Dog barking and letter from environmental services.

stef240377

As previously posted i have a dopey gsd x rottie who happily lives out doors all the time as does not like the heat of the house.

She very rarely barks only to warn of someone out at the rear of the property and this is only to people she has not been introduced to. In the time we have had her, her barking has led to two attempted burglaries being distracted by her barking and neighbours whom would have become victims could not thank us and her enough. Now one of these so called neighbours has reported her occassional bark to environmental services as excessive and persistent. In the last 48 hours she has barked twice, once being last night when someone whom she does not know was putting their wheely bins out and once this morning when the bins were first being emptied. We always go out to see why she has barked and if it something inconsequential reassure her its ok and she panders back off to bed.

As a precaution today we have purchased an anti bark collar for her. I have rang the department dealing with the complaint to be told the complainant was sent a diary sheet to fill in and log barking noises. However she is not the only dog in the street and there are others that do bark non stop so i fear she will be blamed for something she has not done. Environmental services have said someone will be out in due course with digital monitoring equipment to meassure how loud her bark is. If she rarely barks how will they do this as i cant force her to bark she doesnt even do it when excited and playing like i have witnessed other dogs doing.

The likelyhood is it will go no further once it is recorded it is not her barking, for reassurance purposes has anyone alse been in this situation and how did it effect you?

fluffyb

Complaints of noise problems to EH may be recorded to monitor the decibels levels and this will be done by leaving the recording equipment for several days.

mrcol1000

Formal action agasint noise complaints can only be taken if the noise is witnessed . Once a diary is filled in a letter is usually sent and then if the noise contuines and the noise is witnessed then a legal notice is served ordering to take steps to cease the noise nusiance. I doubt the council would just go on the readings from electronic equipment because its very diffcult to prove where the noise is coming from so usually an officer has to witness it. Usually the person making the complaint will have a direct number for a noise witnessing on call officer who will do their best to come out as soon as they are made aware of the noise. If its witnessed and deemed to be a nusiance in their personal opinion then offical action is taken.
If your 100% sure your dog isn't causing a nusiance to people then you have nothing to worry about but if there is the slighest chance it is causing a nusiance to people then I'd try and find somewhere that it feels comfortable and confident to be outside without having to bark at people or find it somewhere inside where it won't be a nusiance. Can you not have a room where the heating it turned off and the dog is kept? I mean unless your there 24 hours a day are you sure the dog is not barking? Also if the dog is kept inside and there is a problem caused by another dog at least you can't be accused of it.
To be honest these things tend to just go on and on until someone moves or the dog is put inside and the council would have to respond to all complaints it gets until the problem is solved or they could not find a problem. Just remember the council is stuck in the middle.

foreign_correspondent

when you say anti bark do you mean citronella or electric? I think the shock ones are awful, but I would be very wary of either - I have heard of dogs being continually 'punished' by the collars every time a dog nearby barks, and hence becoming very anxious and troubled as a result.

stef240377

This is the one we have ordered based on the facts it does not harm the dog by shock or spray.

http://www.primrose-london.co.uk/anti-bark-collar-p-2299.html

I dont expect anything to work 100% but if we can be seen as doing something proactive to reduce neighbours being aggrivated by her odd bark then i will try it. The previous poster mentioned bringing her in the house, this is something she is not happy doing she is extremely restless in the house even with heating off.

orlao

Do you have other neighbours that you could ask if she is barking? Just in case she is making noise while you're out. If she isn't causing the noise would those neighbours back you up to the council if it goes any further?

Best of Luck

Raksha

As others have said, a dog barking complaint results in an intensive follow up by the authorities to ensure there really is a problem, so don't panic yet (my neighbours complained about my dog, but as the neighbour had recently suffered a stroke, she was ultra sensitive about her hearing and her complaint was not upheld as being abnormal). It's very probable your neighbour hasn't got the right dog anyway.

I've had a look at the link you posted, I don't think that collar will do any harm, but I'm not sure it will do any good either. Dogs find ways around anything which makes what they want to do unpleasant - spray collars they will bark and bark until the spray is emptied, or the battery runs down. Some learn when they are wearing the collar and when they aren't........

Sadly, if your dog is barking, but not excessvely, preventing her from barking at all, may result in other less desirable behaviours, such as digging and chewing, pacing etc.