When it’s time to meet with your neighbour, take your notes and any supporting material with you. Take a few deep breaths as you head to the meeting.
Be friendly and introduce yourself if you haven’t already met. A little bit of humour and small talk can help break the ice. When you’re ready, be calm and respectful. Here’s a sequence you might follow.
1. Calmly explain what the problem is
“I’m not sure if you know this, but Bailey barks much of the day when you’re at work.”
2. Explain how the problem affects you
“I work from home and it’s really hard for me to concentrate. It takes me longer to finish my work and I’m pretty worn out by the end of the day.”
3. Stick to the facts
“Yesterday, Bailey started barking at 9:15 am after you left and didn’t stop until 10:30 am. Then he started again at 11 am and didn’t stop until noon.”
4. Share any evidence you’ve gathered
"Here's a recording I made of Bailey's constant barking. And here's a copy of the noise bylaw that applies."
5. Highlight your common interests
“Our neighbourhood is peaceful and quiet. I sense this is one of the main reasons we both enjoy living here.”
“I’ve tried wearing ear plugs, but they’re not a long-term solution. So I looked online and found some advice about training dogs. Here’s what I found. What do you think?”
7. Discuss a timeline to check-in
“Do you mind if we check in about this in two weeks?”
At the end of the conversation, consider thanking your neighbour for their time, understanding, and willingness to work together to resolve the problem.
Keep your cool
During the conversation, it’s important not to yell, blame, or threaten your neighbour. This can escalate the situation rather than resolve it. If you are too frustrated to continue the conversation, consider telling your neighbour you’d like to continue your meeting another day, or switch to written communication.