Hi, I'm after some advice about my neighbour's dog please. I'm sorry but not being a doggy person I have no idea what sort of dog it is, it's smallish and black and there my knowledge ends!

Anyway, they have two of these dogs which are fairly barky a lot of the time, which we don't mind too much except when we're trying to get out kids to bed. For the last couple of days however, one of them has been howling on and off all day. We have only seen one dog since the howling started, so we are wondering if something has happened to the other dog and that's the cause of the howling. We don't know our neighbours very well, just well enough to say hello to if we see them. They are out most of the time, so if one of the dogs is missing for some reason I'd imagine the other one would be very lonely and miserable.

Should I say something to the owner when she gets home, and if so how? I don't want it to come across as "your dog is being annoying" because that's not how I feel, I'm just concerned that something is wrong. I don't know whether a note on their door might be better, or whether to go round there. My concern is that if the dog is howling because it's lonely when they're out, they might not know that. If it was my dog sounding so sad I'd want someone to tell me.

I suppose I've answered my own question really, but if anyone has any ideas I'd like to hear them.

Edit: Just been googling some pictures and I think the dogs are Staffordshire Bull Terriers.

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My furry family:
Clover the one-eyed bunny
Badger the gerbil

And the newest one, Maisie the poorly gerbil

Remembering many many gerbils, budgies, hamsters and one very special guinea pig

I would ask has something happened to their other dog.. and go from their..

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I think I'd probably pop round at a convenient time and just ask if things were ok and tell them what you've told us. That you were concerned about the dog and didn't know whether she knew about the howling.

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Not knowing anything about anyone concerned, included you and the area in which you live it's hard to suggest anything. I would advise against "notes" however. Impersonal notes I would find more annoying and appear as if you were "hiding" behind them. It's also too easy to cause a misunderstanding through a note.

I would take it as an opportunity to talk to them and get to know them better as well as letting them get to know you more. You could always ask "casually" about the dog's breed as an opener.

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Our next door neighbours dog howls and barks when they are out
The 1st time I heard him I knocked there door when they got back and just said I thought you'd want to know the dog sounds quite distressed whrn you are out, barking, howling and crying I hope it's OK.
They thanked me for letting them lnow and are now working on his Seperation Anxiety.

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A dog Possesses Beauty without Vanity,Strength without Insolence, Courage without Ferocity, And all the Virtues of Man without his Vices.

Thanks for all the advice. I am inclined to agree that a note might not be the way to go. I'll look out for her when she gets home later on today and try to catch her then.

Thanks again

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My furry family:
Clover the one-eyed bunny
Badger the gerbil

And the newest one, Maisie the poorly gerbil

Remembering many many gerbils, budgies, hamsters and one very special guinea pig

Update: I've just caught the owner as she got home. Apparently the female is in season and it's the male that's howling. They are both booked in to be "done" but have not been yet. Relieved to know that it's nothing more serious, but will be about a week's worth of howling to listen to! Thanks everyone for the help x

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My furry family:
Clover the one-eyed bunny
Badger the gerbil

And the newest one, Maisie the poorly gerbil

Remembering many many gerbils, budgies, hamsters and one very special guinea pig

It goes to show what a thoughtful and caring person you are to post that on here.

I have two dogs, and I know that if they were bothering the neighbours in any way, whether it be annoying them or concerning them, I would want to know about it. As has already been suggested, you could just ask them if their dog is ok as you were worried about it the other day when it was howling.

Edit: I must have updated at the same time. Glad to hear that its nothing serious....perhaps time to invest in some temporary earplugs

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