Miss Manners: My neighbor’s dog playdates are becoming too much for me

Published On: July 20, 2025

DEAR MISS MANNERS:

My neighbor has a new dog. Frequently she sees me out back with my dogs, and asks to come into my yard so that our dogs may have a playdate.

This is fine occasionally. However, she asks me every day, and her dog barks a lot. This is too much. Sometimes I just want to be alone with my quiet pups.

We have a chain-link fence, and a taller privacy fence is not an option. How do I politely tell her that her dog hurts my head and I need to recharge by being alone? I’ve already told her that barking dogs give me headaches, but nothing has changed.

GENTLE READER:

As this neighbor puts their dog’s needs ahead of those of humans, Miss Manners suggests you respond in kind: “Hamlet isn’t feeling very sociable today. Perhaps the two of them can have a playdate next week when his head is feeling better. We’ll reach out.”

(Please send your questions to Miss Manners at her website,

www.missmanners.com

; to her email,

[email protected]

; or through postal mail to Miss Manners, Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.)