Anyone live in a condo/coop with a dog??

So we are having MAJOR issues with out downstairs neighbor. We live in a condo- just moved in about 3 months ago and just got a puppy about a month ago. She is only 4 months old, we got her from a shelter and she has major separation anxiety. She barks a lot especially when we leave her for the day and we go to work (she is in a crate). We are trying everything to help the barking since we want to make it comfortable for our neighbors as well. We have tried bark collars, calming products, we even moved the crate in our bedroom (so she at least doesnt bark through the night). She is an older woman and literally waits for us to come home, opens her door and complains. I understand her concerns as we are sick of the barking as well. We have had trainers come over and we are having another training session as well as possibly starting her on an anxiety medication (last resort but if it helps her and us we will do it). Today I came back all excited because I just got a job (yay) and she was home and opened her door and said its been a month and the barking hasnt improved...so she is calling the board on us and they are going to take our dog away. First of all, I get that the barking is annoyin and a nuisance. But secondly, I dont think she has the right to threaten to take our do away. I mean what if we have children (we dont have yet) is she going to complain about the crying?? So I was just wondering if anyone has been in a similar situation- we love our dog and are trying every tactic we can possibly think of to help her and would be devestated if we had to give her away. We also live in a VERY dog friendly building...more than half the owners have dogs as well as the board members. I just dont know what to do at this point..its very stressful!!

Re: Anyone live in a condo/coop with a dog??

she can complain all she wants but she doesn't have the right to ask anyone to take your dog away. trust me on this one, i work with coops and their managing agents all day, every day.
Unless it was specifically stated in your proprietary lease that dogs were not allowed, which it seems it wasn't since its a dog friendly building, then you are fine and she is just cranky.

Re: Anyone live in a condo/coop with a dog??

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Posted by Moonmist09

she can complain all she wants but she doesn't have the right to ask anyone to take your dog away. trust me on this one, i work with coops and their managing agents all day, every day.
Unless it was specifically stated in your proprietary lease that dogs were not allowed, which it seems it wasn't since its a dog friendly building, then you are fine and she is just cranky.

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Thank you so much for responding! You are definitely allowed to have dogs in the building - we couldnt wait to move here because its very dog friendly. I know she was complaining about the last people that were here too because they had a 2 year old who was running around. I do understand where she is coming from but we are doing everything we possibly can about the barking. I was so upset before because I really dont want to lose our dog. Is there anything else we can do in the meantime? My husband actually just contacted the board to explain the situation and that we are trying everything we possibly can and that she is only 4 months old. That way they wont be shocked when she calls the board. It's just so nerve wrecking when I come home and she is waiting for us at her door to complain...its like more stress.

Re: Anyone live in a condo/coop with a dog??

Here is a way to help the dog deal with the anxiety, worked for both of my dogs. Take a tshirt - either yours or your husbands. Wrap a clock in it and put it in her/his cage. The puppy will think its his/her's mothers heart beat. It worked SO well for my dogs and I always tell people this.

Not sure where your coop is located but there is a law called 'petlaw1984'.

Re: Anyone live in a condo/coop with a dog??

IF your buulding allow dogs, then there is not problem...


In my building Dogs are not allowed....
and the guy who lived above us got a dog...
He was out of our apartment building...


We were happy bc the dog was making noises....
and we heard the dog walking at night time!!!!! he was a BIG dog...

Re: Anyone live in a condo/coop with a dog??

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Posted by BklynBabe1624

Here is a way to help the dog deal with the anxiety, worked for both of my dogs. Take a tshirt - either yours or your husbands. Wrap a clock in it and put it in her/his cage. The puppy will think its his/her's mothers heart beat. It worked SO well for my dogs and I always tell people this.

Not sure where your coop is located but there is a law called 'petlaw1984'.

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Yea we do this already. It definitely works when we are in house with her but she is still barking like crazy when we have to leave for work. :( Our condo is in NJ..I will look up that law. Thank you!!

Re: Anyone live in a condo/coop with a dog??

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Posted by VCanizalez

IF your buulding allow dogs, then there is not problem...


In my building Dogs are not allowed....
and the guy who lived above us got a dog...
He was out of our apartment building...


We were happy bc the dog was making noises....
and we heard the dog walking at night time!!!!! he was a BIG dog...

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Ok cool thanks. Yea our building is very dog friendly...we see dogs constantly and hear dogs barking like crazy which we find ironic. Our dog is only about 20 lbs and she is crated at nite and during the day. The woman also complains about the dog walking but I'm not sure how that is possibe since she is in the crate lol.

Re: Anyone live in a condo/coop with a dog??

I'm sorry your going through this, but there is no way she can legally have the dog taken away from you. She is going to have to deal with it because this what what you get when you live on the lower floor.

Re: Anyone live in a condo/coop with a dog??

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Posted by kshea23

I'm sorry your going through this, but there is no way she can legally have the dog taken away from you. She is going to have to deal with it because this what what you get when you live on the lower floor.

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^^^ this


especially since ur building allow dogs.

Re: Anyone live in a condo/coop with a dog??

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Posted by kshea23

I'm sorry your going through this, but there is no way she can legally have the dog taken away from you. She is going to have to deal with it because this what what you get when you live on the lower floor.

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Thank you so much! Yea I mean she said the walls are very thin and that she could hear us walking around as well. I feel soo uncomfortable because I feel like I have to walk on eggshells in our own condo that we own. Plus she complained about the last family who lived here as well. She is a widow who lives alone and is home a lot of the time. My husband and I work full time (we have a dog walker who comes during the day to take puppy out). I wish I could stay home with the dog full time but it is not possible! It is so frustrating.

Re: Anyone live in a condo/coop with a dog??

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Posted by LousBride09

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Posted by kshea23

I'm sorry your going through this, but there is no way she can legally have the dog taken away from you. She is going to have to deal with it because this what what you get when you live on the lower floor.

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Thank you so much! Yea I mean she said the walls are very thin and that she could hear us walking around as well. I feel soo uncomfortable because I feel like I have to walk on eggshells in our own condo that we own. Plus she complained about the last family who lived here as well. She is a widow who lives alone and is home a lot of the time. My husband and I work full time (we have a dog walker who comes during the day to take puppy out). I wish I could stay home with the dog full time but it is not possible! It is so frustrating.

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I know exactly how you feel, we're on the upper level and have wood floors so I'm sure our downstairs neighbors here us walking all the time. Plus we have 3 cats who like to run around and go crazy in the middle of the night, so every time they say something to us, I apologize and say that is what you get when you love on the lower floor. In retaliation, they raise their heat to as high as it can go when they're not home, so the heat rises and bakes out our apartment. I can't tell you how many times I've come home to it being over 80 degrees in our apartment. We haven't had to turn our heat on once this year because of them.

Needless to say, I feel your pain about downstairs neighbors lol

Re: Anyone live in a condo/coop with a dog??

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Posted by LousBride09

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Posted by VCanizalez

IF your buulding allow dogs, then there is not problem...


In my building Dogs are not allowed....
and the guy who lived above us got a dog...
He was out of our apartment building...


We were happy bc the dog was making noises....
and we heard the dog walking at night time!!!!! he was a BIG dog...

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Ok cool thanks. Yea our building is very dog friendly...we see dogs constantly and hear dogs barking like crazy which we find ironic. Our dog is only about 20 lbs and she is crated at nite and during the day. The woman also complains about the dog walking but I'm not sure how that is possibe since she is in the crate lol.

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this woman prob has super sensitive ears like me lol. i hate myself for it b/c i literally hear every single step/noise my upstairs neighbor makes that even my DH doesn't hear. that being said, we're humans and we can't help it that these buildings are old/make a lot of noises. i don't t hink she can have your dog taken away. she's going to have to deal w/ it. i think more likely, the board will ask you to have the dog trained, which iknow you said you did already, but hopefully as the dog gets older, he'll get better as far as the barking and all. sorry that you're dealing with this and i hope everything works out

Re: Anyone live in a condo/coop with a dog??

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Posted by kshea23

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Posted by LousBride09

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Posted by kshea23

I'm sorry your going through this, but there is no way she can legally have the dog taken away from you. She is going to have to deal with it because this what what you get when you live on the lower floor.

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Thank you so much! Yea I mean she said the walls are very thin and that she could hear us walking around as well. I feel soo uncomfortable because I feel like I have to walk on eggshells in our own condo that we own. Plus she complained about the last family who lived here as well. She is a widow who lives alone and is home a lot of the time. My husband and I work full time (we have a dog walker who comes during the day to take puppy out). I wish I could stay home with the dog full time but it is not possible! It is so frustrating.

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I know exactly how you feel, we're on the upper level and have wood floors so I'm sure our downstairs neighbors here us walking all the time. Plus we have 3 cats who like to run around and go crazy in the middle of the night, so every time they say something to us, I apologize and say that is what you get when you love on the lower floor. In retaliation, they raise their heat to as high as it can go when they're not home, so the heat rises and bakes out our apartment. I can't tell you how many times I've come home to it being over 80 degrees in our apartment. We haven't had to turn our heat on once this year because of them.

Needless to say, I feel your pain about downstairs neighbors lol

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Ugh its sooo frustrating!!! I was like so excited to move in and actually have our own place but I didnt expect to deal with neighbors like this! I feel bad but I really dont know what to say to her anymore...like we are doing the best we can. I cant believe they raise their heat to get back at you!! People are ridiculous!!

Re: Anyone live in a condo/coop with a dog??

look for something called 'thundershirt' My vet recommended it to us because our pom has anxiety as well but during car rides and thunderstorms. It's supposed to hold them tight and quite a few people on the pet board on LIFAMILIES had success with them! One in particular had the same problem with separation anxiety.

I'm sorry, it would make me super anxious as well. Hopefully it is a puppy thing because both my dogs used to cry when we would leave but they don't any more. well, one does but only a few barks and whines.

good luck!!!

Re: Anyone live in a condo/coop with a dog??

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Posted by mybabylovesmoi

look for something called 'thundershirt' My vet recommended it to us because our pom has anxiety as well but during car rides and thunderstorms. It's supposed to hold them tight and quite a few people on the pet board on LIFAMILIES had success with them! One in particular had the same problem with separation anxiety.

I'm sorry, it would make me super anxious as well. Hopefully it is a puppy thing because both my dogs used to cry when we would leave but they don't any more. well, one does but only a few barks and whines.

good luck!!!

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we just bought it today!! my husband bought it during work and is bringing it home today. I really hope it works. she really is not a barker in general ...just when we leave her alone. I am definitely really anxious about all of this- like I love my dog and everything but its hard to come home all the time to complaints. i realllllly hope its just a puppy thing...everyone keeps telling us that she will grow out of it (fingers crossed!)

Re: Anyone live in a condo/coop with a dog??

Just so you know - the girls whoa re telling you that your dog can't legally be taken away from you are partly right, and partly wrong.

Even in a dog friendly building, if a dog is too noisy, a co-op board can step in and tell you that you have to get rid of the dog or they will take you to court, based on the idea that your specific dog is so loud that he creates a nuisance to the other tenants. So while the neighbor herself can't take the dog away, she can put things in motion for you to have to get rid of the dog. I'm not saying at all that this would happen (since, at least in NY, it wouldn't necessarily be easy to do) but technically it's how the law works.

(This is based on NY law, but I'm guessing NJ law on the issue is similar)

ETA: At the same time, the law also says that the standard for something like this is that of a reasonable person with normal sensitivities - so if your neighbor is just a crotchety old lady (which it sounds like she is) with sensitive eardrums, and no one else in the building has complained, then you don't really have anything to worry about.

Re: Anyone live in a condo/coop with a dog??

I have ALWAYS had problems with my upstairs neighbor nd my dog, Fez. Fez is a total barker. We moved in 6 years ago, and after the first month she delivered her first complaint...saying he would bark all day. We worked with him and he got a lil better, but still the complaints came. She is so dramatic (literally, she is an 'actress' )

Anywho..things got so bad she complained to the board and we were served a warning. Next time she complained, we were fined. We paid that...and that was it. She still complains, but theres nothing more she can do to us. SHE chose to live in a very pet friendly condo building..and so did your neighbor...so tough luck for them both. Legally, I dont think they can do anything to 'take' your dog away.

Some things we did to improve his barking were...1) Closing all our blinds so we couldnt see people walking around outside and 2) left the TV on (not on animal planet..because he would bark at that) or the radio on to drown out some of the outside noises.

Good luck!