Long rant ahead... just need to get this out.
we've been having issues with the neighbors next door since they moved in, about 6 months ago. They have a female german shepard and a tiny fenced in back yard that butts up to our yard (unfenced) so there is just a small chain link between us.
It seems like the german shepard is always outside, always barking. You can literally hear it several blocks down the street. I always hear it when I'm out walking frank. I've really grown to hate the noise. The husband seems indifferent to the dog... but it's the wife's constant companion. She doesn't leave much during the day, so she's always there with the dog.
We have 2 main issues, obviously the noise. I hate to be like that, I know dogs bark. But this is excessive and at times of the day I feel are inconsiderate to the neighborhood. My boyfriend and I work opposite schedules so we rarely get to sleep in together, but on the days we do, we're always woken up around 6-7am by the barking. And it's not just out and in for a potty break, the dog is out there for hours at a time. constantly barking. at this point it's like nails on the chalkboard to us. I also go to bed pretty early, but am always woken up around 9-10pm again by the barking. I've never seen her walk the dog either. I know GSD's need to have a purpose, they are working dogs and need to feel useful. I think that's part of the problem.
Next issue is... quite frankly, I'm scared of the thing. Whenever I take frank outside to potty (he's always leashed) the german shep just paces back and forth along the fence that's between us. Barking its head off and lunging at us... behavior I take as aggressive/intimidating. I've been trying to read it's body language and it does seem aggressive to me. The part that really upsets me though, several times the wife has seen me outside with frank, we will make eye contact, and she'll still open up the door and let the GSD out. She will stand and watch it as it lunges and barks at us. She doesn't even bother to come outside and call it off. So many scenarios run through my head, what would I do if it comes over the fence and goes after frank? Frank is a tiny little bulldog... he wouldn't stand a chance.
When they first moved in I went over to plead my case, but was met at the driveway by the husband who kind of minimized the barking, and told me his dog is 'actually really friendly'.
So on saturday morning, after over an hour of constant barking at 6am, we called the police and made a noise complaint. My boyfriend is really noise sensitive so this has just been driving him nuts. We've even tried ear plugs and it didn't help at all. At this point we have no relationship with the neighbors, so I don't think it's worth it to try to talk to them again, and I'm so frustrated I'm afraid it wouldn't go well anyway.
I don't know what else to do!! same day we made the noise complaint the dog was out again at 8pm for 2 hours. sigh!!!
we've been having issues with the neighbors next door since they moved in, about 6 months ago. They have a female german shepard and a tiny fenced in back yard that butts up to our yard (unfenced) so there is just a small chain link between us.
It seems like the german shepard is always outside, always barking. You can literally hear it several blocks down the street. I always hear it when I'm out walking frank. I've really grown to hate the noise. The husband seems indifferent to the dog... but it's the wife's constant companion. She doesn't leave much during the day, so she's always there with the dog.
We have 2 main issues, obviously the noise. I hate to be like that, I know dogs bark. But this is excessive and at times of the day I feel are inconsiderate to the neighborhood. My boyfriend and I work opposite schedules so we rarely get to sleep in together, but on the days we do, we're always woken up around 6-7am by the barking. And it's not just out and in for a potty break, the dog is out there for hours at a time. constantly barking. at this point it's like nails on the chalkboard to us. I also go to bed pretty early, but am always woken up around 9-10pm again by the barking. I've never seen her walk the dog either. I know GSD's need to have a purpose, they are working dogs and need to feel useful. I think that's part of the problem.
Next issue is... quite frankly, I'm scared of the thing. Whenever I take frank outside to potty (he's always leashed) the german shep just paces back and forth along the fence that's between us. Barking its head off and lunging at us... behavior I take as aggressive/intimidating. I've been trying to read it's body language and it does seem aggressive to me. The part that really upsets me though, several times the wife has seen me outside with frank, we will make eye contact, and she'll still open up the door and let the GSD out. She will stand and watch it as it lunges and barks at us. She doesn't even bother to come outside and call it off. So many scenarios run through my head, what would I do if it comes over the fence and goes after frank? Frank is a tiny little bulldog... he wouldn't stand a chance.
When they first moved in I went over to plead my case, but was met at the driveway by the husband who kind of minimized the barking, and told me his dog is 'actually really friendly'.
So on saturday morning, after over an hour of constant barking at 6am, we called the police and made a noise complaint. My boyfriend is really noise sensitive so this has just been driving him nuts. We've even tried ear plugs and it didn't help at all. At this point we have no relationship with the neighbors, so I don't think it's worth it to try to talk to them again, and I'm so frustrated I'm afraid it wouldn't go well anyway.
I don't know what else to do!! same day we made the noise complaint the dog was out again at 8pm for 2 hours. sigh!!!