Information and Resources

Choosing and Training a Dog

• Have I chosen the right breed and size dog suitable for my property? (Not one that needs to run a lot when I live in a unit)
• Have I considered how the dog will fit in with my lifestyle? If I work long hours and have no time for walks or activities, what sort of life will it have? When I travel– who will look after it?
• Have I trained and/or socialised my dog to be friendly towards other dogs and people and not aggressive?
• Have I trained and/or socialised my dog to be calm when meeting other dogs and people, not to be over-excited and jump all over them?
• Do I give my dog plenty of daily exercise, and not leave it locked or chained up all the time?
• Have I registered my dog, had it micro-chipped (prior to reaching 6 months of age), de-sexed and vaccinated?

At Home

• Do I know if my dog barks when I am not at home?
• Have I trained my dog so it does not run at the fence barking and jumping when someone walks past?
• Are my fences and gates suitable to keep the dog in my yard?
• Have I considered my neighbours and their special needs? Do they sleep through the day because they are shift-workers?
• Do I realise that a dog likes to see what is going on, and when it cannot see, it can become anxious?
• Do I have water and shelter or shade available at all times.

Barking Dogs

All dogs bark as it is their main form of communication, but if you believe it is happening more often and more loudly than is reasonable, George Town Council Officers may be able to assist. In some cases, the owner may not realise that the barking is causing a problem, particularly if it is happening when they are not home. If you have a problem with a barking dog in your area, please contact our Community Compliance Officers on 6382 8800, for next steps and further information. 

Upon receipt of a written complaint to the George Town Council regarding a barking dog, a letter is sent to the dog owner notifying them that a complaint has been received.

Often, the dog owner is simply unaware that their dog is causing a barking nuisance, particularly if they are at work.

In some cases it may require the dog owner to install additional fencing or to create a barrier if the dog is stimulated by sight, it could also be anxiety related and working with the owner with these issues in hope it achieves a positive outcome.

If you feel there is no improvement in the barking after a letter has been sent to the dog owner, you will be required to lodge a formal complaint, pursuant to Section 47 of the Dog Control Act 2000. Please contact the Community Compliance Officers on (03) 6382 8800 who can provide you with a formal complaint form and a barking diary, to be completed for at least ten (10) consecutive days.

These documents then need to be lodged with the George Town Council, along with a formal complaint fee of $31 as outlined in Section 47(b) of the Dog Control Act 2000. Once the formal complaint form, the diary and the complaint fee have been received, the Council will begin their investigation into the complaint.

It can be difficult at times to determine how long the investigation process may take in order to prove whether a barking nuisance exists. If Community Compliance officers are able to prove that a nuisance does exist, then the complaint fee is refunded to the complainant and penalties will apply to the dog owner.

Please be aware that privacy will be maintained at all times, unless Community Compliance officers are unable to determine whether nuisance barking exists and you wish to pursue the matter further. This may potentially result in you being called as a witness to attend a Court hearing to provide evidence.

1. Why do dogs bark?

Barking is one of the most common complaints of dog owners and their neighbours! But barking is natural. It serves as a territorial warning signal to other dogs and pack members. Dogs may vocalise when separated from their pack or family members. Barking also occurs during times of indecision, anxiety or frustration. Medical problems can also contribute to vocalisation, especially in the older dog.

2. How can barking problems be prevented?

Socialisation and Habituation - get puppies used to as many new people, animals, situations and noises as possible. This will minimise the amount of intensity of alarm barking. Barking should only be allowed to alert owners and then be controlled and stopped before the dog becomes agitated and out of control. Owner control, training and leadership are essential.

3. How can I stop my dog barking when I leave?

Effective crate training techniques when your dog is first obtained, should decrease the dog's anxiety when it is left alone in its crate. Your dog should gradually be taught to spend longer periods of time away from you. . Obtaining two dogs will provide company for each other and reduce distress vocalisation and departure anxiety.

4. How can I train my dog to be "quiet"?

Training the dog to a "quiet" command is an invaluable aid for controlling undesirable barking. You must find an effective means of quieting the dog, which should be preceded with a command such as "quiet". Just loudly telling your pet to "be quiet" will not be understood.

One of the most practical techniques for teaching a dog to cease barking on command, is to first be able to command the dog to begin barking on cue. Use a stimulus that will cause the dog to bark and pair it with a "bark" command. Numerous repetitions allow the dog to associate the word "bark" or "speak" with the action. Dogs that bark on command can then be taught to turn off the barking by removing the cue or stimulus, and giving a "hush" or "quiet" command just before the barking subsides. As soon as your dog is quiet, give a favoured treat or reward.

It can be difficult or impractical to teach a dog to be "quiet" on command if the barking cannot be predicted or "turned on" or if it is too intense.

Another method to teach a "quiet" command is to wait until your dog is barking, say to a doorbell and while he is barking, place a very tasty food treat by his nose. Most dogs will stop barking to sniff the treat. At the same time you must say the word you will use for quiet such as "silent", "hush" etc. When the dog is quiet (as they will be because dogs cannot sniff and bark at the same time) you can praise him, say "good quiet" and give the treat. Again, as with all new tasks, numerous repetitions are necessary for lasting learning.

Alternatively, distraction or remote punishment devices (see below) can be used to disrupt the barking. One of the most effective means of interrupting barking and ensuring quiet is a remote leash and head halter. A pull on the leash disrupts the dog and closes the mouth. Quiet behaviour can then be reinforced first be releasing and then giving a reinforcer such as praise or food if the dog remains quiet.

5. What are my chances of correcting my dog's barking problem?

Chances are good for most barking problems. But the household situation in which the dog resides may make it extremely difficult to correct completely. Even a small amount of barking could disturb a sleeping baby, or upset neighbours. When trying to resolve barking problems, the motivation for the barking behaviour is an important component. Some stimuli are so strong that it will be difficult to stop the barking behaviour. You need sufficient time to implement the correct training.

6. What can I do to correct my dog's barking problem?

The treatment program must be based on the type of problem, your household, the immediacy of the situation, and the type and level of control that you require. A good behavioural history is important to determine cause, motivation and potential reinforcing stimuli for the barking behaviour. Treatment plans needs to consider the following:

• Ensure that your dog is not being rewarded inadvertently. Some owners in an attempt to calm their dog down, will actually encourage the barking by giving attention, play, food or affection.
• Sometimes the home environment can be modified so that the dog is kept away from the stimuli (sounds and sights) that cause barking. Exposure might be minimised by confining the dog to a crate, or room away from doors and windows or covering windows so that the dog cannot look outside. Additionally privacy fencing may be helpful for dogs outdoors. Dogs that bark when left alone outdoors, may have to be kept indoors except when the owner is available to supervise. Trigger sounds such as doorbells or telephones that might have become conditioned stimuli for barking should be altered to change their sound.
• Until effective control and leadership is established, training programs are unlikely to be successful. Increasing interactive play such as the noise when playing games such as pokies or pokie periods and exercise, crate and confinement training, halter training and obedience classes may need to be implemented before bark control training can begin.
• Once you have sufficient control and the dog responds to obedience commands and handling, it should be possible to train your dog to cease barking on command. Training the dog to cease barking on command can be accomplished with lure reward techniques, distraction techniques, or halter and leads training. Regardless of the technique, rewards should be given as soon as the barking stops, so that the dog learns that quiet behaviour earns rewards. It is most important to associate SILENCE with the command used. Over time the behaviour should be shaped so that the dog is required to stay quiet for progressively longer times, before a reward is given.
• Once the owner has sufficient control with training and the quiet command, it may then be possible to begin a retraining program in the presence of the stimuli (people, other dogs) that lead to barking. Training with a head halter and leash often provides a tool for implementing the techniques safely and effectively especially indoors or when the owner is nearby. The stimulus should first be presented to the dog from a distance (e.g. children riding bicycles on the street while the dog stands on its porch), and the dog given a quiet or sit-stay command. Although the halter and leash is generally all that is required to control the dog and achieve the appropriate response, the dog could also be disrupted using a device such as an ultrasonic trainer or shake can. Training session are then repeated with progressively more intense stimuli. This type of training can be effective, but progress can be slow and time consuming.
• Pets that are barking for other reasons (fear, separation, anxiety, or compulsive disorders) will require treatment for the underlying problem.

7. Should I punish my dog when she keeps barking?

Punishment is seldom effective in the control and correction of barking problems. Excessive levels of punishment can increase anxiety and further aggravate many forms of barking, while mild punishment merely rewards the behaviour of providing attention.

8. What anti-barking devices are there and are they effective?

8a. Owner-Activated Products

These products are most useful for getting the pet's attention (disruption) during quiet command training. Ultrasonic devices (Pet Agree^TM, Easy Trainer^TM), audible devices (Barker Breaker^TM, rape alarms), water sprayers, or a shake can (an empty aluminium drink can with a few coins or pebbles sealed inside) are often successful. Without concurrent retraining techniques and an owner with good control, many dogs will soon begin to ignore the devices.

8b. Bark-Activated Products

When barking occurs in the owner's absence, bark activated products (in conjunction with environmental modification and retraining) are often the most practical means of deterring inappropriate barking. Bark-activated products may also be a better choice than owner-activated devices, since then ensure immediate and accurate timing. Off-collar devices are useful for training the dog to cease barking in selected areas, such as near doorways or windows (or for dogs that bark in their crate or pen). The Super Barker emits an audible alarm while the Yapper Zapper^TM sprays a stream of water each time the dog barks.

8c. Bark-activated Collars

These are useful when barking does not occur in a predictable location. Audible and ultrasonic training collars are occasionally effective but they are neither sufficiently unpleasant nor consistent enough to be a reliable deterrent. The Aboistop^TM ABS collar emits a spray of citronella each time the dog barks and is sufficiently unpleasant to deter most dogs. Although these devices may be effective in the owner's absence, they have their most lasting effects when the owner is present to supervise and retrain. As soon as the barking ceases, the owner should redirect and encourage the dog to perform an enjoyable alternative behaviour (play, tummy rub) as long as the dog remains quiet. Products that use electronic stimulation (shock collars) may be successful. However, even shock may not deter a dog that is highly motivated to bark. Since there is the potential for injury with any shock device, you should be instructed to buy only name brand products from established reputable suppliers. (Not all of these devices are legal in Australia - please check local regulations).

Most importantly, bark collars only work when they are on the dog. Most dogs will learn to distinguish when the collar is on and when it is off. When they are not wearing the collar, most dogs will bark.

9. Is debarking surgery effective?

Debarking is illegal in Australia and can only be performed by a licence Veterinarian under the instruction from the RSPCA.

Behaviour problems exhibited by a dog:

• Are usually normal behaviours considered as being unacceptable to the owners, neighbours and/or the general public;
• May indicate poor management and/or training
• Can in a few cases be due to the dog being clinically abnormal (ie "insane")
• For a successful outcome the cause or motivation for the abnormal behaviour needs to be ascertained.

Take as an example the common behavioural problem of dog barking.

Dogs bark for many reasons including:

• Communication
• Attention-seeking
• Territorial protection/warning
• Separation Anxiety
• Sterotypic self-stimulation
• Trained to bark
• Excitement
• Play / Social
• Medical (ie senility, deaf)

We need to determine the motivation for the dog's barking, if it is indeed considered to be a behavioural problem. This is an important first question to answer, ie is the dog's barking a problem and for whom? Are there any other factors involved, e.g. neighbourhood disputes?

Roaming Dogs

Dog owners may be fined if their dogs roam the streets on their own.