Dear Reverend,
I moved into a town house, and my neighbor’s sweet dog barks frequently for 30-plus minutes at a time when they are gone. It’s quite frustrating. I have had a dog and know it can be challenging. I wish I could help the doggo feel better. How can I tactfully broach the subject with my lovely neighbor?
All Barked Out (woman)
Dear All Barked Out,
No first interaction with a neighbor should be a negative one. Since you describe them as “lovely,” I’m going to assume that you have at least met them and know them well enough to share cordial how-do-you-dos.
You could casually strike up a conversation the next time you see your neighbor outside. But since you live in a town house and share a wall, it might feel like the distressed dog is practically inside your own home, so it may behoove you to take a more direct approach.
You must have some idea of your neighbor’s schedule, so choose a time when they won’t be rushing off to work or settling down for dinner, and knock on their door. (Pro tip: Don’t show up empty-handed. Bring a little houseplant, some cookies or a bottle of wine.) Ask if they have a minute to chat, and then let them know what’s been happening. Be honest, but approach it from the understanding angle of having had a dog yourself. Be clear that you’re as concerned about the dog as the noise.
Your neighbor likely has no idea that the dog barks so much when they aren’t home, so they will probably appreciate the information. You could even suggest a little experiment: Have your neighbor pretend to leave for the day and then sneak over to your place so they can hear the barking for themselves.
How to get the dog to actually stop barking is beyond my realm of expertise, but there are plenty of online resources and local dog trainers for that. I don’t know how involved you want to get, but you could offer to help your neighbor find a solution. Heck, if you need a dog fix, you could even offer to pop over and visit the fuzzy buddy, but that may be a bit much.
With a little neighborly cooperation, hopefully it won’t be a dog’s age before you get some peace and quiet.
Good luck and God bless,
The Reverend
This article appears in Oct 8-14 2025.
