Surrounded by barking dogs

[Guest Anonymous]

Hello, I have a question for dog owners:
We have recently moved to the country where rules and laws are lax. Everyone on our street owns a dog except us. The dogs, for the most part, roam free, which is fine with us as most of the dogs are nice. We own cats which stay indoors. I am an animal lover and do not believe in harming animals. I also do not understand having a dog and leaving it outside all the time.
My problem is this, on one side the neighbor has a hunting dog, a Blue Tick Coon Hound. This dog is very sweet. It stays in its pen, only occasionally being let out to roam. But, every morning, around 2-3am, this dog howls and howls. It is about 25 ft from our bedroom window. It is incredibly annoying. I want to stop the dog from howling, but don't know how. On our other side about 50 ft away, is a Pitbull. This dog is chained to a tree and lives outside. Everytime we go outside, this dog growls and barks nonstop.
Neither of these dogs ever spend time with humans other than being fed.
Is there a way to stop the nuisance?

[eric]

If the by-laws are lax and the owners don't want to take action, the short answer is no. The dogs are barking because they are bored/lonely, which is not something you can change.

However, with the case of the dog barking at 3 am I find it hard to believe that there are no laws regulating this. Most places will have an 11-7 noise law.

I really sympathize with you. Barking dogs is one of my pet peeves,and I have 3 dogs.

One of my neighbours at our cottage lets his dog out at 7:30 - 8 am and it pretty much barks non-stop for 45 minutes to an hour. Fortunately, we have very strict bylaws where we are and this fellow is going to be getting a visit from the police soon.

[mouseatthebusstop]

I sympathize with you. Why not go and knock on the owners door in a nice friendly way hopefully you will find them nice people who will try to meet you half way
Most of the members here are responsible owners and their dogs do not roam. My own are spoilt rotten and usually at my side only going out with me on a lead or in the garden with me watching them

[courtnek]

first, try talking to the neighbors as suggested. They may just be used to the baying and dont hear it any more. (that howl is actually a "bay" - sounds alot like a howl and is a hound trait). Since it's a coonhound, it may actually be calling it's master. Raccoons are nocturnal animals, and hunt at night. It may be smelling coons, and trying to call the hunt together. these are hunting dogs, even without a pack some of the instincts never go away. Hounds being outside in kennels is not at all unusual, although usually there are multiple dogs since they hunt in packs.

If the neighbors wont co-operate, you can try (unless its cold out) spraying it with a hose. it wont hurt it (unless its cold) and may get it to stop. Dont soak it, just a sharp spray in the side (not at the face).

however, if what it is baying at is the coons, unfortunately, it may not stop.

[Seijun]

Coon hounds were bred do howl, and do it loundly too! There is probably nothing that can be done to stop the dog from howling. It's natural for them to do it. It is also possable that there is a coon showing up at that time of the morning and the dog is baying at it.

~Seij

[Guest Anonymous]

Thank you for your suggestions. She, the coon hound, usually bays several times a night and that's ok with me. I know she's doing what she's bred too. But, this past week, it's been non-stop. My husband told me today, that the family is away on vacation this week, could that be what's bothering the dog?
As to the no-barking laws, no there are none. I am really out in the boonies and there's just no rules for that. I found that out when my neighbors started shooting their guns off for target practice in their yards. Yeehaw.

[CKMILK]

you said that they are on vacation?? well i hope the dog has water and food?? and i hope there is someone checking on the dog?? if not please call your dog warden your sure to have one in your county.. i just hope he does have water and food !!! i am sure it has been hot there it has been here !!!!! we live in a small very small town out in the boonies and there are lots of coonhounds out here. they do bark but i am used to it know. dad has an older one black and tan coonhound was there when i was in highschool he is 10 and he is just a doghound. lol he has never hunt a coon in his life. he really dont do that baying. he will if he hears the sirens of an ambulance and thats about all usually he will wine to get some attention he cant get enough of that lol. well i just wanted to make sure somebody is checking on the doggie.

[Malamum]

I can't really add anything to what the others have suggested but wanted to poke my head in an ask a really silly question. What is a coon? Is it a shortened term for a racoon?

[Seijun]

Malamum napisał(a):

I can't really add anything to what the others have suggested but wanted to poke my head in an ask a really silly question. What is a coon? Is it a shortened term for a racoon?

Yes :D

[courtnek]

Malamum napisał(a):

I can't really add anything to what the others have suggested but wanted to poke my head in an ask a really silly question. What is a coon? Is it a shortened term for a racoon?

yes. sorry. y'know, that made me think. To my knowledge, this dog has never been called a "racoon hound" their breed name is Coonhound....
black and tans are the most common to my knowledge.....I have a friend in Michigan who breeds coonhounds and bloodhounds....

I'll have to ask him about it.

but yes, they were bred to hunt racoons (why, I dont know....maybe for those racoon tail hats? :lol: :lol: :lol: ) although racoons CAN be a menace if they overpopulate....