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We have noisy dogs apparently

[Deleted User]

So we have had our 4th complaint in a year from a neighbor about our dogs. They have complained that they are noisy in the mornings when they go out for a pee and in the evenings when they go out for a pee. It takes 10 minutes at the most for them to go out for a pee .
First of all there is no constant barking. But we were told they growl too loud. When they get playful. We would actually like to let them out more so they can play but we cant. I will be completely honest, kids are louder then our dogs.

They have already made one neighbor get rid of their dog. It was a yappy puppy. They called in and threatened calling the police. I have spoken to them over the phone and there is no going back with them. They just seem to have this in their head. Also my very first day i moved into the house they were knocking on the wall because we were too loud. We are walking on eggshells in our own house now.

Anybody been in a situation like this ?

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Nuttzz

What breed of dogs are they?

I cant see the gardai getting involved with an issue like this unless the dogs are a threat to the neighbour which they dont appear to be

seamus

They have no grounds on which to make any complaint unless the noise is excessive and constant or repeated. Or unless it's out of hours.

Your are entitled to make noise on your own property, particularly during the day, provided that it doesn't affect the quality of life of others.

Take a video camera and record a "session" with your dogs out the back to demonstrate how noisy they are. Keep this recording as evidence that your dogs aren't too loud.

They can complain to you all they like, just keep saying, "yeah, yeah, I'll sort it" and then go back to ignoring them.

[Deleted User]

They are Springers. I must point out that there are 3 other family's with dogs that bark constantly hours on end. We even get annoyed by them as they go till 4 in the morning.
I am nearly at the stage were i want to call the police.

FoxyVixen

Sounds like your neighbours have nothing better to be doing with their time than monitoring those who live close to them.

Have they already approached the Gardai or just threatened it?
If not why not make it known to the Gardai that you're getting hassled by your neighbours over nothing. Or inform the neighbour the next time they give out over nothing that you'll make an official complaint of their harassment.

Otherwise you could have a camera on the dogs when they're out for the toilet so you've evidence that they're making very little noise, show what time this is at too should the Gardai get involved. Cover your own back.

Don't get rid of the dog. Is the neighbour on their own? Perhaps they're just lonely and have little to be at but annoying you. Might be their only way of human interaction in the day?!

Alternatively have a mad house party and show them exactly what noise is

professore

Our next door neighbour has a Jack Russell called "Jack". Jack is let out of the house into the back garden at about 8 AM and is let back in at 6 PM, 7 days a week. Between these two times he barks non-stop, and when I say non-stop I mean non-stop. Any visitors we get always say "whose dog is that?" or "do you have to listen to that all day?"

If anyone comes to the door of their house or ours he bashes off the door to the back garden like a Rottweiler. The door, which is wooden, doesn't allow the unsuspecting visitor to see what sort of a dog it is so it scares the sh1t out of them. Quite fun to watch sometimes actually

Due to other reasons we have not complained about him but would if we could as it is terrible listening to him.

There is another dog on the other side of us and that gives no problems at all, and other dogs in the street.

I love dogs but I would shoot Jack if I could get away with it. From what you say I would have no problem with your dogs at all, but then again our neighbours would swear blind that Jack never barks.

seamus

Actually, thinking about it, it's possible that your neighbours think your dogs are the ones making the noise or that they're one of the groups of dogs constantly barking.

This is why it's extra important that you take a video of them outside. Take two or three of them in fact. Stick them on a DVD so that if you get a visit from a warden or council person, you can just hand them a DVD.
Give a copy of the DVD to your neighbour to show him exactly how much noise your dogs make.

DBB

What a nuisance! I'd second the suggestions to set up a video camera and record the dogs over a few days.
Also, depending on where you live, your local dog wardens may be worth contacting so you can pre-empt any further action. If you explain tot he wardens what's going on, and invite them around to your house to see for themselves, it just might help if yer man goes official with his complaint. But, I stress, I'd only do this if I knew the wardens for my area were reasonable people!
The law is that if a person wants to make a complaint about noise, they must complain in writing to their local council. They are told that it is good practice for them to try to resolve the matter amicably with the neighbour causing the noise. The dog warden may call at this stage to see if you have a case to answer (hence the pre-empting I'm suggesting), and if you do, the case may go to court. For this reason, the suggestion to have video evidence at the ready is good, but I would also keep a written record of all conversations you have with yer man: contemporaneous notes make for good evidence in a court. Also, if it comes to it, some statements from other neighbours attesting to your dogs not being a nuisance can strengthen your case.
Other than that, what a horrible person to have to live beside! Just mind out for your dogs' safety, that this person doesn't try to do your dogs harm (he sounds like a mentalist:(). I'm guessing your dogs are indoors while you're out, so should be reasonably safe? Without wanting to put the frighteners on you, it might be a good idea to attach a mailbag or covered mailbox to your letterbox so that nothing dodgy can be posted through the door while you're out.
Good luck with this!

anniehoo

Deleted User wrote: »

They are Springers. I must point out that there are 3 other family's with dogs that bark constantly hours on end. We even get annoyed by them as they go till 4 in the morning.
I am nearly at the stage were i want to call the police.

:eek: Thats A LOT of noisy dogs all in the one area. Maybe you're just getting the brunt of it because you're closest or something.

I have to say, it sounds trivial but constant noise from neighbours can be absolutely head wrecking, even if its a dog. Actually a dog barking incessantly would drive even the most ardent animal lover nuts.

I have something similar at the minute with my neighbours and their kids. I can hear soooo much through the walls its unreal. They NEVER STOP CRYING. I call them the "wailing twins". Now theres crying which i can tolerate ok, but they really are non stop. Its painful to listen to.

seamus wrote: »

They have no grounds on which to make any complaint unless the noise is excessive and constant or repeated. Or unless it's out of hours.

Noise pollution can be brought to court as a valid case if theres sufficient evidence that its ongoing and distrupting peoples lives.

wrote:

They can complain to you all they like, just keep saying, "yeah, yeah, I'll sort it" and then go back to ignoring them.

I actually wouldnt ignore them, ive seen first hand what can happen to animals if neighbours ignore other neighbours. Lets just say if food gets thrown over your wall it wont be as a treat. This may sound extreme but its not at all.

Id be very polite with your neighbour, ask them that a reasonable level of noise has to be made and to record what they think is excessive (they will need valid proof anyway to make a complaint). It could just be a combo of all the dogs together annoying them. Try to reach some solution, even to the extent of figuring out why the sound proofing between houses is so bad.

[Deleted User]

Just an update on this now that i am home, i got the full story. My dogs are noisy in the morning when i let them out for a pee . THey are noisy when i come home as i play with them and they are noisy at night time when they are having a pee.

In the past they complained that they were noisy in the evenings at the same time as i let them out for a play whilst having my dinner. So i had to stop that.

So basically what they are saying is , my dogs are noisy for 5 minutes in the morning, probably 20 minutes in the evening and 5 minutes at night.

I am actually going to film them so you can see how noisy they are.

Discodog

As you have already received 4 complaints it is likely that they will continue so I would put a stop to it. I would write to the neighbour & make it absolutely clear that you do not consider that your dogs constitute a noise nuisance. You could say that you are referring the matter to the Council & Dog Warden - even if you are not.

The point is to make it clear that you have nothing to hide & have done nothing wrong. You also need to make it clear that you will not accept further unwarranted complaints & that you are entitled to enjoy your home, garden & dogs without harassment.

Obviously make sure that you have licenses for them. If you are frequently out then I would get a voice activated dictation recorder - Maplin had them for about €25. It is easy to leave it near the dogs & it will automatically switch on & record any noise. Just zero the tape counter & you can instantly see if the dogs have barked.

Video evidence is good but at the end of the day it is up to the neighbour to prove that your dogs are a nuisance - you don't have to prove their innocence.

[Deleted User]

anniehoo wrote: »

:eek: Thats A LOT of noisy dogs all in the one area. Maybe you're just getting the brunt of it because you're closest or something.

Yeah it is, we have even had thoughts about reporting some of them as the barking is going on till 4am. They are all out doors dogs.

boxerly

I would tell them to get a life,if they knock on your wall knock back hahahaha.Honestly some people who are having problems in their lives want to lash out at everything and anything.Tell her her kids are too noisey hehehe.Try not to stress xxx

[Deleted User]

Just an update on this, i got another call to the door today with an ultimatum. He says that he works from home and now he cant get his work done because the dogs are barking so now he has to go to the boss and say "i am sorry i cannot do this" He is then going to loos his job and he will have to seek compensation.

I told him that his job is not my problem and that i actually have a radio show, that i record from the same house. Its on Itunes check it out

I mentioned about another neighbour and their dog which is constantly barking and he didnt want to know.
I told him that we already cant let our own dogs stay in the back garden more then 10 minutes because of him again he said sort it out. They are loud in the house too.
He mentioned that its against the law to have a dog left for 4 hours un-attended. The other half is actually a vet nurse and his home most of the time.

He left it and is going to send in a complaint now. So i called the Garda and got advice from him.

ConTheCat

Wow I feel sorry for you, don't be worrying about it. Its natural for dogs to bark and you can't seal his lips to stop it!! Some people have nothing better to do in their lives atal.
I'm happy I have obliging neighnours, got a new puppy that liked to squeal at 4am for the first week, when they called at Christmas they were all enquiring about the new dog they'd heard!!
Hope everything works out, and let the dog go wild afterwards

DBB

Dre as in Dray wrote: »

He mentioned that its against the law to have a dog left for 4 hours un-attended. The other half is actually a vet nurse and his home most of the time.

This is categorically, utterly untrue. There is no such "time limit" in the legislation. I guess his OH must have been out sick the day they covered the dog control legislation in college. Sheesh.
What did the Guard advise you do next?

Bullseye1

Next time he calls over hand him a pair of ear muffs. God if he complains about ten minutes of dog activity in their own yard he must be very sensitive.

Patrick2010

Deleted User wrote: »

Just an update on this, i got another call to the door today with an ultimatum. He says that he works from home and now he cant get his work done because the dogs are barking so now he has to go to the boss and say "i am sorry i cannot do this" He is then going to loos his job and he will have to seek compensation.

I told him that his job is not my problem and that i actually have a radio show, that i record from the same house. Its on Itunes check it out
I mentioned about another neighbour and their dog which is constantly barking and he didnt want to know.
I told him that we already cant let our own dogs stay in the back garden more then 10 minutes because of him again he said sort it out. They are loud in the house too.
He mentioned that its against the law to have a dog left for 4 hours un-attended. The other half is actually a vet nurse and his home most of the time.

He left it and is going to send in a complaint now. So i called the Garda and got advice from him.

So basically what they are saying is , my dogs are noisy for 5 minutes in the morning, probably 20 minutes in the evening and 5 minutes at night.

How can that interfere with him doing his job???

Discodog

Deleted User wrote: »

He mentioned that its against the law to have a dog left for 4 hours un-attended. The other half is actually a vet nurse and his home most of the time.

But he isn't complaining about them barking when you are out

magentas

Clearly, he has to much time on his hands.

Excessive barking is unacceptable and I would complain about that myself but by the sounds of it, your dogs are just acting like normal dogs.

Unfortunately, it doesn't sound like he's going to let this go so I'd say to try and stay one step ahead of him. YOU contact the gardai to make an informal complaint about harrassment from your neighbour. Just get them to make a note of it so that it's recorded if he ever goes to them about you.

Also, jot down all the dates he called to you to make complaints and content of same.

I know it's not ideal and it's not a nice situation and you obviously don't want to fall out with them but...he is being a bit of a douche!:pac:

JustAThought

<snip>

I'm woken every morning at 7am by yapping yorkies , it can continue much of the day ; with snarling, howling & dogs throwing themselves at the fence whenever any neighbour goes into the garden. Im pro dog but more & more have my days when I care less what happens to them. Take your neighbours complaints seriously as the consequences for your dogs can be fatal. Your dogs might only be annoying them for an hour in total a day but this is enough over time for them to demonstrate that is consistent & persistent noise which is detracting from their enjoyment of their property. That's all they need. They have complained 4 times : so now they can demonstrate patience & willingness to negotiate . Next stop district court ; like it or not.

And that can go either way for your pets.
If you accompany them out will this stop them barking?
Might save their lives.

RoundyMooney

Assuming we're getting the full story-why won't he take on the neighbour with the *actual* noisy dogs?

At the risk of controversy, I'd never have a dog that wasn't a "house" dog. I accept it may be different in a rural environment etc., but people who have a dog and leave it out the back to plough the garden and drive itself cracked, has pretty much the latter effect on me as well.

From what you tell us, you're not one of those people, your immediate neighbour is, and Highly Strung High Flying About To Lose His Job Guy needs to take his issue up with that person.

As above. Record everything. Take notes. It will stand to you.

Solair

Unfortunately, you can just get some people who are ridiculously over the top about noise from neighbouring properties. Really, they should consider moving out to the middle of no where as it's not possible to have an urban setting where things are 100% quiet all the time.

Threatening legal action and threatening to sue you for compensation is definitely seriously over the top.

If you are doing nothing wrong, then he is basically harassing you and making direct threats of groundless legal action.

All I would say is to be careful. It's not that you have anything to worry about from the legal point of view, but rather that some of these neighbourly disputes can really turn quite nasty.

A friend of mine has problems with a neighbour who constantly knocks on the door of his apartment complaining of noise. He has come down pounding on the door at 3am when my friend is asleep in bed complaining that people are 'walking around and closing doors'.

Discodog

JustAThought wrote: »

Take your neighbours complaints seriously as the consequences for your dogs can be fatal. Your dogs might only be annoying them for an hour in total a day but this is enough over time for them to demonstrate that is consistent & persistent noise which is detracting from their enjoyment of their property.

Simply not true. The dog owner has just as much right to enjoy their property. There is no situation where this could be "fatal" to the dogs. The only reason for ordering the death of a dog is if the animal is regarded as dangerous.

The OP has stated that the complainant is only referring to a few minutes every day so the alleged nuisance is not persistent.

[Deleted User]

Was still mad to writing this. We started taking notes on the complaints and it seems every complaint is different. The other half is still upset over this. So i am going to push this further and invite who ever needs to come to check everything out.

Here are the complaints

They are bad in the morning for their morning pee.
In the evening when i come in for work and have a play.
In the night time when they have a pee.

They are loud all the time

They are loud since Christmas.

They Growl too loud.

Yet none of this is constant .

professore

You wouldn't believe what a pain in the ass some neighbours can be. Having grown up in the country and now living in cities for many years it's amazing what some people spend their days doing.

professore

Also: Find out something (anything) that could potentially affect your enjoyment of your property if you were anally retentive like your neighbour. If there really is nothing (there must be) then, if you do get a solicitors letter, tell him quietly that if he persists with this unreasonable attitude, he will never get any cooperation on planning or any other matter EVER and you will be watching him from here on in for anything he does that annoys you in the slightest way - and if it does end up with your dogs being put down, you will carry through on it.

Sooner or later there will be something where he needs your cooperation - he needs to know now that he will be told where to go.

Sounds like it's really the other dogs that are annoying him but for whatever reason he's too chicken**** to do anything about those.

barbiegirl

He is affecting your enjoyment of your property and your dogs. He is the nuisance and therefore I would report him. I would set up a video camera and tape a typical day for the dogs, so that you have supporting evidence that your dogs are not an issue.
I would also the next time he comes around tell him that if he does not stop with his persistent harrassment which is leading to you not being able to enjoy your prorety as it is your right to do, then you will be sueing him for the stress and upset he is causing you and your wife. I would report him to the guards and let him know that you have done so. He is a bully and you can only deal with bullies by standing up to them.
He is upsetting you and your wife now when you have dogs who God forbid occasionally bark. How will he handle it if you have kids, so that would be them on the trampoline, kicking football, babies crying in the night, kids shouting and playing as they do.
I am sure the man is depressed and under pressure from other areas in his life and taking it out on you, but you cannot let him continue. Let him see you take him and his harrassment seriously, hopefully it will stop him in his tracks.

andreac

Tell them if they really have a problem to go and take you to court and see how far they get then.
They have to prove that YOUR dogs are causing the noise and present a valid case.
If they arent going to do that then tell them where to go!!

[Deleted User]

We have been onto fingal and the garda again to see what we can do. Because we cant physically more . We are only left with the option of telling them to be quiet and thats not 100%

But we will be filming a few times a week to cover ourselves. Also recording the other dogs in the area.

Oh just reading back i wasnt too clear we actually have 4 dogs but its the springers he complains about.

sparkle_23

That must be very annoying. Some people complain about anything. I have a Springer myself and he barks in the morn for 5 mins tops when he's let out, and then later on at dinner time he barks for 5 mins also. Your dogs are probably the exact same as mine. If it was a baby crying would they be complaining and looking for compensation!