Barking dogs
Barking dogs can be a nuisance for people who live nearby.
If your neighbour has a dog that barks a lot, there are a few steps you need to take before we are able to take action.
Step 1: Talk to your neighbour
As a first step, you should talk to your neighbour about the issue. They may not be aware that their dog barks a lot. If you don’t feel comfortable talking to them, you can leave them a note instead.
Step 2: Dog barking diary
If the dog barking continues after you have spoken to your neighbour, the second step is to complete a dog barking diary.
To do this, you will need to:
- identify the address the dog lives at
- keep track of the dog’s barking for two weeks, noting every time the dog barks and for how long
- send your completed diary to mail@wyndham.vic.gov.au.
Our animal management officers will only investigate once these steps have been taken.
Dealing with a barking dog (including diary) (PDF 517KB)
Wandering dogs
Loose dogs can be a danger to themselves and to others. It’s important to report a dog at large so we can help reunite them with their owner.
If you see a dog on the loose on your property or in a public place, call us on 1300 023 411.
Tell us:
- a general description of the dog including colour and breed (if known)
- where you saw the dog
- any other helpful details, like which way the dog was heading down a street.
Dog attacks
If you see a dog attack a person or another animal, let us know straight away by calling 1300 023 411.
This service is available 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.
Tell us:
- a general description of the attacking dog including colour and breed (if known)
- a description of the dog’s owner (including car registration if seen)
- the location of the attack
- the time and date of the attack.
You should also take photographs of any injuries or wounds and keep records of any visits to a doctor or vet as a result of the attack.
Whatever information you provide will help us investigate the attack.
If your dog attacks a person or pet
You are legally and financially responsible for any dogs in your control, whether you own them or not.
For more information about penalties for dog attacks, see the Animal Welfare Victoria website.