Barking Dogs, Neighbours and your local Council

19 Sept

Barking Dog Complaints in Australia: What You Need to Know

Excessive barking from a neighbour’s dog can quickly become more than just a nuisance—it can disrupt your sleep, stress your household, and strain neighbourly relations. If you're dealing with this issue, you're not alone. This guide explains your legal rights, practical steps to resolve barking complaints, and where to get help—plus, tools to help restore peace.

If a barking dog is causing you a problem, contact your local council to report it. The council is likely to request evidence of the barking, such as a diary and recordings.

See down the page your Australian State Council Dog Complaint contact details.

5 Frequently Asked Questions About Barking Dogs in Australia

1. What can you do if a neighbour's dog keeps barking?

Start by documenting the issue and speaking with the dog owner politely. If that doesn’t resolve the issue, contact your local council. Councils may issue a nuisance order, and in ongoing cases, you can apply for a noise abatement order from your local court.

2. How long can a dog legally bark in Australia?

Generally, barking that lasts more than 10 minutes during the day or more than 5 minutes at night may be considered excessive, depending on your local council. Always check with your local council for specific regulations.

3. What happens if a neighbour complains about your barking dog?

The council will usually investigate. They may request evidence like a barking diary and could issue a warning or nuisance order to the dog owner.

4. How long does a barking dog need to bark to be a nuisance?

It becomes a nuisance when it’s frequent, prolonged, or happens at inappropriate times, disrupting neighbours' peace. Councils make decisions based on local laws and case-by-case assessments.

5. How can you report a barking dog?

Contact your local council. You'll likely need to provide evidence, such as a two-week barking diary documenting the times and duration of barking episodes.

5 Steps to Handle a Barking Dog Problem

If a barking dog in your neighbourhood is causing issues, here’s what you can do:

1. Start a barking diary.

Log when the barking occurs, for how long, and any triggers. This is essential if you report the issue to your local council.

2. Communicate with your neighbour.

Many dog owners are unaware their pet is causing a disturbance. A calm, friendly conversation can go a long way.

3. Block the dog's view.

Install visual barriers like fences, plants, or shade cloths to reduce stimuli that might be triggering the barking.

4. Use a dog ultrasonic training device.

Utrasonic devices emit a sound that interrupts barking without harming the dog. They're most effective when used with positive training and mental stimulation.

Barking is often a form of communication. Dogs may bark out of boredom, anxiety, fear, territoriality, or to alert their owners to something.

5. Contact your local council

If the barking persists, submit a formal complaint to your local council. Be sure to include your barking diary, showing at least two weeks of documented incidents.

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Why Dogs Bark Excessively?

Understanding why a barking dog is acting out can help you address the issue more effectively. Dogs may bark excessively due to boredom, anxiety, or external triggers like other animals or noises. If you're a dog owner, ensuring your pet has adequate exercise, mental stimulation, and proper training can significantly reduce excessive barking.

Read our BLOG: Understand why dogs bark

Final Thoughts on Barking Dog Complaints

Excessive barking can disrupt daily life, but with the right approach, you can restore peace to your neighbourhood. Start with communication, document the issue, and seek help from your local council if needed.

By following these recommendations, you’ll be well-equipped to manage barking dog complaints and foster a harmonious living environment.

Look below for your state council and Barking Dog Complaints

New South Wales

Try talking to your neighbour as they might not know their dog is bothering you. If the problem persists, there are a few ways to resolve the issue:

contact the Community Justice Centre (CJC) to help mediate and settle the problem.
contact your local council who may issue a nuisance order (which incurs a fine for non-compliance) to the dog's owner, or
seek a noise abatement order from your local court. For more information on how you can deal with barking dogs, visit the EPA website or NSW Dept of Planning and Environment.

More useful information can be located on the Services NSW Website, Companion Animals Act 1998: a ‘nuisance dog

ACT

Talk to your neighbours if your neighbours are approachable and work with them to try find a solution.
You can report animal nuisances to Domestic Animal Services via Access Canberra on 132281
Mediation also available via City Services.

Queensland

Councils can issue the dog’s owner with an abatement notice or fine for nuisance barking
Key council contacts Brisbane city Council, City of Moreton Bay Council,Logan Council,Ipswich Council , City of Gold Coast Council, Redland City Council, Sunshine Coast Council
More info: Queensland Goverment

Victoria

Councils investigate complaints and may issue fines or go to court.
Keep records to show how often and how long the nuisance goes on for. Although councils can act on one person’s complaint, it helps your case if other neighbours also report the problem.
The Dispute Settlement Centre provides free advice to help neighbours sort out problems such as barking dogs, phone 1300 372 888
You can also reach out toAnimal Welfare Victoria
More info is available on City of Melbourne and an City of Melbourne Barking Dog form to lodge a barking dog complaint.

South Australia

Each local council has an Animal Management Office to which any complaints about noisy animals should be directed Barking is considered excessive when it exceeds:

240 barks per day between the hours of 7.00am and 9.00pm, or
35 barks per night between the hours of 9.00pm and 7.00am, or
regularly exceeds 30 barks / hour (day) day or 4 barks / hour (night).
Dog and Cat Management Act 1995 (SA) For more information contact Legal Services Australia
Download the South Australian Legislation, 45A—Miscellaneous duties relating to dogs see page 24 clause (5) 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 it unreasonably interferes with the peace, comfort or convenience of a person.

Tasmania

Each local Council have the power to deal with the owners of dogs that create a nuisance by barking. Prior to lodging a complaint, you must be able to show that you spoke to your neighbour and tried to resolve if with them.

Attempt resolution with neighbour first.
Keep a log of the times and duration of the barking dog for 2 weeks
Submit with your complaint. Each Council the power to deal with owners of dogs the create nuisance barking.

Local Council links Devonport, Glenorchy, Hobart, West Coast Sorell Council, Burnie City Council, Launceston Council, and Tasmanian Legal Aid

Western Australia

The Dog Act empowers local governments to act if valid complaints are received If the authorised person is satisfied that the dog is causing a nuisance, they advise the dog owner of that conclusion.

Abatement Notice is issued to the person liable for the control of the dog and advise them that a breach of the Abatement Notice constitutes an offence. "
It is not the fact that the dog has caused a nuisance that constitutes the offence, but the fact that the owner does not prevent future instances of nuisance.
Contact links: City of Wanneroo, City of South Perth, City of Cockburn, City of Bunbury
Dept of Local Government WA Government Site

Northern Territory

A barking dog which is persistent and interferes with the peace, comfort and safe living environment of a person on other premises, a complaint may be lodged.

Council will undertake a nuisance barking investigation where:

Barking exceeds 3 minutes in any 30 minutes (10pm- 7am)
Barking exceeds 6 minutes in any hour (7am and 10pm)
Contact: City of Palmerston, Katherine, Nhulunbuy,
or Report 08 8930 0600 or NT Gov online form

To stop a neighbour's dog from barking excessively in Australia, you can follow these steps:

Talk to your neighbour: Be polite respectful and explain that their dog's barking is a problem for you. Be specific about what the problem is (e.g., the time of day the dog barks, the duration of the barking, etc.). Suggest some solutions, such as training the dog to bark less or providing the dog with more exercise and mental stimulation.
Block the dog's view. If the dog is barking at something outside, such as people or other animals, try to block their view. You can do this by planting trees or shrubs, putting up a fence, or closing your curtains or blinds.
Use a dog whistle or sonic bark control device. An ultrasonic training device emits a high-pitched sound that can be heard by dogs but not by humans. When the dog barks, you can use the training device to startle them. This may help them to stop barking.
Contact your local council. If you have tried all the above and your neighbour's dog is still barking excessively, you may want to contact your local council. There may be laws in your area that regulate noise levels, and your council may be able to help you to resolve the issue. See above for your state and link to where you can start.

Here are some additional tips:

Be consistent. If you decide to use a dog whistle or sonic training device, be sure to use it consistently. This means using it every time the dog barks.
Be patient. It may take some time for the dog to learn that barking is no longer acceptable. Be patient and consistent with your training, and eventually the dog will stop barking.
Be understanding. It is important to remember that dogs bark for a variety of reasons. Some dogs bark out of boredom, anxiety, or fear. If you can understand why your neighbour's dog is barking, you may be more able to work with your neighbour to find a solution.

Please note that the specific laws and regulations regarding noise levels vary from state to state in Australia. Be sure to check with your local council for more information.

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In most Australian states, the following breeds are classified as restricted: The restricted dogs are the Argentino; the fila Brasileiro; the Japanese tosa;, the American pit bull terrier; the pit bull terrier; and the perro de presa Canario or presa Canario.