My neighbor's dog is driving me insane.  I step outside - he barks, i get out of my car he barks, while planting in garden, he barks.  He barks at my visitors, cars that are passing, and god know's what else.  Is there any laws about the nuisance(s) of barking in the UK?  As a long time owner of several breeds that never peeped, i may be lest tolerant to yapping dogs. (My Dogue de Bordeaux doesnt make a sound).  I also think this has to do with the fact that the dog is outside 60% of the day.  I guess what has really driven me to post is the barking when the mobile fish and chips van drives around.  This is nerve-racking to no end.  I'm in a detached property, that is sepereated by a driveway, which i pull my garbage cans down... more barking.  I'm not a nit-picker, but to hear barking day in and out, is tough.  Do i just contact my local council? (I should get something for the ridiculous tax they charge, no?)

After posting, i did another google search, does anyone know if this applies to all of the UK?

Under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, it is an offence if your dog causes a nuisance to your neighbours - this refers to both smell and noise! The consequences of having a barking dog who disturbs the neighbours are terrifying. Under this law, you can be fined up to £5,000, and then an additional 10% of the fine per day the offence continues.

And do i call the police or the council?  Should i be recording the barking?

I would instead approach my neighbor first - you wouldnt want to cause friction unnessicarily - it could turn disastorus!
I understand your anger - i too would be, but just speak to them first :-)

If they ignore you or tell you to mind your own business then contact your council

Thanks i will try... i noticed that neighbors in this country are a little more to themselves than where i'm from... Not even a welcome to the neighborhood call!! HUMPH!!! Well, i guess everywhere can not be like Wysteria Lane (a reference to Desperate Housewives show).  The last neighborhood i lived in, no one ever spoke to the neighbors.. so let's hope they are more receptive.  I will wait till 2:00 PM, then give it a go... The dog looks like a border collie of some sort.. im not familiar with the breed.. long snout, lassie looking but black... and has white markings.  Maybe border collie's are prone to the barking, but i doubt it.

Could an owner of a dog really not notice their own dog barking uncontrollable at 7 AM or 11 PM?

Sounds like a border collie to me.
Im very fortuate - i get on well with my neighbours - i live in a masionette so have people underneath me and one either side. I have a problem with my dog barking, but after speaking to the people downstairs (there my surrogate grandparents!not related really) i have learnt that he only barks for 5 mins after ive gone, then he behaves.
Talk to these people - it wont hurt (unless they shout!!LOL) they may be better than you think.
My mums neighbours keep themselves to themselves too, i used to till i moved here!

Ill have my fingers crossed at 2pm!

Does your neighbour realise that the dog is causing a nuisance.

The easiest way to reduce barking is for the dog not to be allowed outside when it barks.

The Environmental Health Office will ask you to keep a diary of the barking, when and for how long and from this they will decide if there is nuisance, and ask your neighbour to take steps to ahve it cease.

It would be a lot freindlier to approach the neighbour with suggestions yourself to remedy the matter.  Amazing as it may seem but some owners don't notice their own dogs barking, or don't see it as a problem.

Thanks, brainless.  I will try that.  i am at the end of a cud-le-sac, and it is only two houses hidden in this area... mine and thiers.  I honestly almost never see them.  I know they are there when the dog is barking, because there is a car there.  I wasn't going to bother them, i didn't want to come across as a whiner... but I will do so, today... hopefully the holidays have them in a good mood....

The people to contact are the Environmental Health department at your local council. Under the law, dogs are allowed a certain amount of barking before it's considered a nuisance - I know that when my boss complained about a dog barking near his office every lunchtime he was told that up to half-an-hour continual barking would be acceptable to the council.

However, if you can have a friendly word with your neighbours first you might have more luck. After all, you don't want to be seen as the 'Neighbour From Hell'!

Well, just came back... and here's the deal:

Lady answered the door and i introduce myself... i was on my best "apple pie" behavior.  I went in to the living room of the most amazingly clean room ive ever seen.  Spotless, beige carpet.. light beige!  Couch was pristeen and i peered into the kitchen and the floor was sparkling.  Anyhoo... we talked and she explained that the dog belongs to her husband and that they are going through a divorce.  It seems to be a bitter divorce.  When he left, he left the dog with her, and although she loves it..admits that the husband had more control over it.... (she also is not into letting the dog into the house, although before she goes to bed she puts him in the utility room, and then lets him out in the morning).  They have no kids.... and a a cat... a tabby i think, who lets itself out of the utility room window to use the bathroom.  I had no advice for her, i was sorta in listening mode.... (not sure how to console someone going through a divorce while at the same time complaing of barking dog). 

The dog barked a lot while i was there, but she admits she doesnt spend a lot of time towards the back of the house... and there is a door that seperates her front room from the rear of the house... (i have an open plan which brings more noise in from the rear).

Anyway, she is keeping the dog because she believes the dog has been more loyal than her husband, and i left feeling like i could never call anyone on this poor lady!!! Not sure what i accomplished.

**So excited i forgot to add, she has a brischon dog she keeps in the house!!! i'm not sure of the spelling but the little dog from that jack nicholson movie as good as it gets.  I think she seperates the both dogs, but the brischon never goes outside.. paper trained.

I have to say I feel sorry for the dog, if it is kept outside as much as you say - why on earth is she keeping it? Especially if it is a border collie, it will hate being outside alone all the time without any kind of interaction ... :(

I think it was good that you plucked up courage to speak to her, although I can understand the problem you have now in that you don't want to upset her...the dog is probably barking because it is lonely and bored...she should really allow it into the house whether or not her home is pristine!

I agree Lindsay, I hate people who keep a dog outside when its not supposed to be. I understand some dogs live outside and i dont mind that - i feel for the dog really do, also the bichon will be rubbing its nose in it :-(

Vodaberry,

I feel for you, I've lived next door to a barking dog myself.  The one next door to us even barked at our visitors - when they were inside our house as he could see through our living room window   He was a huge rottie mastiff X and was really loud.  Their yard is right next to ours and he was kept there permanently :(    He was getting more and more aggressive when any of us went into our own back garden and my dog was afraid to go out to the toilet, something had to give :(   The owner was as aggressive as the dog so there was no hope there and contacting Environmental health would have caused even more problems with the owner :(    Soooo  - I trained the dog myself :D  Using a clicker I trained him not to bark at us and to be calm when we were in the garden :)  This was a dog I could see but not reach ;)   In the end I taught him to sit, lie down, not bark at us and to settle down :D  and the owner never knew!!  All it took was a clicker, some really tasty treats and some time and patience :D :D :D

Personally, I can never understand the point of having a dog you never bother with except to feed it :(

Hope this helps

I feel sorry for you as well. There are 2 things I don`t understand though..... why do people keep their dogs outside 24/7 and more importantly, why do people keep their dogs INSIDE 24/7 without letting them out to pee or have a nice walk. Dogs are not fish or hamsters!!! They need good exercise every day!!