I need advice...Quick!

[Drax]

Originally Posted by Aliantha

Drax, I'd rather keep the cops and any other agencies out of it if possible. I have to live next door to these people for the for-seeable future.

Hence, the "if necessary." :p

[Aliantha]

I think there are better solutions than calling the cops. I doubt I'd even go down that road to be honest.

I'd rather fork out for a new puppy than call the cops.

[Drax]

Incidentally, our two dogs only bark when anyone except my folks enter our driveway.

[slang]

Just had a thought that might be helpful.

Why not have the dog over to your house during the day? You said you are a pet lover, do you have a dog? A cat? Somewhere that the dog might feel better during the day? Might a good petting for a short period of time followed by a comfy ( or comfier ) place to spend the day calm the dog down?

This is not your problem as you have described here and to the neighbor in the letter. Maybe ( just maybe ) you could strike homerun with the grieving neighbor and make a new friend ( the dog ) at the same time.

It's a very long shot, yes but that's what I would try to do in that situation.

[Sundae]

Sadly, Ali already has two dogs and two cats of her own to look after...

[Aliantha]

I've thought about that. I have two dogs in our back yard, and they're pretty territorial, so that's probably not an option. We have a number of cats, and although they get along with our dogs, they're not too keen on stange ones. I do have a verandah out the front which can be closed in, so I've thought about suggesting that as an option. The only thing is, I'm not sure if I want to be responsible for their pet on a full time basis if that makes sense. They're inclined to bolt if they get the chance, and with the kids coming in an out all the time, the chances of escape are high. It's worth a thought though, and I might suggest it as a short term option till they can come up with something else.

[slang]

With those circumstances I know myself well enough to know that I'd go a bit nutty and take care of things one way or another after losing my temper, so taking the responsibility for another dog would probably be better than jailtime.

That's a good point about the dog running off though. And being responsible for it biting someone.

A tough situation.

[ViennaWaits]

I understand your desire to keep the peace - we've had neighbors I would've liked to shoot, so you're lucky to be able to have even HAVE a conversation about this situation.

My concern, though, is for the dog. It's normal for him to be mourning the loss of his pack - not to mention the added stress of suddenly being locked in the basement (or wherever they have him) alone.

I don't know what your animal control laws are like there, but if it were me and none of the things you've mentioned worked, I would absolutely report them. For it to go on this long with no real effort to console this dog is unforgivable, IMO. Here in Ohio, you can do so anonymously. I'm assuming you have other neighbors that might be affected, which may not be the case making an anonymous report impossible.

In your shoes, I probably wouldn't offer to care for the dog for any period of time simply for the liability reasons already stated. As far as I can tell from your posts, you don't seem to know the dog at all.

I wish you luck. You're not in an easy position.

[ZenGum]

I guess the best solution is for the neighbours to get another dog. They're social animals, it wants someone to play with.
I was also thinking along the lines of uniting Ali's dogs with the neighbour's dog, thus fixing its loneliness. If you aren't willing to have their dog at your place ... can your dogs go over their for visits? If they come to like each other, could you make a doggy-door in the fence?
Failing that, speak to the other neighbours behind and around the noisy dog's house. If it's annoying you, it's going to be annoying others. At least you'll feel better knowing you're not alone.
Give it a bit of time for the neighbours to sort out. Calling in the council/police ruins relationships. But as a last resort, I guess you should.

[Drax]

Originally Posted by ZenGum

I guess the best solution is for the neighbours to get another dog. They're social animals, it wants someone to play with.

Seems logical to me. Before we got Aly, Mandy was very aggressive (it's the Catahoula in her), but with Aly to play with, she's much calmer.

[Aliantha]

You're right about the social aspect of it Zen. The problem with huskys is that they're climbers. We have 6 foot pailing fences around our yard and the dog can still climb over them. That's a big part of the reason the dog is locked under the house.

With regard to the rest of the neighbours, I doubt they notice because they all go off to work each day so wouldn't really hear it. Also, the door to their under the house is next to our fence line, and that's where most of the howling goes on, so it's more intense over this side anyway.

I stuck the letter I composed in the mail box during the day today, so hopefully that will get some results. I really do think the only answer is to get another puppy dog because they're not going to be able to be with the dog all day, no matter how much they might want to.

You're right Drax, most dogs do react well when they have a playmate to work off their boredom and or possessivness with.

[DanaC]

If that was me and my dog was in mourning I'd probably take a couple of weeks holiday time and stay with the dog. Each day going out for a little while and gradually extending it so that by the end of the fortnight it was used to being on its own for longer periods. It's what I did when I got my pup, so it got used to being on its own in the house without feeling like I wasn't coming back.

"The name dog whistle is often used for both lung-powered whistles as well as electronic devices that emit ultrasonic sound via piezoelectric emitters. The electronic variety are sometimes coupled with bark detection circuits in an effort to curb barking behavior."

If that doesn't work, aim a dog whistle mp3, in a playback loop, at your neighbor's house all night long to keep the dog up; so, it'll sleep during the days!

[ZenGum]

Originally Posted by NoBoxes

If that doesn't work, aim a dog whistle mp3, in a playback loop, at your neighbor's house all night long to keep the dog up; so, it'll sleep during the days!

Or at least give your neighbours an idea that there is a problem with their dog.

Or else you could become a tseihta. Deny the existence of the doG.

[Cicero]

I wouldn't be able to stay home with my mourning dog, I have to work....The dog just needs to settle in and get used to the idea of lost companions. As a human I have made a hell of a lot of noise over lost companions....just like a dog I've had to quit howling...this takes time. Your neighbors are probably grieveing as well. I'm sure you were polite, and they are defensive...but I think the dog may need more time. It might not be long before it quiets down. Your neighbors were right when they asked what you would like for them to do? How do you train a dog to not be sad? There are obvious diversion tactics you can use when you are around...but that does not cure the feelings of loss. Please be understanding. I'm sure it's flipping obnoxious...but it's too soon for them to get the animal more company, however. Poor thing. Time will heal. There was an article on the memory span of dogs, and it was devastatingly short...I forget how long the period. I'll go look it up. The point being: the dog will get used to things soon enough and it will probably just begin to whimper quietly after a time, and then completely get over it.