The Nature of Barking-Is it permissable?
@granite_butterfly (448)
Canada
June 27, 2008 4:13pm CST
My dog is not a Basenji, he barks. He doesn't bark constantly but like most dogs he does. If someone is jingling keys in the hallway or knocks at the door, he barks. When a favourite person comes to visit, he barks. May I just stop here and say that my dog does not bark constantly.
So, my neighbour trying to sell her condo blames my dog's barking for the condo not selling. Sure, pay no mind to my excessively noisy neighbour who blasts his television and goes in and out his door all hours of the day and night. It's my dog's fault that the condo isn't selling.
Yesterday, I checked my mail to find a letter from the city by-law and found that my miserable neighbour (who doesn't even live in the unit) made good on her threat to call authorities.
Permissable or not, dogs bark and I personally prefer that my dog will warn me if someone is around my door. My advice would be that if you don't like dogs, don't purchase in a condominium complex which allows dogs. If you think my mini poodle is loud, you should hear the German Shepherd in one of the adjacent buildings...
1 person likes this
4 responses
@snowy22315 (170798)
• United States
27 Jun 08
I used to live in a townhouse complex where people ocassionally complained about my dog's barking. Unfortunately I could not control my dog's barking 24-7.
was glad when I got an opportunity to move away from that area and into the country where no one complains about anything.
1 person likes this
@rantingqueen (495)
• United States
27 Jun 08
In my opinion, it is better to have a dog that barks and warns us that something isn't quite right. That being said, a dog who barks non-stop is an issue for me. No matter where we live, whether dogs are allowed or not, it is an irritating situation when a dog will not shut up.
I have one, who never stops barking. It annoys me, my neighbors and anyone who gets within a hearing distance of my house. Not sure, but I'm betting he goes to obedience school in the near future! 
@calcynic (433)
• United States
27 Jun 08
This is an age-old situation, and there is usually no easy solution. Anyone is free to complain about anything under the sun, but it usually says more about the one doing the complaining. Your neighbor sounds like a jerk.
I don't know your local ordinances, or the by-laws of your condo.
To us, it's barking...to another dog, it's talking.
@heleni0 (322)
•
27 Jun 08
My dog (a springer spaniel) barks in the same manner as yours does, and when I moved into my flat in January and I told my new neighbours about this they said not to worry and that they would actually prefer he barked when he heard somebody entering the building; it does give a certain sense of security. Of course he'd be absolutely useless if somebody actually broke in and tried to kill us all, but that's neither here nor there.
It sounds as though your neighbour is being rather over sensitive. Perhaps she's just frustrated about not being able to sell her condo and your dog is convenient to pass the blame on to. What happens now that you've received the letter? Will they send someone round to check on you/your dog?
You are right though - dogs bark, it's just the way they are.
