How to Deal with a Neighbor's Barking Dog

It's seven o'clock on Saturday morning. After a long week of work and caring for the house and family, you are looking forward to at least an extra hour or more of sleep. The windows are open to enjoy the cool weather of Fall and suddenly it starts. Your neighbor's dog who has just been let out into the yard begins to bark. And bark. And bark some more. Frustrated, you realize that any hope of extra sleep has just been dashed by the neighbor's dog. Unfortunately, this is a rather common problem in suburban neighborhoods. Dog owners sometimes let their dogs outside and then ignore the barking while either not realizing or not caring that the dog's barking is severely irritating and negatively affecting the existence of the homeowners around them. Here are some steps to take to confront and rectify the problem.

First, Relax. Easier said than done, but keeping a cool head at this time is crucial to resolving the situation amicably. When a neighbor's barking dog continuously wakes you or your baby from sleep, it is very tempting to beat down the neighbor's door and give them a piece of your mind. Unfortunately, this will only put the dog owner on the defensive and probably get you nowhere.

Pay A Visit To Your Neighbor. Choose a good time to pay a visit to the barking dog's owner. Do not go over there during dinner hour or as soon as your neighbor comes home from work. The more relaxed your neighbor is, the more receptive he or she will be to calmly solving the problem. Mid afternoon on Saturday or Sunday is a perfect time to pay a visit and discuss the problem of the barking dog. State your concerns calmly and without accusations or insults. Hopefully, this is all it will take to rectify the problem.