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Teen boys unable to play basketball after neighbour's outrageous complaint

By Merryn Porter |

We all know sometimes we can find noise coming from our neighbours annoying. Kids playing outside can be off-putting, especially if they are being a little too loud, but most of the time people will try to get on to keep the peace.

But a woman has asked the internet for advice after her new neighbours complained that the sound of her teenage kids playing in their yard was "distressing their dog."

The woman, who called herself InYerFace, took to the Mumsnet Talk forum this week to ask for advice after she banned her children from playing with a ball to appease her dog-loving neighbours.

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A woman banned her teens from playing ball in their own yard after their new neighbours complained. (Getty)

She said her new neighbours, a couple in their late 40s, who didn't have kids, "came around last night to complain that the sound of our teen boys playing in the garden was upsetting their dog, who is a rescue, very nervous and reactive to sound."

"The kids had two friends over yesterday and they were playing basketball," the woman said.

"They also said they were worried that the ball would come over and hit their dog, even though it didn't."

The woman said she was "really torn on what to do" as she didn't want to fall out with them and was "sympathetic to their situation."

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The neighbour's dog barks at the family through the fence. (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

"When they came round to complain they brought the dog with them to show us what it's like," she said, adding "it spent the whole time growling and baring its teeth."

"I know the dog has problems because it barks at us from his side of the fence whenever we go out in the garden.

"My dilemma is that while I'm sympathetic, I don't think the noise they were making was excessive กช no screaming, no music blaring, just the sound of kids playing in the garden.

"The ball doesn't thud loudly on the floor as the garden is grass with no paving or decking so it's muffled, but it does clatter when it hits the hoop.

"I get that the clatter would be annoying after a while, but I wouldn't say it was any more annoying than the noise of their dog barking at us through the fence and I wouldn't dream of complaining about that.

"It's just part and parcel of life."

She said their previous neighbours "never complained about the kids playing."

"I've told the kids they're not to play basketball anymore to keep neighbourly relations cordial, but it is a shame as they absolutely love it and it will probably mean they're just inside playing Xbox," she said.

"The problem is that because they're teens, most of the games they'd want to play in the garden do involve some kind of ball."

The post has received hundreds of comments - with even dog lovers saying the woman should not stop her boys playing in their yard.

Many said the rescue dog needed to be trained not to bark and if it was distressed it should be taken inside.

"I'm the most doggy person you'll ever meet ... but no, crack on playing in your own garden," said one.

"I wouldn't stop my children playing in their own garden. If the dog is distressed they should take it into the house," another said.

"These people have no idea what they're doing with that dog. They need to read up on dog training, dog behaviour, and what to do what not to do with a stressed out rescue dog. It's not your problem," wrote another.

"Tell them you are worried their dog will get through and hurt the kids and they should control their dog," was another comment.

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