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Dog Barking

Home > Our Services > Pets & Other Animals > Dogs & Cats > Dog Barking

Barking is a normal behaviour for dogs and an important means of communication. However excessive barking can become a nuisance to their owners and the neighbourhood.

I own a barking dog

Barking Dogs Guide for Owners Cover ThumbYou may have noticed your dog makes excessive noise or someone has notified you.

An open approach is most helpful in resolving any problems.

Firstly try to establish what is causing your dog to bark.

The most common reasons for barking are:

  • boredom
  • anxiety
  • disturbances
  • discomfort
  • excitement
  • attention seeking.

You can discuss any concerns you may have with a Council Animal Management Officer, vet or seek the services of an animal behaviourist.

Download:

Barking Dogs: A Guide for Owners

For more information on why dogs bark, visit: Good Dog SA or RSPCA

I'm the neighbour of barking dog

What you can doBarking Dogs A Guide for Neighbours

Residents are encouraged in the first instance to try and resolve the problem with the owner of the dog.

The owner of the dog, for a number of reasons, may not be aware their dogs barking is causing a nuisance, especially if they are not at home during those times.

A calm neighbourly chat with the owner of the dog can resolve many of these issues and for those that do not feel comfortable in the person to person approach, a politely worded letter can achieve similar results.

Remember, the more information regarding the nuisance barking the owner has such as times, dates and duration of the barking, and if you have noticed something setting the dog off etc, the more equipped the owners will be in dealing with the issue.

Approaching the dog’s owner in a neighbourly manner and discussing your concerns with them sometimes easily resolves this type of complaint. We have prepared a template letter for you to use to communicate to your neighbour.

Barking Dog Neighbour Letter

What Council can do

If these approaches are unsuccessful, you may choose to contact the Council for assistance.

The Council will then contact the owner in an informal manner and discuss the concerns raised. 

Where possible, provide advice and suggest steps the owner can take to help reduce the level of nuisance barking alleged to be caused by their dog.

If the owner is unwilling or refutes the allegations, resolution of the issue may require further and more formal action by the Council which will require additional involvement by the person making the complaint.

The onus of proving that the dog is a nuisance rests with the person making the complaint. If the owner of the dog refutes the allegations, the complainant may be required to give evidence in Court.

Barking Dogs – A Guide for Neighbours

If you are experiencing a barking problem with a neighbour’s dog, download Barking Dogs – A Guide for Neighbours below. 

The guide includes the barking dog complaint form and noise diary, which you will need to complete before submitting a complaint to Council.

Please note: the barking dog noise diary must be completed and submitted with the barking dog complaint form. The Council cannot begin an investigation unless both documents are provided.

Download:

Barking Dogs: A Guide for Neighbours

More information

For more information on why dogs bark, visit: Good Dog SA or RSPCA

Noisy dogs and the law

Persistent dog barking can be a breach of the Dog and Cat Management Act 1995.

Section 45A (5) of the Dog and Cat Management Act 1995 states:

"A person who owns or is responsible for the control of a dog is guilty of an offence if the dog (either alone or together with other dogs, whether or not in the same ownership) creates a noise, by barking or otherwise, which persistently occurs or continues to such a degree or extent that its unreasonably interferes with the peace, comfort or convenience of a person."

Contact

Council's Citizen Services Team
T: 08 8366 4555
E: townhall@npsp.sa.gov.au