Puppy mill/ aggressive dogs

[Greg Strunak]

Please help,

We recently purchased an investment property. For context this is a cabin in the woods. Upon purchase we found out that our next door neighbor is a “dog breeder”. He has 30 plus dogs that fight all day long and bark all day. As soon as you walk out of the cabin the dogs race to the dinky fence about 80 yards from the cabin and bark like they want to kill you. We have had complaints from guest about the dogs barking. These are also German Shepards. I am concerned 1. That this is a puppy mill. 2. For my guest safety if a dog gets out. 3. The noise. When I confronted the owners about the dogs he didn’t want to hear anything I had to say. What are my best options to fix this issues for both the dogs and my guest. 

[John Clark]

Quote from @Greg Strunak:

Please help,

We recently purchased an investment property. For context this is a cabin in the woods. Upon purchase we found out that our next door neighbor is a “dog breeder”. He has 30 plus dogs that fight all day long and bark all day. As soon as you walk out of the cabin the dogs race to the dinky fence about 80 yards from the cabin and bark like they want to kill you. We have had complaints from guest about the dogs barking. These are also German Shepards. I am concerned 1. That this is a puppy mill. 2. For my guest safety if a dog gets out. 3. The noise. When I confronted the owners about the dogs he didn’t want to hear anything I had to say. What are my best options to fix this issues for both the dogs and my guest. 

You can’t. Sell and move on. The real question is; why did you even buy in the first place?

[Melanie Thomas]

Hey there, I'm sorry you're going through this. I can totally relate; I had a similar experience a while back. We reached out to the city and followed all their advice, but unfortunately, things didn't improve. The local enforcement just didn't seem interested and didn't take action. Eventually, the residents stopped paying rent and left, so the situation resolved itself. It was really surprising how little attention they paid, especially when we had clear evidence of neglect with videos and photos. It's a really disheartening situation.

[Chris Seveney]

Quote from @Melanie Thomas:

Hey there, I'm sorry you're going through this. I can totally relate; I had a similar experience a while back. We reached out to the city and followed all their advice, but unfortunately, things didn't improve. The local enforcement just didn't seem interested and didn't take action. Eventually, the residents stopped paying rent and left, so the situation resolved itself. It was really surprising how little attention they paid, especially when we had clear evidence of neglect with videos and photos. It's a really disheartening situation.

 I would put up my own fence, make it a privacy fence so hopefully the dogs do not see you/your guests/tenants etc. 

[Gillian Thackray]

You can try filing noise complaints or even a nuisance lawsuit, but whether that will help depends a lot on whether the next door property is inhabited by the owner (less chance of chance, more chance of poor attitude) or a renter.  Also depends a lot on local authorities whether people will dismiss your concerns or not.  Could well be a puppy mill, but enforcement about conditions there is sorely lacking due to lobbying by AKC and also lack of funding.  Like any neighbor issue, maybe the route with best chance of success is to try and talk to owners and establish a rapport and share concerns/ask if they would help you out.  Takes work to do that, as well as being able to manage your own feelings about the situation.  Second to that I like the privacy fence suggestion - blocking the visual contact of the dogs to people at your property will definitely help some.  

[Andrew Rees]

Quote from @John Clark:

Quote from @Greg Strunak:

Please help,

We recently purchased an investment property. For context this is a cabin in the woods. Upon purchase we found out that our next door neighbor is a “dog breeder”. He has 30 plus dogs that fight all day long and bark all day. As soon as you walk out of the cabin the dogs race to the dinky fence about 80 yards from the cabin and bark like they want to kill you. We have had complaints from guest about the dogs barking. These are also German Shepards. I am concerned 1. That this is a puppy mill. 2. For my guest safety if a dog gets out. 3. The noise. When I confronted the owners about the dogs he didn’t want to hear anything I had to say. What are my best options to fix this issues for both the dogs and my guest. 

You can’t. Sell and move on. The real question is; why did you even buy in the first place?

I hate to say it but after raising English Springer Spaniels (30 Puppies + of em over 5 years) I'd have to agree with the sell and move advice.

But to answer specifically:

1 - probably is a mill and this is likely NOT against the law

2 - the dog gets out and if you get bit you take em to court

3 - dogs are noisy. that's just the way it is. German Shepard's and many other breeds such as Malmutes have a tendency that one barks, they all bark till they get tired and then it stops.

Last of all this is a cabin in the woods, the guy has every right to be there, with his dogs, and do whatever he wants while he is on his property. He has the same right life, liberty, pursuit of happiness, and property just like you do. If this was in town then there would likely be a noise ordinance that he would be in violation of. You going over there and complaining is actually a violation of his rights. You aren't going to win.

[John Clark]

Quote from @Andrew Rees:

Quote from @John Clark:

Quote from @Greg Strunak:

Please help,

We recently purchased an investment property. For context this is a cabin in the woods. Upon purchase we found out that our next door neighbor is a “dog breeder”. He has 30 plus dogs that fight all day long and bark all day. As soon as you walk out of the cabin the dogs race to the dinky fence about 80 yards from the cabin and bark like they want to kill you. We have had complaints from guest about the dogs barking. These are also German Shepards. I am concerned 1. That this is a puppy mill. 2. For my guest safety if a dog gets out. 3. The noise. When I confronted the owners about the dogs he didn’t want to hear anything I had to say. What are my best options to fix this issues for both the dogs and my guest. 

You can’t. Sell and move on. The real question is; why did you even buy in the first place?

I hate to say it but after raising English Springer Spaniels (30 Puppies + of em over 5 years) I'd have to agree with the sell and move advice.

But to answer specifically:

1 - probably is a mill and this is likely NOT against the law

2 - the dog gets out and if you get bit you take em to court

3 - dogs are noisy. that's just the way it is. German Shepard's and many other breeds such as Malmutes have a tendency that one barks, they all bark till they get tired and then it stops.

Last of all this is a cabin in the woods, the guy has every right to be there, with his dogs, and do whatever he wants while he is on his property. He has the same right life, liberty, pursuit of happiness, and property just like you do. If this was in town then there would likely be a noise ordinance that he would be in violation of. You going over there and complaining is actually a violation of his rights. You aren't going to win.

My second-favorite dog was an English Springer Spaniel. Liver and white. Show lines. Had to put her down over 20 years ago, and I still miss her.

[Lynn McGeein]

@Greg Strunak have you tried the anti-barking devices they sell online? A friend had a neighbor move in with several large dogs that barked all day, drove her crazy. Neighbor wouldn’t remedy and city didn’t care. They put up one of these devices in a tree near the fence line and problem mostly solved. That with a privacy fence should help.

[Greg Strunak]

Quote from @Lynn McGeein:

@Greg Strunak have you tried the anti-barking devices they sell online? A friend had a neighbor move in with several large dogs that barked all day, drove her crazy. Neighbor wouldn’t remedy and city didn’t care. They put up one of these devices in a tree near the fence line and problem mostly solved. That with a privacy fence should help.

 Ive done some research, that seems like a great place to start!