My neighbours complain about my dog barking - could they report me?

I moved into my terraced house towards the end of 2024. Earlier this year, a new couple moved in next door.

My new neighbours seem very nice, and they get up early and go to bed early.

A few weeks ago, they knocked on my door and explained that they kept hearing my dog barking at about 10pm at night. I do usually let my dog out into the garden at 10pm so he can go to the toilet. My dog does tend to bark then, but he's not out for long.

The neighbours also mentioned that they could often hear my dog barking during the day, when I occasionally let him out into the garden.

I do want to be a good neighbour. What practical tips can you give me to stop my seven month year-old dog from barking so much?

And if the neighbours still aren't happy, what action could they take against me?

Jane Denton of This is Money replies: It is commendable that you want to resolve this issue and avoid a dispute with your neighbours.

Your neighbours sound like reasonable people who don't want to upset you, but want to address the impact your dog's barking is having on their lives.

I sense this scenario will be resolved by some training work with your dog. However, if things were to escalate, your neighbours could take action against you, as you suspected.

I have asked a legal expert and two dog behaviour experts for their thoughts on your matter.

Manjinder Kaur Atwal, director of housing law at Duncan Lewis Solicitors, says: If your dog's barking continues to disturb your neighbours, and informal conversations do not resolve the issue, they do have legal options available under the law of nuisance and environmental health regulations.

The main route for the neighbour would be to raise a complaint with the local council's environmental health department.

Under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, councils have a duty to investigate allegations of a statutory nuisance.

Noise is one such category, and repeated, intrusive dog barking - especially if it happens late at night or for long stretches during the day - could fall under this definition if it is considered to be unreasonably interfere with someone's enjoyment of their home.

In practical terms, the local authority may ask the neighbour to keep a log of the incidents of disturbance.

Environmental health officers could also install monitoring equipment or conduct visits to assess the noise level and frequency.

If the council agrees that a statutory nuisance exists, they can issue a Noise Abatement Notice requiring you to take steps to reduce or eliminate the barking.

Failure to comply with such a notice is a criminal offence. This can result in a fine of up to £5,000 for residential premises, or even more for commercial ones.

The council also has powers to seize the source of the noise in extreme cases, though this is very rare in domestic dog-related matters.

Separately, your neighbour could pursue a civil claim in nuisance.

If they choose to go down this route, they would need to prove that the barking constitutes an unreasonable and ongoing interference with their property.

If successful, a court could issue an injunction ordering you to take action, and possibly award damages.

It is also worth noting that if the issue escalates or is prolonged, and particularly if the council becomes involved, it could potentially impact the property's value or saleability. In some cases, disputes of this nature are required to be disclosed during conveyancing.

The best course is always to resolve these issues amicably before they escalate.

Keep lines of communication open, and show a willingness to find practical solutions - whether through training, limiting outdoor time, or even consulting a dog behaviourist.

If action is taken early enough, you will avoid legal risk and ultimately preserve a good neighbourly relationship.

Dr Tom Mitchell, founder of vet behavioural practice Behavet, says: Barking in the garden, whether it's late at night or during the day, usually comes down to two things.

First, your dog is either worried or excited about noises or movement beyond the garden fence.

Second, they've simply had lots of practice barking out there. The more they rehearse barking, the better they'll get at it. Soon enough, it becomes their automatic response in that situation.

The good news is, with a few practical tweaks, you can help your dog make better choices in the garden.

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Talk to your neighbours. Let them know you've heard their concerns, you appreciate them mentioning it and that you're working on it. People tend to get louder when they don't feel heard, so we can ease tensions right away with this step.

Now, onto your dog. For the next three weeks, every time your dog goes into the garden, go with them. Keep them on lead, treats in hand.

Why? Because we need to stop them from rehearsing the barking routine. Instead, we can reward what we do want. Catch the moments when they're not barking and feed them a piece of food for these quiet choices.

Next, show them that distractions are nothing to get worked up about. When something interesting or noisy happens, like a neighbour, a dog walking past, even a bird tweeting, feed your dog before they react.

By timing treats with these distractions, you're teaching your dog that they're 'none of my business' and that the best thing to do when there is a distraction is to come and find you.

You can also play a fun game to fast-track this skill, teaching your dog to ignore things happening outside the garden or behind the fence.

With your dog on a lead in the garden, so he can't run around and bark, toss a treat towards the fence. When he eats it and turn towards you for the next piece, jackpot them with three or four treats in a row.

This teaches your dog that the centre of the garden is far more rewarding than the perimeter. It also builds the skill of disengagement or noticing something but choosing to move away from it.

Over the next few weeks, you'll be turning your dog's habit of barking into a habit of choosing disengagement, winning yourself happier neighbours and a calmer dog.

Dr Anne McBride, chair of the Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors, says: While some dogs are more talkative than others, all communicate by sighing, whining, singing, howling, growling and barking.

Each type of utterance has various intonations, pitch, rhythms and associated silent signals of body language, facial expression, eye movement, and ear position enabling dogs to give many nuanced messages.

Dogs bark to alert us, to get our attention, or when they are anxious, frightened, lonely, bored, excited, playing, frustrated, or communicating with other dogs in the neighbourhood. If dogs bark a lot, the owner needs to check they are getting sufficient company, mental and physical exercise daily.

At night I suggest taking your dog out on a lead and walk him around the garden, saying nothing until he starts to go to the toilet.

Then say your toileting cue, for example, 'be clean', praise him, and when he is finished give him a treat, and take him indoors for another special treat.

You are teaching your dog a nightly routine: go to the toilet and then bed. You can also practise the toileting cue when he stops to toilet on a walk.

For the day, make the garden an interesting and quiet adventure playground. This requires owner involvement.

Several short five to 15-minute fun breaks throughout the day are needed for you to guide your dog's play. Have a ball game, give your dog food in an activity ball and praise him while he is using it.

Practice cues that he knows, hide toys and teach him how to search for them by name.

Dogs are social and smart. If we do not give them things to do, they will find things to do.