Dogs bark. It’s how they communicate, but even the most avid dog lovers among us become aggravated when the neighbor’s dog barks all day. The incessant barking disrupts sleep, work, and incites tension in the neighborhood.

Understanding Why Dogs Bark

While we can’t expect our neighbor’s dogs not to bark at all, constant barking is often indicative of underlying issues. Incessant barkers are usually trying to communicate an unmet need. Sometimes you have to train the neighbor, not the dog. So before calling the cops or confronting your neighbor it’s important to understand why the neighbor’s dog is barking.

Boredom / Attention Seeking

Dogs are social creatures. If your neighbor’s dog is left alone for long periods of time she can develop bad habits, like barking. Barking gets attention and dogs use it to express loneliness or boredom.

Territorial / Alarm

Dogs are naturally protective of their family and territory. Any person or animal approaching that territory can trigger excessive barking. Whether the neighbor dog is barking at cars, people walking by, or the mailman, it’s likely she is just “protecting” her home.

Separation Anxiety

If the neighbor dog barks all day when her owners are away, she could be suffering from separation anxiety. Constant barking and other signs of distress indicate she feels nervous about being left alone.

Understanding why the neighbor’s dog is barking all day can go a long way to alleviate the constant barking, and help address the issue with your neighbor. As a neighbor you deserve peace and quiet, so we’ve put together a list of things to do when that dog next door won’t reduce barking.

Document the Problem and Talk to your Neighbor

Write down every time you hear the dog barking next door. Note the time of day, how long the barking lasted, and what is going on in the environment; did a delivery driver just leave a package or did kids get out of school? You may begin to notice patterns. If you can tell the type of bark, such as alarm or boredom barking, note that as well. The more information you have the better you can help yourself, your neighbor, and the barking dog.

Although it may seem daunting or awkward, talking to your neighbor face-to-face about their barking dog is the best way to initiate the conversation. They may not be aware that there is a barking problem; perhaps your neighbor is away at work during the day, or hard of hearing. Chances are, they’ll listen to you and work to solve the problem. Sharing your notes with them may help to determine what is causing the perpetual barking.

Be Proactive

Give Recommendations

If your neighbor with the barking dog is open to suggestions, offer some. Provide information on local trainers, doggy day-care, or dog walkers. If the barking neighbor dog spends long hours in the backyard, recommend that the owner incorporate food puzzles, brain-games, chew toys or other stimulating activities to prevent boredom during the day.

Remove the Threat or Stimulus

If the neighbor dog barks every time you open your back door or walk near her side of the property, it could be territorial barking. If she can see you, try blocking her vision with a screen, privacy hedge, or shrubs. This could remove you as a potential ‘threat’, making the neighbor dog bark less and making you a much happier neighbor.

Get to Know the Neighbor’s Barking Dog

Sometimes removing the visual stimuli isn’t enough to curb the barking, especially if the neighbor dog sees you as a threat. If your neighbor allows, make friends with the dog. Visit and even play with the barking neighbor dog, so she can get to know you and become accustomed to the sights, smells, and sounds of you and your family.

Use a Safe Ultrasonic Bark Control Device

If you’ve tried the tips above, an ultrasonic bark deterrent is a great way to reduce the incessant barking next door. These devices, like the Dog Silencer MAX, detect dog barking and emit ultrasonic sound waves to train neighbor dogs to reduce barking. Humans cannot hear ultrasonic sounds, but dogs can. It is annoying to them. When they bark, the device emits an ultrasonic sound that is irritating to the barking dog. The sound will reduce when the barking reduces, acting as an automatic bark correction device.

Ultrasonic sound is nonharmful, making it a great training tool to deter non reduce barking. It won’t harm the neighbor dog and will give you back your peace and quiet. Bark deterrents aren’t effective at curbing instinctive barking, like alert barking, but it will reduce the incessant barking.

Setting up an ultrasonic bark deterrent correctly will provide optimal training and the best results. This will prevent accidental activation of the device, helping to teach the dog to reduce barking more effectively.

Position the device correctly: Ultrasonic bark deterrents work within a specific range, so placement is important. For example, the Dog Silencer MAX has an automatic bark detection range of 75ft (~23 meters), meaning that if the dog is within this range the device will work automatically. However the ultrasonic sound distance of the Dog Silencer MAX is 300ft (~91.5 meters). Using the remote control, you can still train a neighbor’s dog that is much further away.

Direct line of sight: The ultrasonic bark control device should directly face the neighbor dog, within range. It should be unobstructed by walls, fences, glass, hedges, or any physical barrier that could block the ultrasonic sound waves. If there is a fence between your yard and the barking neighbor dog, we recommend using a wall mount to position the device above the fence and face it down toward the dog. This will provide optimal coverage and direct line of sight, ensuring more effective training for that noisy neighbor dog.

File a Noise Complaint

This should be a last resort. Politeness and patience will go a long way when your neighbor’s dog won’t reduce barking. If you have followed all the tips mentioned above it may be time to escalate the issue. Research your local laws or municipal ordinances for noise complaints and with whom to file the complaint: the police, animal control, property manager, or city officials.

You may want to check with other neighbors to see if they are also annoyed with the barking, or if they have already filed a complaint. When filing a complaint be sure to provide documentation of the dates, times and duration of the barking. Video or sound clips can be helpful as well.

Remember, It’s Not the Dog’s Fault

Keep in mind that incessant barking is typically a dog’s way of communicating discontent or distress. Assisting your neighbor will be more beneficial than responding angrily to the persistent barking. It will benefit you, your neighbors, and the dog.