What Can I Do About My Neighbor's Barking Dog in Pasco County, Florida?

Sometimes the barking of a dog can be more reliable than a clock to time your neighborhood activities. Dogs can bark for any number of reasons, and each bark is a dog's way of communicating a different thing. When dog barking becomes irritable to neighbors, there are a few ways to work with a dog's behavior to train and encourage less barking. Neighbors looking to lend a helping hand to save their tortured ears can help this process along by observing and maybe assisting neighbors in training a dog.

Things You'll Need

  • Phone
  • Computer
  • Internet
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Instructions

    • 1

      Observe the dog's behavior during a day and take notes on when or why it barks. Different barks can be a response to different stimuli, perceived threats the dog encounters or just barks to communicate when a dog is hungry or playing.

    • 2

      Approach your neighbor and start a conversation about the situation. It is important to explain the problem in a non-confrontational way -- don't just complain and argue. Make the neighbor aware of the problem and, if possible, suggest that you can keep an eye out for problems in the area that might be agitating the dog while the neighbor is away.

    • 3

      If your neighbor does not have the time to retrain the dog, suggest other alternatives such as dog toys or distractions that may keep a bored dog from barking for an absent owner. Offer to walk the dog during the day or invite the neighbor to take the dog along to a dog park.

    • 4

      Send the neighbor a letter on behalf of the community. Explain instances of barking that are out of character or excessive and include a list of times that the dog's barking is a key problem.

    • 5

      If the behavior continues, suggest other alternatives such as electronic dog collars that emit sounds that discourage barking. Although this is has become a more common approach for some dog owners, the suggestion may not be taken well, so use this as a last resort suggestion.

    • 6

      Report continued barking to the police. You may have to report the problem to the police more than once to have an effect.

    • 7

      Check the Pasco County ordinances for the nuisance regulations. If a dog's barking has become a concern for the neighborhood or multiple neighbors, you can file a nuisance claim. Download the nuisance filing form and submit it to the clerk's office.