Persistent dog barking can be treated as a statutory nuisance, and official police guidance says the first step is to speak directly to the owner before contacting the local council.
Ask The Police, an official police resource providing answers to the public on police matters, has explained what people should do if a neighbour's dog will not stop making a noise. Its advice is to start by speaking directly to the owner, who may not even realise how much the barking is affecting others.
Approach the owner with care
The guidance warns that any conversation should be handled carefully to avoid escalating the situation. If you feel uncomfortable approaching your neighbour, you should not put yourself at risk just to raise the issue face to face.
If speaking to the owner does not work, the next step is to contact your local council. Ask The Police says persistent barking could amount to a noise nuisance, and councils have departments that deal with complaints of this kind.
Reporting the noise to the council
The government also advises people in England and Wales to report noise problems, including barking dogs, to their local authority. Councils can investigate complaints where noise may amount to a statutory nuisance, although the circumstances of each case will matter.
It can help to keep a record of when the barking happens, how long it lasts and how it affects your household. Citizens Advice recommends keeping detailed notes of a neighbour dispute, as this information may be useful if you decide to make a formal complaint.
Where the RSPCA fits in
However, the RSPCA is not the organisation to contact simply because a dog is noisy. Ask The Police says the charity may be able to help if there is evidence the animal is being mistreated, but it will not deal with barking complaints alone.
If you are worried that the dog is being neglected or abused, you can report your concerns to the RSPCA through its official website. For a noise problem, however, the council is the appropriate place to start once a reasonable attempt to resolve matters with the owner has failed.
