lindsaym's Profile

Poor, sad bark sandwich. :)

I think arbequina has a decent idea. I would really recommend NOT doing the animal control route. While my dog isn't much of a barker, she does upset some people by her very presence — pitbull alert! — and I know if anyone ever even threatened to call animal control on her... Well, I would probably hate that person for life.

Seeing as they're household neighbors, and you'll likely be next to them for some time, I'd try to keep on fostering goodwill. I know it's unfair that you have to make concessions when they're the irresponsible party, but I think it will mean a better living environment for you in the long run. (Who wants to feud with their neighbors? No one.)

In addition to arbequina's suggestion, I'd add maybe making outside "dates" with them to hang out (while walking the dog to the park or something?) to get to know the animal, and maybe quiet it. You could also suggest a doggy daycare to them... Most dogs that bark aren't getting enough exercise.

I don't know why everyone is fretting about the lack of rails and enclosure so much when 5 out of the 10 staircases shown do, in fact, have obvious handrails, and 2 more are enclosed. That leaves only 3 out of 10 with dangerous exposure (though I definitely agree that #3 is downright terrifying).

For people talking about mess between open risers... that seems odd to me (but I was raised to not wear shoes in the house).

Most of these appear lovely and functional. They look appropriately wide, not too steep, and balanced. I don't think the majority are design failures, and by my reckoning about half of them would pass many residential building codes without any additions.