The neighbors' dog constantly howls and barks: what to do according to the law in an apartment and in a private house

Author of the article:

Muzyko Tatyana Andreevna - lawyer.

It is not prohibited to keep animals in apartments.
There are no strict rules for their content. In cases of conflicts, residents have to independently defend their rights to comfort and normal rest. The state regulates the sanitary condition of homes, which includes proximity to other people's pets.

What to do if your neighbors dog constantly barks in their apartment

Unscrupulous owners may say that they are not responsible for the loud howling and barking of their dog. In 2021, such excuses could still work. But the new edition of the Code of Administrative Offenses of 2021 added fines for barking dogs and faulty car alarms.

The dog in the neighbor's apartment is interfering with sleep

Amendments have been made to Article 14.6, which provides for a ban on noise at night. From the point of view of the authors of the edits, owners are obliged to control their pets.

What to do according to the law if a dog is making noise in your neighbors’ apartment, we will consider further. We will provide step-by-step instructions for owners of apartments in apartment buildings.

Remember where to go if your neighbor’s pet barks:

• to the local inspector;
• to the local branch of Rospotrebnadzor;
• animal protection organizations;
• administrative court.

At the entrance of an apartment building

Before writing complaints and filing lawsuits, prepare evidence.

What you need to do: record this barking and howling on a voice recorder and video camera (you can use a smartphone). You can make any notes in your apartment. Don't try to break into your neighbor's apartment to collect evidence. This will be considered a violation of privacy.

You can team up with other neighbors who are also bothered by noise. The support of neighbors will help not only have a psychological impact on the dog’s owner. They may testify on your behalf in court or file a class action lawsuit with you.

The list of things that can be done legally includes purchasing ultrasonic repellers or a whistle. Certain ultrasound frequencies cause dogs to remain silent.

The layout of an apartment building can drown out ultrasound. Maximum range of whistle or repeller: 14 meters. Some dogs do not respond to such stimuli.

How to determine the source of howling and barking

When you don’t know where the dog howls day and night in the apartment: above or below, try asking your neighbors this question. You can search for the dog's owner personally, in a group or on an apartment building forum.

Playing with a pet

If you have free time, you can keep an eye on your neighbors: which of the neighbors above, across the site or below takes the dog for a walk.

Complaint to the local inspector

If your neighbor's dog bothers you in an apartment building, you can complain to the district police officer. He is obliged to register a complaint and conduct a conversation with the pet's owners. If the local police officer is inactive for 2-3 days, file a complaint against him.

Penalty when a dog barks

First, the district police officer must talk to the dog’s owners and explain to them the consequences of breaking the law. If the loud barking does not stop after the first warning, file complaints against your neighbors again. In case of repeated violation, the district police officer is obliged to issue a fine for disturbing the silence in an apartment building.

The amount of the fine in 2021 is from 500 to 5000 rubles.

The more repeated violations, the higher the fine.

Ways to solve the problem peacefully

When faced with constant dog howling coming from a neighboring apartment, you should try to resolve the problem peacefully.

Conversation with a neighbor

A conversation will clarify the situation. The owner of the dog may not even realize that the pet is bothering someone. The conversation should be conducted calmly, avoiding excessive emotionality, accusations and threats. If it turns out that the owner was truly unaware of the problem, he will try to fix it.

The dog breeder's opinion about the pet's upbringing will have to be changed with the help of neighbors. It is likely that claims from 2-3 people will affect the violator. The participation of people in the conversation will also help later, during the judicial review of the dispute.

Use dog whistle

If nothing has been done and the situation has not improved, you should try using an ultrasonic whistle. Its effect is unpleasant for animals, they get scared, although people do not hear anything. You will have to whistle every time the dog starts barking. Gradually the dog will understand that an unpleasant sound will follow the howl. However, not every animal reacts to it, and doors and walls of the home will be a hindrance.

Use an ultrasonic dog repeller

The device produces waves, the force of which causes discomfort to the animal, affecting the hearing organs. Trained, sick dogs will not respond to the signal. It can only be used at a distance of 14 meters from the animal.

Complaint to Rospotrebnadzor

You can file a complaint about your neighbor’s barking dog with Rospotrebnadzor. Representatives of this organization can conduct an examination that will show that the permissible noise level is exceeded. You can attach the results of the examination to your application to the court.

Living room

A commission will come to the apartment with a special device (sound meter). Try to schedule the commission's arrival so that it coincides with the time of loud barking.

Otherwise, all measurements will be meaningless. The Rospotrebnadzor Commission will carry out measurements in accordance with GOST. The signed certificate of examination is handed over to the applicant immediately after the completion of the measurements.

Filing a claim with an administrative court

The most serious step you can take is to resolve the conflict in court. We recommend doing this only if all previous control methods have failed.

Loud barking

The following may be attached to the claim:

1. Audio and video recording of loud noise.
2. Copies of all complaints submitted to the district police officer.
3. Written responses to submitted complaints.
4. Results of the Rospotrebnadzor examination.
5. Testimony from neighbors.

It is advisable to consult a lawyer before filing a claim. When going to court, you can demand compensation for the purchase of medicines (if the noise caused harm to health) and compensation for moral damage, demand reimbursement of the costs of the examination and other costs.

The neighbor's dog constantly barks, what to do: private house

The requirements of the law on silence apply not only to apartment buildings. In the private sector, noise is also prohibited after 11 pm. Tips on what to do if your neighbors dog howls will be the same as in the previous paragraph.

On the street

You should file a complaint with the local police officer, animal protection organizations, or Rospotrebnadzor. You can file a claim in an administrative court. But we advise you to first try to resolve the issue out of court.

A neighbor's dog in a private house may bark because it is trained that way by its owner. Some owners believe that if a dog barks frequently and loudly, it will deter thieves. But a barking guard disturbs the neighbors, which you can report to the dog’s owners.

The most dangerous case is if your neighbors’ dog in a private house barks due to its aggressive nature. This can end in tragedy if the animal breaks loose. Start fighting the noise to influence the owner and force him to take action.

Private sector in the village

No Barking Law

There is currently no such law on a federal scale in the Russian Federation. An interesting example is the Novosibirsk region. Last year, in 2021, the regional Legislative Assembly decided to ensure peace and quiet for residents of apartment buildings; now dog owners will be held accountable financially if their four-legged friend barks, howls, or whines too loudly.

In world legal practice, such cases also occur. In the French city of Féquières, rules have been approved according to which a fine of 68 € will be imposed on the dog owner for loud barking (even during the day).

The absence of a law banning barking does not mean that this issue is not regulated by law. The rights of neighbors, as well as the animals themselves, are protected by the following laws:

• Constitution of the Russian Federation;
• civil and criminal codes;
• “On the protection of animals”;
• “About veterinary medicine”;
• “On maintenance and care in cities”;
• “On the sanitary and epidemiological welfare of the population”;
• “On approval of the Rules for the use of residential premises.”

It is these regulations that determine both the rights of animals and their owners, as well as neighbors.

Permissible noise level in residential premises

Each region of Russia has its own schedule for when you can and cannot make noise. But the noise level standards in residential premises are the same in Moscow and St. Petersburg, in Tyumen and Buryatia. SNiP and SanPiN standards operate at the federal level and are presented in the table below.

In St. Petersburg, night time is considered to be the period from 10 pm to 8 am. In Moscow, daytime lasts from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. If the examination shows that the noise level exceeds the established standards, you will have the right to demand silence.

Why can a dog bark constantly?

A folk sign says that if a dog constantly howls, barks and barks, then this promises wealth, a visit from guests, and good news. Howling and whining, on the contrary, promise trouble for the dog’s owner. People who suffer from loud barking dogs are unlikely to care about signs.

Pet whines near the window

From a scientific point of view, when a dog howls and barks day and night, this is not normal behavior for the animal. A happy animal will not bark constantly, late at night and early in the morning. When an animal whines and howls loudly, help is required not only for the neighbors for whom it disturbs their sleep, but also for the dog himself.

Dog handlers identify the following reasons for loud barking:

• lack of food or water;
• aggression from the owner;
• boredom during the absence of the owner;
• fear of being alone;
• the consequences of inept training on the protection of the house and site.

What other actions can be taken to resolve this situation?

You can find out the conditions in which the animal is kept. Let’s assume that an unpleasant situation occurred among the residents of a private house. Their neighbors did not create favorable conditions for keeping the dog. They forgot to make the simplest kennel, and thus the animal, tied near the house, suffers from the hot rays of the sun or gets wet in the rain in cold weather. The dog is trying to attract attention with his barking.

You need to contact an organization that protects animals other than those available in the area. They must react to the appeal submitted by you and check the living conditions of the four-legged animal. If they are found to be inappropriate, the pet may be taken away from its owner.

How to retrain a barking dog

You know what to do if your neighbor's dog howls and barks. But what should you do if your pet is a source of concern for your neighbors? Even a well-mannered dog can howl, whine and bark in the absence of its owner.

Puppy in an apartment in a multi-storey residential building

There are 3 strategies to deal with loud barking.

1. Teaching a dog to be alone. First, the owner goes out the door for 5–10 minutes. If the animal remains calm at this time, the owner should give it a treat. Gradually, the time the owner is absent increases. The classes end with the owner leaving for work in the morning, and the dog patiently waiting for his return all day.
2. The reason for barking may be an inability to tolerate loneliness. Dogs with a weak psyche are prone to this behavior. In order for the pet to wait patiently for its owner, it is necessary to create a shelter where the dog can rest and sleep, feeling calm. Having a companion can help you cope with loneliness. It doesn't have to be another dog: some dogs calm down when a cat appears at home.
3. Loud barking is often caused by boredom. Try spending more time with your dog. Increase the duration of your walk and diversify your route. Add physical activity to your daily routine. Breeds created for active exercise, such as hounds and huskies, can howl and bark out of boredom.

The most radical way to combat dog barking is corrective surgery on the ligaments. After the operation, the dog will physiologically not be able to make loud sounds. But in some countries such operations are recognized as mutilation. They negatively affect the animal's psyche.

If you love your pet, try to solve the problem in a humane way.

What should you be wary of when talking to a pet owner?

Important! There is no need to speak in a raised tone. I think it would be unpleasant for any person if such a situation happened to him, and then a neighbor comes up to him and starts a conversation with a raised voice. Here it is even unlikely that a person with a healthy psyche would start a conversation; at worst, he would do the same - he would start shouting back. Here, no matter how you look at it, it’s unlikely to come to a consensus. It will only raise your nerves once again, and nerve cells, as you know, do not recover. Therefore, it would be a good idea for him to take care of this in advance.

Under no circumstances should you blame him . Blaming him may cause protest, and he will also not be in the mood for a productive conversation.

Sometimes a neighbor may not even realize that during the hours of his absence, his pet shows his naturally strong voice at full volume, thereby preventing the whole house from watching TV or doing other things.