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[Parch]

Could the neighbor could also put up acoustic panels or something to mitigate the sound?

That could end up being the judges suggestion. I know a condo situation where they suggested installing a faux ceiling for complaints about a tenant above. That's a considerable expense for the complainer and some sort of solution is usually expected from the noise causer as well.

It really depends on what the city bylaw states. Rarely is nothing done about a complaint, and rarely is it all on the complainer.

 

[bananafactory]

How many times a day would the dog bark? If he wakes up the neighbor five times a day with a few barks, I get that that might be annoying.

Not going to court annoying, but something to talk with your neighbor about to solve if possible.

Exactly.

Even 1 minute of barking is enough to wake someone up

And I know for myself once I'm awake I can't fall back asleep. So yeah if it's barking for a minute every hour or two that's going to cause a problem

 

[redlegs87]

That's such a shitty and immature attitude. Dogs aren't the problem, shitty owners are the real problem. They buy dogs, don't do any training, and leave them alone for hours on end, and then say shit like, "dogs bark, deal with it."

I exercise my dogs at least 2 hours a day and when I am not home they get attention from others in the house. Yet my dog still barks she doesn't bark for just any reason. Most times she barks is when a cat or another dog walks by the back yard. We have cats in our neighborhood that just sit right on the other side of the fence basically teasing my dog. Thanks for assuming I am some kind of awful dog owner who doesn't give my dog exercise or interaction so they don't want to bark.

 

[SoRuffShoNuff]

4 minutes total barking that wasnt continuous? I can see how that would disrupt someones sleep easily. If every hour you were trying to sleep i randomly played loud barking noises and it woke you up you would get annoyed quickly!

 

[Beaulieu]

4 minutes total barking that wasnt continuous? I can see how that would disrupt someones sleep easily. If every hour you were trying to sleep i randomly played loud barking noises and it woke you up you would get annoyed quickly!

yep. I would have complained as well.

 

[Dinjooh]

4 minutes of barking sounds like a fuckton to me. If I were to watch a YouTube video with 4 minutes of barking I'd go mad around 1 minute.

Even worse, if you played 4 minutes of dog barks, through my headphones, cut out in small doses at random intervals over the next hour or two I'd go insane.

I really don't see why you wouldn't just try to work with your neighbor here. Even if you don't feel it's too much barking, he clearly does and isn't that enough?

 

[Podge293]

4 minutes total barking that wasnt continuous? I can see how that would disrupt someones sleep easily. If every hour you were trying to sleep i randomly played loud barking noises and it woke you up you would get annoyed quickly!

I'll update the OP once home but as mentioned in another few comments.

4 mins within a 30/40 min window

 

[pHand]

A couple of years ago I received an official letter from the city saying that if I didn't control my barking dogs they would visit me and potentially fine me.

...I have never in my life owned dogs. I kind of wanted the city to actually visit me to realize that so they would ignore any complaints from my idiot neighbor in the future. I knew exactly who it was that filed the complaint too: my backdoor neighbor who has nothing better to do with her time than complain about everyone in the neighborhood. Now, my next door neighbor does have dogs, so she should have directed the complaint at them. But I live right next to them --- my bedroom window is 10 feet from where their dogs usually are in the yard -- and the barking has never, ever bothered me. Meanwhile, she lives yards away and doesn't even know what house it's coming from? Give me a break.

The funny thing is her grandkids play in her yard all the time and scream at the top of their lungs. And last year her husband took a fucking jackhammer to their yard to lay new cement. But it's everyone else in the neighborhood who makes too much noise.

 

[davepoobond]

make a written log of the times the dog barks and for how long. the recording should only be a backup for verification of the proof you are writing down. make it easy for the judge to view when the dog barks.


it might also be a good way to disprove your neighbor if he is asked when and for how long the dog is actually barking before the recording is known about.

 

[holygeesus]

That's a bullshit attitude. There are noise ordinances for a reason.

It really does differ from country to country though. Here in the UK you have to do everything through the council as a first 'official' step towards getting authorities involved. I notice the OP is in Ireland though so again laws will be different. I've never heard of court action being a first step anywhere though - mental.

 

[Shabadoo69]

I had something similar happen to me with my dog. It doesn't matter if it's 4 minutes or 4 hours of barking if someone files a complaint you're screwed. If your a-hole neighbor keeps filing complaints you'll get fines and probably other stuff too. luckily I moved so I didn't have to deal with that dick neighbor anymore. I guess you could talk to him about it, that could be an awkward conversation.

 

[TheCochese]

I'll update the OP once home but as mentioned in another few comments.

4 mins within a 30/40 min window

So the dude basically can't get sleep within that entire window.

 

[Podge293]

It really does differ from country to country though. Here in the UK you have to do everything through the council as a first 'official' step towards getting authorities involved. I notice the OP is in Ireland though so again laws will be different. I've never heard of court action being a first step anywhere though - mental.

It's an absolute ridiculous law. Should be on the local authorities to check it out before court. But he technically followed the law by mentioning it to my wife. He was then free to escalate it to the courts

 

[CosmicQueso]

OP is in the right with this and I hope he wins because the neighbour is being completely unreasonable and honestly so are you.

Yes, it is completely unreasonable to try to work with the neighbor and come up with a mutually beneficial solution. Instead, far more reasonable to go to court after combing through hundreds of hours of audio files with the judge.

This thread.

Or, you know, train your dog.

.

 

[Lothars]

Yes, it is completely unreasonable to try to work with the neighbor and come up with a mutually beneficial solution. Instead, far more reasonable to go to court after combing through hundreds of hours of audio files with the judge.

This thread.
.

When the neighbour is being so unreasonable that in a couple weeks after he initally brought it to the OP, He brings them to court than yes he's unreasonable and should lose especially if OP is telling the truth and it's in the time period he's saying.

 

[Podge293]

Yes, it is completely unreasonable to try to work with the neighbor and come up with a mutually beneficial solution. Instead, far more reasonable to go to court after combing through hundreds of hours of audio files with the judge.

This thread.



.

I would have gladly spoke to it about him. He brought it to the courts not me. I haven't seen him in about a month. He talked to my wife 2 weeks ago and then we got informed yesterday an official complaint was raised.

Sorry I don't take the word of my neighbour as gospel and act immediately without proof. The neighbour on the other side hasn't had a word of complaint and I've seen him plenty.

 

[TheCochese]

I would have gladly spoke to it about him. He brought it to the courts not me. I haven't seen him in about a month. He talked to my wife 2 weeks ago and then we got informed yesterday an official complaint was raised.

Sorry I don't take the word of my neighbour as gospel and act immediately without proof. The neighbour on the other side hasn't had a word of complaint and I've seen him plenty.

Either the other neighbor also works nights, or this is the biggest case of completely not getting it I've ever seen.

 

[Snkfanatic]

I have a beagle and I guess I just got used to her howling/barking. I am in the market for another beagle as Skeeter the one I have now is getting up there in age. For the first time ever we had someone knock on our door to complain she said she was speaking for the neighborhood but I hardly believe that could tell it was just her being irritated. Either way dogs bark deal with it.

You sound like my neighbor. She leaves her dogs outside for hours on end and they bark their head off at any person or thing that moves by the fence. She lives at the end of the street and it's busy there...therefore they bark all damn day.

I went over after weeks of this and asked her nicely if there was anyway she could bring her dogs inside more often or try to do something about the barking. Her exact response "dogs bark, deal with it" and closed her door.

Don't be that neighbor. Especially when someone comes over and asks nicely.

 

[Ralemont]

a few weeks is a long time to lose sleep, especially since from his perspective you may as well be outright ignoring him.

 

[bjork]

I can see it on both sides, because I've actually worked at night for years and my neighbor rents his home out to people who generally have dogs that... I don't even know why they have them, really. They live in the backyard and never get attention, so I kinda try and become familiar to them in case I need to give them water or if they come through the fence, etc. One family had a dog that was like the Sandlot dog and he howled and howled for like the first year. Then he just stopped. He was there for a long time after, until they moved, and only barked at religious solicitors. We were homies after that, but the first year, I sure wanted to huck a big chocolate bar over the fence for him.

OP sounds like he's more involved in the dog's life than that, but if the dog is having separation anxiety or something, I'm not sure what you do to alleviate that. Maybe turn on a TV or something so there's at least some kind of human noise going on?

On the neighbor's end, I get it. Your body is not made for sleeping in the day, and so sleep can become a big psychological battle with yourself, and if you don't have ideal conditions, you just don't sleep that day and the next day or two are totally screwed. If you are awakened by something, once you lose that initial falling to sleep, you may as well just get up and go do something else until it's time for work. But there's stuff he can do on his end, and not "just get earplugs" as people are saying as some end-all solution.

I'm interested to see how this turns out.

 

[Podge293]

Either the other neighbor also works nights, or this is the biggest case of completely not getting it I've ever seen.

Or he's retired and we queried him about the dog ?

 

[Dinjooh]

a few weeks is a long time to lose sleep, especially since from his perspective you may as well be outright ignoring him.

Yup, two weeks of interrupted sleep every night (day) will probably hasten most decisions.

 

[the_prime_mover]

Obviously if you share walls with someone you should try to work together to find reasonable comprises where feasible. However, I doubt the dog barks loud enough to break any noise bylaws so the neighbour should take responsibility and wear some form of noise cancelling ear coverings. It was good of him to mention it initially, if only in passing, and great that you starting accumulating evidence, but lodging a complaint so soon afterwards shows that he isn't overly willing to work with you. So just cover your ass and try to get the pup more comfortable during your absence so she doesn't bark (sleep with a blanket for a few weeks then put it near the door so the dog can curl up with it, then put on the radio or some white noise to give her something to focus on).

 

[Parch]

4 mins within a 30/40 min window

That's a lot. So you're saying your dog "only" barks 10% of the time? Don't count on that being a good defense.

 

[CharminUltra]

As someone who lives in a condo complex, fuck barky dogs. A couple of loud barks are usually enough to wake me up, and then it takes me a long time to go back to sleep.

Luckily we've never had to report anyone since the other neighbors usually end up doing it.

 

[TheCochese]

Or he's retired?

Holy shit. I give up.

 

[The Beard]

I exercise my dogs at least 2 hours a day and when I am not home they get attention from others in the house. Yet my dog still barks she doesn't bark for just any reason. Most times she barks is when a cat or another dog walks by the back yard. We have cats in our neighborhood that just sit right on the other side of the fence basically teasing my dog. Thanks for assuming I am some kind of awful dog owner who doesn't give my dog exercise or interaction so they don't want to bark.

You exercise your dogs at least 2 hours every day? Wow

So, you don't think your neighbors should expect a quiet and comfortable neighborhood because you decided to own a dog, and dogs bark? Your dog only barks for legit reasons, like other dogs, cats, and squirrels, so it's all good right? It is so annoying not to be able to open up your windows to get fresh air without having to listen to your neighbors dog go apeshit a few times an hour.

My old landlord had 3 dogs, before we moved in to the cottage in back, she said they only bark when someone comes to the door. Bull-fucking-shit. Those motherfuckers barked everytime a leaf moved on a tree. We were the back property in a court, they would look through the front window and bark at neighbors 4 houses down who were just getting into their car.

 

[pestul]

Seems drastic. We have dogs all around us that bark constantly. We just get used to it. If you work night shifts you have to get used to the sound of heavy machinery and large trucks in the day time..

 

[CosmicQueso]

I would have gladly spoke to it about him. He brought it to the courts not me. I haven't seen him in about a month. He talked to my wife 2 weeks ago and then we got informed yesterday an official complaint was raised.

I get it. And it sucks to be in your position. I'm sure your dog's awesome and just gets excited when things happen and barks. It's a dog. I'm not saying you're in the wrong here. Just that there are alternatives that could be worth exploring. Anyways, good luck. If you can, do something to solve before you have to go talk to an authority about it. You never know how that's going to go.

 

[gatti-man]

What type of a house do you live in?

I'm surprised your neighbor can hear your dog barking from inside the house. Windows are closed, I'm assuming?

My neighbor has a dog that would bark constantly. It was super annoying and my neighbor is a cop. I went over there and talked to him about it since I work late it was really tough to sleep bc of the dog. He told me he didn't have a choice they have a young child blah blah not going to do anything about it and If I had a problem to call the cops (yeah right).

So suddenly the dog stopped barking like 3 months later and I went over there to thank him. Turns out he works nights now and couldn't sleep so he bought the dog a bark collar.....



Not saying that's you OP but dog barking can really effect quality of life for others if it's consistent during the day.

Seems drastic. We have dogs all around us that bark constantly. We just get used to it. If you work night shifts you have to get used to the sound of heavy machinery and large trucks in the day time..

Um no. If you're a light sleeper there isn't much to be done. I already run an iqair for the ambient noise. Like footsteps will wake me up. A dog barking? No chance of sleeping through it until I reach the point of exhaustion and pass out through it which isn't healthy sleep. There is a reason there are city ordinances over dog barking.

 

[Particle Physicist]

So the dude basically can't get sleep within that entire window.

As someone who has to work nights and sleep during the day sometimes, sorry, but not the OPs fault. We live on a planet with other humans and noises during the day when normal people are awake doing normal things is expected. If the barking was constant throughout the day, maybe I can see it. Otherwise, if this guy solely works overnight he should invest in soundproofing his room and getting black out curtains. It shouldn't be on the OP to spend money and/or change his own habits to accommodate this guys work schedule.

 

[Podge293]

Holy shit. I give up.

We also queried him about the dog (you missed that part) and if he found that she's unnecessarily loud/barking throughout the day and he said no.

 

[TheCochese]

We also queried him about the dog (you missed that part) and if he found that she's unnecessarily loud/barking throughout the day and he said no.

Is he trying to sleep during that time?


My goodness. If the other dude is watching TV or puttering about something while he's normally awake, no, he probably won't complain too much.

 

[TheCochese]

As someone who has to work nights and sleep during the day sometimes, sorry, but not the OPs fault. We live on a planet with other humans and noises during the day when normal people are awake doing normal things is expected. If the barking was constant throughout the day, maybe I can see it. Otherwise, if this guy solely works overnight he should invest in soundproofing his room and getting black out curtains. It shouldn't be on the OP to spend money and/or change his own habits to accommodate this guys work schedule.

If the OP had been there long before the other guy showed up, you might have a point. Otherwise, common human decency and all that.

 

[AbortedWalrusFetus]

Sure; but I doubt the court is going to throw a case out over evidence like that. No one is going to listen to hours of recordings other than the OP himself; he's not exactly an objective source.

The judge would probably rather hear some steps the OP is going to take to help solve the barking.

Burden should be on the complainant to prove unreasonable noise. If you can't prove your complaint is factual why should the neighbors word hold any more strength than OPs?

 

[gatti-man]

Burden should be on the complainant to prove unreasonable noise. If you can't prove your complaint is factual why should the neighbors word hold any more strength than OPs?

Pretty sure the judge will ask for recordings. It also depends on the wording of the local ordinance about noise.

 

[redlegs87]

You sound like my neighbor. She leaves her dogs outside for hours on end and they bark their head off at any person or thing that moves by the fence. She lives at the end of the street and it's busy there...therefore they bark all damn day.

I went over after weeks of this and asked her nicely if there was anyway she could bring her dogs inside more often or try to do something about the barking. Her exact response "dogs bark, deal with it" and closed her door.

Don't be that neighbor. Especially when someone comes over and asks nicely.

My dogs aren't outside for hours on end barking non stop though. She doesn't bark anymore than my neighbors dog which is like a few times every hour that they are out. I brought them in before when a neighbor asked I am not inconsiderate about it all the way.

You exercise your dogs at least 2 hours every day? Wow

So, you don't think your neighbors should expect a quiet and comfortable neighborhood because you decided to own a dog, and dogs bark? Your dog only barks for legit reasons, like other dogs, cats, and squirrels, so it's all good right? It is so annoying not to be able to open up your windows to get fresh air without having to listen to your neighbors dog go apeshit a few times an hour.

My old landlord had 3 dogs, before we moved in to the cottage in back, she said they only bark when someone comes to the door. Bull-fucking-shit. Those motherfuckers barked everytime a leaf moved on a tree. We were the back property in a court, they would look through the front window and bark at neighbors 4 houses down who were just getting into their car.

I know my dog she doesn't bark at just any movement. I've spent countless hours with her outdoors and in the back yard. She can have her barking/howling fits yes and if they go on for longer than like 3 mins I'll go out and have to throw a rock or stick or something to get the cat that's making her bark leave. I have never once gone out to see her just barking at nothing before not to say it's never happened but when she's barked when I am here there's always been a cat or other animal right outside our fence causing it.

 

[milanbaros]

I exercise my dogs at least 2 hours a day and when I am not home they get attention from others in the house. Yet my dog still barks she doesn't bark for just any reason. Most times she barks is when a cat or another dog walks by the back yard. We have cats in our neighborhood that just sit right on the other side of the fence basically teasing my dog. Thanks for assuming I am some kind of awful dog owner who doesn't give my dog exercise or interaction so they don't want to bark.

Dogs bark deal with it is a horrible attitude. Dogs barking is a really annoying disturbance. How can you be so dismissive of your causing people to be upset.

 

[Busty]

Get your dog to file a complaint against your neighbour.

That'll teach him.

 

[The Beard]

I'll update the OP once home but as mentioned in another few comments.

4 mins within a 30/40 min window

Throughout the entire day, your dog only barks for a total of 4min in a 30/40 min window, and then it's completely quiet for the rest of the day?

You don't mean 4 min per half hour, for a total of 8min per hour, right?

 

[Podge293]

Throughout the entire day, your dog only barks for a total of 4min in a 30/40 min window, and then it's completely quiet for the rest of the day?

You don't mean 4 min per half hour, for a total of 8min per hour, right?

4 mins the entire day in and around 3pm. There is other noise on the recordings but they're faint and definitely not barkings

Get your dog to file a complaint against your neighbour.

That'll teach him.

Ha "dear mr judge I don't like his cat, yours sincerely Bailey woof woof (quietly)"

 

[Particle Physicist]

If the OP had been there long before the other guy showed up, you might have a point. Otherwise, common human decency and all that.

If the barking was excessive I would be with you, but assuming the OP adequately recorded the sounds during the day, it does not seem excessive to me. I am saying this as someone who actually has to sleep during the day at times. Filing with the court before attempting to reconcile with the OP is another dick and abrasive move. At the least, give a warning about what you will do first. I think that speaks volumes about what the OP is dealing with here. Normal common human decency applies to the neighbor too.

 

[bobbyrawlins]

You introduced a disturbance causing aspect to the situation and he's the jerk for wanting you to keep the dog quiet? Ok.

 

[Ralemont]

if its 4 mins the entire day concentrated around one time period then the neighbor just needs to deal with it. that's not a big deal at all.

 

[Aylinato]

OP from now on every night when you go to sleep I will introduce 4 minutes of uninterrupted barks for an indefinite amount of time. good night OP

You make no sense, "4 minutes of an indefinite amount of time", It's 4 minutes, it's actually timed not "indefinite" what the hell are you talking about

 

[Gotdatmoney]

This is not the OP's problem. The guy should invest in something to stop or drown out the noise if he's such a light sleeper.

Its op's problem now. If it was me I'm not gonna be happy being woke up and if that means the dog goes not my problem either. See how that works? This is why we make compromises. But ultinately if I have to choose between sleeping so I can be a functional adult and my neighbours dog I know what I'm choosing.

 

[echoshifting]

You make no sense, "4 minutes of an indefinite amount of time", It's 4 minutes, it's actually timed not "indefinite" what the hell are you talking about

I believe that is meant to read as "4 minutes once a night every night, indefinitely"

 

[TheCochese]

If the barking was excessive I would be with you, but assuming the OP adequately recorded the sounds during the day, it does not seem excessive to me. I am saying this as someone who actually has to sleep during the day at times. Filing with the court before attempting to reconcile with the OP is another dick and abrasive move. At the least, give a warning about what you will do first. I think that speaks volumes about what the OP is dealing with here. Normal common human decency applies to the neighbor too.

OP had two weeks to see if anything could be done, and without any sort of return conversation. 'Hey, heard you talked to my wife the other day, I'll look into it' on a Post-it on their front door would have kept the whole thing from escalating. Could the neighbor have tried again? Absolutely, but for all he knows his request just got ignored, and he's not really looking forward to yet another two weeks or more with shitty sleep.

As someone who cannot for the life of me go back to sleep easily (and also can't wear anything to drown noise out), a half hour of barking would make me want to burn the place down. Dude thinks it is his best shot at getting things resolved, and it is what it is there for. If he loses, he'll find alternatives. And piss on the OP's plants when he isn't looking.

OP could have easily made an effort to contact the dude after the court summons as well, see about working things out.

 

[lawnchair]

good luck to you OP.

that said, i live in an apt building that allows pets and there's so much dog barking. one starts and then three others in the hall join in for a while. so fucking annoying.

 

[Podge293]

OP had two weeks to see if anything could be done, and without any sort of return conversation. 'Hey, heard you talked to my wife the other day, I'll look into it' on a Post-it on their front door would have kept the whole thing from escalating. Could the neighbor have tried again? Absolutely, but for all he knows his request just got ignored, and he's not really looking forward to yet another two weeks or more with shitty sleep.

As someone who cannot for the life of me go back to sleep easily (and also can't wear anything to drown noise out), a half hour of barking would make me want to burn the place down. Dude thinks it is his best shot at getting things resolved, and it is what it is there for. If he loses, he'll find alternatives. And piss on the OP's plants when he isn't looking.

OP could have easily made an effort to contact the dude after the court summons as well, see about working things out.

Well he works night so He's not around when I'm done with work and I've never really held a conversation with him. My wife initially told him she'd look into it andhas seen him since and it's nothing but a hello from both of them and he's off or she's off cuz people are busy. Post-it's to neighbours not really a big thing here so never even crossed my mind.

Literally got the summons yesterday so couldn't exactly chat about that since he works nights. Well actually got informed I'd be getting a summons cuz an official complaint was filed.

And good luck to him, I've only got plastic plants (I think not sure what the wife buys)

Also 4 mins not 30 mins