What bothers you most, a neighbor’s loud music or barking dog?

Say you’re in a campground and your neighbors have a dog that just won’t stop barking. It barks at everything that moves—even a leaf that flutters to the ground. After a couple of days, they finally check out and move onward and you get your much-needed peace and quiet. Until…

A new neighbor comes in, parks, and within the hour starts playing their music loudly. And it’s music you can’t stand!

What was worse? The barking dog or the loud music? Do both bother you about equally? Or did neither one of those loud things bother you at all?

Tell us in the poll below and please leave a comment, too. Thanks!

RV Travel
RV Travel
Our goal at RVtravel.com, now in our 24th year of continuous online publication, is to provide a comprehensive source of quality news, advice, and information about RVs and the RV lifestyle. Our writers are all (human) RVing experts who write for you, not advertisers, stockholders or Google rankings. You won't find more valuable information about RVing anywhere else—and with no spam, ever.

Sign up for America's favorite RVing newsletter

The FREE RVtravel.com newsletter is filled with great RV information, advice, and news written by RV experts, delivered right to your inbox. Never any SPAM and we will NEVER sell your information! When you subscribe, you'll get three checklists that every RVer should have as a thank you!

A Permanent Address for RV Freedom — Full-time RVers trust America’s Mailbox for mail forwarding, residency help, and reliable support from the road.

Our most popular articles this week:


Amazon Prime Day is coming soon but…
The deals are already on! Click here and see if what you’ve been wanting or needing is on sale. And if it’s not now, it might be soon!


THE BEST WAY TO SUPPORT US?
Tell other RVers about us! If you love us and our newsletters, chances are other RVers will too! You could tell your campsite neighbors how great we are, you could post a newsletter or story you enjoyed on your Facebook, you could write us a love letter on the campground bulletin board… You get the picture. Spread the word—help us out! THANK YOU!

Comments

Please follow our rules for commenting.

54 Comments

Judy G
3 years ago

I can forgive the dog since its owner is supposed to be the more intelligent one both in playing music and quieting a noisy dog.

Ed K
3 years ago

We don’t listen to the radio in the coach or car, I want to hear what is going on around me. Loud Music, TVs Videos not of my choosing iritate me. I am a Cat Person, so your barking Dog is a big irritant to me and my family! So they both ruin the outdoor experience.

Chuck
3 years ago

If I liked the music and was invited to the party it would be the dog. Just kidding both equally would bother me.

John S
3 years ago

I just take out my hearing aids – deaf as a stone.

tom
3 years ago
Reply to  John S

ditto

G13
3 years ago
Reply to  tom

Now that’s funny as heck, and smart, lol!

Gary
3 years ago
Reply to  John S

Huh?

Tom E
3 years ago

That really deep bass thumping sound from individuals who’ve had their eardrums blasted to where they are deaf and need to turn the volume up. Suppose they can only feel it in the seat of their pants because it vibrates their vehicle or RV and everything else within several hundred feet of where they are. When it happens in the RV park, I call the office.

Mike
3 years ago

Dogs bark when the owners are gone. Music is totally under their control and just rude when loud.

Joan
3 years ago
Reply to  Mike

Nailed it.

Bob
3 years ago
Reply to  Joan

Leaving a dog or any animal locked up alone for hours is just plain cruel. The dog is barking because he wants companionship. Cats are a little different, they are satisfied to just sleep the day away. If you know your trip involves a lot of sightseeing, leave the animal at home, at a friends or relatives house or, heaven forbid at a kennel where there are people and other animals.
I am a dog lover.

Bob p
3 years ago

I am experiencing something new in my life, I have a wonderful wife and we talk, very rarely is the radio on so I’m no longer listening to music unless she’s in a store shopping, so I would say the loud music as I can drown out the dog by closing the RV and turning on my own country music, but I can’t keep the bass from vibrating my RV walls.

Wayne
3 years ago
Reply to  Bob p

Yep. That darn bass will shatter your senses quickly.

kat
3 years ago

Have to say the dog. We are the loud music neighbor playing the music loudly, but the music gets turned down once kids are home from school and doing homework (neighbors’ kids that is). In the summer, windows are open, music is playing and neighbors’ kids are between the yards running and singing along. Really don’t care for the excessively loud music coming from vehicles, or a motorcyclist who has it so loud so he can hear over the obnoxious noise of the motorcycle. The motorcycle noise is worse than the others!
Dogs – I don’t want to hear a dog barking between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m.

Tom b
3 years ago
Reply to  kat

obviously you don’t ride. Tell me, have you had some ‘near collisions’ with a biker? those loud pipes are not there for me, but for you. they are there so MAYBE you’ll be aware that I am there. you see, if you are in an accident, you might get a dented fender, some scratched paint. but I’d be killed, my wife a widow and my kids without a parent. and if you think I don’t realize the gravity of the situation EVERY TIME I ride, you would be mistaken. Please don’t take loud pipes and music as obnoxious, but as one more way i can stay alive.

Bob M
3 years ago
Reply to  Tom b

This is the 1st I’ve heard anyone justify loud motorcycles pipes. I have a Harley with factory exhaust and wouldn’t want excessively loud mufflers/pipes. Besides when driving and listening to the radio I wouldn’t hear the loud pipes anyway. But sitting on my porch 1000’ away I can hear those too loud pipes.

Bob
3 years ago
Reply to  Bob M

Great reply!
I’ve seen a lot of signs that say “Loud Pipes Save Lives”. Of course those are the ones that wear hearing protection while they ride, and if they don’t, they can’t hear anything anyway.
A Harley with factory exhaust is a sweet sound.
I ride a full dressed touring bike, not a Harley, and my audio system is the only noise I want to hear.

Bob
3 years ago
Reply to  Tom b

I do ride and loud exhaust does not protect you. People hearing the noise start to look around to find out where it’s coming from taking their eyes away from other traffic. You may be the other traffic.
Defensive riding is the best solution.

STEVE
3 years ago
Reply to  Tom b

Don’t count on loud pipes to protect you while riding. The loud noise is behind you when moving and the danger is in front. Studies show that loud pipes Don’t save lives. They just pi** off other people. Loud pipes are what convince cities to enact ordinances against loud motorcycles. Several years ago, Harley Davidson’s CEO said they were going to quit making loud, aftermarket pipes for their bikes because they gave Harleys a bad image. Ya think?

Christine
3 years ago

Depends on if I like the music!!

Scott
3 years ago
Reply to  Christine

The rest of the occupants of the campground around you may not appreciate your musical tastes

Mickey
3 years ago

Both are disrespectful to others. So many people think they are alone in this big world and others just need to grin and bear their annoyance. Dogs will bark but the owner needs to be active and control the dog. Not just let him bark because they think it’s cute. Loud music is totally in their control. TURN IT DOWN!

David N
3 years ago

Dogs barking, music playing, thats camping!
Some people need to boondock and stay away from people. Loose dogs and stupid people are more irritating..

Glenn A
3 years ago
Reply to  David N

What bothers me most is the intolerance of my fellow campers. If you want solitude, stay home.

STEVE
3 years ago
Reply to  Glenn A

You have it backwards. If you want to listen to loud music, you should stay home. Campgrounds and nature are for peaceful activities and quiet contemplation.

Spike
3 years ago
Reply to  STEVE

Agree, 100% Steve.

bill
3 years ago
Reply to  STEVE

Agreed!

Wayne
3 years ago
Reply to  STEVE

Totally agree with Steve

Tom
3 years ago
Reply to  STEVE

👍 👍 👍

Rosalie Magistro
3 years ago
Reply to  STEVE

I agree 💯 Steve ..

scott
3 years ago
Reply to  STEVE

Thank you for the logical answer…wasted on the post for intolerant people. You are intolerant if your musical choices don’t match his…usually at 100+ decibels. I go camping to relax and get away from these dullards with no ability to take action from social cues

Joe Goomba
3 years ago
Reply to  STEVE

Bingo!

Bob Palin
3 years ago

What bothers me most is noisy children.

Tom b
3 years ago

Loud music is ignorance, but a barking dog is neglect!

Bob
3 years ago
Reply to  Tom b

I totally agree, there are just some people who don’t care about other people and also shouldn’t have a dog.

Gigi
3 years ago

I have found with loud music if ask or bring the person to my place to hear how loud it is from their place and ask nicely they will usually turn it down some, but if I do the same with barking dogs the people just get mad.

Wayne
3 years ago
Reply to  Gigi

Very true statement

Tom Hosack
3 years ago

It all depends on the music.

Steven N
3 years ago
Reply to  Tom Hosack

I second this!

Les
3 years ago
Reply to  Tom Hosack

Yup!

Ellie
3 years ago
Reply to  Tom Hosack

If it’s classic country, I’m fine with it!

Larry Boswell
3 years ago

Loud music. I can shoot the BoomBox!

Ozzie
3 years ago

Barking dog … and I own 2.

bill
3 years ago

Both .. and both are controlled by the owner of the source. If I only chose one it would be music .. If it is loud enough to hear at my campsite it is too loud.

Wayne
3 years ago

Without a doubt loud music can ruin my day, raise my stress levels and generally irritate the xx#$%^&* out of me. Dogs barking can be annoying if the owners let it continue but no where near the aggravation level of loud music

Dennis Johnson
3 years ago

Where we are wintering right now, the lady next door is feeding the feral cats in the neighborhood. They make very little noise but leave enough yard deposits that we have to be careful where we walk on our lot. Apparently the CG owner has had enough of them and has set up a live trap to reduce their population. There has been as many as 10 laying around her deck waiting to be fed. Some or them have sat on our steps to look in the door. A low powered slingshot with chickpeas is teaching them to stay off our lot. No intention to hurt them, just teach them we are not friendly as she is…..

Neal Davis
3 years ago

Either during the day, almost not at all. Either as day becomes night (i.e., evening), probably some, but it depends on whether this is the first day of it, or after one week of it. The closer to the first, the less, and the closer to the second, the more it bothers me. So, even though they are equally bothersome, neither may bother me much if any, or a lot, depending on timing and duration.

LadyCash
3 years ago

That is very limited poll. If a dog is barking incessantly then it is a problem. Music that can be heard at the other end of the park is a problem. Either after quiet time is a problem. Otherwise, dogs will bark at squirrels, each other playing, when strangers approach their home (rv) which is all normal. People like music. I really don’t want to be on site 2 and site 18 at the other end plays music I can hear very loud and clearly.

Scott
3 years ago

The neither one votes must just turn off the hearing aid and sit there smiling…oblivious

Darla
3 years ago
Reply to  Scott

Hahahaha

Darla
3 years ago

My dog wears a bark collar and I use noise canceling earbuds.

It takes a lot to bother me.

SteveAustin
3 years ago

Both are signs of an ignorant, selfish person, but the constantly-barking dog is a sign that they are, at best, neglectful pet owners or, at worst, consciously harmful to an animal. In any case, they are not people I want to have in my life in any way.

Sweden\'Texas
3 years ago

Boom Boxes, Amplifiers and ruckus gang banger music, with drunks is bad for any park. Lucky I have hearing aids, that cancels out bad music, when taken out.

Joe Goomba
3 years ago
Reply to  Sweden\'Texas

Don’t forget the people who set up big outdoor video screens (w/speakers) to watch movies late into the night. I hate that.