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18/05/2008, 15:34 Hibou Joined on 23/06/2007 Posts 13 Barking dogs again! We love dogs but don't have one at the moment. However, we live in the countryside and every one of our neighbours has dogs. Our two neighbours have 3 dogs each which they keep caged on the boundary of our property ( far enough from their own property as not to be heard by them).  The barking is driving us mad.  Not only that but we also have a gite which is even closer to the dogs than we are and worry that it will affect our business.  We have tried all methods, politely talking to the owners, discussion with the Maire etc.  To get to the point, has anyone ever used the anti-barking machine ( not the collar) and if so,does it work? (I know what the adverts say!).  Any views would be welcome.  Hibou    Report

18/05/2008, 17:53 cooperlola Joined on 05/05/2006 72 - Sarthe - home of les 24 heures du Mans Posts 6,315 Re: Barking dogs again! Get one of those bottles of water with a sports' top or a water pistol, and give them a squirt on the muzzle mid bark.  Humane, and works well.  Your neighbours may not let you do it, but they may be willing to try it themselves.  I've never tried one of the electronic anti-barking things myself as plain old water is usually enough for even the most chronic of barkers. Healthcare Issues Site    Report

18/05/2008, 22:12 Bluebell Joined on 18/05/2008 Posts 11 Re: Barking dogs again! Hello everyone, I too have a barking dog in the garden next door.  Due to a strange arrangement of our adjoining cottages our office windows actually overlook this garden.  The other day the dog barked for seven hours solid, making it impossible to concentrate on any work. Can anyone explain why the French allow their dogs to bark like this?  In desperation I sent off for a sonic device from Maplins.  I'll let you know if it works.    Report

18/05/2008, 22:24 J.R's gone native Joined on 16/07/2006 Picardie, Sussex Posts 1,695 Re: Barking dogs again!  Bluebell wrote:   The other day the dog barked for seven hours solid, making it impossible to concentrate on any work. Can anyone explain why the French allow their dogs to bark like this?  How could they (or any nationality) stop the dog from barking other than keeping it cooped up in the house? Not a sarcastic question as I have had complaints from some neighbours in England that my tenants dogs are barking and would be really interested to know if ther are any methods, actually it can only be one dog barking (perhaps in concert with a neighboring dog) as the other is a husky and cannot, howling like a wolf when really stressed perhaps but barking? Pas possible! Having spoken to most of those affected the root of the problem appears to be once again a cultural difference, the family come from South Africa and the dogs have always lived outside and continue to do so except for a few hours each evening when they join the family. Those that are complaining about the noise feel it is inhumane to keep dogs outside, the closest neighbours (the only ones who could actually be affected) say that they think it would be cruel to keep the dogs locked inside whilst the family are at work.    Report

19/05/2008, 8:10 Bluebell Joined on 18/05/2008 Posts 11 Re: Barking dogs again! This dog of ours next door is not being left alone all day while the owner is working. Madame is at home with it and even when pottering in the garden she does not tell it to shut up.  This dog stands stiff legged and bristling, barking constantly at nothing and I cannot believe that the dog is happy doing this.  Dogs need to be dominated, it's the nature of the pack, but this lone fearful dog has had to take on the responsibility of protecting the home.  If Madame would take on the protective role and show that dog who's boss then that dog would be an awful lot happier. What I really meant to say was how can Madame not know the effect this dog has on the neighbours?       Report

19/05/2008, 8:42 Hibou Joined on 23/06/2007 Posts 13 Re: Barking dogs again! Many thanks for all your views.  Bluebell, I am waiting with baited breath to hear about the sonic device. Thank you, Cooperlola for the water idea. Unfortunately, there is a raised bank of about 2 metres between us and the offenders and I don't think a squirt of water would reach with any force. Hibou.    Report

30/05/2008, 15:31 Suninfrance Joined on 23/08/2004 Arnac Pompadour, Correze (19) Posts 914 Re: Barking dogs again! Back in the "old days" when I was at work, our Housing Officers often had to go to houses with unfriendly dogs, so the organisation I worked for purchased a little ultra sonic device which the housing officers would take out with them.  In order to find out if it actually worked, a couple of people at the office took it home to try it on their dogs.  One in particular had an "over" friendly dog who would jump up at her and any visitors as soon as they walked through the door, so she tried the little ultra sonic device each time she walked in through the door with the command "down", and after a couple of goes, the dog associated the noise and the word no, and stopped jumping up.  No hard feelings from the dogs point of view and it meant that she could take it to friends houses, and out for walks without it jumping on anything it liked. The other dog was prone to having a pee in the house.  Well it was only a young alsation.  Again, everytime my colleague saw it *** its leg, she would press the button on the the sonic deterrent, and the dog would think twice.  Also, after just a couple of goes, the dog would then ask to go out to pee (not literally, before any of you wise guys out there pick up on a talking dog). As for the housing officers, when they approached the house with the unfriendly dog, they would stand outside the door, ring the doorbell, and as soon as the dog started barking and growling, press the deterrent button, and presto - an almost well behaved dog. So personally, I would invest in one of these little gadgets and try it out on your neighbours dogs.  The beauty of it is, that only they can hear it.  You can't. Jan Dogs have owners, cats have servants    Report

30/05/2008, 17:36 Patf Joined on 23/08/2004 SW Gers Posts 2,101 Re: Barking dogs again! I wish I'd known about that gadget when I was working. I used to do home visits, and somehow these families always had a german shepherd dog. They would shout "come in and take a seat - I'll be there in a minute". And a huge gsd would come bounding in to guard me while I waited. Help!    Report

14/06/2008, 17:39 Bluebell Joined on 18/05/2008 Posts 11 Re: Barking dogs again! I am happy to say that the little device from Maplins works a treat.  I can just shoot the dog through the window and it leaps like I've prodded it with a redhot poker.  Then it scoots off back to the house and silence reigns.  I've only done it a very few times and we are now enjoying peace and quiet.  It's the nearest thing I've seen to magic!    Report

14/06/2008, 17:56 Suninfrance Joined on 23/08/2004 Arnac Pompadour, Correze (19) Posts 914 Re: Barking dogs again! ..... and no harm comes to the dog.  Did the device cost much? Dogs have owners, cats have servants    Report

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