East Yorkshire: Council counsels over barking dogs

East Riding Council said it would fine owners up to £5,000 if their dogs barked for “prolonged periods” after receiving 470 complaints last year.

But it suggested they should not always intervene to stop the barking.

While threatening to get tough by serving abatement notices on the owners of noisy dogs, the council also gave a number of tips, including: “Do not give the dog praise or treats to keep it quiet. If it is barking to get attention, ignore it until you want to give it attention on your own terms.”

Dave Howliston, environmental control manager, said: “We are continuing to be as tough as we were last year when we investigated 470 complaints of disturbance from barking dogs.

“There is no excuse for allowing a dog to continually keep barking and it can be worse in summer when neighbours have doors and windows open on sunny days. Dogs bark, it is in the nature of the beast, but what cannot be tolerated is continuous, prolonged barking day after day.”