There is a reason why I am willing to pay 5 times what a local is willing to pay for rent (because I want a nice quiet place and also want to separate myself from the local culture while I'm at home). I would explore more extreme "options" before I just accepted it and moved on.

 

Annoyance problem solved.....kinda. I went to look over the wall again and saw they had a teenage son home alone studying. A smile and a little flirting from my gf and he was more than happy to move the dog to the other side of their property. At least now I don't have to crank up the TV to drown out the dogs suffering cries I suppose. Crappy cultural flaw but I don't think anything I could do to help the dog would be beneficial to my safety/sanity. Maybe their other neighbors (locals) on the other side of their property can make some "suggestions" after they have listened to the dog cry for a few weeks.....much better for two local neighbors to battle something like that out.

 

I've lived in the same house in Valencia for 4 years, same property for 5 and I have never had any real problems with the local neighbors (this one turned out to not be much of a problem at all as they moved the dog without any fuss). I have 3 local neighbors on the other side of the walls and other than this dog issue I have not had any problem with them at all. Leaving the property all the local neighbors on the private road know me by name (even though I've never said anything more than "hello" to any of them), are extremely friendly and always wave when I drive by.

Foreigner neighbors on the other hand.....some of them have been a real headache! I moved to the house in the back of the property not only because it was a larger house (and the same price as the apartments) but mainly because the foreigners in the 4 connected apartments were always doing something to cause trouble with me, being loud and obnoxious or constantly knocking on my door to borrow money.

I understand that many people have had some bad luck with local (and foreign) neighbors but I don't think it is as common as made out. I think most people, both Filipino and foreigners, much prefer to get along with their neighbors and don't want to be a burden to anyone. There are always exceptions though....regardless of nationality/race. I really shouldn't have been so negative in the first couple posts. The neighbors were friendly and moved the dog immediately and without question. (And I think they would have been if it would have been me asking instead of my gf as well.) I should have given them the benefit of the doubt. (Even if I don't agree with how the dog is/was being treated.) I had no reason to think that they wouldn't have since they had no history in the last 4 years of being pesky/annoying neighbors.

Note about my current foreign neighbors: I only know one of the foreigners living here these days, a forum member, and he certainly has never caused me any problems. I'm not saying there are still annoying tenants here....I'm far enough away, and don't go down that way, I don't really don't hear anything going on down there and since everyone stays out of my business I stay out of theirs.