Neighbor Is Lying About My Dog Barking And Intentionally Trying To Set Him Off

Location: Denver, CO

I just moved to a new apartment a week and a half ago. My dog has been through an adjustment period, but I always stop him from barking within 2-3 barks and he only does it maybe twice a day if that. He’s gotten a lot quieter and I’ve stood in the hall like a crazy person listening to see if he barks when I leave and he doesn’t. At most, he will quietly whine at the door for a minute and then goes and lays elsewhere in my apartment.

I got a call today that my neighbor complained about his barking. She claims he barked for hours during our quiet hours (10pm to 9am) on Sunday. I know that isn’t true because I got home at 10:30 pm Sunday and he wasn’t barking. She then called and complained that he did it again all last night (Monday). But I was home the entire time and he was just sleeping, which I told management, but obviously had no evidence to corroborate my statement.

I’ve since ordered a camera for evidence and in the mean time I have a continuous recording with time stamps set up so I can prove he isn’t constantly barking, and certainly isn’t during quiet hours because he’s asleep. Today, I caught her on my recording hitting our shared wall! My dog didn’t even look to see what it was. He completely ignored it. Can I file a complaint for harassment if this continues? I’m currently collecting as much evidence as possible, but I know apartments don’t usually take the side of dog owners.

That being said, the person in charge of the leasing office told me she isn’t worried right now because this is a dog friendly apartment and she knows most dogs need to adjust, so she isn’t worried or threatening my lease.

Is there anything else I should be doing to document my neighbor’s behavior? If she continues hitting my wall to get my dog to bark can I complain about that?