Noise Complaints, Council letters

Problem barking

Dogs bark for many reasons, boredom, other dogs barking nearby, bitches in season, tantrums and temper. Solving the problem means you first have to identify the cause, see a behaviourist.

I've had some success with sonic collars. NOT shock ones, collars that beep either audibly or ultrasonically when the dog barks and get on its nerves. This isn't safe if you have more than one dog as another dog barking can set it off. It also won't solve the problem if the dog is bored or under exercised.   Some people have had good results with collars that squirt smells or blow air.  All these collars must be used with you there at first.

There's no point in buying a working breed dog and then expecting it to sit at home all day. Be realistic. Make sure the dog has plenty to do, this doesn't mean 100 toys all over, it needs more thought than that. Get a behaviourist to help.

Neutering can help calm a dog that barks because it can smell bitches or is in season and looking to mate. Don't indulge your dog, behave like its slave then expect it to stay home alone quietly.  If stress related, sort the cause first.  Plug ins like DAP diffusers have helped some dogs.

If you don't know the reason, see a behaviourist first. 

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Council Barking Complaint Letters

Firstly, don't panic. The council aren't going to come round and seize your dog. They want it resolved as much as you do. Understand that the person complaining will usually be asked to keep a diary of the noise which will be collected 2-4 weeks after making the complaint.

This means YOU need to keep one too. Write down your times of coming and going and the times your dog has barked. They don't expect silence, some barking is reasonable. However you will usually end up getting the blame for every barking dog around as you become the easy target.

Keep an honest account, but also note when other dogs are barking too. This can help your defence if any other action is taken. Be honest, all dogs bark occasionally and be consistent, don't keep the diary for a few days then forget and make it up.

Also be honest about the problem. If your dogs bark a lot, do something about it and get some help if necessary. Use a dog walker or sitter if your dog gets bored and needs more exercise. Think about toys, games, bones, chews. If your dog barks at noise, leave the TV or radio on. Neutering can help in some cases, dogs howling because they smell a bitch in season isn't a training problem, it's hormonal.

Often the Council Dog Warden will give you advice and help you to stop the barking. They do want to avoid court, it does nobody any favours. If the problem persists they will have no choice but to issue proceedings. You would have to go to court and defend the noise. It is possible you will end up with an order forbidding further noise, which you will break if you haven't sorted the problem.

It goes a long way before the courts would order removal of the dog, act before it gets that far.

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