There's nothing worse than having to listen to your neighbor's dog bark all day, or worse, all night long. This incessant racket is enough to drive even the most mild-mannered people to extreme measures.
But before you go that far, know that there are some simple and effective methods for bringing peace and tranquility to your neighborhood.
If you're wondering how to make your neighbor's dog shut up, we've got five solutions that are simple to put into action and highly effective. And none of them involve extreme measures that might end with the dog, your neighbor, or you getting hurt.
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Ready for some peace and quiet? Here are five methods for getting your neighbor's dog to stop barking. We recommend starting with the first option and working your way down the list until you find the most effective solution for your specific situation.
This is often the simplest way to deal with a noisy dog, but most people prefer to overlook one option. Luckily, talking to your neighbor about their noisy dog doesn't have to be confrontational as long as you approach it the right way.
Start by getting yourself in the right mindset. Remind yourself that your neighbors aren't doing anything intentionally. They may not even know their dog is disturbing people. Approach the situation with empathy and understanding.
Let them know what their dog is doing that is disturbing you, and work with them to try and come up with a solution.
Make Friends with the Dog
If your neighbor's dog barks at you when you leave the house or work in your yard, your best bet for finding peace is to make friends with the dog.
Dogs bark at people when they feel threatened or anxious. By gaining their trust, you can help them see you as something to be excited about rather than fearful of.
Ask your neighbors if you can meet their dog - greeting the dog with the owner present is less scary for most dogs. Spend some time petting, playing with, and giving the pup treats. Then leave the house, go around to the fence where the dog normally sees you, and continue talking to and treating them.
Each time you come out of your house, take some time to say hello to the dog and toss them some treats or give them a good pet if they want it. They may still bark at first (old habits take a while to die), but the more you do this, the less likely they'll be to react to your presence by barking.
Use Positive Operant Conditioning
The above method is excellent for sociable dogs and for people who like dogs, but if you or the dog don't fall into those categories, you'll need to take a more hands-off approach to gain their trust. The way to do this is by using positive reinforcement in the form of tasty treats.
Before starting this kind of training, be sure to ask your neighbors first - some dogs have allergies or special dietary needs that need to be taken into account. Once your neighbor gives the okay signal to give their pup treats, start by procuring some highly valuable rewards, like diced chicken, freeze-dried liver, or small pieces of lunch meat.
Each time you go outside or engage in the activity that makes the dog bark, toss a handful of tasty treats over the fence. Don't look at or talk to the do, and don't reach over the fence either. You want the dog to believe treats rain down from the sky every time you walk by.
By pairing the sudden appearance of treats with your presence, the dog will learn that you're not something to be feared.
Automatic Bark Deterrent Tools
Building a positive association with your presence is always the best way to go when it comes to getting your neighbor's dog to stop barking. But this only works if you happen to be the thing the dog is barking at. If the dog barks at everyone or everything that passes by, or if they are barking out of boredom, your options are more limited.
Using automatic bark deterrent tools from afar will be your best bet in these situations. These tools come in various forms, and each is most effective for specific situations.
- Automatic Ultrasonic Anti-Bark Devices - These tools automatically emit a high-pitched sound when they detect barking. They should be placed on the edge of your property and pointed toward the offending dog. These work very well in quiet areas and with dogs that are sensitive to noise. However, these devices are not effective for noisy neighborhoods or dogs that are too far away.
- Motion-Activated Sprinkler - If your neighbor's dog barks at your fence or fence fights with your dog, this tool can be very effective. These sprinklers automatically produce a strong rotating stream when they sense motion. This is usually enough to back the offending dog off the fence, but it will only work with non-solid fences like chainlinks. These devices are also helpful for keeping dogs from pooping in your yard.
File a Formal Complaint
Your last option is to file a formal noise complaint with the city. Depending on where you live,
this complaint may need to go through the police department or animal control. Once the complaint is filed, the neighbor should be cited with a warning or fine.
This is usually enough to encourage the offender to do something about their dog's habit but can cause tension between neighbors even though the complaint should remain anonymous. While this can be an effective solution, it is not the first one you should try.
A Little Work Goes a Long Way
When it comes to quieting down a neighbor's dog, it is best to approach the situation directly by speaking to the neighbor about the problem first.
If the dog is barking at you specifically, gaining their trust and creating a positive association will be the most effective method of stopping the barking. If the dog is barking out of boredom or at something else, your options are limited to purchasing an automatic anti-bark device or filing a formal complaint.
Are you struggling with a noisy neighbor dog? Let us know what you've tried or what questions you have by commenting below.
