Neighbor's dog barks at my chickens, blames me. Ideas?

[pawprint2104]

I agree Justahannah...hedge, fence, etc.

Myself, I have 3 dogs and my flock. My dogs pay no mind to my flock. But, my neighbor recently started a flock after seeing my girls and their eggs. Unfortunately, 1 of my dogs runs to the fence (directly past my hens) and barks every time he sees her girls strut by it. Drives me nuts. He's triggered by other things, too, so I know it's not just her hens. All I can do is manage his behavior and bring him inside if he doesn't immediately respond to my commands. I feel bad about his barking and immediately respond to quiet him. They're all inside dogs, but when I'm home, I leave the doggy door open.

I agree the privacy fence will work to reduce the visual triggers. And, let me say, it's not your fault that their dog barks. To keep the peace (and your peace of mind) put up a fence. It doesn't even have to be a tall one, just any visual barrier (hedge, bushy plants, pieces of fabric, wood, bamboo window treatments, corrugated tin panels) tall enough that the dog can't look over. And, as I type this, I just realized I found a solution to my own problem. I know it works, because I use a 2' visual barrier (a piece of leftover cloth) at the bottom of my front door screen to prevent him from seeing the feral cats roaming the neighborhood which sends him into a frenzy. It just never occurred to me to do this along my back fence. Thanks!

Additionally, your neighbor is an idiot for blaming you (providing your chickens aren't trespassing onto their property). But, you're still neighbors, so it's best to find an amicable solution. I hope this helps.

 

[chickortreat]

Well...from a legal standpoint. Your chickens aren't leaving your property are they? I don't see that as being your issue. If the neighbor has a barking dog...then they are the nuisance. Get a copy of your local animal control ordinance and see what it says about barking dogs. I bet 10-1 theres something there about it.

I live out in the sticks. My closest neighbor has a garden that is 100 yrds away from my property line. When my chickens are free ranging, my 2 indoor Shih Tzus...yes I said indoor Shih Tzus, start barking. My neighbor mailed a copy of the town ordinance about barking dogs and attached a note to it saying my dogs were bothering him when he was in his garden. So there you have it. MY dogs, barking at MY chickens, got me in trouble...go figure.

I'd mail it back to him, along with a pacifier and a GET OVER IT bumper sticker. If your dogs are inside your house and he is outside in his garden and he can't deal with it, he's got some serious issues. It would be different if they were outside at the property line going at it.

 

[serama hen]

true that

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

get a dog whistle so whenever it bark you blow and yell it will learn to stop or just spray it with icecold water through the fence that definitley make him quite the dog downstairs is a bit loud but ok hes a sweety pie his name is jackson if you say no jackson hell listen and just go away what a sweet puppy

Now THAT would be taunting! BAD ADVICE!

 

[lin9]

Hey there! Has anyone had a similar situation? The neighbor's dog barks at my chickens, and has trampled her plants running back and forth at the fence. She seems to blame me, rather than taking responsibility for her dog's behavior. The barking is a huge nuisance, as it makes it really unpleasant to be out in the yard. The barking is especially vigorous if we are playing with our chickens. Argh. I am trying ultrasonic bark stoppers next to the fence, but not sure if they're working. I yell at the dog, and sometimes it will go lay down when I tell it to, but they do nothing, just let it bark for hours.

This is an interesting twist in Zoning and Animal Control / Nuisance issues. Who is the nuisance? My chickens or the dog? For government types that want to restrict or ban chickens, they might prefer to ban chickens than deal with noise nuisance from dog owners who think it's the chicken's fault. Ideas? Of course, I think it's the dog owner's responsibility, but has anyone heard argument that this is a reason to ban chickens?

Get an electronic dog whistle. buy on internet

Repeatedly aim it at stupid dog. It may sometime shut up when you just appear near fence.

We hate dogs and their criminally rude owners.

My chicken is smarter than your barking dog!

 

[lin9]

Get an electronic dog whistle. buy on internet

Repeatedly aim it at stupid dog. It may sometime shut up when you just appear near fence.

We hate dogs and their criminally rude owners.

My chicken is smarter than your barking dog!

 

[Krugerrand]

Get an electronic dog whistle. buy on internet

Repeatedly aim it at stupid dog. It may sometime shut up when you just appear near fence.

We hate dogs and their criminally rude owners.

My chicken is smarter than your barking dog!

Thread is pushing 11 years old. The dog is likely dead or near to it.