruel!) and there's your best form of discipline.

Then later on down the road, to make up for the injustice of it all, give him a treat when he remains silent.

You are right, the water won't work. It worked great on our cats, though.

Do the dog whistles irritate the dog, I thought people used those to actually call dogs?

Her barking doesn't really bother me (except when she is in the house), but I hate to be a bad neighbor. The neighbors haven't complained - they'd have to complain about the other dogs first - I just don't like adding to the noise pollution.

Someone mentioned a shock collar, but I don't want her to stop barking completely, she's a great watch dog, and normally just sits on the front porch or in the monkey grass and watches the world go by.

CrustyMac, I had you confused with the originator of this post. Sorry! Hey, if the neighbors aren't complaining, that sounds like the sweetest dog in the world. Go give her a treat and tell her I said I was SOOO sorry.

I have to tell you, I just hate those shock collars. I went to someone's house one time & parked on the curb. The dog comes running out to greet me & as I'm reaching down to pet her, she starts making this awful "in pain" noise. Her owner comes flying out the door yelling "it's her shock collar". The poor thing wanted me to pet her so bad that she was willing to endure the pain. It about broke my heart. Now, that's my only experience with them. So, they may be okay if you are trying to keep them in a unfenced yard, but I don't think I could do it after that experience.

Here's info on the dog whistle...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dog_whistle

http://www.ultimatebarkcontrol.com/

quote:

Originally posted by littlemeanmama:
I suggest a privacy fence, 6-7 feet tall, around the back yard. Only let the dogs out when you can be with them. If you are in the county, there are no rules for barking dogs. Mention the firecracker to the police as harassment. Been there, done that.

I have a 10 month old bassett hound and a choc. lab in the back behind a 7 ft privacy fence. I didnt know how well it worked until I started letting them sleep in the garage. A great Pyrenees (SP)... walked by the garage door and even though they couldnt see him, that hound barked from 5 AM till 6 AM wanting to get to him. I put them out of the garage and it hasnt happened since. Now my little baby Chorkie.......she barks as loud as a 1 and a half lb dog can bark.......doesnt bother the neighbors, but I am a little sleepy....LOL...hehe

quote:

Originally posted by _Joy_:
CrustyMac, I had you confused with the originator of this post. Sorry! Hey, if the neighbors aren't complaining, that sounds like the sweetest dog in the world. Go give her a treat and tell her I said I was SOOO sorry.

I have to tell you, I just hate those shock collars. I went to someone's house one time & parked on the curb. The dog comes running out to greet me & as I'm reaching down to pet her, she starts making this awful "in pain" noise. Her owner comes flying out the door yelling "it's her shock collar". The poor thing wanted me to pet her so bad that she was willing to endure the pain. It about broke my heart. Now, that's my only experience with them. So, they may be okay if you are trying to keep them in a unfenced yard, but I don't think I could do it after that experience.

Here's info on the dog whistle...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dog_whistle

http://www.ultimatebarkcontrol.com/

See, I was right, you have a good solution. I'm thinking you need the treat. I might actually get the whistle to use on the neighbors dogs. My other neighbors might thank me.

It's really strange. In our old neighborhood, she never barked when other dogs in the neighbor hood barked. Then we got a new neighbor that had seven dogs. They lived about 1/2 mile away but their house was situated so that when their dogs barked the noise was channeled in our direction. It just drove our dog nuts.

It's the same situation here, when other dogs in the neighborhood bark, she doesn't care, but when these dogs get started, she goes crazy. Wish I spoke dog, so I knew exactly what it is they are saying to make mine so mad.

My dogs are inside dogs and rarely bark even when they are outside. My neighbors have an outside black lab who barks constantly, but I'm such a dog person that I've just learned to overlook it. I love her. She's beautiful. I just wish they would get her another dog to play with because she's very lonely and barks because she is bored. I feel really sorry for her.

At my office we have two different locals who think it's perfectly appropriate to walk their dogs on leashes right through my office lawn for them to do their business. I've just about reached my limit with those two.

CrustyMac...Cool!

She does seem a very discerning dog. Those dogs that tick her off are clearly lacking manners & she's giving them whatfor, like any good Southern lady would.

LAWGIRL...Speaking of lacking manners, you know that's fun if whoever mows the grass uses a push mower. How rude!

I don't mind a little poop, but in our old neighborhood we had a neighbor for a while with three labs that took a particular interest in my front yard.

In our new neighborhood I've seen a gentleman with a little dog who picks up the poop even if the dog goes in the vacant wooded lot. That's taking consideration to an extreme.