It’s 2 a.m. The world has settled in for a peaceful night of sleep. Not a creature is stirring, with a glaring exception.
Your neighbor’s dog won’t stop barking.
If you’re currently squinting at your phone, wiping the sleep from your eyes as another night of rest is disrupted by your neighbor’s canine companion, The Dispatch has some tips for you.
Here’s how to deal with your neighbor’s dog’s barking and other nuisances caused by them.
How to get your neighbor’s dog to stop barking
First, the American Kennel Club recommends not blaming the dog for its noise. The dog is simply being a dog, and likely doesn’t know any better. Its owner should, though.
To that end, the AKC recommends speaking face-to-face with your neighbor about the problem. The owner might be an inexperienced owner, unaware of the barking or already working on it. If all goes well, a cooperative neighbor will hopefully curb the dog’s barking after this interaction.
If the canine serenades continue and you notice the dog barks specifically at you or your family when you’re outside, the AKC recommends putting up a fence or a bush to block the dog’s view of your yard. If it doesn’t know you’re there, it might not bark.
That’s not a foolproof method, however. Dogs have keen hearing and smell, so they might know you’re there anyways. In that case, the AKC recommends befriending the dog and spending more time outside, so it gets used to your presence.
If all else fails, it’s time to take some more serious steps. If you live in an apartment building, you could file a complaint with your property management company.
You could also call in a noise complaint to Columbus’ 311 service or to the Columbus Division of Police’s non-emergency line.
According to section 2327.14 of Columbus city code, keeping a noisy animal that disturbs peace and quiet is a minor misdemeanor punishable by up to a $150 fine. Repeat offenders can have their charges increased to first degree misdemeanors, the most serious offenses that aren’t felonies.
What to do if your neighbor’s dog keeps pooping in your yard
Barking isn’t the only nuisance dogs can create. Sometimes, they leave behind smelly landmines in your yard.
If your neighbor’s dog frequently uses your yard as a bathroom there are a few steps you can take.
First, you could speak to your neighbor. They might not even know their dog is using the facilities in your yard.
If talking it out didn’t help, you could construct a fence or some other kind of barrier to keep the dog out. Or you could spray dog repellent, vinegar, or chili peppers—scents that dogs dislike—around.
If that fails, you could get the law involved. Leaving dog waste on your private property is technically littering, a third-degree misdemeanor under Columbus city code.
What to do if your neighbor mistreats their dog
If you suspect your neighbor is abusing or neglecting their dog, contact the Columbus Humane at (614) 777-7387.
Here’s a list of signs of abuse from the Columbus Humane.
- Extremely thin, starving animals
- Wounds on the body
- Patches of missing hair or severely matted hair
- Limping
- Dogs who are repeatedly left alone without food, water or shelter, often chained or locked up in a yard
- Animals that have been abandoned by their owner
- An owner striking, or otherwise physically abusing an animal
- Tick or flea infestations. Flystrike – open wounds on ears and/or nose caused by biting flies
- Animals with an injury or illness who have not received medical care
- Embedded collars/chains around the neck
- Intentionally fighting animals
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