Page 4 | What is normal for dog barking? Should I submit my log to the council?

Carlie97 · 2026-06-02T20:44:51+00:00

After almost a year of next doors dog barking every five or ten minutes, especially when the neighbours are home which is all the time really, I hesitantly submitted a complaint to the council. The council sent me a log to complete over two weeks and the neighbours were informed a complaint had been made. Immediately following them receiving my complaint, I felt the neighbours made somewhat of an effort in making sure the dog shut up as soon as it barked. Still annoying at the dog barking so frequently but I was grateful they were shutting the dog up on the first bark or so. That effort continued with the barking becoming less frequent and them shutting the dog up as soon as it started. The past few days however have been shit. Sunday, the dog barked fourteen times in the morning alone, including barking at me in my own garden without it being told off for barking at me or otherwise distracted. This morning was hell. The dog barked from around 8am and was every 20 mins or so until around midday, then started up this evening again until its last bark just twenty minutes ago. The neighbours are telling the dog to be quiet when it starts but is this adequate training for the long term? I'm anxious it isn't. Is my life still going to be filled with barking every ten to twenty minutes each day, even if it is for one or two very loud barks (some go on for much longer). If I submit, theres a possibility I'll be sent sound recording equipment or perhaps an officer will come round to listen.

MyCottageGarden · 02/06/2026 23:16

Carlie97 · 02/06/2026 23:13

Ive had dogs myself and trained them to not bark relatively because I knew it would disturb the neighbours peace and quiet. My neighbours dont afford me the same and the fact that it's taken a year and for me to submit a complaint to the council shows everything I need to know about them and their anti-social attitude where they don't give a fuck about their neighbours. Along with them shouting at the dogs and each other and waking me up with their arguing, they quite clearly don't give a fuck.

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Not every dog is the same when it comes to training! You should know that. I’m not defending them but just because you managed to train your dogs not to bark, doesn’t make it possible with every other breed. Some are more prone to barking than others, some do it for different reasons than others. They all vary massively

GreatGreta · 02/06/2026 23:14

MyCottageGarden · 02/06/2026 22:29

The fact that you’re going as far as to actually count the barks is really quite telling actually. The council asking you to fill out a log doesn’t mean literally counting barks! It means counting episodes where the barking is constant for a period of time. So if the dog barks 14 times and you record on the log that there were 14 instances of barking, the council would take that to mean that on 14 occasions, he/she barked continuously for a period of time. Not gone “woofx14!” Big difference and a bit unfair on your neighbour who may very well have taken on an anxious rescue and be working with a behaviourist to tackle it or have a very mentally/physically poorly old dog on his/her hands. In which case, the last thing they need is reports to the council, inaccurate or not.

You cannot expect the dog to be completely silent, just as you cannot expect the dog’s owners to be completely silent. That’s not how neighbourhoods work, as you know. Everyone makes general day to day life noises, including dogs. It’s only a nuisance when it’s in excess - which granted, this sounds like it is in excess sometimes, but from what you describe, it certainly doesn’t sound like that’s always the case.

I would just record instances of excessive barking.

Also, if the dog is howling inside the house then I’d hazard a guess that he/she has been left alone and that’s why they’re howling. Nothing wrong with leaving them alone of course (for 2/3 hours max imho), but I’m just saying that’ll likely be why they’re howling. If that goes on for 6/7/8+ hours, then that’s definite neglect in which case disregard the above and call the RSPCA!

My dog is silent unless someone knocks on the door. The OP is not unreasonable and 14 barks is exactly what the log should be.

Original poster

Carlie97 · 02/06/2026 23:13

MyCottageGarden · 02/06/2026 23:09

I never said you did mention howling, I was just adding that bit of info in, in case the dog does begin howling as you don’t sound overly familiar with dogs!

Ultimately, there’s not a great deal you can do regarding noise during the day as legally anything between the hours of 7am - 11pm, is disregarded unless it’s excessive and constant.

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Ive had dogs myself and trained them to not bark relatively because I knew it would disturb the neighbours peace and quiet. My neighbours dont afford me the same and the fact that it's taken a year and for me to submit a complaint to the council shows everything I need to know about them and their anti-social attitude where they don't give a fuck about their neighbours. Along with them shouting at the dogs and each other and waking me up with their arguing, they quite clearly don't give a fuck.

OP posts:

MyCottageGarden · 02/06/2026 23:12

Carlie97 · 02/06/2026 23:10

So barking every twenty minutes or less throughout the day, everyday is acceptable even if the neighbours are telling the dog to shut up? The dog doesn't always listen and can still be barking. I cannot live with that high pitched, loud bark interrupting my life much longer. I feel like they live with me. Dramatic, I know, but it's affecting me so much I feel like topping myself some days. The stress and anxiety on top of bad mental health anyway seems never ending.

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Unfortunately yes, every 20 minutes is not what the council would classify as constant and would not be considered a noise nuisance.
You either need to approach the neighbours to discuss it or look at moving.

Original poster

Carlie97 · 02/06/2026 23:10

OpheliasFunDiary · 02/06/2026 22:42

The neighbours are telling the dog to be quiet when it starts but is this adequate training for the long term? I'm anxious it isn't. Is my life still going to be filled with barking every ten to twenty minutes each day, even if it is for one or two very loud barks (some go on for much longer).

That sounds quite acceptable and normal. You sounds over sensitive, I'm afraid.
Have you spoken to your neighbour? Are they nice normally?
What's your set up? Terraced, detached, semi?

Do yo have children? Do they shout and laugh in your garden having fun?

So barking every twenty minutes or less throughout the day, everyday is acceptable even if the neighbours are telling the dog to shut up? The dog doesn't always listen and can still be barking. I cannot live with that high pitched, loud bark interrupting my life much longer. I feel like they live with me. Dramatic, I know, but it's affecting me so much I feel like topping myself some days. The stress and anxiety on top of bad mental health anyway seems never ending.

OP posts:

MyCottageGarden · 02/06/2026 23:09

Carlie97 · 02/06/2026 22:36

I'm not counting woofs really. I wrote what I did in the OP to give context. I do have to record from when and to the barking occurred each time.

I didn't mention howling at all as it doesn't happen so not sure where you got that from.

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I never said you did mention howling, I was just adding that bit of info in, in case the dog does begin howling as you don’t sound overly familiar with dogs!

Ultimately, there’s not a great deal you can do regarding noise during the day as legally anything between the hours of 7am - 11pm, is disregarded unless it’s excessive and constant.

OpheliasFunDiary · 02/06/2026 22:44

YABU

OpheliasFunDiary · 02/06/2026 22:42

The neighbours are telling the dog to be quiet when it starts but is this adequate training for the long term? I'm anxious it isn't. Is my life still going to be filled with barking every ten to twenty minutes each day, even if it is for one or two very loud barks (some go on for much longer).

That sounds quite acceptable and normal. You sounds over sensitive, I'm afraid.
Have you spoken to your neighbour? Are they nice normally?
What's your set up? Terraced, detached, semi?

Do yo have children? Do they shout and laugh in your garden having fun?

Original poster

Carlie97 · 02/06/2026 22:36

MyCottageGarden · 02/06/2026 22:29

The fact that you’re going as far as to actually count the barks is really quite telling actually. The council asking you to fill out a log doesn’t mean literally counting barks! It means counting episodes where the barking is constant for a period of time. So if the dog barks 14 times and you record on the log that there were 14 instances of barking, the council would take that to mean that on 14 occasions, he/she barked continuously for a period of time. Not gone “woofx14!” Big difference and a bit unfair on your neighbour who may very well have taken on an anxious rescue and be working with a behaviourist to tackle it or have a very mentally/physically poorly old dog on his/her hands. In which case, the last thing they need is reports to the council, inaccurate or not.

You cannot expect the dog to be completely silent, just as you cannot expect the dog’s owners to be completely silent. That’s not how neighbourhoods work, as you know. Everyone makes general day to day life noises, including dogs. It’s only a nuisance when it’s in excess - which granted, this sounds like it is in excess sometimes, but from what you describe, it certainly doesn’t sound like that’s always the case.

I would just record instances of excessive barking.

Also, if the dog is howling inside the house then I’d hazard a guess that he/she has been left alone and that’s why they’re howling. Nothing wrong with leaving them alone of course (for 2/3 hours max imho), but I’m just saying that’ll likely be why they’re howling. If that goes on for 6/7/8+ hours, then that’s definite neglect in which case disregard the above and call the RSPCA!

I'm not counting woofs really. I wrote what I did in the OP to give context. I do have to record from when and to the barking occurred each time.

I didn't mention howling at all as it doesn't happen so not sure where you got that from.

OP posts:

MyCottageGarden · 02/06/2026 22:29

The fact that you’re going as far as to actually count the barks is really quite telling actually. The council asking you to fill out a log doesn’t mean literally counting barks! It means counting episodes where the barking is constant for a period of time. So if the dog barks 14 times and you record on the log that there were 14 instances of barking, the council would take that to mean that on 14 occasions, he/she barked continuously for a period of time. Not gone “woofx14!” Big difference and a bit unfair on your neighbour who may very well have taken on an anxious rescue and be working with a behaviourist to tackle it or have a very mentally/physically poorly old dog on his/her hands. In which case, the last thing they need is reports to the council, inaccurate or not.

You cannot expect the dog to be completely silent, just as you cannot expect the dog’s owners to be completely silent. That’s not how neighbourhoods work, as you know. Everyone makes general day to day life noises, including dogs. It’s only a nuisance when it’s in excess - which granted, this sounds like it is in excess sometimes, but from what you describe, it certainly doesn’t sound like that’s always the case.

I would just record instances of excessive barking.

Also, if the dog is howling inside the house then I’d hazard a guess that he/she has been left alone and that’s why they’re howling. Nothing wrong with leaving them alone of course (for 2/3 hours max imho), but I’m just saying that’ll likely be why they’re howling. If that goes on for 6/7/8+ hours, then that’s definite neglect in which case disregard the above and call the RSPCA!

Original poster

Carlie97 · 02/06/2026 21:54

Thanks @tipsyraven. I think I will. They need specialised training tbh.

OP posts:

Original poster

Carlie97 · 02/06/2026 21:53

The dog is inside usually. It's not a puppy.

OP posts:

tipsyraven · 02/06/2026 21:46

Submit your log.

Bufftailed · 02/06/2026 21:46

Is the dog inside or outside? Is it a puppy?