Excessive and nuisance barking by dogs in the community can only be reduced if local authorities have a comprehensive management strategy. Such a strategy must include several components:

Preventing nuisance barking

Investigating barking complaints

Providing for, or facilitating the treatment of nuisance barking

Addressing problems in enforcing the relevant legislation

Prevention of Barking

Legislation relating to barking is less workable than other regulations and bylaws. As a result public awareness of the laws and a prevention program is as important as punitive measures such as legislation or enforcement. Prevention involves not only preventing a barking problem from developing, but also preventing the problem from reaching councils in the first place. This requires the education and cooperation of dog owners, dog interest groups, potential dog owners and complainants. A number of measures can assist with this.

Production and distribution of fact sheets, and/or direct verbal advice to dog owners by the dog interest groups and/or councils.

Provide advice to people likely to be affected by barking dogs.

Information to dog interest groups to encourage practices that may reduce the likelihood of later barking problems developing.

Information Necessary for Dog Owners

How Barking Develops In Dogs

If the dog owner is aware of the early signs of barking in younger dogs, training and management techniques can be applied to prevent the problem from becoming worse.

Types of Barks

Dogs have a number of different types of barks, which are often used for different purposes. Some may need to be encouraged, and others ignored.

Causes of Barking

Excessive barking is only the symptom of an underlying problem. To solve the problem the cause has to be found, and the problem treated or the dog removed. Possible causes of excessive barking include:

INVESTIGATION OF COMPLAINTS BY COUNCILS

When a complaint about a barking dog has been lodged with the Council the animal control officer has to ensure that it is investigated properly. Several types of actions should be carried out:

TREATMENT OF BARKING

Whatever the cause, once a genuine complaint has been found the present situation cannot continue. The type of action taken by Council will often depend on the attitude of the dog owner, and the nature and urgency of the problem. The role of Council should be to offer a few simple suggestions to the dog owner and if these fail to rectify the problem then professional assistance should be sort by the dog owner.

Cause: Breeding

Excessive barking is more common in some breeds than others. Owners should avoid breeds that have a genetic predisposition to bark under certain environmental conditions. However, although there is a genetic predisposition towards barking, it is often an acquired behaviour that can occur in any breed or sex of dog. As a result owners need to carefully select a dog suitable for their lifestyle and home environment.

Cause: External Distractions

Once excessive barking starts it is a very resistant behaviour to eliminate. It is sometimes best to forget about eliminating barking, but deal with it by altering the situation leading to it. For example too often the dog has its kennel against a walkway, park, the fenceline of a hostile neighbour, or where children can tease it. The location of the dog’s kennel or run may need to be changed if it is too close to a neighbour or other distractions.

Cause: Confinement/Restraint

Dogs often bark when caged, placed in a shed or restrained if they are not used to it. This commonly occurs in dogs chained up because of another problem such as attacking people or wandering. To overcome this the dog should be put in the area, where it is to be confined, for varying periods of time whilst the owner is at home. The owner can then correct the dog if it barks or attempts to get out.

Cause: Anxiety

Anxiety related barking usually starts just after the owner has left home, or before they come back. This type of barking can only be stopped by giving the dog the attention it wants, which means the owner has to be home all the time, or by making the dog confident and independent so it is able to stay on its own. This can be achieved by changing the type and intensity of the owners relationship with the dog, and the amount of attention they give to it when leaving or returning home.

Cause: Discomfort

Before leaving home, the dog owner must ensure that their dog has access to bedding, food, water and familiar toys throughout the day.

Cause: Visitors/Watch Dog Barking

Many owners praise their dog when it barks at strangers in the belief that this will make the dog a better watchdog. Problems arise when the dog’s barking or growling is no longer effective, and it bites instead. When this does occur, the dog sometimes does not differentiate between friends and strangers. If the dog barks to alert its owner, this is commendable, but when it keeps barking longer than necessary and cannot be stopped by the owner, he /she has lost control over the dog.

Cause: Boredom

Barking can be an outlet for a dog that is bored. These dogs have not lost the ability to relax, but don’t do so because their owner has not provided an environment for them to relax in, or a routine that occupies the dog when the owner is home.

Cause: Isolation

Dogs are social animals and are not suited to a life on their own for long periods. This can be overcome by taking the dog to a friend or neighbour, or getting another dog. However a second dog does not always rectify the problem.

Cause: Attention Seeking

Attention seeking barking can become self-perpetuating. Owners don’t want to ignore the barking, yet to pay attention teaches the dog that baking can be rewarding. Owners with dogs that bark for attention must ignore the barking, despite its persistency, and praise the dog for being quiet. People must be consistent with their training and teach the dog a new set of rules.

Cause: Excitability

Some dogs are more excitable than others and will bark when overstimulated. Barking in this type of dog may be reduced by rewarding the dog when it is quiet, and minimising and controlling activities where the dog becomes excited such as during play.

Cause: Other Behavioural Problems

Other behavioural problems are often found in dogs that bark excessively. These usually have to be corrected in order to reduce the barking. In addition the dog may not listen to its owner’s commands and require training before the treatment needed to correct the barking can be applied.

Cause: Lack of Control

Obedience training on its own does not usually stop barking, but it can bring the dog under better control and reinforce the handler’s position.

Cause: Lack of Exercise

Exercise on its own will not stop a dog from barking, but it may provide an active release for its energy. Exercise should be varied, with 15-20 minutes daily spent walking, training and playing with the dog. If the owner cannot exercise the dog, a neighbour or teenager in the neighbourhood may be able to assist.

Barking Correction Collar

This is a devise which can be attached to the dog’s collar and emit a noise, shock or a dose of citronella to the dog when it barks. They are effective in dogs that cannot make the association between the barking and the punishment. However not all dogs make this association, and the noise or shock itself may stimulate further barking in dogs. Electronic dog training collars are however not generally recommended for correcting excessive barking.

De-barking

The surgical removal of the vocal cords or larynx is and expensive and often unnecessary operation. It is no substitute for removing the cause of the problem.

Muzzling

Muzzling does not prevent a dog from barking excessively.

Hormone therapy

Hormone therapy may be used short term to allow behavioural work to proceed, or long term when continuous medication is required. Tranquillisers and anti-psychotic agents may be used in conjunction with other methods to modify the dog’s behaviour. Steroidal hormones such as progestins are not usually effective for a barking problem.

Time Out

The dog may be taken away from its home and boarded with a professional trainer for a few days. Sometimes if the trainer can correct the dog for barking in the presence of other dogs, this may be transferred to when the dog is in its own environment.

Sterilisation

Sterilisation in itself does not stop a dog from barking excessively.

Legislation

Once a complaint has been verified, legislation usually provides for several types of action that the council may take against the dog owner from a verbal warning to court action. Even though the legislation provides for these actions and penalties, it is not always possible for Council to fine a dog owner to take them to court. Cost is one reason for this, Council policy and the unwillingness of complainants to appear in court are two others. In addition the ambiguity of the legislation that Councils have to prosecute under is also a problem. It is important that local authorities, in conjunction with the courts set up clear guidelines as to what constitutes a nuisance.

It is very difficult for magistrates, without any guidelines to define incessant barking, or whether the dog is a nuisance. Dogs are not an amplified noise, so they are not included under the Health Act. The dog owner cannot be directed by the court to turn the dog down a few decibels, or restrict the times it is allowed to bark. In addition it cannot be dealt with as a continuous offence and if convicted there is not power to remove the dog from the property.

Media and Community Relations

Councils must be proactive in their relations with the media and other community groups, and use professional public relations people to counter the criticism they currently receive. The training of animal control officers in public speaking and other communication skills must become a priority to assist in this. Councils can also improve their media and community relations by providing details of any program initiated by the Council to the media prior to its implementation.

Conclusion