Barking DogsNgā amuamu kurī auau

All dogs bark; it is how they communicate and there are many reasons why dogs bark. Before we can attempt to reduce or eliminate any nuisance barking, we must first understand what is causing a dog to bark. 

Alert or warning bark

Dogs bark to alert or warn us of danger, such as a stranger or intruder, and we generally encourage this. Dogs that bark at the postie, joggers or cyclists on the street will have their barking reinforced by the very action of these people leaving. The dog will think it has achieved what it meant to do, that is making the 'stranger' go away. 

Fear barking

This can start with alert-type barking and then progress to fear barking as a stranger approaches. If your dog is barking out of fear, you must stop it by making the dog focus on you. When the barking stops, give a command and reward the dog when it is relaxed.

Boredom barking

Bored dogs need something to do other than bark so consider providing them a more stimulating environment. Exercising a dog before leaving them at home for the day is a must - a tired dog is far less likely to get bored, or bark out of boredom. Toys such as Kongs that can be filled with treats or a large bone will get your dog's brain as well as his body working.

Lonely or anxious barking

Dogs who bark when they are left alone may be displaying a symptom known as separation anxiety. The more lonely the dog, the more upset it becomes and the more it barks. The more it barks the more upset it becomes, and so begins the viscous cycle.

Report Dog Barking

Dogs are allowed to bark and, at times, are required to do so. We ask that you be tolerant when occasional barking occurs. In the event of a barking dog causing great annoyance and distress, we recommend you visit the dog owner to discuss the matter before involving our Animal Services Dog Control Officer. It is the dog owner's responsibility to ensure their dog does not cause a nuisance but we can help if you are having trouble resolving the issue.

Call us anytime on 06 857 8069 to talk to one of our officers about a barking dog.

Dog owners who ignore justified barking complaints could incur heavy fines and the removal of the dog.

What happens next?

On receipt of a complaint about a barking dog, our Dog Control Officer will carry out a background registration check on the dog and send a standard barking dog letter to the owner detailing the issue. We allow several days for an owner to resolve the barking issue, during which time we will continue to log complaints as well as request that the complainant let us know if the barking ceases.

Continued barking for 10-14 days after a complaint is lodged will result in a visit from one of our Animal Services team. They will meet with the dog owner to discuss the owner's responsibilities and support them in finding a solution. We find that most owners are keen to do what they can to minimise any noise to their neighbours.