City of South Perth - Report a Barking Dog

Report a Barking Dog

Reporting a barking dog

Last updated on: 29 May 2024

In this article

Barking dogs
Complaints process
Anonymous requests
Raise a Request

Barking dogs

Barking is a dog's natural way of communicating and a normal behaviour. However, if the dog continually or persistently barks then this constitutes a nuisance and may require City involvement.

Causes

Prevention

There are a number of options that can be considered to address nuisance barking. The following information is offered as guidance, however the responsibility lies with the dog owner to ensure nuisance barking is addressed.

Some aids you can use include assessing the setup of your back yard to establish what may be causing your dog to bark:

Dog having full view of the activities out on the road
Sometimes barking may be something simple as the dog viewing the activities out in the public open space
Remedying this can be achieved by screening off the view, e.g. by using shade cloth or colorbond panelling
Activities in neighbouring properties or other animals setting them off e.g. cats or birds
If possible, separate the dog from that area of the property by placing barriers in place to prevent access to the area
House the dog in an area where the barking will not echo, such as from under a patio or pergola areas, or by allowing free access to inside the house
Separation anxiety - this is very common amongst dogs especially young ones. Possible options include:
Leaving a piece of your old clothing on their beds as a scent
Have music playing in the background when away from home
Give the dog a toy to play with while you are away
Boredom
Take the dog for regular walks or exercise
Throw the ball around in the backyard to use up energy
Provide a chew toy whilst not home

It is recommended that you consult your local veterinarian, animal behaviourist or dog obedience club for advice on the best approach for your situation.

As stated this information should only use as a guide to assist, but ultimately the responsibility lies with the dog owner to ensure nuisance barking is addressed.

Complaints process

If you feel the barking is excessive and has become a nuisance, below are the steps to manage a barking dog complaint.

Step 1 - Notify the dog owner

Step 2 - Raise a request

If the barking persists after contacting the dog owner, then residents can initiate a formal process:

Raise a request - Click the button at the bottom of the page to report the issue. You will be required to provide details of the impact when lodging the request, including accurately identifying the dog owner's property.
City officer will contact the owner - A City Ranger will contact the dog owner to advise them of the complaint and offer advice on ways to minimise nuisance barking.
Written communications - Both the dog owner and affected person will receive a letter from the City explaining the process.
Correction period - The dog owner will be given a 14-day grace period to address the nuisance barking issue.

Step 3 - Unreasonable barking continues

If the nuisance barking continues after the 14-day correction period, the following actions are required:

Dog Barking Diary - The affected person will be required to complete a Dog Barking Diary for a period of 14 days to document the impact.
Complaint Form 7 - If the problem is unresolved after completing the diary for 14-days, the affected person is required to complete an official Complaint as to a nuisance created by a dog form 7 to comply with the Dog Act 1976 and submit, along with Dog Barking Diary to the City.
Provide any additional evidence - The City will also consider any additional evidence such as CCTV footage with audio to support the complaint. The City may also engage with immediate neighbours to gather additional evidence.

Note - The affected person should be aware that if the matter goes to court, they may need to attend court, however legal proceedings will only be taken as a last resort when all other possible options have failed.

Step 4 - Issue a Noise Abatement Notice

Sufficient evidence - If the City receives sufficient evidence as per Step 3, the City may issue a Noise Abatement Notice, which directs the owner to address their dog's nuisance barking levels.
Correction period - The dog owner will be provided a 14-day correction period after issuing the notice.
Duration - The Noise Abatement Notice will remain in effect for a six-month period from the specified date.

Step 5 - Enforcement and reporting

Anonymous requests

Due to the legal requirement to complete a Dog Barking Diary, the City is unable to investigate a barking dog complaint if you choose to remain anonymous
Wherever possible, the City will endeavour to protect the complainant's identity.

Raise a Request

To report a nuisance barking dog, please raise a request below
An officer will take action within the next 48 hours.

Report a Nuisance Barking Dog

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