Nuisance dogs
Barking is a dog’s natural means of communication and often signifies its alertness to danger or intruders.
However, a dog that persistently barks to a degree or extent not normally habitual in dogs constitutes a nuisance. Ask your neighbours to let you know if your dog is causing a nuisance when you are not at home.
The cause of nuisance barking may be:
- lack of training
- insufficient exercise
- loneliness
- inadequate shelter
- ill health, or
- deliberate or unintentional provocation by people or other dogs.
To lodge a formal complaint
If you are experiencing problems with nuisance dogs in your area:
If our Rangers consider a dog to be a nuisance, the dog owner may be issued with an infringement notice, abatement notice or court prosecution notice.