Barking Boy! Help needed!

[TerriL]

Toby is a barker.  He barks at just about anything...up to and including the wind!  He has gotten a bit better about it as he has settled in but still barks at new people and such.  I have a neighbor across the street who absolutely detests animals.  ALL animals.  This guy is really quite unpleasant and has called the Animal Control agency on most of our neighbors with dogs or cats.  He had called previously about Toby's barking during the day and the officer actually came to my home and sat outside for about a half hour.  I was at work.  After the half hour with no barking he spoke to the neighbor who complained and told him that if the dog did not bark for that half hour he didn't see a real issue.  The guy told the officer that if anyone walked by the house the dog would bark.  The officer said that he would expect that from pretty much any dog.  In any case I started to close my front windows during the day so that Toby could not be heard much if he did bark. 
On Tuesday of this week my neighbor next door started to have the roof on there house replaced.  There is a six foot privacy fence in the backyard which the dogs have access to during the day.  I have a doggy door for them so they can play in the back yard.  Of course, with the roofers next door Toby has been barking up a storm.  The guy across the street called the police this time and evidently they came over yesterday, again, while I was working.  My next door neighbor came over last night (it's her house that's getting a new roof) and told me that they had been there and that the guy across the street threatened to shoot or poisen my Toby the next time that he was barking if the police don't deal with it.  I honestly am afraid of this guy and think he may well try something.  I have contacted the police department and I'm waiting to hear back from the officer who was there but  this is really worrisome. 
I was wondering if anyone who has a furkid who loves to bark knows of a good deterant?  I don't want to have to crate him during the day as he loves to play with the Buelah and Oscy, but I am really worried about this loose cannon across the street.  He has lured neighborhood house cats into traps using tuna in the past.  Animal control did inform him that he could not do that but the guy just hates animals.  He even has a big sign on his fence that reads "Animal Free Property" .   
I'm hoping that maybe there is a product or collar or something that may help the barking.  If not, I suppose I will have to crate him while the roofers are there but I'm sure that when they are gone this guy will find another reason to complain. 

[Julie]

Terri, this guy sounds awful!  I have problems with Libby barking too.  The next door neighbors have a small tree that Libby hates and starts barking at it as soon as she walks out the back door.  I don't know what Pinellas county's rules are, but in Hillsborough (or maybe it is the City of Tampa) there are quiet hours from 10pm to 7 am.  I have been told that if there is a dog barking during that time frame, you can get cited.  I don't know of any barking rules during the day.  You might want to check and see if they have any rules like that on your side of the bridge.  If you come up with any way to stop him from barking let me know, I would love to try something with Libby.

[Barb]

My Rudy is a barker - but so far, I haven't had any complaints.  And as far as I know - I don't have a jerky neighbor like you do.  How awful - to have to worry about him doing something to them.   I have tried the bark collar - but it really didn't work.  Mine also have a doggie door - and I am sure are in and out during the day.  I KNOW they bark too when a house close to us is getting worked on.   I really don't have any suggestions - but I would be worried sick about what that jerk may do.   Would it be possible to x-pen the kids in the kitchen or somewhere inside when a close house is getting worked on?   

Other than working with him while you are home - trying to teach him the no-bark manners - I really don't have any good suggestions.  We are here for you - but SO scary that someone lives close to you that doesn't appreciate pets - BLAH on him.  :idiot:

[Sandishooligans]

This dude sounds like a Class A jerk to me, and dangerous to boot.  If I were you, I wouldn't take any chances.  When you're not home, keep the kids inside!  Maybe you can babygate them in a small room or in the kitchen.  We live in a mobile home park that has pretty firm rules on overly barky dogs and because mine can get riled up, I choose not to use a doggy door but keep them penned with a baby gate in the laundryroom if we are gone for more than 4 hours.  Really, all they do is sleep all day, anyway.  If it's less time than that, we let them have the run of the house and we make sure all windows are closed!  Be sure to keep an eye on this idiot and report any threats to the police. 

[TerriL]

The police officer who was there yesterday called me back.  He said that when he was out in the front the dogs were not barking.  He went to the side of the house and climbed up on the fence to see what kind of dogs they were.  Of course both Toby and Oscy started to bark.  Buelah never barks ...  she's such a princess! In any case he was very nice and told me that from the front the barking could hardly be heard and that he would expect them to bark when he poked his head over the fence.  Evidently the guy across the street DID threaten to hurt my babies and the officer told him that would be a most serious mistake. He also said that he saw no reason to cite us for the barking.   Like Julie, we have a night time bark curfew which is never an issue as my lazy babies are in bed by nine and just waking up at seven! 
We closed off an area of the yard this morning (made a small penned area with plywood right outside of the door) which keeps them further from the workers but still gives them a little bit of area to do there business.  This also keeps them away from the privacy fence so if the old creep across the street tries anything he would have to climb over my fence to get to them.  The police officer told me that if the guy threatens them in any way that we should call them right away.  Unfortunately, nothing can be done about threats but they can come over and speak with him...again.
The lady next door who is having her roof done is also going to keep an eye out for them as she is home most of the time during the day.  She will call me or the police if he comes near the house. 
I guess that some puppers just like to bark and to be honest, it really doesn't seem bad to me at all.  He usually only barks for a couple of minutes and he is learning the "no bark" command.  Sort of.....

[Jenny G]

OHMYGOSH! That guy is awful!  I don't know what I'd do if someone ever threatened my kids!  Berman and Lucy like to bark too, but they are inside all day.  And, like you, our neighbor is getting a new roof in a couple of weeks.  I just hope the kids don't bark too loud to bug any of the other neighbors.  I don't know what we'll do if we get any complaints!

[Roberta]

appaerntly my pair so but only if someone comes up our drive. All our neighbors say it is less intrusive than the cars.
But I do keep a large metal tin with nails in it, if they decide to do a barkathon while we are in , we go out shake the tin and tell them NO Bark in a growlly low voice and it has a dramatic effect.
But I would be worried about that guy he sounds dangerous.
Roberta

[Dee Dee and Hallie]

What a terrible thing to have to live with. I always worry about people walking down my alley and tossing something over the fence or something. There are a lot of idiots out there. If I were you I would never let them have access to the yard when you are not home. About a year ago, on my street, (which is a very short street) there were 4 purebred dogs stolen right out of their yards. Especially if your dogs are barking and you have cranky neighbors, they could not only be stolen but as you are worried about, poisoned. Have you thought about a litter box or puppy pads in a utility room or somewhere so they can potty inside while you are gone? Sorry you are having to deal with this, stuff like that terrifies me too.

[Adela]

OMG.............I am ready to come there and tell that guy to shove it. Is there anyway for you to hide a video recorder to see if he comes over and tries something? He is just plain insane to hate animals so much that he would poison them. Is there any chance of you going to him and telling him that you have heard his threats and you have spoken to the police and nieghbors and he is being watched? 

[Sandishooligans]

.......AND SHE"D DO IT TOO!!!!!!!!!  Love ya, Adela!

[MindyKay]

I wish I had some words of wisdom and advice that has not already been given.  All I can offer are my thoughts and prayers that things will work out somehow.

This jerk seems to be someone who isn't happy unless he is causing trouble.

[My Hounds]

Oh my god I can't ever imagine what I would do if someone threatened my babies.  Be careful of him throwing food over the fence.  My Isis barks at everything as well, Indy only barks when she does.   There are different collars you can buy to stop barking if you are that worried.  Unfortunately there are a lot of crazy people out there.  How much do you like your house?????????????????????

[Dottiesdoxies]

I too have a neighbor who complains about everything.  Mostly about how and where my kids park.  She sometimes complains about the barking.  But never threatened any harm.  I have the 2 large dogs and the 2 dachshunds, and a doggy door with a privacy fenced yard.  They don't bark too much, but when they do, my neighbors dogs on all three sides of me bark too, so the nasty neighbor complains to all of us.  Between my 3 neighbors and me we have 9 dogs that bark in unison when they start. Thank god it usually doesn't last long and the nasty neighbor don't know who to complain too....LOL