neighbor lab dog
We have an adorable ‘neighbor’ black lab, which has grow old with us over the years. She’s old now but she can still walk with arthritis in her hips. She would not bark much nor jump on neither anyone nor wanting to come indoor at all. She would “patrol” on our land, mark the territory with her crap (trained her not to crap in our yard but in the wood). We learn to love her and let her roam on her homeland and our land. We would take care of her when her owners are away from home. She would let us know if there were rattlesnakes around because she’s the one who got bit.
She would keep stray cats, raccoons, opossums, and rodents from knocking over our trashcans. I remember one day when I saw that trashcans being knocked over with a mess everywhere then I knew something wrong with our neighbor dog. So I went over to check on the dog and she was sick enough that she couldn’t move around much. Once she heals, then everything is back to normal.
So whenever I see her walking right by me, I know everything is fine. When she was a puppy, the owners gave us permission to help discipline their puppy not to crap on our deck, not to bark when we are eating crabs and so forth. Hopefully, your puppy will have chances to meet your neighbors without ‘stepping on the wrong foot’. If your neighbor happens to be trustful folks, would you mind them helping with your puppy-barking situation while you are away from home?
My brother had to take his 6 month puppy to obedience school for dogs twice! It was hard on my brother juggling his job, family and the training for the puppy but it's worth it in the long run.
Good luck