If a dog makes noise, by barking or otherwise, which unreasonably interferes with the comfort or convenience of someone in another premises, it is considered excessive or nuisance barking.
Dogs bark to express a range of emotions, or to defend their territory. Excessive barking is often a sign that something is wrong.
Report a barking dog
We recommend that you speak to the dog's owner before approaching us. They may not know their dog's barking is affecting other people. For example, they may not be at home when the dog barks.
If you're uncomfortable speaking to the owner, you can write to them using our letter template [ PDF, 497.31 KB] and put in their letterbox.
To lodge a formal request with us to investigate, you must provide:
- the address of the dog
- a completed and signed barking dog form [ PDF, 379.22 KB]
- a completed 7-day barking dog diary [ PDF, 265.67 KB] .
You must attach your completed barking dog form and diary when lodging the complaint.
As part of our investigation, we may survey surrounding residents to confirm if the barking is affecting other people.
If we don't get your participation or the information we need, we may not be able to pursue the investigation or take action.
If someone has made a complaint, we recommend you examine your dog's barking and make an informed decision on whether it constitutes a problem for others in your vicinity.
For more information, visit the Animal Welfare Victoria website or speak to an animal training specialist.