Barking Dogs, Neighbours and your local Council

Educational Resources & Updates
Written By Stephen Nicholls
Barking Dogs, Neighbours and your local Council.

Barking Dog Complaints in Australia: What You Need to Know

Excessive barking from a neighbour’s dog can disrupt your sleep, stress your household, and strain relationships. If you’re dealing with this issue, you’re not alone. This guide covers your legal rights, practical steps to manage barking complaints, and tools to help restore peace.

Understanding Barking Complaints in Australia

If a barking dog is causing problems, contact your local council to report it. Councils typically request evidence, such as:

  • A barking diary
  • Audio or video recordings

See below for Australian state council contact details for dog complaints.

5 Frequently Asked Questions About Barking Dogs in Australia

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

  • Document the issue and speak with the dog owner politely.
  • If unresolved, contact your council. Councils may issue a nuisance order, and ongoing cases may lead to a noise abatement order from your local court

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

  • Barking lasting more than 10 minutes during the day or 5 minutes at night may be considered excessive, but this varies by council.

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?

  • When barking is 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 council with evidence such as a two-week barking diary.
 

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.

  • Record the time, duration, and triggers of the barking.

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.

  • These devices emit a high-pitched sound to interrupt barking without harming the dog. Pair with positive reinforcement for best results.

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.

Why Dogs Bark Excessively?

Understanding the cause helps address the problem more effectively. Dogs may bark due to:

  • Boredom
  • Anxiety
  • Fear
  • Territorial behaviour
  • Alerting owners to sounds or movements

Providing 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

  • Talk to your neighbour first.
  • Contact the Community Justice Centre (CJC) for mediation.
  • Councils can issue a nuisance order or fines; in some cases, a noise abatement order can be sought via 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

  • Discuss the issue with neighbours if possible.
  • Report animal nuisances via Domestic Animal Services: 132 281
  • Mediation also available via City Services.

Queensland

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.

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:

Practical Tips:

  • Talk politely to your neighbour: Specify times and duration of barking, and suggest solutions like training or exercise.

  • Block the dog’s view: Trees, shrubs, fences, or closing curtains can help.

  • Use ultrasonic devices: Operate with consistency and patience.

  • Be understanding: Dogs bark for many reasons—boredom, anxiety, or fear.

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.

Additional resources:

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.

Read more about Dangerous and Restricted Dog breeds in Australia and your state

 

Final Thought:

Excessive barking can be managed with the right approach: communication, documentation, training tools, and council assistance. Following these steps can restore peace to your neighbourhood and maintain good relations with your neighbours.

Easy to order Ultrasonic Anti Barking Device or multi pack so you have a spare or a gift for a friend or family member.

Stephen Nicholls
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