Stop Your Neighbor Dog Barking Constantly

We’ve all experienced how one dog can get a whole neighborhood of dogs barking. It can fray your last nerve if it continues for a long time. Is there a way to find peace when your neighbor dog barking is constant? There are a few tricks, some of which may surprise you. In this article, I’ll cover them.

*Updated: March 3, 2023

Budget Tip:

While there aren't a lot of options for your neighbor's barking dogs, you do have a few. Keeping a quiet neighborhood is a good thing, unless there's just cause to bark like someone's home is being broken into. Otherwise, a constantly barking dog is just plain annoying and can undo your dog's bark training. 

Therefore, taking action to curtail your neighbor's dog barking is a very good thing for the entire neighborhood. If you have to invest in an automatic anti barking device (see below), it may be well worth it to at least have a calm night. Keep in mind that some pet stores will stand behind their products. So, if you try an anti barking device and it doesn't work, then you can turn it in without an issue. It definitely can be a good investment for peace and quiet. 

Communicate with your neighbor

Your neighbor may not even be aware that his or her dog is barking when left alone. Or it could be an unwanted behavior issue that is being currently worked on with the dog.

The first trick is determining the trigger for the barking, which then leads to a solution.

If the barking is being triggered by separation anxiety, you can suggest a dog walker, doggie daycare, pet sitter, family, friend, or a dog community member dog sitting. Sometimes, calming medication will help as well, it certainly has helped calm my dog, Henry’s anxiety. Or if your dog is friends with the barking neighbor dog, you can even offer to dog sit.

NOTE:  I would highly recommend that you write a document that would protect you if the neighbor’s barking dog causes damage to your home. You will want to hold your neighbor responsible for his or her dog’s actions.

Basically, what a dog kennel, doggie daycare, or pet sitter would require prior to watching the dog. Additionally, make sure the dog is properly vaccinated and you have the dog owner’s cell number as well as the vet’s number, just in case anything unforeseen should happen. 

Notice when nuisance barking increases

If you notice that the neighbor’s dog only barks when you or your dog are in your yard, then try to create a safe barrier zone where the barking dog won’t be able to detect your presence so easily. You can try a water fountain, a thicker hedge, or another barrier between your yard and the neighbor’s yard to break both sight and sound.

However, if the neighbor’s dog won’t stop barking due to your motion detector lights, then try to re-focus your lights a little. This can make a huge difference.

Maybe the neighbor’s dog is hearing your dog going out the dog door. If this is the case, then try to put another noise deterrent by the door like a water fountain. Additionally, add a cushion to the lining of the flap of the doggie door to help prevent a hard opening and closing. At least when you’re home or during the day. Although, if you live in a higher wildlife area, as I do, you’ll want to be able to shut the doggie door tightly at night.

Make friends with your neighbor’s nuisance dog barking

This is a play on Pavlov’s dog. So, instead of every time, the neighbor’s dog sees you he or she barks out of anxiety or territory defense, you turn that into every time the dog sees you he or she’s excited and happy.

Of course, you’ll need the neighbor’s permission for this trick. The idea is that you give the pooch dog treats. Or play with the dog, if possible. Even invite the dog over to play with your dog, again if possible.

Another great idea is to create a DIY dog stimulation toy and give to the noisy dog with the pet parents’ permission. They aren’t expensive but can give the dog away to occupy his or her mind without looking and listening for everything that passes by.

Basically, you are becoming friends with this dog. Thus, instead of barking when he or she sees or smells you, he or she will be excited when you are near because you equate it to positive experiences. Of course, this doesn’t happen overnight. But in theory, it doesn’t take that long either.

What if my neighbor refuses to quiet his barking dog? 

There are still solutions. Even if you’ve exhausted all the above remedies. Or your neighbor has refused to talk to you from the start. Although the options will depend on where you live.

Solutions for HOA living with a barking dog

If you live in an HOA, you can talk to your HOA board. Most HOAs will not permit barking dogs. They will quickly issue a complaint to the dog owner and they will be forced to find a remedy.

Tricks for a barking dog in an apartment

Again, you’ll want to talk to the apartment complex owner or board, depending on your apartment. Remember, you will not be the only one disturbed by the barking dog. As such, you will definitely want to discuss with the dog parent the very unique situation of apartment living with a dog. This includes having to walk the dog more. At any rate, an apartment barking dog complaint will get a quick resolution. The dog owner will be issued a noise complaint and forced to mediate the noise issue within a short time frame.

Tips for country or house living with neighbors dogs barking relentlessly

This is where it gets a bit more complicated. But it’s not impossible to find a resolution.

1. Find out the noise ordinances

 You’ll want to know what your city or county noise ordinances say specifically in regard to barking dogs. Generally, you can find this information online under your city or county government codes.

2. Call to file a noise complaint

Next, after you’ve discovered that barking dogs aren’t allowed within your area or at certain hours, you’ll need to make a phone call to file a complaint. Most likely, you’ll call your local sheriff’s office or animal control and file a noise disturbance complaint.

3. Neighbors should join the complaint filing for more impact

I know most people like to file complaints anonymously in order to keep a friendly neighborhood. However, you may not have this option. So, you’ll want to balance the pros and cons of the noise complaint filing with living next to an incessant barking dog. Although, it should also be noted that if you can gather complaints from other neighbors, it will have a lot more impact. Basically, the more neighbors that join in on the complaint, the more of an impact it will make in getting a resolution quickly.

4. Noisy dog owners are served the complaint

After the complaint is filed, the neighbor will be served with a complaint and told they are given a certain amount of time to rectify the situation (this will vary as well).

5. Follow-up with the resolution process

Finally, I would recommend following through with the sheriff’s office or animal control after the designated time to verify they have revisited the neighbor. You want to make sure measures have been taken to meditate for the barking issues. However, you should be able to hear if a solution has been found or not.

Is there anything else I can do to stop a neighbor’s dog barking all the time?

There are a couple of devices some people use that they feel are effective in silencing nuisance dog barking.

Silent Dog whistle

Pros:

• Can be effective in quieting a barking dog.
• Relatively inexpensive with most ranging around $7-10.

Cons:

• The drawback of a dog whistle is that you have to be right there to use it when the dog is barking.

Automatic anti-barking device

Pros:

• These can be very effective in silencing a barking dog.
• It doesn’t harm the dog and is put in a central location. In this case, probably your backyard.

Cons:

• It can deter both your dog and your neighbor’s dog from entering the backyard.
• It can cause indoor “accidents” since the backyard becomes an off-zone area for your dog and the neighbor’s dog. However, you can remedy this by turning it off at certain hours for potty and play breaks.
• They can be more expensive ranging from $25-90.

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Summary of practical ways to stop your neighbor dog barking constantly

A noisy dog next door can be incredibly nerve-racking, especially if the entire neighborhood of dogs joins the constant barking. It’s always best to try to find a peaceful resolution by talking to the dog owners. Offering solutions to the excessive noise that perhaps the pet parents hadn’t thought of yet can be well received. Remember everyone has ears. You may even be surprised to learn that the neighbor doesn’t even know that there is a barking issue. This can be helpful for the dog parent in correcting a behavior issue or barking trigger.

Notably, if you can’t find a resolution by communicating with your neighbor and the barking problem continues, then you can try filing a noise complaint, or getting an anti-barking device. Even if you live in an HOA, apartment, or city, you have a way to remedy your neighbor’s barking dog.

Have you ever had to deal with a neighbor’s dog always barking? What tricks did you use to find a solution?