Barking Dogs
Last modified: June 17, 2008 - 3:21 PM
Nuisance barking usually occurs due to boredom, provocation, separation anxiety or medical problems.
Your local training club, council ranger, vet or dog trainer may have more information on what to do about nuisance barking.
Some worthwhile strategies include:
- Regularly exercising your dog;
- Socialising your dog with other dogs, for example in leash-free areas;
- Provide stimulating chewing toys and bones;
- Make your arrivals and departures from the house low key;
- Find out what sets the dog off;
- Try general training to develop your communication with your dog;
- Find out whether there is a medical cause;
- Do not use punishment-oriented training for the problem as it tends to only silence the dog while you are at home;
- Ensuring your dog has access to adequate food, water and shelter.
If your neighbour’s dog is the offender:
- Inform your neighbour of the problem as they may not know;
- Keep a detailed diary;
- Try to resolve the dispute by using the Community Justice Centre on 1800 990 777 instead of costly legal processes.
- Some suggestions on how to deal with conflict caused by barking dogs can be found at :
http://www.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/lawlink/community_justice_centres/ll_cjc.nsf/pages/CJC_contactus
Council can issue a Nuisance Order or consider other enforcement action where all of the above methods have failed and the complaint can be substantiated with evidence.
- All barking dog complaints to Council must be in writing and include information from the diary such as dates, time and location of offending dog.
Contact details
Wingecarribee Shire Council
02 4868 0888 (ph)
wscmail@wsc.nsw.gov.au
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