Excessive barking
Further assistance
Many owners do not realise their dog is barking excessively
as this often occurs while they are at work.
Contact Logan City Council
In the first instance try speaking with your neighbour. It may
be possible to work together to help solve the problem.
Phone: (07) 3412 5397
If the problem persists, you may lodge a complaint with Logan
City Council. It is important to provide Council with accurate
information regarding the dog and the property address.
Council will require you to complete “Barking Records” for a
week or two and return these records. Officers will then know
the best time to conduct monitoring to observe and record
any nuisance barking.
Web:
Email: [email protected]
www.logan.qld.gov.au
or try contacting
•
A dog obedience club
Logan All Breeds Dog Obedience
Club............................................ (07) 3290 2718
•
RSPCA Animal Training and
Behaviour Centre......................... (07) 3426 9954
Barking Dogs and the Law
•
If your dog is found to be barking excessively a Compliance
Notice may be issued by Logan City Council under Local Law
No.4 (Animal Management) 2002.
Your local vet
(for all animal management and health issues)
•
Logan City Council Libraries........ (07) 3412 5000
(for helpful books and DVD’s)
Information provided to Council is kept confidential.
Anonymous complaints will generally not be acted upon.
A Compliance Notice is a lawful instruction to the dog owner
who is required to take necessary steps to reduce the
nuisance barking.
Neighbourhood mediation
The Compliance Notice remains in force for twelve months
from the date of issue for the breach. Any further breaches
may incur Penalty Infringement Notices (PINS) which are
substantial fines.
The South Queensland Dispute Resolution Centre provides a
FREE mediation service and is a good resource for resolving
neighbourhood differences without having to enter into
complex legal processes.
In a worst case scenario the dog may have to leave the
property and be rehomed elsewhere.
Animal Welfare
If you think a dog is barking because it is being mistreated or
has no food, shade or water, please contact the RSCPA Qld
on 3426 9999 or www.rspcaqld.org.au immediately.
Logan City Council is not authorised to act on such matters of
animal welfare.
The Centre could be used where Council cannot confirm
nuisance barking but your neighbour(s) continue to complain
about your dog’s barking.
Phone: (07) 3239 6007 or 1800 017 288
Visit: www.justice.qld.gov.au/justice-services/
dispute-resolution
Barking
Dogs
Is it natural for dogs to bark?
Boredom
Anxiety
Dogs bark to communicate with us and other animals.
Dogs are very intelligent and highly social creatures.
Many resort to barking to entertain themselves and to expend
excess energy. Simple tips to avoid excessive barking include:
The most common form of anxiety is separation and occurs
when a dog is left alone. This can be hard to treat and
requires time and dedication.
• Increasing exercise – take your dog for a walk or run
before you leave for work in the morning. It’s good for you
too. Generally a young medium-to large dog requires 40
minutes exercise a day. A list of dog off leash parks can be
found at www.logan.qld.gov.au/animals
Consider the following tips to reduce anxiety:
Barking can occur for various reasons and some limited
barking is acceptable. eg. When the dog barks to let you
know someone is at your front door.
Barking becomes a nuisance when the barking is persistent,
continuous or repetitive.
Why nuisance barking may occur?
Nuisance barking can be caused by boredom, loneliness,
anxiety and ongoing neighbouring disturbances. Dogs also
bark, howl or whine if in pain. Lack of food, water, excitement
or stimulation can also be the cause of barking.
If you notice your dog is barking excessively for no apparent
reason, it is important to find out why and to solve the
problem. This may involve contacting a dog behaviourist or
trainer or taking your dog to a vet for a check-up.
Is your dog barking too much?
The first you may know about your dog’s barking is when you
receive a complaint from a neighbour or a phone call or letter
from Council.
If you are on neighbourly terms, it is a great idea to try to find
out the times your dog is barking.
Knowing when and how long the barking occurs will help you
identify what triggers your dog to bark.
You may like to try to “set up” the dog by going through
your normal daily routine of leaving the house. Drive off, then
park down the road and quietly walk back to find out if your
dog is barking.
You could also try setting up a camera with audio to film the
dog so you can see and hear what is happening when you
are not at home. There are some great apps available that will
help in this regard. Try www.john-hall.com.au/bark-n-mad.htm
Barking session video:
http://ow.ly/ZJmK4
Body language and behaviour session video:
http://ow.ly/ZJmQj
• Avoid making a fuss over your dog before you leave or when
you come back home. When you make a big deal of leaving
or returning home it becomes a BIG deal for the dog.
• Socialising with family, neighbours, friends and other dogs
or even cats is vital to ensuring your dog remains well –
balanced and behaved.
• Get your dog used to being outside on its own even when
you are at home.
• Leaving the radio on while you are out may help.
• Change your leaving routines. Dogs are experts at working
out patterns and predicting being left alone all day.
• Arranging dog visits for play dates or doggy day care while
you are out or at any time.
• Training your dog – a 10 minute training session before you
leave for work can tire your dog out. Treasure hunts are
great enrichment for your dog. Hide the food around the
garden rather than give it all at once in a bowl.
• Using an interactive treat toy like a KONG – a well
prepared KONG can work wonders. Recipes are available
on request.
• Providing big meaty bones are a great option. Your dog
can’t bark while it is chewing.
• Rotating toys so your dog doesn’t get bored with them –
give your dog 2–3 different toys each day.
• Making doggy ice blocks as treats – freeze a bone or some
food in an ice cream container with some water or chicken
stock – great in summer.
• Creating a digging haven by burying treats – a clam shell
pool filled with dirt or sand is great for this.
• Hiring a dog walker if you haven’t time to exercise your dog.
• Teach your dog to lie on a mat and not follow you everywhere.
• Investigate Dog Appeasing Pheromone (DAP) which
has been shown to help some dogs. (It plugs into a wall
socket or can be worn in a collar. DAP is available from
most veterinarians.)
• Try tight fitting garments which can calm some dogs.
Products on the market include ‘thunder shirts’;
alternatively just using a tight dog jumper may work.
• Seek professional guidance from a qualified dog trainer,
behaviourist or veterinarian.
Disturbance
If your dog has a tendency to bark at every disturbance
outside of your yard (people, traffic, dogs and other animals)
some of the following tips may assist:
• Block your dog’s view so it can’t see beyond the fence –
try using weed mat to screen the fence
• Confine your dog to the back yard – the postman will
thank you.
• Create a fence 1-2 metres inside your boundary fence
• Keep your dog inside
• Den (crate) your dog in a comfortable but secure location
– the den or crate becomes your dog’s “security blanket”.
Follow RSPCA Qld’s recommendations in this regard.