Barking dogs

Simple tips for reducing barking

There are a number of approaches you can try to address excessive barking:

• Make sure that you do not reward your dog for barking too much.  Don’t let the dog inside or give it attention when it barks. Instead, give the dog attention when it is quiet.
• If the dog is barking at people or noises on the other side of a fence, move the dog to another part of the yard, or put up a barrier to keep the dog away from that area
• If the dog barks at regular disturbances, such as children walking to school or rubbish trucks, keep the dog inside or in an enclosed area at these times.
• If the dog races along a path or fence barking at passing distractions, put barriers or obstacles in the dog’s way to slow it down.
• Ensure that the dog has adequate exercise and obedience training.
• Make sure that the dog has food, water and shelter from the weather.
• If the dog is barking at gaps and cracks in the fence, fill them in.
• If the dog is barking at people it can see passing by, try blocking the dog’s view.
• Teach the dog to stop barking on command. When the dog is barking give a firm command such as ‘cease’ and call the dog to you. Praise the dog when it stops barking.
• Attend accredited dog obedience training.

Dogs bark for many reasons and, if these simple tips do not help you, seek further advice.

Download our brochure on tips on reducing barking:

Simple tips for reducing barking(PDF, 134KB)

Dog obedience

To get your dog into good habits it is recommended that you enrol your dog in a dog obedience club.  Qualified instructors will teach owners how to walk their dogs on a loose lead, and sit, stand and drop on command.

This is generally followed by expanded exercises to include stay, recall and stand for examination.  Socialisation with other dogs and people is important and this is heavily emphasised.

As the dogs and handlers progress through the classes the exercises are refined so that eventually the dogs respond to their handler’s commands whether on or off lead.

Dog obedience and regular training can provide mental and physical stimulation and help prevent ‘boredom’ barking.

Useful contacts/resources

See below websites and resources to help manage excessive barking:

• Barking Dog information booklet(PDF, 2MB)
• Simple tips for reducing barking flyer(PDF, 134KB)
• Animal Aid
• Animal Welfare Victoria
• Agriculture Victoria - Barking Dogs
• Dogs Victoria
• Maroondah Community Directory - Dog Trainers
• RSPCA Knowledge base - My dog is barking excessively, what should I do?
• Dog and cat board - excessive barking fact sheet

You can lodge a report online or in writing.

To lodge a formal complaint with Council you need to:

• Have previously advised the dog owner of the barking/nuisance.
• Be able to identify and provide the address where the dog/s resides.
• Provide a description of the offending dog/s.
• Complete a 7-day dog barking diary log specifying dates and times of barking.
• Provide your contact information.

Instructions on making a report, and forms and templates are available below.