Any advice on dog barking?

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1
A young couple moved into a flat along at the end of the hallway from us a few months ago, the flat next to my neighbour. In the past few weeks they've acquired a dog and we keep hearing barking and howling. This is really starting to annoy OH on the days he's WFH. I heard it when I got up at 7.20 this morning. If I open my door I hear it in the corridor. My neighbour through the wall is out most days.

OH went out to the postbox today and walked round to the corner of the building. Seems like the tenants are going out to work and leaving the doors in the flat along with the balcony door open so their dog can roam around. I saw it on the balcony the other evening, it looks like it might be about 6 months old and a mixed breed, the head is heavy set like a type of bull terrier.

We're not sure how we should approach this, as we already complained ages ago about another tenant who was using the courtyard for exercising his large dog and it was digging up the shrubs (plus animals or anything else in the courtyard like bikes or motorbikes contravenes the terms of the lease). The previous company were great at handling stuff, but now we're with another property company who don't bother to reply to anything and we don't want to get into an altercation with anyone.

I hate dealing with stuff like this and I realise things vary by canton

2
Tell them, either the dog shuts up or you involve the landlord and make a cmplaint top the police.

Maybe they are unaware the dog barks all the time and is disturbing so possibly light infantry before the heavy artillery....

3
Tal to your neighbours. Safety in numbers.

4
The poor dog

It's possible the owners aren't aware that their dog is causing a ruckus. I would consider approaching them and letting them know, under the context of concern for the dog (rather than as a frustrated neighbour, although of course you have the right to be annoyed).

I would expect their response will likely determine what the next steps are, i.e. if they're dismissive and confrontational to you versus apologetic and concerned for the dog.

5
Very hard to just make a dog “shut up”. Poor thing is lonely, or scared, or bored.

If it only barks when it’s alone, maybe they need a dog sitter. You could always offer to have it if you’re wfh

6
I must confess I was dumbfounded a few years ago when my elderly neighbours informed me my dogs were barking a lot when I was at work. I simply had no idea!

I took very simple measures and the barking stopped. My dogs are the small yappy kind, and they are alert dogs. I stopped giving them free access to my big terrace while I’m out, as they would react to each and every noise in the street. I also now let the radio on when I’m out. The background noise prevents them from overreacting to every single noise from outside.

So I’d suggest talking to your neighbours, telling them you could try to work out a solution together.

7
Unfortunately I had all this with the people next door to me in London for 5 years. They had a springer spaniel that was never taken out for walks and it would start howling 5 mins after they went out to work (I assume it was abandonment issues). We spoke to the neighbours politely who said to us that dogs bark and we should get over it. I contacted the RSPCA as I was concerned about the howling. They just said dogs bark to communicate - no sh1t Sherlock It eventually drove us up the wall as it was being left till all hours at night and we ended up having to get Environmental Health involved. Believe me, we couldn't even watch TV if the dog was on its own.

OH rang our next door neighbour's bell this afternoon to ask if she had any problems but she wasn't in. After 4pm it sounded as if it was shut in the bathroom (someone was back earlier then went out again). My livingroom is open plan and the kitchen/dining end has French doors facing the main entrance, so I see everyone going in and out with their dogs, strangely I never see this one. The guy from this couple is often outside the front of the building at night smoking weed, which is why I'm not keen about approaching him.

8

No, not poor dog, idiot owners rather.

It is not the dog who decides it's the owners who decide, it's called training.

Disclosure : I do not like dogs, i don't hate them but they are animals and have to abide by my rules, not me by there behaviour.

9
Abandonment anxiety is a real thing with dogs and cats, and there are things owner can and should do to help them overcome it. So you don't train the dog to not bark, you train the dog to learn it's safe to be home alone and how to spend the time.

So, I'd inform neighbours first (in case they aren't aware of the issue), and hint about 'properly holding animal consists of their whole wellbeing' and point them towards their vet for advice. There are behavioural therapists that can help as well.

But yes, if at the end owners don't care, then they don't deserve that animal.

10
You do know that you're an animal too? I find dog training to be more about training me than my dog. Abide.

It's a matter of training both the dog and the two bipeds. I do hope for all involved that this is realized. The dog needs to be trained to remain calm and happy when the humans are not there, and the the humans need to be there while the dog learns this, and the humans need to generally be there . There are techniques. That being said, the longest I leave my doggie for is around 2 hours and then she has my two cats to keep company with (she's a 7month old puppy). Otherwise she's with me all the time.

11
I've said something like this back at home country, but not in CH. Dogs are a headache for landlords and real estate companies, and people trying to rent with a problematic pet face the consequences. The system works.

@cherub, I'd say try a couple more times to talk to the pet owners out of courtesy. It's not your problem, so no need to get involved and no need to think about dog's abandonment issues. Then start the slow process of talking to other neighbors and writing to landlord. Landlords already know pets are causes of problems among neighbors, they'll just do their thing.

12
Yes indeed!

This can be fixed if the owner is approachable and shows willingness to work on the problem. If the owner is not approachable, you need to hand the problem over to the landlord.

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I hope you'll try talking to the neighbors again. From experience, problems are solved more quickly, more effectively, if friendly relations are maintained.

Keep it simple, just say that you can hear the dog barking from/during (timeframe). It would be a good idea to give concrete examples rather than 'barking too much' as that would A.) show the owner there is a real problem to be taken seriously and B.) when the dog barks might give the owner clues as to how to address the problem.

How I would steer the conversation next would depend on the response from the owners. If the owner opened up to me about having dificulties with the pup I would give them some tips, suggest area trainers to help, suggest day care options etc. But I'd only do that if the owners asked for advice, as unsolicited advice is never well received, and can often backfire.

As as side note:

Even with the best will in the world, with the most responsible owner who is getting help from skilled behaviorists, barking is not an easy thing to train out. It does take time. And time. And more time. Progress generally does not adhere to a checklist. Especially with an adolescent dog in the throes of puberty. If the owner is approachable and sincerely trying to improve the situation, maybe you two could come to some kind of agreement to give him the time needed to address the barking while seeking ways to minimizing the disturbance.

If the owner gets aggressive, is uncooperative or otherwise blows you off then going to the landlord is the right next step. Make it the landlord's problem, you should not have to deal with that kind of person.

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And now a background comment:

You mentioned your impression that the dog might be mixed with a bull breed. I bring this up because Basel is a BSL canton.

NOW it is notoriously difficult to guess breed mixes, especially when a young dog is still growing into it's adult body the head can look larger than it eventually will. Most people guess breeds wildly incorrectly, potentially condemning dogs unfairly.

BUT be aware that if the dog is mixed with a bull breed the owner should have applied for a permit to keep him, and is required to take specific training classes. If applicable I would hope, for the dog's sake, the owner knows this and is compliant.

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If you have concerns over the dog's welfare and if the owner is not approachable, an option is to speak with the BS Veterinäramt.

But never, ever, put yourself in a confrontational situation when you suspect an owner of animal abuse. These situations can escalate. Make a report, leave the rest to the professionals.

I don't know how responsive BS is to such reports. Some cantons/communites take it seriously, others turn a blind eye.

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I hope to doG that the owner is approachable, and is proactive in getting some help for that poor pup.

And I sincerely hope that you get the peace and quiet that you are entitled to.

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And yet again I am shaking my head at the 'throwing out the baby with the bathwater' that was the abolition of the SKN courses. Flawed as they were, at least they got everyone into minimal basic training and made owners aware of their responsibilities to their dogs, their neighbors, and society at large. These kinds of situations show why we need some kind of training mandate.