# How does one get a dog to shut up? HELP!! **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 1, 2000, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-get-a-dog-to-shut-up-help/24247 "2000-07-01T05:00:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Ruffian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/71e660/32.png) [@Ruffian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruffian)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2000, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-get-a-dog-to-shut-up-help/24247/21 "2000-07-01T23:44:45Z")
Yeah, handy, that’s _exactly_ what I’m saying. :rolleyes: The question was “How does one get a dog to shut up?” That’s a solution my parents opted for when faced with that very problem; the OP can use that information if necessary when discussing options with the neighbor, if it ever reached that point (and cutting vocal chords should be the _last_ step, just before getting rid of the dog). ---
**Author:** ![Ruffian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/71e660/32.png) [@Ruffian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruffian)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2000, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-get-a-dog-to-shut-up-help/24247/22 "2000-07-01T23:46:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*\* > Ruff, ruff, ruff, ruff, ruff, ruff, ruff, ruff, ruff, ruff, ruff, ruff, ruff, ruff, ruff, ruff, ruff, ruff, ruff, ruff, ruff, ruff, ruff, ruff, ruff, ruff, ruff, ruff, ruff, ruff, ruff, ruff, ruff, ruff, ruff, ruff, ruff, ruff, ruff, ruff, ruff, ruff, ruff, ruff, ruff, ruff, ruff, ruff, ruff, ruff, ruf, ruff, ruff, ruff, ruff, ruff, ruff, ruff, ruff, ruff, ruff, ruff, ruff, ruff, ruff, ruff, ruff, ruff, ruff, ruff, ruff, ruff, ruff, ruff, ruff, ruff, ruff, ruff, ruff, ruff, ruff, ruff, ruff, ruff, ruff, ruff, ruff, ruff, ruff, ruff, ruff, ruff, ruff, ruff, ruff, ruff, ruff, ruff, ruff… > \*\* What what what what what what what what what what what what what what what what what what what what what what what what what what what what what what what what what what what what what what what what what what what what what what what? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2000, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-get-a-dog-to-shut-up-help/24247/23 "2000-07-02T03:48:24Z")
Just a note here, folks: From all that pkbites has said, we have no reason to believe the neighbor is inconsiderate. If the dog only barks when the neightbor isn’t home, how’s the neighbor supposed to know? pkbites, the first thing to do is to mention the problem to your neighbor. If he denies it, or is unwilling to do anything about it, THEN you go over with a tape recording, call the cops for a nuissance, etc.: Not before. You say that you don’t want to pick a fight, so apparantly you’re on at least neutral terms with this neighbor. Ask, and you just might receive. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2000, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-get-a-dog-to-shut-up-help/24247/24 "2000-07-02T11:51:50Z")
Video tape the dog’s behavior. Show it to your neighbor. If this doesn’t impress him, use it in your court complaint. **Don’t** kill the mutt. ---
**Author:** ![onelittlebug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/dc4da7/32.png) [@onelittlebug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/onelittlebug)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2000, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-get-a-dog-to-shut-up-help/24247/25 "2000-07-02T13:48:05Z")
I have always crate-trained my dogs. Dogs are den animals and this is supposed to give them more security since they have a cozy little “nest” to stay in. I have never had any problem with barking (as far as I know from our neighbors) Crates come in all sizes too. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2000, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-get-a-dog-to-shut-up-help/24247/26 "2000-07-02T15:33:25Z")
‘Crates come in all sizes too.’ I wonder if they would work for children? Our city has a noise ordnance. Two people mention the noise, $100 fine. BUT a certain amount of noise is acceptable during the day. ---
**Author:** ![Jois](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ea666f/32.png) [@Jois](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jois)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2000, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-get-a-dog-to-shut-up-help/24247/27 "2000-07-03T03:38:58Z")
Several solutions mentioned seem like they might work. The real problem is that the dog is a pack animal, wants to be with others and nothing changes that. You might take the dog in your house in a crate a night. But the crate might have to be in your room or the room of one of your children so the dog won’t be alone. The cost of the crate, even if it is in your house will be worth it. The other solution is to run a tape recorder with soothing music in your bedroom - or a fan, fans make an amazing amount of background noise. Run the fan on your air conditoner all the time, not just when the air conditioner is actually on. ---
**Author:** ![yESTERDAY\_mAN](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a87d85/32.png) [@yESTERDAY\_mAN](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yESTERDAY_mAN)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2000, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-get-a-dog-to-shut-up-help/24247/28 "2000-07-03T03:55:54Z")
I’d say go with the benadryl hamburger. If you want to have a little fun, try using valium instead. I wouldn’t use anything with citronella in it on a dog, because my dog ate a citronella candle once, and she got so sick that she acted very stoned. Her pupils were really dilated and she couldn’t walk more than a few steps before collapsing. I don’t know if the anti-bark collar would do this, but I’m just against the idea because I like the hamburger plan so much better. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-get-a-dog-to-shut-up-help/24247.md?page=1)