121244defra is your dog barking too much

8/12/2019 121244DEFRA is Your Dog Barking Too Much

1/8

Is your dog barkingtoo much?


2/8

Is your dog barking too much?

Is your dog barking

too much?Its normal and natural fordogs to bark. But whenbarking happens a lot, or goeson for a long time, it can beannoying and upsetting for yourneighbours. If youre out a lot, oryoure just used to the noise, you

might not realise just how badit is.

This leaflet is designed to helpyou work with your neighboursto sort out any problems causedby your dog barking withouthaving to involve the authorities.

It will also help you understandwhy your dog barks, and tell youabout some practical steps youcan take to stop or cut downthe barking.

Research into noise issues

shows that problems are mostlikely to be solved when peoplediscuss things calmly and workout a solution between them.If you cant do this, the councilmay have to get involved andyou could face some seriouspenalties. These are explained

on page seven of this leaflet.

2


3/8


Talking it over

If the noise your dog is making isupsetting your neighbours, thefirst step is to talk things overwith them. Stay calm, and tryto see it from their point of view:perhaps theyre working shifts,or have got a baby or smallchildren. Bear in mind that they

might be worried about whetherthe dog is OK and remember,you might not know how seriousthe problem is if your dog isbarking more when youre notat home.

Understanding the problem

Ask your neighbours to tell youexactly when your dog is barking,and for how long. If youre out alot, ask them to note down thetimes when the barking happens.If youre in, make a note yourself.Think about using a web cam orvideo camera to find out what

your dog is doing when yourenot there, or try a set-up pretend youre going out for theday, then wait outside the doorto see what your dog does. If itstarts barking and howling, goback in and tell it firmly to be

quiet. Punishing your dog willonly make things worse.

3


4/8


First steps

There are some simple steps youcan take straight away to cutdown the amount of noise yourdog is making. This will help calmthe situation between you andyour neighbours, and give youtime to work out why your dogis barking.

If your dog barks at thingsoutside your yard or garden,dont let it go outside onits own. Keep it away fromwindows, so it cant see peopleor other animals.

If your dog barks at the sametime every day, like whenpeople in the house are goingto work or school, try to keep itbusy at that time. For example,you could take it for a walk.

Try to keep your dog calm. If itbarks when its excited, dontplay with it at anti-social timeslike very late at night.

If your dogs barking and yourein a flat or a semi, try to keep itaway from any walls you sharewith your neighbours.

Dont leave your dog outsideif its barking to be let in.

See if you can get a friend orrelative to look after your dogwhen you go out, or take itwith you.

Make sure your dog gets some

exercise before you go out.A tired dog barks less.

4


5/8


Longer-term solutions

Some general rulesBe consistent. Every time yourdog is quiet when it wouldnormally have barked, praise it orgive it a treat. When it barks, tellit firmly to be quiet.

You also need to remember that

your dog is part of the family.If it only barks when you leave,bring it inside. Leave some toysor chews, and put the radio onquietly. If your dog is distressed,keep it inside with you wheneveryoure at home dogs are pack

animals, and they need company.

Tackling specific problems

Problem:Your dog is clingy, andhowls or whines when left alone.

Solution:A vet, animalbehaviourist or dog warden maybe able to tell you how to helpyour dog get used to being onits own.

Problem:Your dog is frightened.It might look scared (ears back,tail low), have trouble settling,or keep trying to hide.

Solution: If your dog likeshiding, make a den for it.If its scared of noise, mask it by

putting the radio on quietly.If its frightened of other peopleor animals, shut the curtains ordoors. Think about talking toa vet, animal behaviourist ordog warden.

Problem:Your dog guards histerritory by barking at people,animals or cars.

Solution:Keep your dog awayfrom the front of the house orflat. Screen your windows. If itstarts barking outside, call it instraightaway. You could ask avet, animal behaviourist or dogwarden about behaviour therapy.

5


6/8


Problem:Your dog is barkingto get attention.

Solution:Look at your dog, thenlook away to show youre notgoing to respond. Dont give itany attention or anything else while its barking. Try deliberatelyignoring it for 20-30 minutestwo or three times a day, and geteveryone in the house to do thesame. Doing this for 15 minutesbefore you go out can help stopyour dog barking when youleave. A vet, animal behaviouristor dog warden may be able togive you advice.

Problem:You went out withouttaking your dog for a walk, andits barking through frustration.

Solution: Wear different clothesfor walking your dog. Leave yourdogs lead where it can see it.So if youre leaving withouttaking the lead the dog willknow that its not going with you.

What not to do

Dont punish your dog.It might mistake it forattention, and it could alsomake it more anxious.

Dont use mechanical devices like anti-bark collars ifit could make the dog evenmore anxious.

Dont get a second dogunless youre sure its goingto make your dog feel moresecure, not less.

Keep your neighbours

informed about what youredoing to stop the barking.

6


7/8


If the problem doesntget resolved

If you dont take steps to solvethe problem, and your localauthority receives complaintsabout the noise your dog ismaking, the authority willinvestigate the complaint.The local authority may seek

to resolve the problem bymediating between you andthe complainants, but where itdoes not do so, or where suchmediation is unsuccessful, andthe authority is satisfied that thenoise amounts to a statutory

nuisance, it will serve you withan abatement notice requiringthe noise to be reduced to anacceptable level.

If you fail to comply with anabatement notice, you could faceprosecution and, if convicted,a fine of up to 5,000 (andpossibly further daily fines of upto 500 for each day on whichthe offence continues afterconviction).

7


8/8

For more information and advice about why your dog barks and what you can do about it:

Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors (APBC)PO Box 46Worcester WR8 9YSTel: 01386 751151

Web: www.apbc.org.uk

Send an SAE for a list of APBC members.

You may also want to talk to the Environmental Health Practitioner at your local council.

Local Authority:

Name of Environmental Health Practitioner:

Telephone:

Published by the Department for Environment,

Food and Rural Affairs. Crown Copyright 2005.

Printed on recycled paper containing 80% post consumer

waste and 20% Totally Chlorine Free virgin pulp.

PB 10561 (amended reprint May 05).

121244defra is your dog barking too much

Documents