The Barking nuisance.
By Gary Marsh
@garymarsh6 (24295)
United Kingdom
June 16, 2026 4:44am CST
We have lived in our current house for nearly 30 years in the centre of the town. You can imagine that houses are fairly close together. Our neighbours have ducks, chickens, 7 dogs & 7 cats plus a couple of snakes.
For the past six months we have had to put up with the constant barking of one of their dogs. Every hour every day from 8AM to the latest 1:30 AM they put one of their dogs outside in their garden which barks & yaps until they let it in again.
I was in the garden cutting the grass and the put the dog out again. The neighbour came out & I had to say something as it really is not fair on the other neighbours too.
What annoyed me most was he tried to justify it by saying it only barks when we look over the fence. I told him that was rubbish we do not look over the fence.
Then he said it wasn't his dog it was another neighbours dog. I told him no it was that thing there yapping at your feet.
He then said it only does it once in the morning & late at night before they go to bed. I told him no it is that thing the one you put out on the hour every hour throughout the day.
What annoyed me most which made me see red was that he denied ownership of their problem dog & tried to blame others.
Good news we have now not heard any barking from the dog since Saturday thankfully. Although we heard him barking from their other house 10 doors away which won't be too long before they move into.
I am so pleased l mentioned it to him so hopefully all the neighbours & we can enjoy the summer in our gardens.
What would you have done given the same situation?
25 people like this
24 responses
@snowy22315 (211484)
• United States
16 Jun
It is very good you said something. I don't like confrontation, but would have called the police for a noise complaint.
7 people like this
@garymarsh6 (24295)
• United Kingdom
16 Jun
I had been keeping a record of it so l had proof but what incensed me more was him lying & trying to make out it was a neighbours dog. He had recently had a heart attack so I was fairly constrained in my response. I do hate liars.
7 people like this
@Juliaacv (56943)
• Canada
16 Jun
It was wise for you to say something.
Obviously the owner isn't taking good care of the dogs, and needed a reminder.
there is such little respect for anyone else these days, gone are the days when someone wouldn't even think what your neighbour said to you, let alone leave a noisy dog outside to bother the entire neighbourhood, when it really is his concern only and he should tend to it.
7 people like this
@garymarsh6 (24295)
• United Kingdom
16 Jun
We have not had any noise since so hopefully that is the end of it.
4 people like this
@garymarsh6 (24295)
• United Kingdom
16 Jun
Apparently it has been like this ever since l went on the cruise so l missed it but had l been around l would have said something much faster. What made me mad was his denial & blaming everyone else!
3 people like this
@LadyDuck (505857)
• Italy
16 Jun
I am glad, we experienced a very similar situation when the neighbors in front of us moved and rented their home. The people who came to live there had a golden retriever, they let him outside in the morning and the dog barked non stop at every person, bicycle, car of animal that passed near its garden. Well, I told them we were annoyed, they did the same as the owner you described. I finally called the police, they came three days in a row to check if the dog was an annoyance and they solved the problem.
6 people like this
@LadyDuck (505857)
• Italy
17 Jun
@garymarsh6 - Some people simply do not care if their dogs (or children) are too noisy and disturb the neighbors. I am sure that here in Italy the police would not come out, but Switzerland is a "nanny state", they are always there to help the citizens. Considering the cost of living in Switzerland this is exactly what you expect when you live there.
@garymarsh6 (24295)
• United Kingdom
17 Jun
@LadyDuck If it had continued l would have made an official complaint with the environmental health office. They know they can be fined up to £5,000 & if it continues then £500 a day thereafter!
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (24295)
• United Kingdom
16 Jun
I am glad they came for you. The police will not do anything but we can report it to the environmental health officers who would act on it. One day he left it for two hours outside. The other dogs were all barking inside l phoned his wife who was on duty & asked her do you want me to phone the police in case he has had another heart attack she responded after 10 minute saying he was at a doctors appointment & forgot he left it outside.
4 people like this
@xFiacre (15099)
• Ireland
16 Jun
@garymarsh6 I would have agonised first then spoken. Noise is a nasty pollutant. We’re apprehensive about finding out who our new neighbours are going to be. I’m hoping for 2 elderly spinster sisters with cats and no visiting children. Or dogs.
5 people like this
@garymarsh6 (24295)
• United Kingdom
16 Jun
My fingers are crossed for you. Most people have one or two dogs but not 7. It is just ridiculous.
3 people like this
@Treborika (18258)
• Mombasa, Kenya
16 Jun
I can't tolerate such kind of rubbish for sure
2 people like this
@garymarsh6 (24295)
• United Kingdom
16 Jun
My wife told me that it seems he has been taking it to the other house as she can hear it in the distance.I feel sorry for their new neighbours there.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (170279)
• United States
16 Jun
I do not know. Maybe call the city if it does not stay quiet. Surely there are some noise ordinances and some rules about how many animals you can have in the city. I live kind of rural and would not want that many pets.
5 people like this
@garymarsh6 (24295)
• United Kingdom
16 Jun
It is the wife who gets the dogs as he does not work he is left to look after them. There are laws about noise & she being a police officer is aware of it or should be. Anyway for the time being it has stopped.
2 people like this
@Tampa_girl7 (54780)
• United States
16 Jun
Thank goodness you finally got some peace and quiet.
5 people like this
@garymarsh6 (24295)
• United Kingdom
16 Jun
Yes Marie it has been much quieter since!
3 people like this
@DaddyEvil (176489)
• United States
16 Jun
I would have called the police and complained about the noise. We have laws here that prohibit noise before 8 am and after 9 pm. That guy would have gotten fines every time I called since it was outside the times that noise is allowed here. He would have been told to get rid of the dog or keep it inside his house so it wouldn't bark and disturb the peace when people expect to be in bed sleeping.
There's nothing we can do about dogs that bark between the hours of 8 am to 9 pm every day.
3 people like this
@DaddyEvil (176489)
• United States
17 Jun
@garymarsh6 Environmental problems are like seeing someone pour used motor oil on the ground instead of disposing of it properly. Barking dogs are a police problem.
@garymarsh6 (24295)
• United Kingdom
16 Jun
We have nuisance laws but we report it to environmental health & it is they who will give an enforcement notice & if the do not comply then the police are involved.
3 people like this
@Marilynda1225 (91793)
• United States
16 Jun
That would drive me crazy and I definitely would have said something (nicely at first) Guess it's good they're moving further away
4 people like this
@garymarsh6 (24295)
• United Kingdom
16 Jun
Haha yes not soon enough now. I think she took it in because of its constant barking but they should be a bit more considerate to others.
3 people like this
@BACONSTRIPSXXX (18619)
• Torrington, Connecticut
16 Jun
Honestly, I think you handled it pretty reasonably. Six months of constant barking from early morning until after midnight would test anyone’s patience, especially when you’re living close together and just trying to enjoy your own home and garden.
3 people like this
@garymarsh6 (24295)
• United Kingdom
17 Jun
@Fleura No she hates cruising sadly & is missing out so much. I went with cruise friends l have known for years!
2 people like this
@garymarsh6 (24295)
• United Kingdom
16 Jun
I was away for most of that time but my wife was at home. I am hoping they will be more considerate now.
3 people like this
@Fleura (35970)
• United Kingdom
17 Jun
@garymarsh6 I hadn't realised that your wife wasn't on the cruise with you. Is she not keen on travel?
@garymarsh6 (24295)
• United Kingdom
17 Jun
They will be moving soon thankfully!
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (24295)
• United Kingdom
17 Jun
When it is constant every hour that is a problem. Thankfully we no longer hear it!
@Ineeddentures (40187)
•
16 Jun
We had this problem too
I took matters into my own hands after two episodes of continual barking in excess of 30 minutes
I ordered this device online which emits a high pitch tone humans cannot hear..
It stops dogs barking.
Amazon delivered it the very next day.
The dog was barking
I went to the fence
I pointed the device at the dog and pressed the button
It sat down on the ground and shut up.
It barked a few times after that but stopped when I pressed the buttone
It does not bark now when it's outside
4 people like this
@garymarsh6 (24295)
• United Kingdom
16 Jun
Sounds an excellent deterrant well done!
3 people like this
@RasmaSandra (99453)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
16 Jun
Mostly dogs keep barking when there is something annoying them. Perhaps the neighbor has mended his ways, and now the dog is happy,
3 people like this
@garymarsh6 (24295)
• United Kingdom
16 Jun
I have been away for the last four months my wife would not say boo to a goose but l had my say whether it upset him l don't really care but we have not heard a squeek or rather a bark since! Three days of peace so far. But I did keep a record so l could back it up with proof.
2 people like this
@Fleura (35970)
• United Kingdom
16 Jun
@garymarsh6 Well done, that's important so you can prove whatever is necessary.
1 person likes this
@JESSY3236 (22502)
• United States
16 Jun
I would have talked to them too. If it wasn't fixed then I would call the police.
3 people like this
@garymarsh6 (24295)
• United Kingdom
16 Jun
Ironically the wife is a police officer! So she should be fully aware of causing a public nuisance!
3 people like this
@garymarsh6 (24295)
• United Kingdom
17 Jun
It would not have carried on that long had l not been away I would have put a stop to it long before that. His wife is a police officer so she knows what the law is & knows that it is being broken by them causing a nuisance.
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (24295)
• United Kingdom
17 Jun
@JudyEv I quite expected her to come around & start throwing her weight around but I would have reminded her that as a police officer she should be setting an example & not breaking the law. She is not above the law! I told my wife if she comes come & get me & I will deal with her.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (385452)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Jun
@garymarsh6 It's not a good example for a police officer to be brreaking the law in this way even if it is only a barking dog. Some police here are very casual about the law and how it applies to them.
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (24295)
• United Kingdom
16 Jun
Yes l think they have taken it on board & hope that is the end of the matter!
3 people like this
@Treborika (18258)
• Mombasa, Kenya
16 Jun
That's so stressful to have such neighbours. I would have sown them or report the matter to the relevant authorities for sure.
2 people like this
@garymarsh6 (24295)
• United Kingdom
17 Jun
If they had allowed it to continue that would have been my next course of action but so far it has worked.
