Barking dogs

Learn how to report a barking dog, understand pet owners’ responsibilities and find information on managing excessive dog noise in the community.

Dogs bark for many reasons including boredom, excitement, territorial behaviour, anxiety and external triggers such as people, wildlife or other dogs.

Excessive barking is considered a nuisance under the Dog Act 1976 if it:

  • Occurs persistently and interferes with the peace, comfort or convenience of others

  • Happens regularly for extended periods such as more than ten minutes at a time.

If concerns arise, early, calm communication with neighbours is the best way to resolve issues before they escalate.

How to report a barking dog

Please visit your neighbour and politely explain to the owner when the dog is barking and how it affects you. This conversation should be courteous, informative and supportive of any suggestions. 

Alternatively, you can download and complete a Barking Dog Nuisance Card.

If your attempt to resolve the issue directly with your neighbour has been unsuccessful and the persistent barking has not decreased, an official barking dog complaint may be lodged with the City.

To report a noise complaint, please make sure you have the following details:

  • Your full name, address, contact number, email address; and
  • The address in which the barking dog resides.

Without these details, you will not be able to formally report the nuisance dog. Due to the requirements of the Dog Act 1976, complainant details are required in case the matter has to go to court, therefore this cannot be reported to the City anonymously.

Once the City receives your notification of your official barking dog complaint, a 7-day diary and information pack will then be provided to you to record:

  • The address of where the dog resides.
  • the dates and times that barking has occurred.
  • How long the dog barked for on each occasion.

The reason the City requires a completed diary is to gather evidence of the times and duration of the barking in question so that, if we establish that the barking is indeed a nuisance, we can ensure that both the owner of the animal and the Ranger assisting are able to identify the root cause of the issue and work towards a suitable solution.  

Complete the barking dog nuisance request online form

Upon completing the barking dog nuisance request form listed above, a 7 day diary and information pack will then be provided to you to record the noise. The information you provide helps the City investigate your complaint and may be used as evidence if the matter progresses further.

Important information

  • The diary must be completed for seven consecutive days.
  • Please provide details of the dog, including:
    • Breed or type (if known)
    • Colour
    • Distinguishing features or markings
    • Dog's name (if known)
  • It is important that all information recorded is accurate and factual, as it may form part of a legal record.

Recording barking incidents

For each barking incident, please record:

  • The date
  • The time the barking started
  • The time the barking stopped
  • Any known or identifiable cause of the barking
  • How the barking affected you.

Please also indicate when the barking is at its worst to help the investigating Ranger identify peak nuisance periods.

Identifying the cause

Where possible, note any observable cause of the barking, such as:

  • People walking past the property
  • Mail deliveries
  • Children interacting with or teasing the dog
  • Other animals nearby.

Please avoid general comments such as "the dog is bored" unless this can be directly observed.

Describing the impact on you

A nuisance barking complaint must include details of how the barking affects you. Be specific about the impact. For example:

  • Woke me up and kept me awake
  • Unable to sit outside and enjoy my property
  • Unable to work in my garden
  • Had to close windows due to the noise.

Please avoid general statements such as "the barking is annoying".

Obtaining the diary template

The City will email this to you upon completing the barking dog nuisance request form listed in step 2.

Returning your completed diary

Once completed:

  1. Sign and date the declaration section.
  2. Return the diary within 28 days of the date on the accompanying letter.

You can return your diary via:

  1. Post: Locked Bag 1, Wanneroo WA 6946
  2. In person: City of Wanneroo Civic Centre, 23 Dundebar Road, Wanneroo
  3. Email: enquiries@wanneroo.wa.gov.au

If submitting your diary by email, please retain the original document in case it is required at a later stage.

What happens next?

The City will review the information provided to determine whether further investigation is warranted. If the diary is incomplete or does not demonstrate nuisance barking, the City may be unable to take further action. However, this does not prevent you from submitting a new complaint in the future if the issue continues.

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