Dogs bark to communicate; however constant barking is a nuisance and can impact the wellbeing of our community. Some common causes of nuisance barking include:
- Isolation, loneliness and boredom
- Separation anxiety
- Protecting property
- Reaction to people or other dogs
- Ill health, pain or discomfort
- Change of environment
- Breeding or temperament
- Inappropriate confinement
- Insufficient mental and physical exercise.
What is nuisance barking?
In accordance with the Dog Act 1976, a dog may be considered a nuisance when barking or noise is persistent to such an extent that it unreasonably interferes with the peace, comfort or convenience of any person.
What can I do?
If you have a problem with a dog barking in your neighbourhood, first try to discuss it with the owner. You could do this in person, or by using our Dear Neighbour Letter.
Often the owner is not aware their dog is barking, since it usually happens when they are not home. However, if the owner fails to accept there is a problem, or should the issue persist, contact us and request an investigation.
After you make a report, the City will provide you with a Nuisance Dog Complaint Kit. This includes a seven-day barking diary and complaint form. Once completed and submitted to the City, our Community Safety Rangers will review the information and begin an investigation to address the problem.
If the diary is not completed correctly or does not sufficiently demonstrate nuisance barking, the City will not be able to progress the complaint.
If the diary supports the complaint, the City will contact the dog owner to discuss the issue. The owner will be given an opportunity to address the issue.
If the nuisance barking subsides to an acceptable level, no further action will be taken. If the barking continues, the complainant will be required to keep further diaries for the investigation to progress.
It takes time to correct dog behaviour and the length of time will vary dependent on each case. The dog owner will be given a reasonable opportunity to resolve the nuisance barking however, complex investigations may take 12 months or more to be resolved.
The affected person should be aware that if the dog owner is prosecuted, they may need to attend court and give evidence. Legal proceedings will only be taken when other options have failed.
Because these matters may proceed to court, complaints cannot be made anonymously.
Tips for dog owners
Identifying the cause of your dog’s barking will help you work out the best way to address it. There are several options that can be considered to address nuisance barking. You could try:
- Covering gaps in fencing to prevent the dog from seeing distractions
- Regularly exercise and socialise your dog
- Providing bones or other chewing treats
- Providing toys to occupy your dog
- Confining your dog to an area with less exposure to traffic and people passing by
- Seek help from a veterinarian, dog obedience club or animal behaviouralist.
You should never use physical punishment to train your dog. It can make your dog stressed, fearful and confused. Contemporary studies show dogs learn best through positive reinforcement, habit building and teaching alternative behaviours.
Penalties
If you have been contacted by a Community Safety Ranger and your dog’s nuisance barking continues, you may be firstly issued an infringement notice of $200.
If you have received repeat infringement notices, the City may decide to prosecute in court. The maximum penalty for this offence is $5,000. Higher penalties apply for dangerous dogs.