Barking dogs a common complaint

Barking dogs is one of the most common animal behaviour problems and while all dogs have a natural instinct to bark, some barking dogs can become a real neighbourhood nuisance.

A recent increase in barking dog complaints has prompted Whitsunday Regional Council to call on dog owners to have a look at ways they can make behavioural changes with their pets.

Director of Community Services, Julie Wright, said ongoing barking is often a symptom of another problem, and taking time to understand what makes your dog bark, is the first step towards solving the problem.

“There is a variety of reasons dogs bark such as being lonely or separated from their owners, boredom, fear of other people or dogs, when there is a threat to their territory or when there is a change to their family structure or surroundings,” Ms Wright said.

“Barking can be controlled through behavioural changes which could be as small as walking your dog multiple times a day to relieve boredom or more interaction with their owners,” she said.

“Another easy way of combating this is to provide your pet with stimulants, such as balls and chew toys, to keep them occupied while you are away.

“Having a correctly designed fence to restrict your dog’s vision of neighbouring properties will help and make sure as the cooler weather approaches to bring your dog inside or provide a warm place for it to sleep.”

Council is encouraging anyone that is experiencing an excessively barking dog in their neighbourhood to talk to relevant neighbour as chances are, they may not be aware that their dog is barking, or that it is a nuisance to others. Give your neighbour time to address the issue.

If the barking persists, you should contact us on 1300 972 753 to report the issue for further investigation.

For more information on barking dogs and pet ownership, visit our Pet Ownership webpage.