Do you have a neighnourhood warden? Or a community centre person you could go and see? Or mention it to your local community police officer? Get it logged - that way if there have been letters sent to other people you'd know?

 

What a shame for you. Sounds like his barking is not excessive at all. I suspect it is a case of your dog getting the blame for other dogs too. Keep a log yourself for a few weeks. Are you at home most of the day?

 

What a cowardly way of complaining.

Keep the letter in a safe place.

If you get more, and they are abusive in any way, take to the police.

It sounds like you are doing all you can, in respect of your dog. As he is quiet at night, one wonders whether this is someone nearby struggling with shifts and day sleeping.

Perhaps a pre emptive strike might be in order - phone the council yourself, and talk to them about it. What is considered unreasonable noise? Tell them you are taking steps in case it is your dog annoying someone, but it doesn't bark excessively, and there are other dogs about.

Then keep your own daily log. Include date and times you and dog are out, when he is sleeping, etc. Be honest about any barking (how many barks, what at). It seems petty but it gives you your own record.

Then if a complaint does come through, you have some "evidence" to refer to.

Like you say, it may not even be your dog all the time.

The only way I can see this being a problem, is if you weren't allowed to keep a dog at your home in the first place.

Try not to worry.

Personally, we don't have a dog, but there are some around, and we hear them bark - so what? The only one I didn't like was one at the end of the garden who used to bark/growl at me through the mesh fence when I was in my kitchen, or when we were on the patio. That was wearing, as no one stopped her.

So we put a high fence up. Sorted.

 

Do you have a neighnourhood warden? Or a community centre person you could go and see? Or mention it to your local community police officer? Get it logged - that way if there have been letters sent to other people you'd know?

We don't have either of the first two options and I wouldn't have thought it was a police matter as the letter wasn't threatening? Maybe the council could help as that's where noise complaints usually end up.

What a shame for you. Sounds like his barking is not excessive at all. I suspect it is a case of your dog getting the blame for other dogs too. Keep a log yourself for a few weeks. Are you at home most of the day?

I am at home a lot right now and if not Benji is out with me My friend suggested keeping a log so I have been which is where I got the figures in my op from. It didn't seem excessive to me but everyone's tolerance is different, I suppose.

Thank you both for replying

 

What a cowardly way of complaining.

Keep the letter in a safe place.

If you get more, and they are abusive in any way, take to the police.

It sounds like you are doing all you can, in respect of your dog. As he is quiet at night, one wonders whether this is someone nearby struggling with shifts and day sleeping.

Perhaps a pre emptive strike might be in order - phone the council yourself, and talk to them about it. What is considered unreasonable noise? Tell them you are taking steps in case it is your dog annoying someone, but it doesn't bark excessively, and there are other dogs about.

Then keep your own daily log. Include date and times you and dog are out, when he is sleeping, etc. Be honest about any barking (how many barks, what at). It seems petty but it gives you your own record.

Then if a complaint does come through, you have some "evidence" to refer to.

Like you say, it may not even be your dog all the time.

The only way I can see this being a problem, is if you weren't allowed to keep a dog at your home in the first place.

Try not to worry.

Personally, we don't have a dog, but there are some around, and we hear them bark - so what? The only one I didn't like was one at the end of the garden who used to bark/growl at me through the mesh fence when I was in my kitchen, or when we were on the patio. That was wearing, as no one stopped her.

So we put a high fence up. Sorted.

Thanks

I think talking to the council to get an idea of 'acceptable noise' parameters is a good idea. I don't want to annoy anyone but can't exactly apologise and find out what the issue is as I don't know who the complainant is. I am keeping the letter and would report anything threatening. I think my biggest worry is that we have a corner plot so if someone was really that incensed and sure our dog was 'ruining' their peace and quiet (apparently more than the constantly revving motorbike enthusiast a couple of doors down), they might take matters into their own hands with a bit of poisoned meat or something over the wall and maybe Benji would find it before me. You see, the paranoia is setting in

I also hate the idea that someone might think we were that inconsiderate

 

Some people just like moaning. They actually start focusing on the 'noise' and become obsessed with it. It sounds like your dog is getting the blame for every dog in the street. If it was me I would ask someone you trust and ask them to monitor it and be totally honest with you. If it is a problem and you are out at work then maybe someone could come in and walk him a couple of days a week, tire him out? There are some really good dog walking services. If not, kill the situation with kindness and being overly reasonable to everyone you talk too. Most people will back down given reasonableness but will thrive on conflict and feel justified in complaining. I wish people would live and let live a bit. I have 4 Jack Russells next door who I love to bits but there are times its all I can do not to shout 'shut it!' but I am sure there are times when my neighbour gets sick to death of my cat rummaging in her flowerbeds!!

 

It would make me paranoid. I would be ruling out houses to find who it was but where to start? You could rule out dog owning houses but what if your dog is setting their dog off? You could limit it to the houses directly around yours but think of all them walls for the sound to bounch off of! Paranoia is cruel. I wouldnt bother keeping a log. Let them do it. Cant log and get evidence for some non existant thing

 

I would just ignore it for the time being. I suspect given that the letter was posted to you anonymously that it is an old fart who is at home all day with too much time on his/her hands. Sadly some individuals are petty and bitter and will complain about everything and anything as they have nothing else to do.

I can assure you that your dog is not barking excessively. We too once had complaints from our charming neighbours about our dogs 'excessive' barking and what you describe is perfectly normal. They are animals and can't be expected to be mute all the time - they bark. Barking for very short periods at something specific is considered 'normal'. It becomes excessive when it is regular long sustained periods of barking, especially so during unsociable hours (early in the morning/at night).

Keep the letter of course and if you are friendly with any dog owning neighbours, see if they also received one.

 

Some people just like moaning. They actually start focusing on the 'noise' and become obsessed with it. It sounds like your dog is getting the blame for every dog in the street. If it was me I would ask someone you trust and ask them to monitor it and be totally honest with you. If it is a problem and you are out at work then maybe someone could come in and walk him a couple of days a week, tire him out? There are some really good dog walking services. If not, kill the situation with kindness and being overly reasonable to everyone you talk too. Most people will back down given reasonableness but will thrive on conflict and feel justified in complaining. I wish people would live and let live a bit. I have 4 Jack Russells next door who I love to bits but there are times its all I can do not to shout 'shut it!' but I am sure there are times when my neighbour gets sick to death of my cat rummaging in her flowerbeds!!

I'm a full time mum so Benji isn't really left often or for very long. When I do go out without him he is crated and just sleeps. We have a good relationship with our neighbours either side and our house is detached anyway but I have said to all of our neighbours if there are any problems to please let me know. We are nice, reasonable people who would happily try and rectify any issues if given the chance. You're right, being nice usually nets better results than counter attacks. Thanks

It would make me paranoid. I would be ruling out houses to find who it was but where to start? You could rule out dog owning houses but what if your dog is setting their dog off? You could limit it to the houses directly around yours but think of all them walls for the sound to bounch off of! Paranoia is cruel. I wouldnt bother keeping a log. Let them do it. Cant log and get evidence for some non existant thing

You sound just like my hubby! He says we have enough to deal with and to just let them get on with it. I'd be out there with my magnifying glass and deer stalker hat if he wasn't talking me down

 

I would just ignore it for the time being. I suspect given that the letter was posted to you anonymously that it is an old fart who is at home all day with too much time on his/her hands. Sadly some individuals are petty and bitter and will complain about everything and anything as they have nothing else to do.

I can assure you that your dog is not barking excessively. We too once had complaints from our charming neighbours about our dogs 'excessive' barking and what you describe is perfectly normal. They are animals and can't be expected to be mute all the time - they bark. Barking for very short periods at something specific is considered 'normal'. It becomes excessive when it is regular long sustained periods of barking, especially so during unsociable hours (early in the morning/at night).

Keep the letter of course and if you are friendly with any dog owning neighbours, see if they also received one.

So far no-one else has but my closest dog owning neighbours have larger dogs with deeper barks. There is a JRT at the end of the road and a French Bulldog behind us somewhere who are more likely suspects. There is also a family who own two spaniel types, one of which barks ALL THE TIME and he often walks them 4.30 in the morning. No idea where they live, though.

 

It would make me paranoid. I would be ruling out houses to find who it was but where to start? You could rule out dog owning houses but what if your dog is setting their dog off? You could limit it to the houses directly around yours but think of all them walls for the sound to bounch off of! Paranoia is cruel. I wouldnt bother keeping a log. Let them do it. Cant log and get evidence for some non existant thing

But you would have a record of when you were out, which hopefully would contradict what they complained about.

 

I'm a full time mum so Benji isn't really left often or for very long. When I do go out without him he is crated and just sleeps. We have a good relationship with our neighbours either side and our house is detached anyway but I have said to all of our neighbours if there are any problems to please let me know. We are nice, reasonable people who would happily try and rectify any issues if given the chance. You're right, being nice usually nets better results than counter attacks. Thanks

You sound just like my hubby! He says we have enough to deal with and to just let them get on with it. I'd be out there with my magnifying glass and deer stalker hat if he wasn't talking me down

Me too!

I think that being super nice to everyone is a great idea! Befriend the unknown enemy.

 

I'm not sure about the laws regarding noise, but I'm pretty sure that if it occurs during the day, and isn't over a certain 'decibelage' (for want of a better term), there's sod all anyone can do about it. Like you, I wouldn't want to think that I was causing bad feeling, but if the cowardly skunk isn't prepared to speak to you face to face, then there isn't much you can do.

I do know for a fact that if anyone complains to the council, the council will suggest to them that they speak to you directly to give you the opportunity to sort things out between you (of course, they don't have to do this). How do I know? I have experience on both sides of the complaints system.

Several years ago we were having building work done, and my husband had left some breeze blocks and some bags containing building rubble on the grass verge next to the house. I had rung the council to take away the rubbish, and was told they couldn't do it for a fortnight, so I made arrangements for the pick up and thought nothing more of it. It was unsightly, but not causing a nuisance.
After less than a week, I noticed a guy with a clipboard (ahhhh - the clipboard! beloved of all officials everywhere) looking at the pile of stuff, and waited to see what was going to happen. Sure enough, he rang my doorbell and said that there'd been a complaint about the rubbish. I told him what had happened (which he verified) and said that I wish whoever had reported it had spoken to me first, and then I could have explained that it was in hand. He said then that they had suggested it, but the complainant wouldn't agree. However, he did get in touch with the rubbish-takeawy-dept and they shifted the stuff the next day. I have an idea who it was, but no real proof, so I didn't say anything to anyone.

The next time it was me complaining - it was a really hot dry summer and the stench from my neighbour's seven labradors (bear in mind this is a semi in a suburban street) was horrendous, and all the pee and pooswas getting washed into our garden. I spoke to her about it very nicely ("I think your drain may be blocked" "drain? I don't have a drain") and she originally agreed to have a drain put in. Six months later I was still waiting, so I asked her if she knew how long it was likely to be, and was told that she'd get it put in when she was ready, not for my convenience. So I called the council. The first thing they asked was, had I spoken to her, and what was the response. Again, they got it sorted really quickly and there was a drain in within a couple of weeks (She had been hosing down her yard area, and just washing the dirty water under the fence into our garden and onto a public grass area. It stank!).

Anyway - sorry, didn't mean to hijack your thread. But as it happened, she had had loads of complaints against her by other neighbours (not me) about her dogs barking, which they did almost incessantly, (especially when one of the bitches was in season), and the council couldn't do a thing about it. Dogs bark - it's a fact of life. You are doing your best to minimise the noise, and that's all you can do. I doubt that they will be able to force you to do anything, but obviously you want to be on good terms with people if you can.

But I think keeping your own record of time/duration of barking incidents , and perhaps what prompted them (e.g. postman, kids on roller skates - whatever) would be a good pre-emptive idea, that way if anyone does come out for a chat (and that's probably all it would be), you can show that there has been a reason for him barking, and he isn't just left all day to bark out of frustration and boredom. Knocks you sick though, when someone complains about you and there is no real cause.

 

But you would have a record of when you were out, which hopefully would contradict what they complained about.

By all means take a pic of the dog with the time on when out on walks. But logging each bark and the duration etc? Seems abit pointless to me. The council probably wouldnt finish reading the complaint before they threw it in the bin

 

I would probably type up a note pretty much on the lines of your OP. Explaining that you have received an anonymous complaint and that you would like the complaint writer to speak with you direct, so that you can assure them it is not your dog causing the noise nuisance because of his sleep times etc...blah blah. I would photocopy it and post one through all the doors nearby that could possibly (in location terms) be p1ssed off with you over this.

I would make the note friendly and invite this person to call on you for a cup of tea and a chat.

As far as the complaint going to the Council...the barking has to be excessive and/or at anti-social times before the Council will take action.

You may get a visit but if your dog sleeps when you say and doesnt bark incessantly in the garden...Then I am sure the matter would be dropped.

 

I absolutely hate to hear barking dogs. It completely does my head in and I could willingly go and murder both dog and owner.

I once had a rescue dog - an ex sheep dog who had spent her life tied up in her own mess. I was in a flat that went with my job and she was destructive and totally unhousetrained so she could not stay in the house. We built her a lovely kennel and run outside but she barked. The neighbours complained (quite rightly). One neighbour came to see me and another popped an anon note through the door.
It was completely beyond me to do anything about it as no way could the dog be left in the house at night and when I was working - she was not left for long as I and another girl worked overlapping shifts and exercised each others dogs but it was really not acceptable so I rehomed her with my sister who lived somewhere noise did not matter.

I will add that I got her before I took that job and I did expect her to settle by the time I moved there.

 

I would probably type up a note pretty much on the lines of your OP. Explaining that you have received an anonymous complaint and that you would like the complaint writer to speak with you direct, so that you can assure them it is not your dog causing the noise nuisance because of his sleep times etc...blah blah. I would photocopy it and post one through all the doors nearby that could possibly (in location terms) be p1ssed off with you over this.

I would make the note friendly and invite this person to call on you for a cup of tea and a chat.

As far as the complaint going to the Council...the barking has to be excessive and/or at anti-social times before the Council will take action.

You may get a visit but if your dog sleeps when you say and doesnt bark incessantly in the garden...Then I am sure the matter would be dropped.

Where we live there must be at least 30 houses the letter could have come from (middle of an estate, lots of starter homes, no idea how far the sound could travel etc) so I had considered sending a letter into our local papers along those lines in the hopes the sender would read it. Inviting them round for a chat and a cuppa is a nice idea

I'm not massively worried about the council as two of my friends have horrendous problems with anti social neighbours and have had no joy getting anything done about them. I just don't like the idea that there could be bad feeling brewing towards us when I could possibly rectify it.

I absolutely hate to hear barking dogs. It completely does my head in and I could willingly go and murder both dog and owner.

I once had a rescue dog - an ex sheep dog who had spent her life tied up in her own mess. I was in a flat that went with my job and she was destructive and totally unhousetrained so she could not stay in the house. We built her a lovely kennel and run outside but she barked. The neighbours complained (quite rightly). One neighbour came to see me and another popped an anon note through the door.
It was completely beyond me to do anything about it as no way could the dog be left in the house at night and when I was working - she was not left for long as I and another girl worked overlapping shifts and exercised each others dogs but it was really not acceptable so I rehomed her with my sister who lived somewhere noise did not matter.

I will add that I got her before I took that job and I did expect her to settle by the time I moved there.

I understand noise pollution is very, very irritating to people which is why we do our level best to keep our dog's barking and children's shouting to a minimum. Thing is, on a housing estate, there's a limit to the peace and quiet you are going to get. There are dogs and children and the motorbike bloke, the lady over the road who is always out with her power tools and the young lads who enjoy late night garden soirees during the summer months. Someone in the road opposite takes every opportunity to have an impromptu firework display and there are 3 separate people who live in the starter homes down the road and who have cars which seem to run purely off of R&B or dance music blasted out of speakers the size of my 3 year old. And don't get me started on the amorous cats and their night time singing! We all have to share this space so we should learn to tolerate each other, surely?

I agree that if Benji was barking non stop for hours - or even 5 minutes - at a time there would be a problem but he's not.

 

By all means take a pic of the dog with the time on when out on walks. But logging each bark and the duration etc? Seems abit pointless to me. The council probably wouldnt finish reading the complaint before they threw it in the bin

It's what I did when I had a letter from the council about "excessive barking". Far from being pointless, it made ME feel a lot better and that I had some control over the situation.

If the OP has a smartphone or tablet, there is an app called Sleep Talk Recorder, which with a bit of tweaking (making sure it picks up any barking from the next room etc) can be left on while you're out and will log and playback any noise. I wondered if mine bark when I'm out, and was ver surprised to learn they don't!

 

Where we live there must be at least 30 houses the letter could have come from (middle of an estate, lots of starter homes, no idea how far the sound could travel etc) so I had considered sending a letter into our local papers along those lines in the hopes the sender would read it. Inviting them round for a chat and a cuppa is a nice idea

I'm not massively worried about the council as two of my friends have horrendous problems with anti social neighbours and have had no joy getting anything done about them. I just don't like the idea that there could be bad feeling brewing towards us when I could possibly rectify it.

I understand noise pollution is very, very irritating to people which is why we do our level best to keep our dog's barking and children's shouting to a minimum. Thing is, on a housing estate, there's a limit to the peace and quiet you are going to get. There are dogs and children and the motorbike bloke, the lady over the road who is always out with her power tools and the young lads who enjoy late night garden soirees during the summer months. Someone in the road opposite takes every opportunity to have an impromptu firework display and there are 3 separate people who live in the starter homes down the road and who have cars which seem to run purely off of R&B or dance music blasted out of speakers the size of my 3 year old. And don't get me started on the amorous cats and their night time singing! We all have to share this space so we should learn to tolerate each other, surely?

I agree that if Benji was barking non stop for hours - or even 5 minutes - at a time there would be a problem but he's not.

We rent out a house in a residential area and we have had complaints from neighbours, police and council about tenants even having parties in the early evening. It seems like a lot of people will not tolerate any noise at all.
Oh and also complaints about barking dogs - though I have listened in and never heard a sound and neither has the immediate neighbour though she hears the dog on the other side.

 

I would just ignore it for the time being. I suspect given that the letter was posted to you anonymously that it is an old fart who is at home all day with too much time on his/her hands. Sadly some individuals are petty and bitter and will complain about everything and anything as they have nothing else to do.

.

So true. I'm probably into double digits as to how many 'anonymous' letters I've received here from curtain twitching people who need to take up crochet or something else to fill their lives. I used to find them infuriating, but now I kind of laugh. One even went to far as to POST the letter at a post box lest I come out my house and I dunno....speak to them about their 'anonymous' letter posting. :lol: Very sad. But when I depart this house I shall be leaving a large 'anonymous' letter taped to my front door to let the kindly neighbour know how cowardly and un-neighbourly their actions are. My favourite was a 3 paragraph, badly spelt, diatribe about how unsightly it is that I left my wheelie bin out one day after collection day. Oh the horror!!!

I wouldn't think too much of it OP, they have to prove these things, they don't just take one persons word for it and the council are more than used to perpetual complainants, as I am sure this person is.

 

Dear OP you clearly are a caring person who is very considerate of others!

Keep your log, but as others have suggested make it easier by taking photos and recordings if you are able.

I'd have a word with the council to see what is unacceptable for your peace of mind, then carry on as you are. Should anything come of it, you will be able to prove its not Benji and they can move onto the other dogs who may be the root of the problem.

Some people have way too much time on their hands!!

 

It's what I did when I had a letter from the council about "excessive barking". Far from being pointless, it made ME feel a lot better and that I had some control over the situation.

If the OP has a smartphone or tablet, there is an app called Sleep Talk Recorder, which with a bit of tweaking (making sure it picks up any barking from the next room etc) can be left on while you're out and will log and playback any noise. I wondered if mine bark when I'm out, and was ver surprised to learn they don't!

I don't 'do' touch screen technology, I'm afraid, and from how the letter was worded it sounded more like they had a problem with him barking outside. We're detached and our immediate neighbours say he either doesn't bark when we are out or they don't hear it. I've walked past lots of times to check and have never heard him. I do think it'll be worth logging when he does bark, though

We rent out a house in a residential area and we have had complaints from neighbours, police and council about tenants even having parties in the early evening. It seems like a lot of people will not tolerate any noise at all.
Oh and also complaints about barking dogs - though I have listened in and never heard a sound and neither has the immediate neighbour though she hears the dog on the other side.

I've stood out in the garden and made the effort to listen (I wondered if it was just that my years of estate living have made me a bit selectively deaf) and I can hear dogs, music, traffic, shouting but there's nothing I find excessive. Considering how many people there must be living within hearing distance it was surprisingly quiet, I thought. We've just got back from a holiday staying in a cottage on a working farm and it was so peaceful, wish we could afford to live like that all the time.

I wonder if it'll get to the point where everyone in towns has to tiptoe about in loafers whispering to avoid upsetting anybody?

So true. I'm probably into double digits as to how many 'anonymous' letters I've received here from curtain twitching people who need to take up crochet or something else to fill their lives. I used to find them infuriating, but now I kind of laugh. One even went to far as to POST the letter at a post box lest I come out my house and I dunno....speak to them about their 'anonymous' letter posting. :lol: Very sad. But when I depart this house I shall be leaving a large 'anonymous' letter taped to my front door to let the kindly neighbour know how cowardly and un-neighbourly their actions are. My favourite was a 3 paragraph, badly spelt, diatribe about how unsightly it is that I left my wheelie bin out one day after collection day. Oh the horror!!!

I wouldn't think too much of it OP, they have to prove these things, they don't just take one persons word for it and the council are more than used to perpetual complainants, as I am sure this person is.

This letter was posted, stamp an' all! I guess they were worried the dog would bark and alert us if they tried to sneak it through the letter box

I'm really not that worried about the council part, yet. I just prefer being on good terms with people and don't like feeling suspicious of the people around us.

 

Dear OP you clearly are a caring person who is very considerate of others!

Keep your log, but as others have suggested make it easier by taking photos and recordings if you are able.

I'd have a word with the council to see what is unacceptable for your peace of mind, then carry on as you are. Should anything come of it, you will be able to prove its not Benji and they can move onto the other dogs who may be the root of the problem.

Some people have way too much time on their hands!!

Ahh, thank you

 

If you really don't think that your dog is the one that they should be complaining about, then I would try and keep a log so that you can refute any claims made by them - if they do actually make a formal complaint to the council.

I don't think the council will just take their word for it anyway. Further steps would have to be taken to prove it is your dog barking.

On the other hand, if someone's dog is barking excessively then it is a nuisance to people around it and they have every right to complain.

Given some of the comments made on this thread I'm not surprised that people do not tackle neighbours face to face Maybe they are worried about what kind of reception they will get?

Having lived next door to extremely noisy and inconsiderate neighbours I can testify to how disruptive and upsetting it is. It's not a case of having too much time on one's hands and loving to have something to moan about. Noise nuisance causes real upset for the people concerned.

Some people take exception to anyone speaking to them, however politely, about something that is an issue, and often become defensive and aggressive.

Of course, we all have different levels of noise tolerance and we all need to be reasonable in our expectations. We also need to be considerate of other people too.

I have been known to stand on my terrace and yell "shut that dog up", myself on more than one occasion lately because of a similar situation and I reserve the right to do so! It works, by the way - the dog shuts up - probably cos I've made it jump with my yelling. Of course, that may well annoy someone else

I hope you can sort this out and that your neighbour has actually made a mistake and harmony is restored soon.

 

The exact same thing happened to me towards the end of last year!

I received a posted, anonymous letter with a timetable-like rundown of all the times and dates my dog was barking.

Now, the "barking" was my GSD just giving two "woofs" as soon as I let her out first thing to have her wee. It wasn't incessant, barely lasting 2 seconds, it's just what Shepherds do. Not wanting to offend anyone, after that I made sure I let the dogs out in the front garden and all seemed ok until a couple of weeks later (when it turned out the wind changed direction and funnelled the "noise" towards the house where the complaint came from, sounds pathetic I know) when I received an official letter from the council threatening me with a £5,000 fine and magistrates court if the "barking" persisted. I was absolutely livid, and went knocking on a few doors to see who actually made this complaint.
Eventually found the person and I made sure I didn't go in like a bull in a China shop, instead keeping it nice and friendly, which seemed to take them by surprise and made them feel guilty, if anything. I said I was very disappointed to receive a posted anonymous letter rather than a visit in person so we could have a friendly neighbourly chat over a cuppa. Anyway, I explained the situation and thought that it was blown out of all proportion but would make sure the dogs weren't let out the back first thing, and that's all I could really do; when I got back home I replied to the letter from the council stating exactly the same thing and that I would welcome them to come round with monitoring equipment if it came to it. I never got a reply which makes me think this was an inside job, in other words they or someone they know works for the council. I have never known the council react so quickly, especially on the strength of just one complaint.

Since then very sadly I lost my 3 dogs, including my beloved GSD, but now have another 2 dogs, one of which is an adorable 5 month Retriever who only barks when I get her dinner ready.

So imagine my surprise when about 4 weeks ago I get a personal visit from the same neighbour, this time complaining about the puppy barking. I couldn't believe it, and explained that yes she barks, but it's not a distressed bark, nor does she bark during unsocial hours, and most important of all it only lasts the time it takes to dish up her dinner. I told him you don't have to be a dog expert to realise this and you know it will stop after a couple of minutes. I wouldn't dream of telling him to keep his kids quiet when they're playing on their trampoline. He threatened to "have to write to the council" again but it really doesn't bother me because he doesn't have a leg to stand on.

I got in touch with Citizens' Advice who told me that this is a situation which is clearly "within the acceptable levels of daytime noise". What it proves is just how sad and hypocritical these people are, it's obvious they aren't dog lovers, and they really need to get a life!