The law on barking dogs

Dogs that are constantly barking are often a nuisance to their owners, but a more irritating nuisance to the neighbours.

Barking comes naturally to dogs, but the constant barking or whining of a dog can be disturbing or annoying for the neighbours.  Often the problem occurs when the dog’s owner is out of the house and so isn't aware of it until someone complains.

In law, a barking dog can be a nuisance and the owner can be taken to court if he or she does nothing to stop the nuisance.  As a responsible dog owner you can try some of the following ideas to stop your dog from becoming a nuisance.

The neighbour can complain to the local council and ask for a visit from the Dog Warden, who can offer the owner some practical advice.

If that does not resolve the problem, then it can be taken a step further with the environmental health officer. 

If an Environmental Health Officer gets involved and is asked to investigate a complaint, the result may lead to a statutory Noise Notice under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 being served on you. This is a legal document which will allow you a specific time – usually 21 days – in which to stop the nuisance caused by your barking dog. You may incur financial penalties if you do not stop your dog barking and ultimately may be required to part with your dog.

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