“Help! I just received a barking complaint.”
We get messages like this quite frequently and know how stressful barking complaints can be. Many owners are completely unaware that their dog is barking while they are out.
The first you hear about it might be a note in the letterbox or a council complaint. Don’t panic, but do take it seriously. The starting point is to understand why your dog is barking so we can help them settle.
Looking for something specific? Received a complaint | Why dogs bark | Practical training | Barking when alone | Council guidance
How much barking is too much?
Barking is normal communication. The problem is when it disrupts the people around you or tells us your dog is struggling.
Brisbane City Council considers unreasonable disruption, the frequency and intensity of the noise, and whether it exceeds six minutes in an hour between 7 am and 10 pm, or three minutes in 30 minutes overnight. These are assessment factors, not permission to bark for that long. Check your own council’s guidance below.
I’ve received a barking complaint. What now?
Even if your dog is quiet when you are home, they may behave differently when you leave. Start by finding out when the barking occurs, how long it lasts and what is happening around your dog.
- Ask for useful details. Times and likely triggers are more helpful than a general comment that your dog barks all day. Keep conversations with neighbours constructive where possible.
- Use a camera or recorder. Review different times of day, including shortly after you leave. Look for resting, pacing, reactions to outside noises and difficulty settling.
- Keep a simple record. Note the dates, duration, possible triggers and any changes you make. This helps you assess progress.
- Respond to council correspondence. Read the notice carefully and follow your council’s process rather than ignoring the complaint.
Why is my dog barking so much?
A dog barking at the front fence needs a different plan from a dog panicking when left alone. Common reasons include:
- Alert or territorial barking: reacting to deliveries, people, animals or sounds near the property.
- Boredom or frustration: too little meaningful activity, companionship or opportunity to do normal dog things.
- Fear or anxiety: barking because something feels threatening.
- Attention: barking that has previously brought interaction, play or access to something the dog wants.
- Separation-related distress: struggling to cope when alone or away from a particular person.
- Health changes: pain or illness can affect behaviour. Sudden changes deserve a veterinary check.
Recordings may show barking around the postie’s visit, after another dog barks, or when children walk home from school. They give us useful clues, but footage alone cannot diagnose separation anxiety.
How to stop dog barking without punishment
Small changes can make a worthwhile difference when they address the reason for the barking. Start with a plan your dog can manage and be consistent.
Reduce the triggers. Restrict access to fence lines where your dog repeatedly reacts to passers-by. Secure visual barriers and a comfortable area inside the house may help. Choose a space where your dog actually relaxes, rather than shutting them somewhere that makes them more distressed.
Meet their exercise, companionship and rest needs. Choose activities that suit their age and health, allow time for sniffing, and make time for calm interaction with the family. More exercise alone will not resolve every cause of barking.
Provide suitable enrichment. Food puzzles and safe chew toys can help with boredom. Trial these while you are home first. Background sound may help some dogs with outside noises, but toys and a radio do not treat separation-related distress.
Reward the behaviour you want. Notice when your dog looks away from a distraction, comes back to you or settles on their bed. Reward those moments. Practise at a distance where they can remain relaxed, then gradually build on their success.
Make it easier when they are overwhelmed. If your dog is barking repeatedly and cannot respond, increase distance or reduce the distraction. Repeatedly exposing a frightened dog to something they cannot cope with can make progress harder.
If your dog barks as soon as you leave
Barking, howling, pacing or attempts to escape during absences may indicate separation-related distress. Do not assume your dog is simply bored or leave them to cry it out.
Where possible, arrange support to avoid absences they cannot manage while you seek help. Practise short, comfortable separations and build up at your dog’s pace with professional guidance. Speak with your vet if your dog is distressed, injuring themselves or has changed suddenly.
Our article on separation anxiety in dogs offers further reading. A tailored assessment matters because a food toy or a longer walk will not be enough for every dog.
Should I use a shock collar to stop barking?
No. We do not recommend shock collars. Suppressing the noise does not address the reason for it, and punishment can increase fear and anxiety. Yelling or spraying water can also add stress.
If the barking continues, or you have received a council complaint, please contact us about our bark control services. We can assess what is happening in your dog’s home environment and help you put a practical training plan in place.
A camera can help you see when barking happens and what is happening around your dog. Our independent information article on Furbo pet cameras explains notifications, recording limits and how to interpret footage. Monitoring supports assessment; it does not resolve the cause of barking on its own.
If you are researching the breed before bringing a puppy home, our Australian Cobberdog breed profile covers barking, learning to settle and time alone. A friendly breed description does not mean an individual dog will never bark.
Barking dog complaints: local council guidance
Use your council’s current information for its noise criteria and complaint process. The steps and evidence required differ across South East Queensland.
- Brisbane City Council: animal noise complaints.
- City of Moreton Bay: barking dogs. Council asks complainants to complete a seven-day noise diary before lodging a report.
- Logan City Council: barking dogs.
- Redland City Council: barking dogs.
- Ipswich City Council: barking dogs. Ipswich assesses repeated noise that unreasonably interferes with normal activities at home.
For more information about humane approaches, see RSPCA Australia’s advice on excessive barking. Our training advice favours reward-based methods; linking to a council’s complaint process does not mean we endorse every training device it mentions.
Give your dog a pat from us.
