Bailey is a Havanese and not much of a barker/howler. The only thing that really gets him going is when my next door neighbor's dogs (Rowdy and Zeus). Whenever they are in their backyard Bailey will howl and become very agitated. Doesn't matter that he's can't see them (window is too high) or if the windows are closed (ac), he howls and paces until the dogs go back in or we calm him down (and that's not easy). I thought it was a protective thing until yesterday when Bailey started howling on our walk for no reason - a few minutes later, guess who comes walking down the street (with his owner of course!), but Rowdy and Zeus from next door.

Bailey is friends/friendly with all other dogs - big and small. He never gets worked up about other dogs in the neighborhood. He is a model puppy at Doggie Day Camp, who loves to have fun and draw out the shy dogs. It's just these 2 dogs from next door.

Now, I need to add that Zeus and Rowdy are pretty difficult dogs. They cannot have their dogs in their backyard if we (humans or Bailey) are in our backyard, b/c their dogs go crazy - barking non-stop and throwing themselves at the fence (actually the neighbors are pretty considerate of this). Other neighbors with dogs will walk the other way if they see these dogs coming. Zeus is a big dog and will drag his owner (a retired cop and a pretty strong guy). We stopped by their house when we first moved in(before we had Bailey) with some Christmas cookies and they told us to leave b/c they couldn't control their dogs enough to answer the door.... Obviously we can't introduce Bailey to the dogs. The few times we've been in our backyard with Bailey and they have been in their backyard with Zeus and Rowdy, one of us has had to bring our dog(s) inside b/c of the intimidation factor on the part of Zeus and Rowdy.

So, all that being said, any advise on how to get Bailey to stop howling? Particularly when we're inside and Zeus and Rowdy are outside in their backyard? It's particularly annoying since they like to let their dogs out at all hours of the night and Bailey's howl is so loud it wakes up my nephew upstairs (not to mention everyone in our house).

I don't know if this is important, but this howling only started about a month ago and we've had Bailey since March 1. He's 9 months old now.

TIA!!!