Barking dogs

What is a nuisance dog? 

A dog may be considered a nuisance by law if it persistently barks to an extent that unreasonably interferes with the peace, comfort or convenience of any person.

What can I do about a nuisance dog?

First, try to solve the issue yourself by contacting the owner of the dog in a polite manner. Owners might not even be aware their dog is a nuisance to neighbours, so a helpful first step can be to have a conversation with the owner if you feel comfortable to do so.

If you’re not comfortable approaching the owner, you can download a Barking Dog Card from the City’s website, fill it out and leave it in the dog owner’s letterbox. Cards can be posted if requested, just call our Rangers team on (08) 9405 5000.

Often these matters are easily resolved just by bringing the issue to the owner’s attention, however, if the owner fails to accept there is a problem, a complaint can be lodged with the City.

Barking Dog card

Making a formal complaint

If you haven’t been able to resolve the issue directly with your neighbour, an official barking dog complaint may be lodged with the City in accordance with the Dog Act 1976.

If you wish to lodge a formal complaint, an information pack and a 7-day barking dog diary will be provided for you to record:

• The address of where the dog resides.
• Dates and times that barking has occurred.
• How long the dog barked for on each occasion.

To better assess a case of nuisance barking, we recommend that two or more neighbours record diaries.

Report a barking dog

Please note: The completion of the diary is necessary to provide sufficient evidence for the City to act on.

What happens next?

If the completed 7-day diary supports the complaint of nuisance barking, the City will contact the dog owners to arrange a visit to discuss the issue.

The City’s Rangers will work with the dog owner to identify the cause of the issue and work towards a solution.

A letter will also be provided to the dog owner detailing the times the nuisance barking is occurring to provide an opportunity for the dog owner to address the nuisance barking.

If we require further evidence of nuisance barking, you may be asked to complete additional diaries.