# Neighbor Relations Re: The Usual **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 23, 2013, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neighbor-relations-re-the-usual/656475 "2013-04-23T05:14:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![HelenGawn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a88e4f/32.png) [@HelenGawn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HelenGawn)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2013, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neighbor-relations-re-the-usual/656475/1 "2013-04-23T05:14:07Z")
Being, barking dogs. Suppose someone had neighbors with two barking dogs, one little yappy thing and a baying hound. These hypothetical dogs carry on day and night for hours. Suppose further that at least one other neighbor is fed up with this racket. Said neighbor happened to own a DVD of a movie entitled something provocative, say, “How to Kill your Neighbor’s Dog.” (This movie would be a comedy, in which the protagonist’s insomnia leads to a chain of humorous events.) This DVD somehow winds up on the dog owner’s porch. Somehow this DVD winds up on the dog owner’s porch. If you were the dog owner, would you construe this action as a threat? For the attorneys in the crowd, I’m not your client, you are not my lawyer, any statement you make is a personal opinion and not legal advice. ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2013, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neighbor-relations-re-the-usual/656475/2 "2013-04-23T05:31:59Z")
A DVD episode about incessant barking from Cesar Milan’s show, or an episode of Good Dog U, might be more useful and get the same message across just a little more constructively. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2013, 9:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neighbor-relations-re-the-usual/656475/3 "2013-04-23T09:01:25Z")
A hypothetical little discussion with your city’s Animal Control department might be effective too. Give them a hypothetical call. ---
**Author:** ![sandra\_nz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eada6e/32.png) [@sandra\_nz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sandra_nz)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2013, 9:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neighbor-relations-re-the-usual/656475/4 "2013-04-23T09:31:09Z")
Yes, I would interpret that as a threat if I was the dog owner. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2013, 11:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neighbor-relations-re-the-usual/656475/5 "2013-04-23T11:04:13Z")
Pay cash for the DVD. Wipe it clean of prints. Pay a neighbor kid $10 to leave it on the neighbors porch. Bury the child in your crawl space. If your home doesn’t have a crawl space, then report the neighbor to your local police if there is a noise ordinance they are violating. ---
**Author:** ![saje](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saje/32/3631_2.png) [@saje](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saje)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2013, 11:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neighbor-relations-re-the-usual/656475/6 "2013-04-23T11:07:49Z")
If that was the _first_ communication from neighbors that my dogs were bothering them, I’d be embarrassed but pissed too, and yes I’d take it as a threat. And it sure wouldn’t make me inclined to fix the problem in a hurry. ---
**Author:** ![Maastricht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2013, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neighbor-relations-re-the-usual/656475/7 "2013-04-23T11:40:56Z")
Hypothetically printing this (UK, I’'m sure there is an US counterpart) [leaflet](https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/69221/pb10561-bark-dog-110621.pdf) and mailing it with an friendly letter and an invitation for a talk at both your convenience, might work better. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2013, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neighbor-relations-re-the-usual/656475/8 "2013-04-23T12:03:25Z")
Don’t know if I’d take it as a threat, but it would definitely piss me off, and would not be likely to persuade me to try to keep my dogs quiet. (Trying to get in the mind of the owner of the barking dogs. IRL, I have been the other neighbor.) If you want to piss off the owner, drop off the video. But if you want to try to gain some peace and quiet, I suggest it is unlikely to be your best approach. ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2013, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neighbor-relations-re-the-usual/656475/9 "2013-04-23T18:30:26Z")
The problem with your question is that most of the people here aren’t likely to let their dogs bark outside for hours on end. So, whether something would seem threatening to _us_ doesn’t really matter. For the record, I’m a dog owner and I wouldn’t take that as a threat: I’d think my neighbors were humorously trying to give me a hint. I can’t imagine not already being aware of the issue, though. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2013, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neighbor-relations-re-the-usual/656475/10 "2013-04-23T18:35:20Z")
> [@Misnomer](#): > > \I can’t imagine not already being aware of the issue, though. That’s the part of dog owners that I don’t get; you _know_ your dogs are barking, you _know_ your neighbours can hear them, you _know_ it irritates your neighbours, but you don’t do anything to stop it? What part of this are dog owners who just let their dogs bark missing? ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2013, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neighbor-relations-re-the-usual/656475/11 "2013-04-23T19:00:58Z")
One example, now, to be clear, my neighbors dogs are not nuisance barkers, but they do bark at passers-by. They only bark when their people aren’t home. They know not to bark in front of their owners, and I would bet a paycheck that if I told them the two furballs bark like crazy whenever neighbors go up and down the stairs or open/close the ground floor door, they would be genuinely surprised. They’ve been trained very well to not bark within earshot of their people, so their people have no idea! It’s not all day or even for more than a minute or so, so it’s not bothersome to any of us. Of course, that doesn’t seem to be what’s going on here. Are the dogs barking like that even when the people are home? Who would want that? Seems weird. ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2013, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neighbor-relations-re-the-usual/656475/12 "2013-04-23T19:11:43Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > That’s the part of dog owners that I don’t get It’s not a “dog owners” thing: it’s a “self-centered assholes” thing. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2013, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neighbor-relations-re-the-usual/656475/13 "2013-04-23T19:12:27Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > That’s the part of dog owners that I don’t get; you _know_ your dogs are barking, you _know_ your neighbours can hear them, you _know_ it irritates your neighbours, but you don’t do anything to stop it? What part of this are dog owners who just let their dogs bark missing? Just like someone playing music extremely loud, knowing that the neighbors are likely bothered by it. They just do not care. It’s not that they are dog owners.It’s that they are assholes who happen to own dogs. ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2013, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neighbor-relations-re-the-usual/656475/14 "2013-04-23T19:19:25Z")
_high-fives **kayaker** _ ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2013, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neighbor-relations-re-the-usual/656475/15 "2013-04-23T19:21:13Z")
great minds! ---
**Author:** ![Dogzilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@Dogzilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogzilla)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2013, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neighbor-relations-re-the-usual/656475/16 "2013-04-23T19:28:45Z")
I would perceive that passive-aggressive attempt to send me a “message” as a threat. Won’t you just knock on my door, identify yourself, and ask if I can do anything about my dogs? Approach me directly, with respect and empathy, and I will work with you. Approach me red-faced and frothing at the mouth, and I’ll call the cops. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2013, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neighbor-relations-re-the-usual/656475/17 "2013-04-23T19:43:28Z")
> [@Dogzilla](#): > > Won’t you just knock on my door, identify yourself, and ask if I can do anything about my dogs? This can work nicely if the dog owners are reasonable, rational people who are willing to put effort into avoiding disturbing their neighbors. Unfortunately, it can target the asker/complainer for harassment and retaliation if the dog owners are buttwads, especially if the asker/complainer invokes the authorities to deal with the issue after said buttwads do nothing to ameliorate the situation. ---
**Author:** ![Dogzilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@Dogzilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogzilla)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2013, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neighbor-relations-re-the-usual/656475/18 "2013-04-23T19:53:54Z")
> [@Gary\_T](#): > > This can work nicely if the dog owners are reasonable, rational people who are willing to put effort into avoiding disturbing their neighbors. Unfortunately, it can target the asker/complainer for harassment and retaliation if the dog owners are buttwads, especially if the asker/complainer invokes the authorities to deal with the issue after said buttwads do nothing to ameliorate the situation. All that is true, but you can’t know if the dog owners are reasonable, rational people or buttwads until you knock on the door and talk to them. ---
**Author:** ![cwthree](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9de0a6/32.png) [@cwthree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cwthree)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2013, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neighbor-relations-re-the-usual/656475/19 "2013-04-23T22:03:34Z")
I’m a dog owner. My neighbor would have to be a really good friend with a really good sense of humor (i.e., a sense of humor like mine) for the OP’s idea to work. And really, if my neighbor and I were already on those terms, she wouldn’t be leaving anonymous DVDs on my porch. If I were the dog owner described in the OP, I’d either take it as a not-so-subtle threat or I’d think my neighbor was a first-class asshole (depending on how paranoid and/or charitable I was feeling). The Cesar Milan DVD sends the desired message ("\*Someone \*has an annoying barking dog!") without being the least bit threatening. Give the owner some time to take (and act on) the hint, then start making noise complaints if there’s no change. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2013, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neighbor-relations-re-the-usual/656475/20 "2013-04-23T22:26:44Z")
> [@Misnomer](#): > > It’s not a “dog owners” thing: it’s a “self-centered assholes” thing. True enough, I suppose; we seem to have A LOT of self-centred assholes in this neighbourhood (I barely go a day without seeing a dog wandering around off-leash in an on-leash area around here). Back to the OP, I’d go with a Cesar Milan type video, too. I think the other video would be interpreted as a threat. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neighbor-relations-re-the-usual/656475.md?page=2)