Having a neighbor whose dog barks all the time is more than just an inconvenience. If the barking is too loud or lasts too long, it can make you dread coming home each evening.

When a nearby dog seems to bark constantly, it may seem hopeless, but learning how to get your neighbor’s dog to stop barking is a lot easier than you think. When you’re in this situation, don’t let the anger build up because there are certain things you can do to remedy the problem.

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

This one is obvious, but the first thing you should do is try talking to your neighbor about the problem. They may not even be aware that their dog is barking so much, either because they’ve gotten used to it or because they’re away a lot.

Don’t leave a note in their mailbox or take other steps because you’re afraid of confrontation. Always trust that they will care about the problem as much as you do, and always talk to them in person.

You can also purchase some type of sonic training device or dog whistle and use it on the dog every time the barking starts up again. The dog isn’t harmed by the whistle but should eventually learn that every time they bark, they’ll have to put up with the high-pitched sound, which means most of these dogs will eventually stop barking. If you’ve spoken to your neighbor, but the dog keeps barking, this solution is quick and painless.

Find Your Neighbor For Help

You can also make some suggestions to your neighbor that will work for both of you. For instance, you might suggest they take the dog inside from 10 pm until around 7 am so that you and the rest of the neighbors don’t have to put up with the barking while you sleep.

You could also suggest that they research classes at local facilities that help train dogs not to bark excessively. Most neighbors will respond in a positive way if you aren’t confrontational from the beginning.

If the dog sees you as a threat for some reason, this could be the cause of the barking. If this is the case, you can either plant trees along the fence line or put up a solid fence so you can block the dog’s view of your yard. The theory behind this is simple: if the dog doesn’t see you, it won’t feel threatened and likely won’t bark anymore. If that doesn’t work, you can always make friends with the dog so the perceived threat is removed.

Should You Call the Authorities?

Many people hate the idea of calling the authorities, but if you and your neighbors have talked to the pet owner and made suggestions and nothing has happened, or if the owner seems hostile or flat refuses to do anything about the problem, you may have no other choice.

The first thing you should do is research local ordinances and find out if there’s any type of noise ordinance in your city or town. Most cities have one, and it usually applies to the nighttime hours.

The ordinance will likely tell you exactly who to call when there’s a serious problem with a barking dog. It could be the non-emergency police phone number, or it could be a municipal officer or even someone else. Once you find out exactly who you should contact, go ahead and call them and make a formal complaint. In many areas, you can even request that the complaint be anonymous.

Call the Animal Control Division

If you believe that the barking is due to the animal being abused, you can always call the animal control division in your area. They will investigate and hold the pet owner responsible if they are deemed to be in violation of the law. If you call the authorities, they’ll start by giving the pet owner a warning, but they’ll continue to issue warnings and give them options until the number of times they’re in violation gets too high.

Most cities will give the pet owner a certain amount of time to take care of the problem before doing something more serious to the owner, and that action varies depending on the city and what is said in the actual ordinance. You can also get the other neighbors to call in a complaint as well. The more people who complain about the pet owner, the more seriously the authorities will take those complaints.

If you decide to take out a formal complaint in writing, which isn’t an option in every city, try to make it a group effort and get your neighbors to sign it as well. If you contact the authorities, they can help you learn what’s the easiest way to get this done.

What If Nothing Else Works?

If you’re at the end of your rope and nothing else seems to be working, you can always sue your neighbor in small claims court. You can sue for nuisance and claim that the dog’s barking is preventing you from enjoying your own home. If you win, the pet owner will have to pay you money, but don’t count on it being a lot. Check with a lawyer to help you decide how much to sue for before filing the lawsuit.

If you have a neighbor whose dog keeps barking, it’s a good idea to document everything that’s happening right from the beginning, including dates and times when you tried to talk to your neighbor, as well as videos and photos if you can. This is important because your neighbor may deny everything. If you have a lot of proof, it’s a lot more likely that your lawsuit will be successful.

Conclusion

Having a neighbor with a barking dog is inconvenient at the very least and menacing and aggravating at the most. If talking to your neighbor doesn’t work, you can always get the other neighbors involved and make a formal complaint together. If you try everything and nothing changes, you can always sue for nuisance in small claims court.