I was just thinking. Perhaps hiding your dogs (like the real estate agents told you) is the wrong thing to do, for the sake of the people looking to buy the house.
Surely people would want to be fully aware of who lives next door to them before they buy? It might be in both your and the new buyer's best interest to tell the agents that 'no' you won't put the dogs away. But stay out with them to make sure they don't go overboard with the barking.
Cass.