neighbor extremely upset -- looking for solutions

[wombat]

Quote:
Seriously?

I'm responsible for not using my property in a way that might get my neighbor's dog barking? I have to disagree with you here.

Would you have the same argument if the poster's kids playing on their new swing set made the dog bark? Get rid of the swingset or keep the kids in the house???

 

[CityGirlintheCountry]

Quote:
Chickens are legal for the OP to have in her yard. It is her yard and she can do what she likes with it. The barking dog is not annoying the OP, it is annoying the dog's owner. The OP is totally within her rights to have what she likes in her own backyard. The dog owner needs to deal with her pet.

If we followed your thinking, some people wouldn't be allowed to keep their loud, annoying children within their backyard. The joy of property ownership is that it is your land to do with as you wish (as long as you are inside the boundaries of the law).

 

[PortageGirl]

Quote:
You're joking right? "Oh wait, I'm sorry your dog is barking so much. What's that? It doesn't like the color I painted the house? Let me repaint it for you!"

ok, that was snarky, but really!

The OP did fence off part of the yard and spoke with the neighbor to work out something about times etc, so that's all good. WE are all going on a bit about it now, though, hopefully at least a little of what we said helped her, also, even though a lot of our suggestions aren't to her taste, at least she knows she's got our support.

//edit/// yoiks, it looks like we piled on a bit there pringle. guess I opened the reply box while others were typing too.

 

[Chickenmaven]

Quote:
Ridiculous! OP cannot have use of her property? What if the irritant was the OP's visiting nephews? What if a family with kids moved in, next to Miss Yappy-Dog? "Oh, I am sorry, I'll send the kids to boarding school, since your dog is upset..."

 

[joebryant]

You should be complaining to her that her dog is upsetting your chickens and YOU with their continuous barking. Tell her to do something to keep the dog quiet, something like keeping it inside the house 24/7. Call her on the phone every time the dog barks, day or night. She'll shut up about your chickens.

 

[BlackBart]

Quote:
I would suggest to her that it is half her responsibility and she should train her dog, that is barking on her side of the fence.
If you are within your legal rights to have three hens than it is up to the neighbor to control her dog.
How far are you willing to go to train her dog from your side of the fence?
What if the dog barked when there were children playing in your yard? would she expect you to bring them in the house?

So sorry these things happen, its a sticky situation and it can make for bad feelings and takes away some of the joy of having chickens.

 

[the lemon tree]

I don't have the time to read through the responses and therefore don't know what all has been said, but I believe that it is the neighbor's responsibility to train her dog. Dogs bark as a natural reaction and out of instinct. The OP has all the all the right in the world to keep her chickens. Imagine if it were your kids playing outside that triggered the dog to bark. Would you not allow your kids to go outside? If the lawnmower gets too loud will you stop mowing your lawn?

 

[joebryant]

I just want to add that if I had a neighbor like that, she'd've learned a long time ago not to approach me the way she did you. You should let her know in no uncertain terms that you don't give a fig whether the two of you get along... Gads, I am so glad that I have all wonderful neighbors, but there were times when I had one like yours, and I can assure you they would not have suggested what yours did.

 

[wombat]

Quote:
So far, it sound's like it's been kept civil between the two neighbors and they're trying to work things out. Have a martini, come back happy!

 

[horsejody]

Quote:
Perhaps you don't realize that the chciken owner didn't complain about the barking. It's the dumb dog owner that is complaining about the noise from her own dog. The OP has a privacy fence, but the dog can see through the slats. It really is the dog owner's problem, not hers.