How to report a barking dog in Scotland

When barking becomes a nuisance

Barking is natural, and mygov.scot says hearing occasional barking from a neighbour’s dog is normal. It can become a nuisance when it:

• happens often,
• lasts for a long time, or
• interferes with day to day life.

There is no fixed number of minutes. If you live in England or Wales, the rules are different: see the England and Wales guide.

Talk to the owner first

The quickest way to sort it out is usually a conversation. Use it to:

• tell them how the barking affects you,
• talk about how it could be reduced,
• agree on something that suits you both.

You could also write a letter that explains the situation and sticks to the facts. Keep a copy. The barking dog letter generator writes a friendly one. Don’t approach them on your own if you are worried about your safety.

Keep a diary

If it keeps happening, keep a record. mygov.scot suggests writing down:

• what happened,
• the dates and times it happened,
• the impact it had on you.

That record helps with mediation or the council. The printable bark diary has a column for each.

Mediation

If talking doesn’t work, you could suggest mediation: an independent person helps you both decide what to do. mygov.scot lists where to find a mediator, including SACRO’s community mediation for neighbourhood disputes (in Aberdeen, Musselburgh, Kirkcaldy, Elgin and Perth) and Scottish Mediation, the membership body for mediators. Sometimes there is a charge, depending on the service.

Reporting it to the council

You can report noise to your local council, and mygov.scot lists excessive dog barking as an example. Find your council from the dog barking page. The council will advise you on how to resolve it, and it may also:

• help arrange mediation,
• issue a fine, usually a fixed penalty notice,
• issue a notice demanding that the noise stops or is limited.

Some councils have an antisocial behaviour team that deals with certain noise complaints. Councils can also apply to the court for an Antisocial Behaviour Order.

Applying to the court yourself

Under section 49(2) of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982, a court can order the keeper of an animal to take steps to stop it, short of having it destroyed, if the animal is giving someone reasonable cause for annoyance where they live. Anyone can apply, and ignoring the order is an offence.

Scottish Government guidance from 2004 describes how it works: you apply on a set form, and if the court thinks there is reasonable cause for annoyance, it sets a hearing that you and the owner both attend. If the court agrees, it issues an order. Breaches go to the police, who can report the owner to the Procurator Fiscal. The same guidance calls the process lengthy. Get advice first, for example from a solicitor.

When to call the police

Barking complaints go to the council. The police deal with criminal behaviour such as violence, threats or harassment. Call 999 if a crime is in progress or someone is in danger, or 101 if it isn’t an emergency.

Keep a record

A phone can keep the log while you sleep. Left near a shared wall or window, DogQuiet logs each bark it hears with the time, how long it lasted and a short clip, and makes a PDF report. It is an approximate record, not proof: it can miss a bark or log another sound. Keep your own diary alongside it, and ask the council what they accept.

Elsewhere in the UK

Other countries: New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Phoenix, Dallas, Philadelphia, Seattle, Denver, Toronto, Calgary, Vancouver, New South Wales, Victoria, Brisbane. The general steps, the evidence officials ask for and when to call the police are in how to report a barking dog.

Sources

Official pages this guide is based on, all read in October 2026:

1. mygov.scot. Dog barking. mygov.scot/dog-barking
2. mygov.scot. Make a noise complaint. mygov.scot/make-noise-complaint
3. mygov.scot. Report antisocial behaviour. mygov.scot/report-antisocial-behaviour
4. mygov.scot. Instead of going to court. mygov.scot/alternatives-to-court
5. legislation.gov.uk. Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982, section 49. legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1982/45/section/49
6. Scottish Government. Antisocial Behaviour etc. (Scotland) Act 2004: noise nuisance guidance, annexes. gov.scot/publications/antisocial-behaviour-etc-scotland-act-2004-guidance-noise-nuisance/pages/4/