Barking Dogs

Barking is a natural form of communication in dogs. However ongoing barking is often a symptom of another problem and taking the time to understand what makes your dog, or your neighbour's dog bark is the first step to solving the problem.

Council has a strong focus on maintaining relationships between neighbours. For this reason, the first thing we encourage you to do in resolving a barking dog matter is to speak directly with your neighbour about your concerns. If your neighbour isn’t home during the day when the dog is barking, they may not even know it is an issue and could be grateful that you have informed them.

In instances where you are not comfortable approaching your neighbour, or have done so and the barking is still an issue, Council's Community Safety team are available to discuss your concerns.

Our Community Safety team will speak to your neighbour about the issue, including providing advice on how they can best reduce the barking.

Most barking dog issues are resolved at this stage, but if you feel the barking is still persistent, Council will begin the process of collecting evidence of the barking in the event enforcement is required.

Council will not pursue anonymous barking dog complaints.

To report a barking dog issue, complete the online request form, or contact Council's Community Safety Unit on (03) 5772 0333.