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Apartment Living

Neighbors barking dog

8 years ago

last modified: 8 years ago

We've been living in a chicago condo for 6 years. Up to this point, we've never had noise issues with neighbors. The walls between units are concrete, and unless someone slammed a door or dropped something heavy, we wouldn't hear them. We've been also pretty lucky to have decent neighbors.

Fast forward to a month or so ago, and new neighbors move in on one side, who have a dog. The dog must have separation anxiety, as it barks whenever it appears to be left alone. I'd say a few days a week we can hear the dog barking, sometimes for 15-20 minutes, sometimes for a few hours. Other than the dog barking, they are quiet neighbors.

I am not sure if the sound is travelling through the concrete wall, or through common building pipes, or maybe coming in from the hallway door. As you know, it's hard to isolate the exact spot noise is coming in from.

It's not loud enough to wake us up, but it is noticeable and annoying, particularly if I don't have music or the tv on.

The question is if I approach the neighbors and mention their dog is barking when left alone. Perhaps they aren't aware that it can be heard through units. Or is this noise something you should expect living in a shared space?

The other issue is that we are planning to have a baby in the near future, and I realize that we may be guilty of unintended 'noise' ourselves an so don't want to start a conflict back and forth.

Do I say anything to them, or just learn to live with it?

Featured Answer

User

8 years ago

Try coming from a place of concern first.

"I don't know if you realize your dog has separation anxiety and barks for hours when you're not home, poor thing! I can't imagine what he's going through when I can hear him barking nonstop."

See what they say and hopefully, they're not aware and it will dawn on them that their dog is disturbing the peace.

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Comments (8)

carpetcrawler
Original Author
8 years ago
Thanks, that is good advice. I just was worried that if I say something, then down the road we have a crying baby and they complain back about that etc.
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Julie F
8 years ago
Even if they don't realize it, it's kind of hard to make a dog stop barking if your not even home. I supposed they could muzzle it but that is an awful way to spend your day and wouldn't entirely quiet the dog.
dandyrandylou
8 years ago
Muzzling the pup would actually be cruel treatment.
carpetcrawler
Original Author
8 years ago
I agree that muzzling a dog all day is cruel.

There must be ways for people to try and train the dog not to bark when left alone. There are few things louder or more annoying than a dog barking constantly for hours, when you have no clue when it will start and stop and your sleep and relaxation can depend on that.
Mamie P.
8 years ago
Try this. Buy a kong toy. Tell neighbors that you won the kong toy in a raffle and since you don't have a dog maybe theirs would enjoy it? My dog has separation anxiety and I give him a kong stuffed with treats when I leave for work or errands. He's so busy trying to get the food out of the kong he doesn't even realize that I'm gone. It keeps him occupied for hours.
elpaso1
8 years ago
Let neighbors know. They may not be aware he may have separation anxiety. They can try walking him briskly for 45 min twice a day to get excess energy out, plus doing 15 or 20 min a day training, to tire him mentally. Melatonin can be given before they leave, to take the edge off. You can also get no bark collars.
carpetcrawler thanked elpaso1
Annegriet
8 years ago
I agree with everyone above. Especially if you are planning to have a baby. I lived in an apartment next to a baby once and the baby cried all night long sometimes. I never complained because that is the reality of the shared space. I live in a side-by-side house. My dog had separation anxiety and the neighbors politely told me. I put my dog on an anti-anxiety med and it fixed the problem.
carpetcrawler thanked Annegriet

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