Do-it-yourself dog mediation

Sometimes neighbors ignore the obvious. Follow some simple steps, experts say, and you may be able to resolve your dog dispute before it gets out of hand. Communicate. If a dog disturbs your peace or your property, don’t blame the dog. Phone or write the owner. Be friendly. Explain when and why you are being disturbed, and offer to discuss the problem. Say you hope to work together.

Don’t be defensive. If you’re the dog owner, don’t belittle or ignore a neighbor’s complaint. Listen and look for a solution. When appropriate, enlist the neighbors’ help. Ask them to make notes on when and where disturbances occur. Then think about fixing those problems by changing the way you care for the dog.

Be reasonable. If dog owner and complainer are open-minded and polite, solutions can be found. Some dogs offend only because their owners allow them to do so. Complainers offend when they yell, threaten and don’t give the dog owner a fair chance. If all else fails, take the dispute to a mediation service.

— Bettijane Levine