Honest opinions - is this too harsh? UPDATE

Their Border Collie is barking up a storm every day at 6:30 am -- barking at squirrels. I want to leave this note - what do you think??

Dear Neighbors:

We are sure you are not aware of the following situation and therefore would like to request your cooperation.

Having a raised deck, your dog’s barks carry and can be very disturbing, especially in the early morning. Please consider that we do not all want nor need to be awakened at 6:30 am. We request you either do not let your dog out until a more reasonable hour, or perhaps invest in a muzzle (see attached) for those early morning barks.

Your neighbors would appreciate this consideration.


Thank you!

UPDATE: 6am today - Dog started barking so I threw on some clothes and was going to go over there - but the owner was in the yard on the deck, getting ready to walk the dog. So I called to her and asked if they would please keep him inside a few hours more as it is very early (law says no noise before 8am but anyway...).
She said well we go to work really early and I said yeah I know but not all of us do.

Understand they have the top floor and the dog is only on the deck - not in the yard. Their deck is level with my bedroom, so the dog is up in the air barking into my windows (which DH closes at 6am so it isn't as loud at least). The dog stands there and barks at squirrels - it's not because he has to relieve himself or anything like that.

Anyway she said "Sure" but then I could hear her DH inside saying "She f-ing this and f-ing that" --- which I can't imagine what it would be since I NEVER leave Scout barking in the yard, I don't blast my music (they do), we don't bother anyone....

Anyway thanks for the suggestions and hopefully I can get some sleep now...

Message edited 5/25/2007 6:43:25 AM.

Message edited 6/26/2009 11:14:18 AM.

Re: Honest opinions - is this too harsh?

Personally I would go over and speak to them about it. I am not big on leaving notes in peoples mailboxes.

Re: Honest opinions - is this too harsh?

Re: Honest opinions - is this too harsh?

I would go over and speak to them about it... if you do leave a note I wouldn't mention a muzzle, that is pretty harsh.

Re: Honest opinions - is this too harsh?

I would go talk to them. What are you attaching to the letter?

Good luck!

Re: Honest opinions - is this too harsh?

Ugg I HATE confrontation -- but I suppose it is the best thing to do instead of the note.

There are soft muzzles that let the dog eat and drink, just not bark - that's what I was going to attach a copy of.

Re: Honest opinions - is this too harsh?

wait until tomorrow at 6.31 am and go over

Re: Honest opinions - is this too harsh?

yeah, i'm not a fan of notes - i'd talk to them in person so your words won't be misconstrued

if i got a note like that, with a pic of a muzzle attached (hard or soft), i'd be offended, and id probably put the dog out even earlier

Re: Honest opinions - is this too harsh?

I also would just go over and talk to them.

Re: Honest opinions - is this too harsh?

I'd ring their doorbell in your PJs at 6:31am.


We had a similar situation about 4 yrs ago...my Dad had just had major spinal surgery, and wasn't sleeping well, but to make matters worse, the neighbors 2 houses up had 2 large boxers that would fight and bark alllllll day long, starting at 7am.

Dad hobbled up to the house on his crutches/walker (I don't remember which one it was at that point), and knocked for a good 5 minutes....they were home, but didn't answer the door!

He left a post-it that said,
CALL ME SO WE CAN DISCUSS WHAT TO DO ABOUT YOUR DOGS BARKING ALL DAMN DAY.
xxx-xxxx


They never called, but the dogs were no longer left outside all day either.

Re: Honest opinions - is this too harsh?

Definitely at least take out the muzzle part - I think that is a little harsh, IMO.

Re: Honest opinions - is this too harsh?

Re: Honest opinions - is this too harsh?

Re: Honest opinions - is this too harsh?

here is a link for some other ideas...

doggie solutions linky

Re: Honest opinions - is this too harsh?

I think it's childish to leave an anonymous note instead of talking to them about it. I'd get up the next time the dogs are barking that early and head over there in PJs and a robe to politely tell them that they can't let their dogs bark that early in the morning. Otherwise, just mention it to them when you see them next.

I wouldn't leave the note - I'd just go talk to them. You want to stay friendly even if you are upset with them -- A note like that won't facilitate that.

Re: Honest opinions - is this too harsh?

I think you need to be a little nicer about it (you catch more bees w/honey type deal), but still firm...and I might try to make them feel bad about making their dogs unhappy about being outside.

I may change it up a little to:

Dear Neighbors:

We are writing to make you aware of the disturbance your dogs are causing in the surrounding neighborhood.

Having a raised deck, your dog’s barks can be heard from quite a few houses down. Allowing their loud barking as early 6:30am is inconsiderate to us as a community and we respectfully request that you look into finding an alternative way to care for them. They clearly are not happy about being outside at that hour, and we as your neighbors are not very appreciative of it either.

We hope you can find a way to resolve the problem, and we hope you find this letter to serve as a sincere request to address it.

Thank you.

Re: Honest opinions - is this too harsh?

Re: Honest opinions - is this too harsh?

Re: Honest opinions - is this too harsh?

Honestly, I'd be ****** about the suggestion that I muzzle my dog. (But that would never happen because we don't let her bark.)

I'm with the others.... go over there in your PJs at 6:31am and ask them to quiet their dogs.

Re: Honest opinions - is this too harsh?

Re: Honest opinions - is this too harsh?

I agree with the other posters. I would remove the muzzle comment. You need them to address the situation but not tell them what to do with their dogs.

Re: Honest opinions - is this too harsh?

Re: Honest opinions - is this too harsh?

First, they are very aware of the situation since they are home and can hear their dogs barking. They just don't care. Second, I would be knocking and ringing their bell at the sound of the first bark from their dogs and asking them, in a very polite, to please quiet their dogs. Third, if the refused to do so, the gloves would come off and the next visit wouldn't be as polite. I would tell them that if they didn't correct the matter, the next person knocking on the door would be a policeman/woman. You are entitled to a certain quality of life under the law and these people are not allowing you to enjoy that.

I have three dogs and love them dearly, but, if they are outside and barking it had better be for a good reason. They are not, even, allowed near my neighbor's fence. They have small children and the last thing they need is a dog barking at them when they are in the backyard. I cannot stand a dog who just stands there and barks. Even though this dog is barking at squirrels, eventually, the squirrels leave and the dog is barking at nothing. These people need a lesson in responsible dog ownership. People like this make me want to

Re: Honest opinions - is this too harsh?