What Can We Do About Our Neighbour's Noisy Dogs?

Originally written by Jeff Durham, updated by the editorial team on 19th May 2026

Mr Paul Fairless asks

Since our neighbours moved in around 9 months ago we have had constant issues with their dogs continuely barking day and night. They live in a small two bedroom house with a tiny garden and the dogs are labradors.

Their barks are really deep and loud and can be heard easily in our house. Whenever they go out the dogs bark non-top for hours, keeping our one-year-old awake. When they go into the garden it is horrible and they go mad if they hear us at all. What can we do?

Why dogs bark persistently

Living next to a dog that barks for hours on end can be exhausting. Persistent barking usually has an underlying cause, which means it can sometimes be addressed, though resolving the issue is not always straightforward.

Dogs left alone all day while their owners are at work may bark out of boredom or anxiety. Some dogs bark to defend what they see as their territory. Others may have health problems causing them distress, or they may simply never have been trained properly.

Understanding the reason can help when you approach your neighbours about the problem. Under UK law, persistent dog barking can be treated as a statutory nuisance, though this is assessed on a case by case basis by your local council. You do have options if talking does not work.

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Start with a conversation

Before taking any formal steps, speak to your neighbours directly. Many dog owners genuinely have no idea their pet is barking while they are out. A calm, friendly conversation can be enough to prompt them to take action.

Pick a reasonable time to talk and explain what you have been experiencing. Be specific about when the barking happens and how long it lasts. Many people will be willing to address the problem once they know about it, though responses vary.

If speaking face to face feels awkward or you have already tried without success, put your concerns in writing. A polite letter creates a record of your complaint and gives your neighbour clear details to work with. Keep copies of any correspondence for your records.

While waiting for the situation to improve, you might find white noise machines or earplugs helpful for managing the disruption.

Your situation may be slightly different. ask a question below ↓ and our editorial team will reply with our advice.

Getting your local council involved

When informal approaches fail, contact your local council. Most councils have an environmental health team or dog warden service that handles noise complaints involving animals.

You will usually be asked to keep a record of the disturbance. This typically means noting the dates, times, and duration of the barking over a period of two to four weeks. Some councils provide diary sheets or online forms for this purpose.

Council officers may visit to assess the noise themselves. Some councils install monitoring equipment, though this depends on their resources and policies. If they decide the barking amounts to a statutory nuisance, they can serve a notice on your neighbour requiring them to stop the problem. Failure to comply can result in fines.

You can find your local council and their noise complaint process through GOV.UK.

Other options if the problem continues

If you believe the dog is being neglected or is in poor health, you can report this to the RSPCA. They can investigate welfare concerns separately from noise issues.

Mediation can help neighbours reach an agreement without further escalation. This involves a neutral third party helping both sides discuss the problem and find a workable solution together. Many local councils offer free or low cost mediation services for neighbour disputes.

As a last resort, you may be able to take your own legal action through the magistrates' court. This route can be time consuming and may involve costs, so it is usually worth exhausting other options first. A solicitor can advise on whether this step makes sense for your situation.

The Next Step

Now that you have read through the advice above, you might want to put it into practice. Our Noise Complaint Letter Builder lets you generate a formal noise complaint letter ready to send. Takes 2 minutes. Try it now →

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Showing 20 of 207 questions

Ask Problem Neighbours a Question

ProblemNeighbours Editor 21/09/2026 at 10:00 am

@freeflier Since talking to him hasn't worked, start keeping a diary of the noise with dates, times and duration, as you'll need this evidence. Report it to your local council's Environmental Health team as a statutory nuisance; they can investigate and issue a noise abatement notice. It's also worth contacting the RSPCA, as a dog howling for nine hours straight suggests it's distressed at being left alone that long. Keep everything in writing from now on so you have a proper paper trail.

freeflier 21/09/2026 at 9:51 am

I live in a terraced house. My neighbour's dog howls continuously, throughout the day, when he's at work (7:00 to 16:00). I've tried talking to him with no response. What can I do?

ProblemNeighbours Editor 20/05/2026 at 9:15 am

@Drivememad Five dogs in a one bed bungalow does sound well over the limit for most social housing tenancy agreements, so your first port of call should be the housing provider directly. Report it in writing as a breach of tenancy and keep a noise diary with dates and times. Environmental Health at your council can also investigate statutory noise nuisance and serve an abatement notice. The RSPCA may be worth a call too if the dogs sound distressed, as that many in a tiny space raises welfare concerns.

Drivememad 03/02/2024 at 3:39 pm

My neighbors move into a 1 bedroom social housing bungalow next to me he has 5 dogs and they bark for ages anytime of day or night they are driving me crazy . I spoke to him on two occasions but he doesn't care how on earth can rooftop social housing allowed all these dogs in a small bungalow

Agma 02/11/2023 at 6:13 am

I feel for you all, you don't even have to be directly neighbours to be affected by barking dogs, as the sound can be heard for many doors or gardens away, some don't realise it is happening if they are at work. It is a growing problem nationally; there are far too many dogs in this country, far too many. Everywhere you go that is peaceful like parks and coastal walks, people are with dogs on the loose, spoiling enjoyment of others, and you have to watch the floor for dog sh1t.

I am fed up with a lot of them and their owners. Yet not much you can do about noise, the law is vague on sound pollution and councils and police both like to pass the buck, as the police are only interested in realistic criminal cases they can prosecute and councils are not interested. If it's really bad you can move if you are in a position to, or fight back and match them with sound pollution. Entitled neighbours with no concern for others cannot be allowed to get away with their their arrogance. Either way noise pollution inevitably leads to poor neighbourly relations.

James 29/10/2023 at 8:29 pm

No hyperbole - my life has been destroyed by the sound of my neighbour's new dog that barks throughout the morning and afternoon.

I feel as if my home is no longer mine. I'm unable to read or to concentrate, or to think even, whilst the dog whines and squeals in variation.

When did dogs become sacred cows with more rights than human beings? This situation is disgusting. It's time people were protected from dog noise.

richieD 06/10/2023 at 1:17 pm

My neighbours have 2 noisy dogs which were driving me mad. I found the yapup website, and now I have peace and quiet.

Boo Boo 07/09/2023 at 12:48 pm

I live in downstairs flat with a staffie above which barks loudly every day even when communal doors heard, what rights do I have to complain to local council, states in tenancy agreement not usually allowed in top floor flats with communual entrance.

Burgess 09/08/2023 at 8:16 pm

The No.3 neighbours are annoying and they live and stay there for much longer, because Penny barks and runs around their terrace all morning or afternoon, Clive and Emma's daughters invited their friends over and they were outside annoyingly, they've got an annoying new purple sensory swing next door.

What the heck is that, how rude??!!!

We'll buy and move to a new home like The vicarage because we don't want the neighbours like Clive and Emma, daughters and Penny the dog to come to our house at No.4 from next door.

Lala 06/08/2023 at 12:12 am

A few years ago my nephew was mauled by a Staffordshire terrier. He survived but till this day is still under going skin grafting and therapy. Now 2023, a similar dog has moved in next door, the owner doesn’t seem be a serious owner, she lets it run out the house, she doesn’t always have it on a lead. I have 3 year olds and a 1 year old and I’m terrified something will happen to them.

Syllabub 23/06/2023 at 2:51 pm

Someone down the street has recently acquired a dog. It yaps/barks all of the time and if it sees me it growls. Luckily it's behind a gate but it is intimidating and the incessant noise pollution is so annoying. My immediate neighbours on both sides are young but so considerate. If they hold parties they let me know beforehand and the music never goes on beyond midnight. I can handle that just fine but not the dog. It's yapping now.

Dan 09/06/2023 at 11:18 pm

Hi, Smitch just wondering if it may be perhaps the same neighbour - leeds may I ask? Myself and the wife hope you are safe and well

smitch 13/03/2023 at 4:12 pm

Update to my recent post. I have put my house up for sale. I cannot live like this for the rest of my life. The neighbours dogs have been barking constantly all day. They are young and need exercise.Its cruel to leave animals all day, but judging by the state of her house, she just doesnt care, and If I get into a confrontation with her, it could affect my sale. So I have to tolerate it until I move. I hope its before summer, so I dont have to put up with her dogs barking all day in the tiny backyards we have. There is no point trying to talk to her politely, have tried that, she just looks straight through you. Just does not care about anything.

Lollipop 06/03/2023 at 7:30 am

So two weeks ago, me and my family just moved in to a small apartment, and it wasn’t a big surprise to me that we were living with a neighbor that lives on a floor below us with a dog that was constantly barking, until it became a serious problem. You see, this neighbor’s dog barks very excessively 24/7 and It was preventing me from getting any sleep last night! And that didn’t stop there, this dog was barking so persistently that it interfered with how I was doing in school, I thought the only way to stop this never ending cycle was to buy noise cancelling headphones so that way I can get back to sleeping every night like I am supposed to, but that didn’t work either! So I decided to write a letter to the neighbor explaining how his annoying dog was preventing me from getting the sleep that I need. But of course, he ignored it for good. Any advice on how to get out of this painful nuisance that my neighbor is putting me through?

Smitch 23/01/2023 at 11:58 pm

I recently moved into a terraced house where all the neighbours are in our late 60s-70s, but there is one younger neighbour who's dogs bark constantly and she is forever banging doors and thumping about with no respect for anyone. We've tried in jokey ways to tell her about the noise, but she seems oblivious to it. She doesn't work and obviously lies in bed all day and then starts hammering and drilling after 6pm until.late. I for one can't live like this in my retirement. Im going to have to move again at a cost I can't afford, but my sanity is more important.

Joey 01/09/2022 at 10:01 pm

Answer to this problem- Stop breeding. Restart dog licences. Obligatory training for dogs AND owners. Don't pass the test, not fit to have a dog.

33 mcgee 10/07/2022 at 5:17 pm

Nothing abit of poison wont fix. Just make sure no cats eat it :)

Pongo 07/06/2022 at 9:08 pm

I totally understand Poppy, it’s like you have wrote exactly the same as us…… we have lived in this house over 10 years. We have four children and two have left to there own properties. We have two children at home the youngest 9 who’s as quiet as a mouse… my child is not noisy and as been raised well mannered and respectful like you have raised yours… anyway our neighbours have become the neighbours from hell… 3 kids - younger adults - two dogs - father in law also lives there in the 3 bedroom terrace !!!!! The husband drinks and drives I’ve witnessed him getting out the car and not being able to walk !!!!! They slam doors constantly…. Dogs barking day and night… slamming the front door to the point of the house literally shakes …. Shouting at each other… dog pop in the back garden… front garden like a jungle…… it’s got so bad that we selling our house…. We have worked mentally and physically to get this house up and running … I was worken up at 11.30 Sunday night from the shouting and aggressive in the daughters tone….. and this is a regular occurrence….. my husband works late and sometimes didn’t get in till the early hours to be greeted by the sound of constant barking !!
I want to move to the country in a detached house away from all this noise …. I hate it

Poppy 28/04/2022 at 12:54 pm

I am fed up with our neighbours dog and children. We have lived here 9 years, downsizing when 2 of our 3 children left home. We're not old just 50, easy going and will help anyone. We've always been considerate and friendly neighbours without noses in other people's business. Our children were never forward or annoying, just respectful and polite, its how we were brought up. Just after lockdown ended a family moved in next door. When welcoming them the husband said "we are the family with a dog that barks and noisy children who want everything" I laughed as I thought he was joking. Boy was I wrong! the dog barks and howls the moment they go out. Its not the dogs fault he's lonely, if someone's with him he's quiet. If its not the dog then its the 6 Yr old stomping , shouting and screaming because he wants his way.
I love both dogs and children. We've had dogs from when our own children were very small and our eldest is almost 30, our little terrier died last month aged 14, she barked if someone knocked on the door but settled down straight away. All our dogs were like that. I work in social services so can work at home or office. I prefer office because the barking and screeching puts me off my work. Teams meetings were horrendous . But I'm more worried for my husband. The barking keeps him awake when he's trying to get his sleep. He drives a HGV overnight. The neighbours know he works nights and that he drives an artic up and down the country. Another neighbour approached them over the barking and they admitted they knew. I'm starting to feel so resentful with their lack of respect for my husbands welfare. I have to bite my tongue and can barely look at them because if I lose it, I will lose it big time.I love my garden and in good weather both of us like to sit out. Their 6 yr old kid constantly calls out demanding us to watch him or stands on his slide looking over our wall. We humour him at first, but then we just want to relax and spend time with each other as we often just cross paths with work. His parents never step in, he's so spoiled and never told no, then he starts to wind the dog up. The other 2 children are fine. Sorry for the rant, but I feel so helpless. I love my home. We were flooded in 2015 and lost everything. We have worked hard to rebuild and dont want to move. But this is making us consider it. Just like another poster said, who would want to live next door to a barking dog a nightmare child and new age parents who won't say no to their kid.

PS24 03/04/2022 at 8:52 pm

We live in what WAS a nice area...this one neighbour dumps the dog in a kennel all day often for up to 8 hours and it's non-stop barking. Spoke to him & he denied it of course..became rude and condescending & now makes a big drama about glaring at me...the dog continues to be left in a kennel barking most days while they go off out on outings it's disgusting. All lively in lockdown but now the hog is just an inconvenience to them. We just want to move from here but who the heck will buy our house listening to that infernal row?

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