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Dog Barking Noise

Dealing With Dog Barking Noise
Most dog owners view their pet as part of the family, providing an essential part of daily interaction, companionship and protection. Barking is a dog's form of communication. However when a nuisance of persistent and loud barking or howling exists it can be upsetting and annoying to those exposed to the noise. The average dog will bark for specific reasons do not assume that a dog's bark is a problem it can also save a life for instance if there is imminent danger (fire etc) or for warding off intruders.

This leaflet is designed to help you understand dog barking, its impact on neighbour relations and offers guidance and practical steps for you to take to stop or minimise the nuisance. 

The Dog Owner
Dog owners often have difficulty in believing that their dog barks excessively, because the dog usually barks when they are out and is not barking when they arrive home. It is important to take time out to properly discipline your dog in order to form a healthy relationship with it for years to come. A disobedient dog only causes unnecessary stress in both of yours and your neighbour's lives. If the noise your dog makes is upsetting your neighbours, you might find it useful to talk things over with them.  Ask your neighbour to tell you exactly when your dog is barking and for how long. This can be particularly helpful if you are not at home during the day. You could 'test' your dog by pretending to go out and wait round the corner to see if it barks, then investigate the reason for its bark. Always reprimand him for bad behaviour when you've caught him in the act. Use a firm tone of voice. Don't yell or scream. Never hit your dog. Hitting it will only make it mistrust you. If a dog barks incessantly, then this would require the help of a professional trainer.

Advice on Keeping Barking Noise Down

• Dog obedience should be dealt with from the start. Don't pick and choose when you will discipline it and when you won't. You will never have an obedient dog without constant reinforcement.
• Always reward your dog for good behaviour either with praise, a belly rub or a bite-sized treat.
• Socialize your dog with other dogs as early as possible. This will reduce aggression towards other dogs when it's older. An obedient dog should be able to get along with other dogs.
• If your dog barks at the same time everyday, distract him by playing with it or starting a game of fetch.
• If you live in a flat or semi, try to keep it away from dividing walls.
• Do not leave your dog outside too long, if it is barking to be let in.
• Try and get a friend, neighbour or relative to look after your dog when you go out, or better still, take the dog with you. Make sure your dog gets enough exercise before you go out. A tired dog barks less.

Tackling Specific Problems

• Problem: Your dog is clingy, howls or whines when left alone
  Advice: Make sure you spend enough time with your dog when you are at home in order to avoid having it feel neglected when you're gone. If your dog barks from the minute you leave the house to the minute you come home, it may be letting the whole world know that it is lonely and misses you. If this is the case, take an old shirt and put it in the linen basket for an hour or two. This will make the shirt absorb the scents of everyone in the house. Then place the shirt next to your dog or have it lie down on it and this will keep it happy all day long.
• Problem: Your dog is nervous, having trouble settling and keeps trying to hide
  Advice: Traumatic events or exposure to particular stressors can make even a normally calm animal, stressed and perturbed. Tender loving care is often what is needed. You can also try putting the radio on low and tune it in to easy listening.  If your dog likes hiding, make a den for it.
• Problem: Your dog guards its territory by barking at people, animals and cars
  Advice: Keep your dog away from the front of the house or flat. Screen your window. When barking occurs outside, call your dog in immediately and correct it with a firm "No" and praise the dog when it is quiet. Of course, when all else fails, you should always seek the help of a vet or animal behaviourist.

The Neighbour
Dog owners are seldom bothered by their own dog's barking, but it can be very disturbing to others in the neighbourhood. Barking is monotonous and repetitive and it is a sound that few people can tolerate for any length of time and could cause annoyance, resentment and bad feeling amongst neighbours. The dog's owners should be approached directly and have the problem explained to them. Involve your neighbour as reasonably practicable in the remediation approaches you have identified and intend to pursue.  In some cases, your neighbour is likely to have approached you about a dog-barking problem prior to reporting the matter to the Council. Usually, the neighbour approaches the Council as a last resort following frustrations and perceived inaction to rectify the problem by the dog owner. In most cases, the District Council will require your neighbour to keep a record of times when barking noise is audible within their home, if they feel the owner has ignored their noise concerns.

Local Authority Action
Excessive barking is one of the most common dog complaints reported to Councils. In all cases, South Bucks District Council will maintain a strict code of fairness and transparency in dealing with such matters. When complaints are received, the Council is under a duty under provisions enshrined in the Environmental Protection Act 1990, to take reasonable steps to investigate the complaint. The Council seek to pursue an informal resolution via Mediation. If that fails, the Council may consider taking enforcement action where the barking noise has been witnessed and found to amount to a statutory nuisance as defined in the above Act. An abatement Notice requires the dog owner to take steps to ensure that noise resulting from barking, is reduced to an acceptable level. Note that failure to comply with an abatement notice could result in prosecution, with fines up to £5000, where conviction is secured.

For more information and advice about why your dog barks and what you can do about it, please contact:

The Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors (APBC)
P.O. Box 46
Worcester
WR8 9YS
Tel: 01386 751 151
Web: www.apbc.org.uk

You may also wish to have an informal discussion with the Environmental Health Practitioner based at South Bucks District Council. Should you wish to do so, please contact the Environmental Health Unit on 01895 837 264 for an informal chat or write to us at:

Environmental Health Department (Pollution Control)
South Bucks District Council
CAPSWOOD
Council Offices
Oxford Road
Denham  UB9 4LH

Or email us at:  envhealth.southbucks.gov.uk