To want my neighbours to move out?

Not good to leave dogs in the house all day. Presumably they pee and poop everywhere as they can't hold themselves for that many hours. I think it's cruel.

However, that's not your problem, it's the dogs. It depends why they are barking. If, as others have said, they are protecting their property, then the answer could be to ask your neighbour to put them elsewhere so they don't see passers by (one of my dogs is like this. She guards which is useful where we live).

They should also be coming home at lunchtime to walk the dogs (and before work) so they can relieve themselves and will be tired out and less likely to bark.

Kongs and whatnot (you can buy occupying games) are all very well but they will be scoffed/played with in the first hour or two so won't work for 8 hours. And if both or one of them has separation anxiety that needs to be worked on and it's very time consuming.

The thing you have in your favour is they seem to be really nice and didn't tell you to do one when you spoke to them. So another chat seems a good way to go.

My very elderly neighbour used to have a small dog that barked incessantly. I put up with it, as annoying as it was, as she had just lost her husband and he was her only companion. But the neighbour at the other side of her complained to the council and they threatened to remove him if she didn't keep him indoors and quiet. She was distraught. I don't think her health ever recovered. So it's such a difficult one as I assume you wouldn't want to see the dogs removed and potentially put to sleep.

Negotiation seems to be the way to go.

I had the same problem with my neighbour who was letting her dog bark outside.i put up with it for a couple of months till one day I phoned the council about nucience noise.they sent her a letter telling her it must stop.they also sent a copy to me.i did knock and tell her I'm fed up with it and that I'd reported her.we never hear a thing now.she barely speakes to me but that's no problem I had nothing in common with her anyway.

Perhaps they think the problem with the dogs' barking has been solved? You said they only bark while their owners are out.

This makes it easier for you to mention that the problem still exists, as obviously they cannot know what is happening while they are out.

I would mention that the dividing wall between your properties is not exactly sound-proof and that you sometimes feel that you are quite inadvertently hearing things you should be hearing.

I'm afraid neither of my suggestions are at all likely to help, so no, I don't think you are being unreasonable in hoping that they, or one of them, might move,

However, no guarantees about who might move in, perhaps better the devil you know than the devil you don't.

If you complain to the council they will issue a letter. I know because we received one about our dogs being in the garden barking all day. As it was I worked from home and they didn't bark and were rarely in the garden as they were walked 3 times a day. I asked who had made the complaint but was not allowed to know. I went to all my neighbours to ask if they thought my dogs were a pain and all said they never heard them and was used to seeing me or oh walking them regularly. Eventually found out it was someone with a grudge (about something completely unrelated!) didn't even live near us but did walk past our home now and then to find the number. Even I hate if/when my dogs bark and they get silenced quickly (usually with distracation). Maybe the looking for triggers may help or suggesting they look for ways to keep the dogs relaxed (mine sleep all day don't even bark at postie when we are not there) their vet/behaviourist should have advice. My neighbours dog barks a lot but it's not as annoying as their high pitched squealing gc that makes the dog bark

Do they use their dogs as a burglar alarm? I think some people do. It is so cruel to leave dogs alone by themselves cooped up all day.
There are many dog walking businesses around us and I really can't understand why people have a dog if it's not for company for themselves.
We used to keep geese as pets. They mowed the grass and alerted us to the slightest noise day or night but it wasn't barking just honking. Unfortunately they were killed by foxes.

*........Being left alone all day isn’t ideal either which is why many working people get a second dog [as company for each other] .....to make twice as much noise! .

It’s a very difficult one.
My suggestion would be to install some sound proofing in the room you use most. We used it and it was very successful. It’s a thin, very dense material that you apply to the wall. You also need a very small air gap between the new partition and the existing wall. So, in total it means you would lose about two inches from the width of your room. So, the cost and the loss of room space are the downside. But it does work. Just an idea.
Good luck.

We had neighbours who fought all the time - I think because they were in their own house, they didn't realise how noisy it was outside (you could hear them in the street). Went on for 2 years and then they moved out (and, I hear, got divorced). My noisiest neighbour was an elderly lady who was almost deaf - she had her TV on (volume turned right up) from 6 a.m. to 11 pm. She turned down our offer to pay for an induction loop to be fitted. Then she got new neighbours on the other side and they complained too - it was only then that she moved out. The bloke who moved in (rented) had a dog that barked the whole time he was out (he worked evenings). A year later he moved out, and a girl moved in had cats who fouled our back garden, and so it went on ... Then we moved. Peace at last!

Try having another word about the noise. If no success, keep a diary of all the issues - when, how long etc and record the barking or any other noise. Then contact your local environmental health department and give them the evidence.

Ask your neighbours to leave their tablet / ipad on record when they go out. That way they can actually listen to how long and loud the barking is. If they are reasonable people they might agree to it.

They may solve the whole problem for you if their relationship is rocky because they will probably split up and have to divide the proceeds of the property sale.

I have horrible neighbours and long for the day a for sale sign goes up next door.

jamsandwich. Quickly_ I'll come back when I have more time -
Dogs - they have no control when they are out, obviously. Apart from hiring an expensive dog-advisor - worthwhile, they. could get a dog noise control unit from the internet. I have rescued dogs and they bark. I use such a device. It can be worn on the dog's collar or placed in the room. It emits a noise too high for humans to hear which dogs dislike each time they bark. Soon they realise that barking causes it and they stop. Maybe you could mention this to them?
I lived in a 400 yr old terrace with wattle and daub walls. We could hear every word next door. Sadly they drank and then shouted. I understand.
Must go now back later. Much love.

We had a very noisy rescue dog next door in the semi. He howled all the time it was left on its own, all day on occasions. We bought a dog training item which made a high pitched noise, we couldn’t hear it, when the dog started howling/barking. It didn’t completely solve the problem however he did get quieter.

No GabriellaG its that not that simply, I have tried. First you have to keep a log of times etc and then it is a slow process that can take unto a year or two. In my case I was lucky they moved.

Should say NOT fair on the dogs.should have done preview

The poor dogs shouldn't be left all day alone

I agree Macavity.it's not fair on the dogs.some people are so selfish and thoughtless too

You could try asking them to draw the curtains when they go out and leave the radio or tv on low so the dog doesn’t feel alone, can even buy a doggycam now so they can talk it it though the day, so if them even produce a treat ?

Happy dogs do not bark all the time. OK maybe if postman calls but not for no reason.
I would gently suggest they are not happy- my neighbour told us our lovely dog barked when we went out & left her- we had no idea. It only took once session with a behaviorist to show us some calming techniques & it cured her & she was a very happy dog from then on & only barked if my sons knocked on door- happy barking.
Their personal; behaviour is a different matter & I have no answers as anything you say or do may cause an upset & you could finish up having a bad relationship with them. Many years ago we had really noisy neighbours- they used to fight & when he went out she would play one record all day long at full blast all day long at times. If I ever hear Gloria Gaynor's Don't Leave Me This Way again I will probably scream! I think she was having a break up from an affair. She was very abusive when I asked her if she could turn it down a bit.Eventually we moved- to be fair we needed a bigger house anyway & had been planning it.
If only we could choose our neighbours- but then maybe they wouldn't choose US!

I wish my neighbours would move out. No noise though, it’s their own place and there’s an old car and mattress in the front garden, back is just as bad completely overgrown bushes trees etc and homing the local fox population. Fences damaged between our gardens and don’t think it’s ours although because we have dogs we replaced last time. Net curtains never been washed and mould growing up them now. How they can live like that I don’t know, grown up children moved out but do visit. Help - what can we do?

We are moving because our next door neighbour sold and the house was bought and turned into an HMO. 13 people instead of 6 living there and all very loud. Plus if you complain to council it goes on your house record and when you come to sell you have to declare it

Bookcases with every book you own makes excellent sound insulation

Contact your local noise abatement officer. They will send you diary logs so you might as well start keeping a diary now.
You will be lucky if they move quickly though. It has taken more than 2 years and threats to sue the Council for them to finally tell our neighbour that they will take enforcement action if she does not stop. Last time I complained, they put up a lock box so that she would stop waking us up at night to let her in. Only problem is, they did it while she was in hospital and didn't tell her it was there or how to use it. After she came out, her preferred method of entry was to ramrod the security door until we let her in and then complain that we hadn't been quick enough.
The Housing Officer came out and showed her and then said to me afterwards 'of course it doesn't have a key in right now' - but in her view they have now dealt with that problem.
We have now been sent yet another pile of logs. The problem is that the other neighbours in the block are too old (late 80s and 90) to deal with these on their own, don't speak English well and are not good at dealing with administration, so I spent hours last time helping them with them. I haven't got the strength to do it again.
She is getting aggressive and is physically very tough so it is very intimidating. I have seen her attack people but the Council is convinced that she is a victim and is defending herself because she got the flat because of domestic abuse.
She has had a fight with her drug dealer and so she is not filling the building with the smell of skank for now but she will find another one. Then we have unsavoury characters coming into our small block.
Your neighbours are not going to change as they don't think they are in the wrong and whether any further action will be effective will depend on how good your council is. After they get the logs, they will serve a Noise Abatement Notice demanding the noise stops and if they don't a fine will be payable.
This may stop the noise but it will cause an atmosphere and you have to decide if it is worth it. It might also make them decide that they want to move so it is all guesswork really.
I think that problems have to be confronted but there can be blowback.
I know someone who received a Notice. She denied that they had done what they were accused on but did take it seriously.
I would drop then a line, people respond very differently to complaints put in writing, and also contact the Noise Abatement Officer. If they stop after getting your letter, then you won't have to proceed with the complaint and they won't know that you have made it. If you wait you will have to put up with it for longer while filling in the logs.

mabon
No the RSPCA DO NOT deal with dogs barking. Please don't give out misinformation.

Why do people have dogs if they are out at work all day its selfish and they arecnot thinking about the dog.I have a border collie who goes for a two hour walk every day she is also stimulate with toys and play.The longest she left on her ownvis 2 hours.My neighbours say if we didnt see you walking.with the dog wr wouldnt know you have one.A happy dog does not bark all the time

I can't honestly believe that so many GNers advocate the 'victim' looking for solutions to neighbours dogs barking.
Wow!
Buying some ear- plugs...REALLY?
Offering to walk their dogs? Haha.
Looking through their windows to see what triggers the barking and offering solutions to the owners...unbelievable.
Cut to the chase and ring the council. It matters not whether they're renting or buying, Environmental Services ARE the department to deal with it. I've done it myself and they were visited and sent a warning letter. I never heard a peek after that.