Hi everybody,
Just wanted some advice on a neighbours dog, They say she is a staffie but looks more like a staffie cross to me. The problem is they had her for about six to seven months now and from day one she crys and howls whenever on her own, at first they kept her in a kennel outside chained up but my partner went round one day after she had been howling from 10.00 am to 11.00pm to ask them if they could stop her. He pointed out this isnt normal as we have a four month old boxer puppy who has never shown any signs of anxiety when left on her own (we even video recorded her!!) and he told them their dog must be extremley unhappy. They told him they had only bought her to breed from her and its not their fault she howls and they have to ignore her so she gets used to it. I am not exagerating this dog and cried and howled for the past six months every single day. They dont take her out for walks they just let her out the front door every night at around 11pm to fowl all our gardens and then let her back in. As a mad dog lover I am not angry at the dog I am angry at the irresponsible owners why are people like this allowed dogs!! What can I do about? she isnt mistreated in any way she looks healthy shes extremley dominant and is very boistrous when I take Nellie out and she sees her shes tried to bite her a couple of times but the owner just watches me struggling to push the dog away. any ideas what I can do about this?

If she is outside and howling for 13 hours a day phone your local council and ask to speak to the Public Health Department. The dog is a noise nuisance if nothing else. You could also *try* the RSPCA as to the consitions that the dog is living in ..does it have shelter? Does it have access to fresh water at all times?

Melody

Hi Melody
They dont keep her outside since we complained but we can hear her crying inside, as far as I am aware she is looked after sufficiently she looks healthy enough, I just want them to take an interest in her and take her out for exciting walks and make her happy she just sounds so distressed. I dont suppose their is anything I can do as in the rspca's eyes she is not being mistreated I could call the council and have the noise monitered, what about the being let out unsupervised will anyone do anything about that or I am just wasting my time?

I would still try the RSPCA ...they may just talk to you and explain your options ....I would say that if the dog isnt being taken out and is inside howling all the time it is being neglected , whether or not she has food and water and shelter ...let us know what happens please

Melody

If she's going for you're dog like that your dog is at risk of being seriously hurt, if she does eventualy make an attack on your dog.

She is in breach of the dangerous dogs act because she appears threatening, I would suggest you first have a talk with the crime prevention officer at the local cop shop, if there isn't one then make a formal complaint and demand action is taken, don't complain or even mention the noise to the police just stick to the increasing aggression your experiencing.

I would take it seriously, if she attacks properly you will not get the dog of yours.

Hi, I dont often comment on this behaviour board as behaviour is not my "forte" but one thing that springs to mind if you are going to complain about the noise to the authorities is to record the poor dog howling on audio tape, so you can prove that it is happening all day long. Maybe get some 120 minute tapes and just leave the record button on. Place it on a windowsill by an open window for the best pick up of sound. Poor dog and poor you, it must be torture for both of you. Why this isn't classed as cruelty, I cannot understand.

That is so sad leaving a dog to be so unhappy like this. I used to live next door to a man who had a dog and she barked and howlled (sorry about the spelling!) all night as he worked nights used to drive me up the wall. I even found myself starting to dislike the dog and I love dogs. In the end after telling my neighbour how his dog missed him and was lonely try leaving a light on and the radio on for her he never did this so I had know choice and went and saw the Council and they said I had to keep a diary of when the barking started then they could come and see him more evidence I think they called it. I could not bring myself to do this as he got ill and went into hosptial so the dog was now being left on its own almost 24 hours a day!! His son would come over in his lunch hour and let her out for a walk on her own and of course feed her. And again at night. In the end the son moved into his dad's house and the barking stoped. I have since moved home not just down to this but for many other reasons. I felt so sorry for the dog.

Julieann

Sounds like separation anxiety or plan boredom. The scary part is that she sounds dog agressive and is allowed to run lose. Why wait for this dog to catch someone's dog or child. I had a similar problem in California and the local dog catcher gave me a cage to place in my garden, when the dog showed up to poo in my garden it went into the cage to investigate. It took one day to remove a dog from a bad situation. They even found an adoptive family. How awful for every one involved. If you do not act, who will? Laws may be less strict in the U.K. but I think not.
Katie

This story made my blood boil, I am a mad staffy lover and couldn't believe this, the fact that she's crying so bad is awful but saying they just want to breed with her is disgusting, the RSPCA would be very interested in this case! If these were my neighbours there would be big trouble, having a dog is more than just feeding it! If the RSPCA find out that she is let out unsupervised and un ruley they will act.