Found out my neighbor's 'quiet' dog barks for 3 hours straight when they leave

I always thought their dog was calm because it was silent when they were home. Then I had to work from home with a bad cold. From 9 AM to noon, that dog barked non-stop. I timed it. I checked our town's noise ordinance online, and it says continuous noise over 30 minutes from a single source is a violation. I never would have known if I wasn't stuck here. Now I have to figure out if I say something or just start logging the times. Has anyone else had a neighbor's pet turn into a noise machine only when the owners are gone?

3 comments

3 Comments

quinn_wood1mo ago

Honestly, that "only when the owners are gone" thing is so real. A friend had the same issue with a neighbor's beagle, and the owners were totally shocked when she showed them a video she took from her yard. They got one of those bark control things and it actually helped a lot.

barbara_baker571mo ago

Feel for you, that sounds maddening. My old neighbor's cat would yowl like a banshee the second their car left the driveway. Definitely start logging the dates and times for a few days. Having that record makes it a lot easier to have a calm talk with them or, if you have to, file a report.

abbyg141mo ago

Respectfully, I see this a little different. Bark control devices can be super stressful for some dogs and might even make them more anxious when they're already upset about being alone. Showing the video is definitely a good first step, but maybe the owners could try a different approach like more exercise before they leave or one of those puzzle toys that keeps them busy. Filing a report seems like a big leap before trying to work it out face to face with the owners first. Just saying, sometimes people get defensive when you go straight to the authorities without a heads up first.