You want to get your neighbor’s dog to shut up even though they can be great, loyal, and loving. Some loud mouth dogs just love hearing themselves bark and it annoys when the barking continues night and day.
Well, you can make the furry buddies calm down and readily get the peace you want.
How to get your neighbor’s dog to shut up
Do the following to get your neighbor’s dog to stop barking:
1. Talk to your neighbor
You want to talk to your neighbor before any other move. It’s possible they don’t see how much their dog’s barks troubles you. They could be at work or may also be facing the same annoyance and trying to train their canine to bark less.
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You also want to give your neighbor the benefit of doubt and avoid difficult accusations that will only make them put up a defense.
It’s also important you approach them in person to have this conversation. While putting down an anonymous note by their door, for instance, may look like the best way to avoid a confrontation but would mostly make the neighbor ignore it.
Try to talk to them personally so they know what you’re going through due to their dog. You can even leverage this to get to know your neighbor better and get on their good side so they’re willing to address the situation. If you don’t speak with your neighbors, then you’re ignoring half of the challenge.
If they’re novice dog owners who are unsure of what to do, consider informing them about where to get bark training tips, including those from the Humane Society, or refer them to a local professional dog trainer. If you do the hard part of the task and give them information, they’ll likely heed your advice. Be calm so you don’t get to consider kicking them out if their apartment is rented.
2. Obstruct the dog’s view and be friends
Blocking the dog’s vision might be helpful if the dog barks every time you get into your backyard. Maybe the dog wants to protect its territory, but there won’t be any danger once the dog can’t see you. Plant some privacy trees and shrubs along the property line between you and your neighbor’s properties or put up a fence screen there.
The barking could even be due to the dog hearing your sounds or even sensing your scent. If blocking the view does not get your neighbor’s dog to shut up, get to know them and show kindness.
The dog barking at you could be perceiving you as a threat to its territory. When you enter into an area a dog considers their territory, that can trigger excessive barking—WebMD. As you get closer, the barking will get louder. The dog is being alert and might get more aggressive.
You want the dog to stop seeing you as a threat to stop barking. Become the dog’s friend. Ask your neighbor politely if you can meet their dog. Doing that will make the dog familiar with your scent and your presence. “Humans each have a unique innate scent that enables dogs to tell one person from another”—VCA Animal Hospitals.
You can also your neighbor to bring their dog to your yard so they can get a good feel of the area and its several scents. Consider giving the doggo treats but only do with your neighbor’s approval. You could also find out the dog’s favorite treat from your neighbor.
3. Train the dog with a whistle
Dog whistles emit sound along the ultrasonic range, that humans can’t hear. However, dogs can hear them. If you’ve spoken to your neighbors, and their dog still won’t stop barking, using a dog whistle is a good way to train the dog yourself from the comfort of your house. Just have the whistle handy and blow it whenever your neighbor’s dog is barking.
4. Invest in a sonic device
At the start, a sonic device might make your neighbor’s dog bark even more, but they will eventually learn to stop barking. Sonic devices do not hurt dogs.
So, if whistle training doesn’t help to shut the dog up, get a sonic training device. The Dog Silencer® MAX, for example, is designed to quiet stubborn barking dogs using safe ultrasonic sound as a deterrent. It is humane and a no-shock trainer that can stop dogs barking up to 300 feet away.
Just hang the device in a tree against your neighbor’s yard—it will automatically emit an ultrasonic sound similar to a dog whistle every time the dog barks. Sonic devices are typically stormproof, so rain and sprinklers are no problem for their IPX4 water-resistant rating.
5. File a formal noise complaint
When everything else fails, you have one nuclear option left—submitting a filled formal complaint with your landlord, animal control, homeowner’s association, or even the police. You can do the filing anonymously.
Noisy pets often break the provisions and terms in homeowner association agreements and apartment leases, especially if they’re noisy at certain hours of the night. In some communities, animal services can cite residents whose dogs disturb others.
Ensure to check the municipal codes and local laws. Excessive noise is a noise that is unreasonably annoying, disturbing, offensive, or which unreasonably interferes with your comfort or property in the community or neighborhood. Thus, since the neighbor’s dog is in reasonable proximity to the property, this may qualify for excessive noise.
Many places have municipal codes against excessive noise. If you file a complaint, your neighbor will receive a warning. If the dog won’t shut up, and there’s evidence of the disturbance, your neighbor will have to appear in court.
If the tips above do not shut up your neighbor’s dog, consider relocating to a different apartment.
