Barking Dogs
Barking is a dog's natural way of communicating. However, excessive or persistent barking can become a nuisance and impact neighbours' enjoyment of their property.
Barking dog complaints are one of the most common issues reported to Council. Dogs may bark for a range of reasons, including boredom, loneliness, anxiety, territorial behaviour, illness, or because they are responding to noises and other animals.
What should I do if my neighbour's dog is barking?
If you feel comfortable doing so, we encourage you to speak with the dog owner first. A friendly conversation is often enough to resolve the issue. They may not be aware their dog is barking excessively, particularly if it occurs when they are away from home.
If you would prefer not to approach your neighbour directly, you can use Council's Barking Dog letter to notify them of the issue in a respectful and non-confrontational way. By raising the issue early, neighbours can often work together to resolve the problem before a formal complaint is required.
Reporting a barking dog
If you are not comfortable approaching the owner, the barking continues after the owner has been made aware of the issue, or the owner is uncooperative, contact Council's Customer Service team on 4221 6111.
You may be asked to provide information about the barking and complete a Barking Dog Diary.
When Council receives an initial complaint about a barking dog, the dog owner may be contacted by Council with general information and advice. The initial letter is a courtesy letter advising the owner that a complaint has been received and that their dog has been identified as the subject of the complaint. At this stage, no formal investigation or enforcement action is undertaken. The purpose of the letter is to make the owner aware of the concern and provide practical information and suggestions to help reduce or manage the dog's barking.
If the barking continues, the complainant can contact Council to advise that the issue has not been resolved. Council may then commence an investigation into the barking complaint. Where an investigation confirms that the barking is causing an ongoing nuisance, Council may take appropriate enforcement action in accordance with the Companion Animal Act 1998.
Dog owner responsibilities
Under the Companion Animal Act 1998, a dog may be considered a nuisance if its behaviour regularly impacts other people, animals or property.
Examples of nuisance dog behaviour include:
- regularly roaming or being at large
- persistent barking or other noise that unreasonably interferes with a neighbour's peace, comfort or convenience
- repeatedly defecating on private property outside the property where it is ordinarily kept
- repeatedly running at or chasing people, animals or vehicles
- endangering the health or safety of people or animals
- repeatedly causing substantial damage to property outside the property where it is ordinarily kept.
If Council receives reports of nuisance behaviour, an authorised officer may investigate the matter and gather evidence to determine whether the behaviour meets the definition of a nuisance under the Companion Animals Act 1998. Council may issue a Nuisance Dog Order requiring the owner to take action to prevent the behaviour from continuing. Failure to comply with a Nuisance Dog Order may result in penalties being issued.