I love animals, I mean REALLY love animals, but I have just about reached my limit with

[grace0418]

the dog upstairs. I work at home and she barks ALL DAY LONG. It's winter, I have the heat going, as well as music cranked up pretty loud, and I can still hear her barking and howling at every movement outdoors.

I've spoken to my neighbor about this and he's always been very apologetic. He's a nice guy but the barking doesn't seem to bother him because I know he's home sometimes when she does it (he walks on the floor like a fucking elephant, which is another whole ball of wax). He says when he forgets to close the blinds during the day she gets overstimulated by activity on the street (we live in the middle of Chicago where there is always activity on the street). He even gave me a key to go up and shut the blinds if he forgets and she starts barking, but I feel weird about going into his place. Plus I hate being the neighbor who constantly complains.

I just want her to stop, it's absolutely maddening. I cannot believe how loud it is. And when the weather gets nice it's even worse because I can't open any windows and enjoy the breeze or I will go deaf.

We're going to put our condo on the market soon and I am going to have to talk to him again. There is no way anyone is going to buy our place if they come to look at it and can't even hear themselves think.

Is there anything I can suggest to him that might help? Any training or behavioral tricks to try?

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

1. Have you thought of

recording the sounds and playing it back for him? If you are in a Condo Association are there rules about this kind of thing?

[grace0418]

2. Well, he knows it's loud and is apologetic, and tries to correct the problem when

I say something. But so far there is no long term fix happening. I am wondering if there is some kind of training or something I can suggest to him that will solve the problem once and for all.

Our condo association does have rules about noise for sure, I'm on the board. I just don't want to be an asshole about it if I can help it.

[surrealAmerican]

4. You might suggest some sort of "doggie day care".

The animal is probably just bored and lonely. There are any number of places in Chicago where a dog can spend some active time during the day.

[grace0418]

5. I've thought about that. But he recently divorced and doesn't have a lot of money.

I'm sure the dog is bored, I even offered to play with her but he didn't seem too interested in that. I'm going to have to figure out something though, because I need to get work done and I'm losing my mind. Luckily since I wrote the OP she seems to have calmed down so I might get a couple hours in without listening to her.

There has got to be some training or something that will work. Or maybe crating? I always thought that sounded weird but I have friends who swear by it and it seems to make their dog feel very safe and happy.

[HopeHoops]

3. 1) Boom box; 2) Deep Purple - "Machine Head"

Insert CD into boom box (with fresh batteries). Wait for dog to bark. Place boom box outside dog's door, facing toward door. Crank volume to 11 and press "Play". Come back in 45 minutes to retrieve boom box. Repeat as necessary.