Do Courtyard Villas echo with Barking Dogs all day long?

[DagNabIt]

My wife and I are beginning the research, getting ready for a visit in March, and trying to narrow down where we'd like to live our winter months in TV.

Courtyard Villas seem to provide the most privacy with their walled/fenced property lines. Many comments have been made about CVs being the most convenient for dog owners. We'd love the privacy but would go nuts having to listen to a bunch of ankle-biters bark all day.:doggie:

Have any CV owners experienced issues, and how common are they?

Thanks!

[BigO59]

My wife and I are beginning the research, getting ready for a visit in March, and trying to narrow down where we'd like to live our winter months in TV.

Courtyard Villas seem to provide the most privacy with their walled/fenced property lines. Many comments have been made about CVs being the most convenient for dog owners. We'd love the privacy but would go nuts having to listen to a bunch of ankle-biters bark all day.:doggie:

Have any CV owners experienced issues, and how common are they?

Thanks!

Yes you will probably hear dogs barking from time to time , but if you have considerate neighbors it shouldn't be an issue.

[Boffin]

My wife and I are beginning the research, getting ready for a visit in March, and trying to narrow down where we'd like to live our winter months in TV.

Courtyard Villas seem to provide the most privacy with their walled/fenced property lines. Many comments have been made about CVs being the most convenient for dog owners. We'd love the privacy but would go nuts having to listen to a bunch of ankle-biters bark all day.:doggie:

Have any CV owners experienced issues, and how common are they?

Thanks!

Yes.

[justjim]

You can pick your property but not your neighbor.

[Babubhat]

Dogs and Courtyard villas are hazard like golf homes and balls. But barking dogs on a lanai can be anywhere .

[rustyp]

You can pick your property but not your neighbor.

Don't forget the average Villagers moves 3 times - today's neighbor isn't a guarantee for very long.
My own observation after many years here is CV owners move quite frequently. Usually one's starter home.

Our first rental was a CV. A yipping dog was exactly what we encountered next door. Neighbor worked but left the lanai door open all day so Fido could rule the kingdom. Every slight noise Fido bolted outside and let everyone know he was the guardian.

[retiredguy123]

OP, I think your concern is misguided. Dogs are not the only source of noise in The Villages. Look out for traffic noise, swimming pool pumps, waterfalls, pickle ball courts, landscape equipment, and my particular pet peeve, wind chimes. Buying a non-courtyard house offers very little protection from these noises. I would not rule out courtyard villas just because of potential noise. If you really want to avoid noise, buy 10 acres somewhere else.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

My wife and I are beginning the research, getting ready for a visit in March, and trying to narrow down where we'd like to live our winter months in TV.

Courtyard Villas seem to provide the most privacy with their walled/fenced property lines. Many comments have been made about CVs being the most convenient for dog owners. We'd love the privacy but would go nuts having to listen to a bunch of ankle-biters bark all day.:doggie:

Have any CV owners experienced issues, and how common are they?

Thanks!

The ones that are next to people who leave their constantly-barking dogs out in the yard, will find it incredibly common to experience issues with constantly-barking dogs.

The ones that aren't, won't find it common at all. You could pick a villa that doesn't have any dogs on either side of the house - but if one of those neighbors moves out and new people move in with constantly-barking dogs, you might have common issues again.

No different from living in any neighborhood that allows pets, anywhere in the country.

[HIgolfers]

OP, I think your concern is misguided. Dogs are not the only source of noise in The Villages. Look out for traffic noise, swimming pool pumps, waterfalls, pickle ball courts, landscape equipment, and my particular pet peeve, wind chimes. Buying a non-courtyard house offers very little protection from these noises. I would not rule out courtyard villas just because of potential noise. If you really want to avoid noise, buy 10 acres somewhere else.

The difference is with designer homes, there is more space between you and your neighbor so a barking dog is less of an issue. In villas you are much closer to your neighbor.

[retiredguy123]

The difference is with designer homes, there is more space between you and your neighbor so a barking dog is less of an issue. In villas you are much closer to your neighbor.
Not exactly. Look at a map. The actual distance between designer houses and courtyard villas is about the same. And, courtyard villas have a fence or wall barrier between them. Designer houses are larger, but the distance between the houses is approximately the same, unless you are on a cul de sac. Even some interior Premier houses have very little distance between the houses.

[nativetex]

Verandas also have fences not just Courtyard Villas.

[MandoMan]

Not exactly. Look at a map. The actual distance between designer houses and courtyard villas is about the same. And, courtyard villas have a fence or wall barrier between them. Designer houses are larger, but the distance between the houses is approximately the same, unless you are on a cul de sac. Even some interior Premier houses have very little distance between the houses.

You are right. I live in a Courtyard Villa in the Village of Tamarind Grove. Never heard of it? I’m not surprised. I live a five minute drive west of the intersection of Buena Vista and 466A. Except on days when yardwork is being done in the neighborhood, or moments when delivery trucks are delivering, it’s about as silent as a neighborhood could be. The speed limit is 15 mph in my little Courtyard Villa neighborhood. A few silent dogs and owners go by a few times in the morning or evening. Otherwise, no one seems to walk. It’s rare to hear a car. There’s a big golden retriever living next door, I hear a single bark perhaps every three months. I don’t hear music or people talking. It’s glorious. I’m about a one minute drive from St. Charles, which gets quite a lot of traffic, but where I live, no. In many neighborhoods, little dogs go out, do their things, and come back in. I’d guess that most dog owners in The Villages do NOT let their dogs stay outside all day and do NOT let them bark when outside in the yard. More dogs bark in the house, but if the windows are closed, neighbors don’t hear them often.

I bought my first house in The Villages sight unseen—indeed, before ever visiting The Villages. I had no trouble with dogs. However, if this is a concern, visit your potential neighbors and ask about barking dogs. If you have an iPhone, go to the App Store and download the free decibel meter called SPLnFFT. When you go house hunting, stand outside and use it! Hit reset, then look at the reading. Right now I’m in a silent house.the refrigerator and heater aren’t on. The decibel meter says distant road noise is 35 decibels. Using this meter will help you compare relative noise levels in neighborhoods. In the evening and night, traffic noise is lower.

[Patty&Jeff]

My wife and I are beginning the research, getting ready for a visit in March, and trying to narrow down where we'd like to live our winter months in TV.

Courtyard Villas seem to provide the most privacy with their walled/fenced property lines. Many comments have been made about CVs being the most convenient for dog owners. We'd love the privacy but would go nuts having to listen to a bunch of ankle-biters bark all day.:doggie:

Have any CV owners experienced issues, and how common are they?

Thanks!

We live in a CYV and love it. Many of our neighbors have dogs and dog barking has never been an issue. We also love the privacy a CYV offers.

[westernrider75]

My wife and I are beginning the research, getting ready for a visit in March, and trying to narrow down where we'd like to live our winter months in TV.

Courtyard Villas seem to provide the most privacy with their walled/fenced property lines. Many comments have been made about CVs being the most convenient for dog owners. We'd love the privacy but would go nuts having to listen to a bunch of ankle-biters bark all day.:doggie:

Have any CV owners experienced issues, and how common are they?

Thanks!

I guess it depends where you live. In my neighborhood you rarely hear any dogs barking and quite a few dogs live here. It just depends on your neighbors. People will see me walking our dogs and say they never knew we had them because they never hear them bark! You could just as easily have loud neighbors in a designer neighborhood that back up to each other!

[MikeN]

We live in Newell verandas. Dog barking is not an issue. Most of our neighbors have dogs

[GladysM2024]

Yes you will probably hear dogs barking from time to time , but if you have considerate neighbors it shouldn't be an issue.
I live in a CV and have a dog. I have never experienced the echo of barking dogs and know there are 14 dogs that live in the neighborhood.

[bowlingal]

you could buy a CYV and the neighbors don't have a dog, BUT they could sell and your new neighbors MAY have a dog. No one knows what the future holds. Buy what you like now.

[birdawg]

I’ve found that all you need is one inconsiderate dog owner and your living in hell.

[Mrprez]

We live in a CYV. When we were looking to buy we told our realtor, no barking dogs. She delivered.

[Shadowrider]

A few feet in distance does not make much of a difference. If you're near a barking dog you will hear it.

[mikempp]

No, if I walk down the street I might hear a stray bark now and then.

[PugMom]

i'd say no, because most dogs are not kept outside all day. in my area, dogs are out when their owners are, and yes, they bark, but it's shouldn't disrupt your life to the point of despair. you should know almost everyone on my street has dogs, except for 2 people, and if you don't like them, i'd investigate the area 1st. either way, i wouldn't loose any sleep over it. (unless of course, there's relentless barking, lol)

[Shelbyh]

My wife and I are beginning the research, getting ready for a visit in March, and trying to narrow down where we'd like to live our winter months in TV.

Courtyard Villas seem to provide the most privacy with their walled/fenced property lines. Many comments have been made about CVs being the most convenient for dog owners. We'd love the privacy but would go nuts having to listen to a bunch of ankle-biters bark all day.:doggie:

Have any CV owners experienced issues, and how common are they?

Thanks!

We have a CV and have not experienced any of the issues mentioned. I would say that it’s a non issue here. We have 2 dogs as many neighbors have dogs. There is no echo nor do we hear barking dogs.
Hope that helps.
We enjoy the privacy and ability to just open the back door to let the dogs out. We have an oversized corner lot, some have hardly any yard space for a dog. Keep that in mind.

[Nell57]

I had a 3/4 acre lot in Ohio, and the entire neighborhood was plagued by a barking dog.
The owners went to work and left it outside….or if they were home they also left it out, because they didn’t really like the dog much.
So lot size, or distance between homes doesn’t help with dog noise.
It’s been my Experience in TV that owners are retired, home with their pets, and they don’t want to hear them bark either. So they tend to keep them indoors and happy.
Yes, many dog owners choose CYV, for the convenience of letting them out in a yard to potty.
Most are loving pet owners and will let them inside as soon as they bark.

[brianherlihy]

we have a home and a dog next door/ and it barks at us all the time so we heat the people next door

[Postreader]

I live in a veranda which backs to courtyard villas. I hear an occasional barking dog. I think you would have to be very unlucky for that to be an issue.

[bshuler]

My wife and I are beginning the research, getting ready for a visit in March, and trying to narrow down where we'd like to live our winter months in TV.

Courtyard Villas seem to provide the most privacy with their walled/fenced property lines. Many comments have been made about CVs being the most convenient for dog owners. We'd love the privacy but would go nuts having to listen to a bunch of ankle-biters bark all day.:doggie:

Have any CV owners experienced issues, and how common are they?

Thanks!
If you want a little more house consider a Veranda home. They have the same concept (fences around all homes).

That being said I just moved into a Designer home (no fences) in the Village of Shady Brook partly to get away from barking. Guy across the street has a screen on his garage door. He puts two large dogs in the garage and they bark all day long at passing cars. Didn’t see that coming.

[Lisanp@aol.com]

Lived in a CYV and a designer. No difference in noise levels from one to the other. And, yes, I agree that dogs bark on lanai’s throughout the villages. The Villages is not a quiet place to live. There is constant noise from a myriad of sources. If you are looking for tranquility this may not be the place for you.

[maistocars]

I have lived in a CYV since 2021 and the answer where I am is no. Dogs won't be left out in the yard for fear of animals getting in there and harming your dog so they go out to do their business and come back in.

[sianagers@att.net]

My wife and I are beginning the research, getting ready for a visit in March, and trying to narrow down where we'd like to live our winter months in TV.

Courtyard Villas seem to provide the most privacy with their walled/fenced property lines. Many comments have been made about CVs being the most convenient for dog owners. We'd love the privacy but would go nuts having to listen to a bunch of ankle-biters bark all day.:doggie:

Have any CV owners experienced issues, and how common are they?

Thanks!


We LOVE our CV! What did bother us was being near a busy road!! We used to live in Duval (which I love) but now I would never move back to our old house as the road noise is super loud! I find my neighbors have always been courteous with their dogs and love them to be close to them ❤️. The privacy of the courtyard villa is the best and unless near a busy road !

[chuckpedrey]

We have lived in our courtyard villa for 20 years. There is no denying that we can hear the dog next door when she’s outside barking however the issue is so infrequent and I enjoy the privacy that is provided by the wall so much that staying wins the vote.

[Lottoguy]

You know what is worse then a dog barking? Pickleball players hitting that damn ball constantly with their paddles. Make sure you don't live too close to these courts.

[msilagy]

While I was working up north I had problems with barking dogs. One couple let their 2 golden retrievers out at 6am while they got ready for work and they barked constantly. When I politely told them about it the dogs were supervised then let in. A lady across the street had 2 dogs barking at the screen window a lot while she was gone. I asked her to please close the window when she is not home but she just snickered. Next time it happened I hit the window with a garden hose and lo and behold the window was shut from then on. I know, me bad! I've had dogs and NEVER left them out to bark. No one mentioned GAS golf cart noise!

[MollyJo]

I am a dog owner, I do not allow my dog outdoors alone for several reasons. Years ago up north, I had 2 sets of neighbors with several dogs barking for hours. I bought 2 ‘bird houses’ that emitted a high pitch sound only barking dogs hear. Buy lithium batteries or rechargeable.

[rabranca@aol.com]

My wife and I are beginning the research, getting ready for a visit in March, and trying to narrow down where we'd like to live our winter months in TV.

Courtyard Villas seem to provide the most privacy with their walled/fenced property lines. Many comments have been made about CVs being the most convenient for dog owners. We'd love the privacy but would go nuts having to listen to a bunch of ankle-biters bark all day.:doggie:

Have any CV owners experienced issues, and how common are they?

Thanks!

Look at 5345 Dray Drive, The Villages FL (for sale)

I am selling my CV. I have 2 dogs and the yard is huge corner lot. I liked it cause when I look out the windows I am not right up against the large concrete fence. I do not hear dogs barking outback and my neighbors do not hear my dogs. There is a lot of privacy in my CV.

[sallyg]

It's a gamble in any neighborhood. Knock on doors in a neighborhood that interests you. I suspect the residents will be happy to talk to you. There's no guarantee that nice quiet neighbors won't move and sell to a couple with shrieking grandkids that visit often, or barking dogs, or loud motorcycles etc etc. Anything is possible. We experienced the best and the worst. Best of luck.

[retiredguy123]

It's a gamble in any neighborhood. Knock on doors in a neighborhood that interests you. I suspect the residents will be happy to talk to you. There's no guarantee that nice quiet neighbors won't move and sell to a couple with shrieking grandkids that visit often, or barking dogs, or loud motorcycles etc etc. Anything is possible. We experienced the best and the worst. Best of luck.
Note that people under 19 can only visit for 30 non-consecutive days per year.

[rustyp]

Note that people under 19 can only visit for 30 non-consecutive days per year.

Who first hand has had that rule enforced - not my hairdresser, my friend's aunt, etc said. Barking dogs - call community watch and see what you get for an answer. Their specialty is overgrown weeds.

[retiredguy123]

Who first hand has had that rule enforced - not my hairdresser, my friend's aunt, etc said. Barking dogs - call community watch and see what you get for an answer. Their specialty is overgrown weeds.
I have never had a problem with the rule. But, if I did, I would certainly file a detailed, documented complaint. This is a retirement community, and I like the rule.

[Topspinmo]

I’ve found that all you need is one inconsiderate dog owner and your living in hell.


I find all you need is one inconsiderate neighbor.

[kendi]

Not in our experience. Neighbors with pets are very conscientious around us. There actually are more without them than with.

[Topspinmo]

I find worse noise are old A/C unit that sounds like unbalanced washing machine that has winding humming sound that goes up and down right next to side house sleep on. Luckily I live in corner lot don’t have kissing lani and I’m deaf in one ear so I just roll over still feel vibrations.

[justjim]

Don't forget the average Villagers moves 3 times - today's neighbor isn't a guarantee for very long.
My own observation after many years here is CV owners move quite frequently. Usually one's starter home.

Our first rental was a CV. A yipping dog was exactly what we encountered next door. Neighbor worked but left the lanai door open all day so Fido could rule the kingdom. Every slight noise Fido bolted outside and let everyone know he was the guardian.

A number of court yard villas (CV’s) are rentals. Not enough parking and several Airbnb’s along with occasional barking dogs issues made me pass on a CV. OP, to each their own and you roll the dice and you may get lucky.

[Nana2Teddy]

It’s honestly going to be hit or miss depending on your luck. We’re in a veranda home that’s also fenced in like the CYVs are, and we are on an interior lot, so we are surrounded by homes. The two homes on each side of us have one dog each and we never ever hear them. There’s one dog behind us that comes and goes with his owners who I think must be snowflakes. When he’s there and in the yard he’s not happy and barks often. Fortunately, when he starts up they bring him into the house. Occasionally, we’ll be in our backyard when he’s out and he will bark at whatever noise we make, so we are happy his owners are considerate and don’t let him bark for long. We honestly hear more barking out on the street when neighbors are walking their dogs, and they come upon other dogs to play with. When we hear or see this happening in the front yard we will sometimes go out to see them and get some doggie love. We don’t have pets anymore, so we enjoy seeing and loving on our pet neighbors.

[czarbo]

We’ve been in a courtyard villa for three years with dogs all around us. (We do not have a dog) We’ll hear a dog once in a great while!!
Otherwise quiet!!

[retiredguy123]

OP, you are correct to be concerned about noise in The Villages, but your premise that a courtyard villa will increase your potential for dog noise is not correct. When you view houses to buy, look around and rule out those that have a noise issue. Definitely check for traffic noise, pool pumps, and pickleball courts. Whenever I go to an open house, if the agent is playing music, that is a red flag, and I always ask them to turn it off. Good luck.

[MarshBendLover]

OP, I completely agree with you.
Earlier this year we went down to look at a home in Caroline . As we exited our vehicles, I could hear a dog yapping. The owner next door was sitting in his lanai with his dog. It did not shut up for the 5 minutes we stood in the driveway. We never even went inside, I told the realtor there was no way I would live there. We decided going forward we would talk with neighbors and visit a home day and night throughout the week to see if a place was for us. I shouldn't hear your dog and you shouldn't hear my gangster rap bass music.

[mrsstats]

For those that live in CV, do you find them too confining with the walls? We are looking and my DH feels the yards are too small. We want one because we do have 2 small dogs that are used to just being let out and not walked all the time.

[kburr]

The constant noise of leaf blowers in patio villas and designer homes is worse than barking dogs in courtyard villas. We very rarely hear a barking dog in our courtyard villa.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

OP, I completely agree with you.
Earlier this year we went down to look at a home in Caroline . As we exited our vehicles, I could hear a dog yapping. The owner next door was sitting in his lanai with his dog. It did not shut up for the 5 minutes we stood in the driveway. We never even went inside, I told the realtor there was no way I would live there. We decided going forward we would talk with neighbors and visit a home day and night throughout the week to see if a place was for us. I shouldn't hear your dog and you shouldn't hear my gangster rap bass music.

Possible the neighbor knew this would happen. Possible the neighbor can't stand the owner of the house, and wanted to make it difficult to sell that house. Possible that dog only barks because people are doing things in close proximity that people don't normally do (like strangers standing in the driveway next door for five minutes).

Also possible that you would've heard nothing, found the house to be perfect, bought it, moved in, and the person next door buys a dog a week later that never shuts up.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

For those that live in CV, do you find them too confining with the walls? We are looking and my DH feels the yards are too small. We want one because we do have 2 small dogs that are used to just being let out and not walked all the time.

Bobcats and birds of prey can easily bypass the CV walls. They eat "small" dogs. If you want your dogs to roam free in the back yard, then you'll need to build a "bird cage" over the yard (that's a huge screen with supports from the house over the yard with a door you can use to come in and out of it).

You totally don't want to leave your small pets in the back yard unattended, at all, ever, if they're not under the relative safety of a bird cage.

[Bay Kid]

Give the neighbor a bark collar.

[Marathon Man]

For those that live in CV, do you find them too confining with the walls? We are looking and my DH feels the yards are too small. We want one because we do have 2 small dogs that are used to just being let out and not walked all the time.

We do not find them confining at all. Plus, you get the additional feel of a community within a community. Villa communities are defined, and neighbors tend to connect because of it.

[CFrance]

We do not find them confining at all. Plus, you get the additional feel of a community within a community. Villa communities are defined, and neighbors tend to connect because of it.
I agree. We were in a designer. It had a wall in the back separating us from a CYV behind. I found looking at somebody's roof over that wall to be unpleasant.

We sold the designer and bought a CYV in that neighborhood. Our designer street was more of a through street than a community. Our CYV neighborhood is enclosed (4 streets) and is a very quiet, friendly community.

And because we bought on a side that there's nothing but a not-major street behind us, we are looking at trees and sky over the wall as opposed to someone's roof. We enjoy having the patio, put in a retractable awning and an umbrella.

The dogs go in and out. One barks if a delivery truck arrives, but he's pulled inside immediately. We don't let the dogs outside unless we're home.

[badkarma318]

For those that live in CV, do you find them too confining with the walls? We are looking and my DH feels the yards are too small. We want one because we do have 2 small dogs that are used to just being let out and not walked all the time.

Some do have large yards - we almost bought a new one in Lake Denham (especially after The Villages had dropped the price substantially). There are usually at least 2 or 3 per CYV neighborhood. If you look at the "bird's eye view" map on The Villages site, they're pretty easy to spot.

[asianthree]

Second LSV our VLS guy put us in a CYV at our request, (1st was PV) we thought it would be our go to vaca home. Private semi noise blocking, with 3 concrete walls. By day 2 of 7 nights of we knew every conversation, music preference, disagreements on the lanai, and yes dogs who weren’t happy their owners left them out.

But our biggest horror was the good size Bobcat that was walking the wall, early one morning, then someone’s dog in desperate need of saving… yep we left on day 5 that sound still haunts me. Not that a bobcat wouldn’t be in any other yard….But the echoes off all the walls that morning, made us rapidly change our CYV decision.

[Ralph Cramdon]

We’ve lived in our current home, a CYV, for five years, and in all that time, I think I’ve heard a dog bark inside the house maybe half a dozen times.

It’s a different story when we’re out walking our dog, though—we’ve probably heard dogs barking a dozen times or so during our walks - twice a year.

Everyone has a different level of tolerance for noise. I’d recommend walking around the neighborhood you’re considering at different times of day. If you hear anything that bothers you, it might be a sign that the area isn’t right for you.

It’s your money and your decision—choose what feels right for you.

[Marathon Man]

Some do have large yards - we almost bought a new one in Lake Denham (especially after The Villages had dropped the price substantially). There are usually at least 2 or 3 per CYV neighborhood. If you look at the "bird's eye view" map on The Villages site, they're pretty easy to spot.

Corner lots have pretty big yards.

[fdpaq0580]

If you really want to avoid noise, buy 10 acres somewhere else.

Truer words were never spoken!

[fdpaq0580]

Corner lots have pretty big yards.

Keep off my lawn!! 🤬🤬🤬

[TeresaE]

IMO. Better a dog than a pickleball court.