17 December 2015

Ask RiotACT: Dog Barking Help

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Ask RiotACT

So I moved into this neighbourhood about 8 months ago, and had been enjoying it. That is, until about 2 months ago one of the neighbours got a dog that wouldn’t stop barking at… nothing!

I mean, it probably starts barking at 7 or 8 in the morning, and wouldn’t stop until the people have come back. By wouldn’t stop, I really mean, wouldn’t freaking stop. Not even for 3 or 4 minutes.

I had contacted TAMS regarding the noise, and they don’t seem to have done anything so far, so the other day I walked up to the fence and snatched the phone number of the owner off the dog’s collar, and texted her. Response was… mixed. They said they were getting collars, and dog doors, and anti-barking stuff, but there have been no actions for this matter so far and the owner was not apologetic in the texts.

I’m not sure what else to do. I work from home, and choose somewhere far from city for the quietness and peacefulness, but now the privileges are ruined because of this stupid household with their stupid dog.

Don’t get me wrong, I love dogs, but really, not when they are barking all of the time. If the dog keeps barking like this, I will be going insane very very soon.

Can you give suggestions on what I should do?

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SidneyReilly4:56 pm 04 Jan 16

When we had the bogans living next door to us their dog used to bark and escape and do its business on other peoples front steps….
A person unknown put one of the droppings in an envelope and put it in he the offending owners letter box with apparently a letter threatening the life of the dog if it was not restrained. I only kenw about this because rangers turned up in force and started interviewing people, not about the much reported barking or pooping on other peoples property but about the threat to the dogs life….. The dog apparently had a go at the rangers and was taken away….
Very sad, its never the dogs fault, its the sometimes moronic owners….

Pork Hunt said :

poetix said :

MERC600 said :

MERC600 said :

Tallow might be what you need. … Have you got any tallow.
I seem to remember a poem where tallow and a dog was mentioned, and the dog disappeared.

The poem was written by Henry Lawson and called The Loaded Dog. Stan Coster put it to music and here it is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvZH1ul4ZrE

The Loaded Dog is a short story, not a poem.

Sometimes I miss the pedantry…

poetix said :

MERC600 said :

MERC600 said :

Tallow might be what you need. … Have you got any tallow.
I seem to remember a poem where tallow and a dog was mentioned, and the dog disappeared.

The poem was written by Henry Lawson and called The Loaded Dog. Stan Coster put it to music and here it is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvZH1ul4ZrE

The Loaded Dog is a short story, not a poem.

Sometimes I miss the pedantry…

But have you seen the mural in the hallway of the Loaded Dog Hotel at Tarago?

I regret I haven’t. Have been through the joint hundreds of times, but never stopped. I will next time. Very interesting little place. http://www.loadeddoghotel.com/history.html

poetix said :

MERC600 said :

MERC600 said :

Tallow might be what you need. … Have you got any tallow.
I seem to remember a poem where tallow and a dog was mentioned, and the dog disappeared.

The poem was written by Henry Lawson and called The Loaded Dog. Stan Coster put it to music and here it is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvZH1ul4ZrE

The Loaded Dog is a short story, not a poem.

Sometimes I miss the pedantry…

poetix said :

MERC600 said :

MERC600 said :

Tallow might be what you need. … Have you got any tallow.
I seem to remember a poem where tallow and a dog was mentioned, and the dog disappeared.

The poem was written by Henry Lawson and called The Loaded Dog. Stan Coster put it to music and here it is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvZH1ul4ZrE

The Loaded Dog is a short story, not a poem.

Sometimes I miss the pedantry…

But have you seen the mural in the hallway of the Loaded Dog Hotel at Tarago?

poetix said :

MERC600 said :

MERC600 said :

Tallow might be what you need. … Have you got any tallow.
I seem to remember a poem where tallow and a dog was mentioned, and the dog disappeared.

The poem was written by Henry Lawson and called The Loaded Dog. Stan Coster put it to music and here it is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvZH1ul4ZrE

The Loaded Dog is a short story, not a poem.

Sometimes I miss the pedantry…

Whoops .. Thank you Poetix. Indeed not a poem but a short story from Henry. Thank you

MERC600 said :

MERC600 said :

Tallow might be what you need. … Have you got any tallow.
I seem to remember a poem where tallow and a dog was mentioned, and the dog disappeared.

The poem was written by Henry Lawson and called The Loaded Dog. Stan Coster put it to music and here it is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvZH1ul4ZrE

The Loaded Dog is a short story, not a poem.

Sometimes I miss the pedantry…

MERC600 said :

Tallow might be what you need. … Have you got any tallow.
I seem to remember a poem where tallow and a dog was mentioned, and the dog disappeared.

The poem was written by Henry Lawson and called The Loaded Dog. Stan Coster put it to music and here it is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvZH1ul4ZrE

Tallow might be what you need. … Have you got any tallow.
I seem to remember a poem where tallow and a dog was mentioned, and the dog disappeared.

Just record it and then when they come back home, play it at loud volume on repeat so they can enjoy it too. Leave it playing all night…

Be thankful you don’t live in the Yass Valley Council area. I too work from home and have 2 dogs right next door that bark nearly non stop, right next door. Have tried talking to the neighbours, have taken it up with council and tried to organise a mediation meeting – nothing! The neighbours refuse to do anything. Council advised me that the next step was to take them to court. What the……?????????????. I should not have to take them to court. Council say that they don’t have the resources to follow through on small complaints like this. It’s only been going on for 3 years! I have 3 dogs myself who I do not permit to bark. If they start, it’s usually because someone’s come to the house. At this stage I have no idea what I’m going to do, except maybe wait till they die of old age – which could be a while given that they are only around 4 or so years old. Cute dogs, but flippin’ hell it is frustrating.

TAMSMediaRoom2:33 pm 10 Dec 15

Hi there,

If you still need assistance please send your contact details to Domestic Animal Services at dogcontrol@act.gov.au – they are expecting your email and can go through it with you further.

Thanks

In the immortal words of Sun Tzu, “if you wait by the river long enough………”. Chances are there are others in the neighbourhood who are also affected. If the owners are not willing to listen then sooner or later someone unhinged will take matters into their own hands. Like with the chickens the other week.

buy some dried pigs ears, should shut the dog up for at least 1/2 and hour.

No_Nose said :

dungfungus said :

I should have said an uncooked bone.
My terriers eat raw bones until there are all gone, grinding the pieces of bone down and ingesting them. If they try this with a cooked bone it could be fatal as the pieces will splinter and tear the intestines.

Even still you should not be doing this without the owners permission or knowledge. No matter how well intentioned.

You are probably correct.
A better outcome would be to shape the bone into custom earplugs to reduce the noise from the incessant barking.

Charlotte Harper said :

The treats in ice laced with beef or chicken stock is such a great idea. I’m going to try it on my dog ASAP.

Just make sure you use salt reduced stock, as they can’t digest high levels of salt.

I usually add 500mls into a 2.5L tub.

Charlotte Harper3:01 pm 07 Dec 15

Thanks, I have made two takeaway containers of 250ml each using low salt chicken stock. Low salt is much better for us humans too.

This may not a solution to this particular case, but I have always found that troublesome dogs can be more settled around the company of another dog, as often they simply crave companionship. We always have two dogs or more. Maybe suggest that the owners approach someone close by with a dog and, depending on the temperament of the dogs, suggest the two separate dogs be enclosed together during the daytime as companions for each other. I’m not saying this works all the time, but I’ve seen it work.

dungfungus said :

I should have said an uncooked bone.
My terriers eat raw bones until there are all gone, grinding the pieces of bone down and ingesting them. If they try this with a cooked bone it could be fatal as the pieces will splinter and tear the intestines.

Even still you should not be doing this without the owners permission or knowledge. No matter how well intentioned.

You need to talk to the owner face to face or at least write them a letter. I understand you’ve already text them about their dog barking but most owners are unaware their dog barks when they’re not home.

My puppy can unfortunately spend up to about an hour barking constantly in the morning and the evening if my neighbour is in the backyard playing with their dog.. purely because she wants to join in. Training so far isn’t working but I’m working on it. At the moment the only way I can distract her and get her to stop barking is to turn the hose on so she plays with the water. Please just give the owners time as stopping a dog barking isn’t an instant fix.

As everyone else has stated, their dog is clearly bored. Maybe ask the owners if you can donate some toys to them or if it’s ok to throw dog bones over the fence. Get them to leave the TV on or a radio. It’s hot at the moment, so the best toy is a few squeaky toys and treats frozen into a 2-5L ice cream tub that they can lick at and play with until it melts down to get the toys out. Add in some salt reduced beef or chicken stock (no more than 50/50 mix) for some extra flavour.

Charlotte Harper10:34 am 07 Dec 15

The treats in ice laced with beef or chicken stock is such a great idea. I’m going to try it on my dog ASAP.

RB78 said :

dungfungus said :

Sometimes a bone is all the dog wants so I can’t see any problem in chucking one over the fence.

Do not do this. A family friend’s dog passed away recently due to a neighbour tossing a bone over the fence to their dog – good intentions but unfortunately the dog had some sort of medical condition and couldn’t digest it and it led to a blockage

I should have said an uncooked bone.
My terriers eat raw bones until there are all gone, grinding the pieces of bone down and ingesting them. If they try this with a cooked bone it could be fatal as the pieces will splinter and tear the intestines.

dungfungus said :

Sometimes a bone is all the dog wants so I can’t see any problem in chucking one over the fence.

Do not do this. A family friend’s dog passed away recently due to a neighbour tossing a bone over the fence to their dog – good intentions but unfortunately the dog had some sort of medical condition and couldn’t digest it and it led to a blockage

taninaus said :

keep a log and get some audio to back up your complaint to the rangers. sounds like the dog has separation issues and wants their people. is there a way you can go over to your neighbours and have a talk with them letting the know how it affects you? it is a really hard habit to break and they may need some help to make it stick. it is a tough thing to live with

Dog control will not accept “third party” sound or video recordings. They must do that themselves (so they told me).

You have the phone number so sound-record the dog barking and play it back to them over the phone at 2.00am.
TAMS will do exactly what you have said they have done so far.
Sometimes a bone is all the dog wants so I can’t see any problem in chucking one over the fence.

TAMS should have directed you to keep a bark diary, as its my understanding that they can’t do anything about a noisy dog until a complaint has been submitted with the diary so that they send a ranger to talk to the owners with the information to hand. If you have already submitted a diary and nothing appears to have happened, contact Shane Rattenbury as he is the minister responsible for TAMS. It would also be a good idea to contact one of the Liberal MLA’s in your electorate so that they can pressure him on your behalf as well.

This is a link to the page regarding lodging a nuisance animal complaint:
http://www.tams.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/416915/How-to-Lodge-an-Animal-Nuisance-Complaint.pdf

First the dog is not stupid – it obviously has separation anxiety. This is a complex issue but can be treated in a number of ways and there are some excellent resources online especially Victoria Stillwell (from It’s Me or the Dog TV series) who posts articles all the time on FB. Dogs get scared when they are on their own – so you might think of getting a companion to keep it company during the day such as another dog. Dogs can be helped by giving treats that take time for the dogs to work out the food – eg frozen kongs packed with mince will take a good hour to finish, or some plastic balls with holes that you pack with treats to occupy the dog with getting the treats out. Another hour of quiet. Some positive training gives dogs all round confidence and this really helps. Put the TV on in the house, or even get some dog calming music to play during the day while dogs are left. Tire your dog out with a brisk walk before leaving in the morning – all commonsense things. Dogs are pack animals – they don’t like to be on their own and they get bored.

I have had a few occasions where a neighbours dog incessantly barked. I started throwing a glass of water over the fence at the dog when it was barking, and when it stopped, I would praise it and talk nicely to it. It didn’t hurt the dog, and seemed to work.

TAMS do look into such complaints. A while back, everyone in my street received a letter saying a complaint had been received about a nearby house, and without specifying which one, asked if we had any concerns with barking dogs nearby. I saw a couple of TAMS officials spend about half an hour out he front of the house that was complained about, and a neighbour had seen them there on another day.

From what I’ve heard, you need to complete a two week ‘bark diary’ that records when the dog is barking and for how long. You’d also need to be prepared to provide a statement and/or attend the magistrate’s court in the event that the matter goes that far.

It’s often best to address the issue with the owner directly, but seeing how that doesn’t seem to have worked, TAMS is your next step.

I guess Domestic Animal Services needs to get out and take some noise level measurements. If they haven’t acted, then write to the minster directly, with times and dates of who you spoke to at DAS etc.

Things like citronella collars can sometimes work.Buster cubes (you put dog biscuits in them) can help bored dogs as well.
Has the owner tried bark busters? (http://www.barkbusters.com.au/dog-training-act)
Post their treatment, the owners may want to consider de-barking. Its a drastic step I know.

keep a log and get some audio to back up your complaint to the rangers. sounds like the dog has separation issues and wants their people. is there a way you can go over to your neighbours and have a talk with them letting the know how it affects you? it is a really hard habit to break and they may need some help to make it stick. it is a tough thing to live with

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