How to Stop a Neighbor's Dog from Barking

Alerting Your Neighbor of the Problem

Talk to your neighbor. Many people jump straight to drastic measures instead of simply talking to the neighbor about their concerns. Unless you're on bad terms with your neighbor, the best way to solve this problem is usually to just talk to him or her about it. You could casually approach your neighbor next time you see him or her outside, or write a note asking to set up a time to talk. Your tone at this point should be friendly and be respectful, yet firm. Don't make legal threats; you may have to do that later, but for now, try to keep things civil. Assume your neighbor is unaware of the problem. Say something like, "I knew you'd want to know that Sadie's barking is audible to us at night, especially since our bedroom faces your yard." Explain that the barking is having a negative effect on your sleep, concentration, and so on, and that you would like to work out a good solution. Thank your neighbor for hearing you out and making a change. Most considerate neighbors will do their best to accommodate you right away.

Make helpful suggestions. It's possible your neighbor is well aware of the issue but isn't sure how to get the dog to stop barking. If you're pretty sure you know what the problem is, there's nothing wrong with making suggestions. This is especially effective if you're a dog owner, too. You can commiserate over how tough it can be to get a dog to stop barking. Here are a few common problems you might consider bringing up: Dogs kept outside commonly bark from boredom; this is especially true for energetic breeds like German Shepherds, terriers (including Pit Bulls), and guard dogs like Dobermans and Rottweilers. Suggest that the dog needs more exercise. Some dogs are very excitable and nervous, and they bark at everything that passes. Obedience training can be very helpful. You might want to provide the names of a few well-rated training schools in the area. Dogs also bark when they're either too cold or too hot. Many people have the misconception that dogs' fur keeps them warm in subzero weather; it's not the case unless the dog is a husky. If you've seen the dog shivering or looking miserable in the heat of the day, tell your neighbor the dog could be barking because it's uncomfortable.

Try to agree on a concrete solution. Rather than expecting your neighbor to put a stop to all barking, it might be more feasible to agree on a practical solution that works for both of you. Here are a few solutions that might apply; you can adapt them to your situation as necessary: See if your neighbor will agree to take the dog inside during certain hours, such as between 10 pm and 7 am, or when there are a lot of triggers to barking, such as when children walk home from school. If barking during the day is a problem because the dog is left outside, see if the neighbor will agree to install a dog house where the dog can take shelter during the day. Discuss a certain date by which the dog house will be installed. If the dog has a behavioral problem and the neighbor agrees it needs to be addressed, see if he or she will set a certain date by which the dog will start attending obedience classes.

Block the dog's view. If the dog barks every time it sees movement, blocking its view of your movements might help. Increase the height of your fence or close off areas where the dog sees movement. If the dog is being set off by your cats or other pets moving in the yard at night, this might be enough to quieten the dog. Try to look at things from the dog's perspective when the dog is outside. See if there is anything outside in particular he is barking at, such as rabbits, squirrels, another dog, or something else disturbing them. Then think about whether there is a way to reduce this trigger. See if your neighbor will put up something that blocks the dog’s view on sides of their yard that aren’t on your property line.

Get backup from other neighbors. If your neighbor ignores your requests or doesn't make a change after you've asked politely, it can help to get neighbors involved. Talk to other people who live nearby to see if they're also being kept awake by the dog. You can then talk to your neighbor again as a group. This time your requests are likely to be taken seriously. If you don't want to gang up on your neighbor, ask the other neighbors to contact the dog owner individually. That way he or she won't feel bullied. Best case scenario, the neighbors will be able to put their heads together to come up with a good solution that doesn't leave anyone feeling ostracized. However, if the dog owner is unreceptive and the barking continues unchecked, you may have to change tacks and get authorities involved.

Contacting Law Enforcement

Research your town or city's anti-barking laws. Look online at your town or city's codes, by-laws or dog legislation. There may be a code against unruly pets or incessant barking at night; many places have legislation or regulations in place that deals specifically with dogs and/or noise. There might also be a code covering ignoring requests from neighbors. Often neighborhood or civil dispute centers produce small briefs on dog issues, as they're rather commonplace complaints. See if a precedent has already been set in your neighborhood. You may want to share your findings with your neighbor to give him or her one last chance to change before you call the authorities. If you're pretty sure it won't work, move straight to the next step.

Call the relevant authority to report a noise complaint. Find out what town hall/council/municipal office or other relevant authority to call so you can file a report on your neighbors for a noise complaint.The authorities will talk to the dog owner and assess the situation. They will usually inform you of the outcome. If nothing changes, call again a few days later. You might want to ask if anonymity is an option when you file the report. In some cases, this may not be an issue for you, especially if it's plain-as-day that you're the one pointing the finger thanks to previous attempts. However, if you have various upset neighbors, maintaining anonymity may be useful to prevent retaliation of any sort. Some jurisdictions will act on anonymous complaints, while others require your name and address but won't reveal this to the neighbor complained about. Check the public or private status of making a complaint before making it.

Call animal control to report abuse. If you believe the barking is a result of neglect or another form of abuse, you have the right to call animal control. If the dog is being severely abused it will be confiscated from the owner, but in most cases, animal control won't take the dog away. Instead, they'll come to assess the situation and try to educate the owners as to how to properly care for the dog. If the dog is left outside during extreme heat or cold, this would be considered a good reason to call animal control. If the dog looks underfed or dehydrated, you can call animal control.

Get other neighbors to file the same complaint. If the authorities get multiple calls about the same dog owner, they'll be more likely to take action quickly. There's definitely strength in numbers in this situation, so rally as many people as you can to remedy the situation.

Sue the dog owner in small claims court. Even after getting the authorities involved, some stubborn dog owners won't comply with requests to quiet the dog. If nothing else works, you can sue for nuisance in small claims court. The goal will be to make a case that the dog's barking is preventing you from enjoying your own home. If you win, the dog owner will have to pay a small sum of money. Prepare to sue by doing the following: Try to negotiate with your neighbor, so you can show the judge that you made an effort. Decide how much you want to sue for. An attorney can help you figure out a dollar amount. Gather witnesses and other proof, like photos or recordings.