How can I deal with a barking dog?
Under the Council’s Animal Local Law 2003, if a dog barks in excess of the following limitations it is considered a nuisance:
- 7am – 10pm
more than six minutes of animal noise in any hour
- 10pm – 7am
more than three minutes of animal noise in any half hour
Animal noise is also considered a nuisance if a Council officer finds it to be unreasonably disrupting or inhibiting an activity ordinarily carried out on a residential premises, such as hanging the washing out or gardening
Making a complaint about a barking dog
If your neighbour’s dog is barking excessively, you can take the following steps:
- approach the dog’s owner and state your case clearly and politely
- if the dog’s owner is unapproachable or does not agree that a problem exists, you can contact the Dispute Resolution Centre on 1800 017 288 – this service provides free mediation that is impartial, confidential and available 24 hours a day
- If these methods don’t work, you can phone the Council on 07 3403 8888 to report the problem.
How does the Council handle complaints about barking dogs?
The Council will take the following steps after receiving a complaint about a barking dog:
- investigate the complaint to determine whether the dog is causing a noise nuisance
- if the dog is found to be causing a noise nuisance, the Council will serve the owner with a notice to remedy the nuisance and will offer assistance to achieve this
- if the nuisance continues, the Council may issue a fine
- if the dog continues to create a nuisance, the Council may issue a notice to remove the dog. If the owner doesn’t comply, the Council may seize and impound the dog
How can I control my barking dog?
If your dog is barking excessively, consult a vet to determine the cause of the barking.
If the vet is unable to resolve the issue, contact an animal behaviouralist or a dog training organisation.
Neighbours may be more patient with your dog’s barking if they are aware of the steps you are taking the fix the problem.
