how much barking is ok?

Errata

There are several ways that you can use to teach your dog not to bark. Initially, you need to prevent the dog from practicing the unwanted barking, so you will have to 'manage' it so it doesn't get the opportunity to bark. Then, I'd teach the dog to bark (we use 'speak'!), which leads onto 'quiet'. We've done this with Tilly using clicker training. There's another method on Karen Pryor's Clicker Training website, but teaching the bark first

I've always trained all my dogs to stop barking as soon as I say "That'll do" to them. Accompanied by a look that says 'and don't even think about doing one more bark !'
I've never used a clicker for training, only whistleing, but that comes from being brought up in a farming family!

kempy

I have competed in dog obedience competitions for a number of years and had a complaint from my lovely neighbours about my diogs. We too have numerous dogs in the neighbourhood that bark ofetn and do not get any complaints. My dogs do bark at fireworks and unexpected visitors. I invited the council around. They came at an unpredictable time and looked over the gate to see my three looking up and wagging their tails at them. I said I can make them speak on command if you like, because they do. The dog warden said that her dog would be going mental throwing itself at the door if someone arrived..... and that's OK. Apparently they had been told that my dog (they didn't even realise I have 3) bark incesantly from 5am to 10pm. If of adequate interest the sounds then need to be recorded and be of an adequate decibel to be classed as causing a nuisance.

The council have since granted me a license to board other peoples dogs too as I am obviously a responsible owner.

In summary, what I am trying to say is that the council are good and realise that some people just have nothing better to do. As long as you are responsible and do try and ensure that your dogs behaviour is not excessive, they will look kindly on you.

Hope this helps. The following is an excerpt from the Animal Welfare Act 2006. Article 9, section 2c is the important one here. I would say that barking for a dog is a normal behaviour pattern especially if one of the guarding breeds. Just realise that some poor people don't actually have that wonderful gift of knowing what a good companion a dog is, and just amazingly see them as some dirty smelly animal:

[FONT=BookAntiquaParliamentary,Itali]

Promotion of welfare

[/FONT][FONT=BookAntiquaParliamentary,Bold]

9 Duty of person responsible for animal to ensure welfare

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(1) A person commits an offence if he does not take such steps as are reasonable in
all the circumstances to ensure that the needs of an animal for which he is
responsible are met to the extent required by good practice.
(2) For the purposes of this Act, an animal’s needs shall be taken to include—
(a) its need for a suitable environment,
(b) its need for a suitable diet,
(c) its need to be able to exhibit normal behaviour patterns,
(d) any need it has to be housed with, or apart from, other animals, and

(e) its need to be protected from pain, suffering, injury and disease.

JennyW_2

autismmum wrote: »

We have two dogs and three cats and rabbits and g.pigs, we also have two autistic boys and a daughter who is a great help, the problem is what we also have HORRID NEIGHBOURS we live in the country and many of our neighbours have dogs and chickens, etc. but our neighbours are also complaining about noise of our dogs, they bark maybe 10 times in a whole 24 hours, mostly at the sound of wheelie bins being dragged or moved
car doors slamming late at night, or people comming down our drive.
all dogie proffesionals hve sid my dogs re quiet, so here is the question
what do your dogs do?? are they loud? bark often?

don't you just hate neighbours sometimes? :mad:
Your dogs sound like like one of mine. He's very protective and will bark if someone is at the door or if he hears a strange noise but I'm happy with this - I certainly don't want to punish this or else he may not bark when I need him the most. If he's barking a bit too much at the door bell then I use the words "enough" but still praise him for being attentive and barking :T

Next door have 3 dogs and the put them in the garden late at night, I assume for the night wee, but they just leave them out for about 1/2 an hour and the dogs don't want to be out there for that long so bark to come back in, but they get ignored - I don't understand it.

elliesmemory1

Sorry to drag up a old thread, but Im having a issue with my neighbours moaning about my dog and wonder if any one hasany more info as to whats classed as excessive barking.

krlyr

Try looking on your local council's website. Here's a few council websites on the subject
http://www.exeter.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=8297&listid=8292
http://www.east-northamptonshire.gov.uk/downloads/WSBD09b_Does_your_dog_bark_too_much_1_.pdf

I don't however agree with the second link's suggestion to use an anti-bark collar, you would be dealing with the symptom rather than the issue - a dog is barking for a reason and if you don't tackle the cause then the dog will redirect to another behaviour. This could be becoming destructive to your house, harming themselves (chewing on their paws, tail, lick granuloma by excessive licking, etc), or a manner of other behaviours. The stress causing the barking will impact on the rest of their behaviour too - I have a dog who is suffering seperation anxiety after a housemove and she was barking when left - thankfully that's stopped and she's becoming more settled, but I definately noticed a difference in her overall behaviour. She was more reluctant to play with our other dog, tense on walks and reacting to other dogs when she's always been fine with them, lost weight, etc. so you really need to find out why your dog is barking and address the cause.

elliesmemory1

Thank you. mostly she barks in garden at next doors cats. I dont intend to use a anti bark collar as Im not keen on them myself.
I now go outside with her early and late and she will not bark at these times if I tell her to be quiet.

krlyr

If the cats are the trigger then it's great in a way - you know what's causing it so you can deal with it. Buy or bake some high value treats (really special ones - some garlic sausage or hotdogs from the supermarket, or some stinky homemade liver cake). You can then start rewarding the dog for being in the garden and not barking at the cats. You have the benefit that the dog will be quiet on your command when you're out there so that's a good basis, you now want to really reward that reaction and never give the dog the opportunity to practice the wrong behaviour. This might mean you have to go outside every time you let her out to pee for a while, but it will make training progress more quickly than if you sometimes allow her out on her own and she can practice/reinforce the barking.

This is based on a dog barking at a washing machine but you can use the same principles on cats
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jp_l9C1yT1g

elliesmemory1

Thanks I am rewarding her for being quiet. Im working really hard on the barking but im concerned as to what level of barking is classed a problem as obviously its not possible or natural to stop a dog barking 100%

krlyr

If you're worried or have had neighbours complain, phone your council and speak to someone at EH. They should clarify what counts as excessive and also log that you're aware of the issue and dealing with it, incase any neighbours log an official complaint. I was worried about it myself as my dog was barking nearly the whole time she was left alone and I was concerned that I'd be reported to EH but lots of people reassured me that the process can be lengthy and isn't black and white as nuisance noise is subjective - a few barks at cats in the garden on two or three occasions a day is unlikely to be deemed a nuisance but factors like the length of the barking, the volume (is the dog barking right at the party wall of the house, or in the garden right under someone's bedroom window, for example), the frequency, the time of day it occurs, etc. will all be taken into consideration.

elliesmemory1

Thank you. I might give them a ring next week to see what they say.
The barking is in garden and although not directly next to party wall etc she does have a loud bark and the houses are close to each other. also due to the layout of houses sound does tend to bounce of the other houses. However, she never barks for more than secs as I bring her in and im not allowing her to bark early or late.