BARKING DOGS

It's not illegal for dogs to bark at night, but if they are causing you problems you can denounce the owners. It will cost you a fee, and they will receive a visit from the police and possibly a fine. The procedures for making a denuncia are outlined here: Página oficial de la DGP-Denuncias Comisaría

However it's much better to go and talk to your neighbours, as they may not even be aware there's a problem. As others have said, barking dogs are just part of the landscape here.

Please note.    A report (denuncia) re noisy dog can not be made to National Police (DGP).   

The competent authority to which to report noisy dogs is the  Policía Local, where they exist, or the Guardia Civil outside major towns if no Policía Local  exist in that location.

NB       The reference shown by  SimCity relates to only certain allegations of CRIMES (not including non crimes like noisy dogs etc.). 

One can supply information by telephone (902 101 112 in several languages) or on the internet, and then go a NATIONAL POLICE STATION (Comisaria) where the info previously supplied, can be used when one in fact is making a crime report (denuncia).Note that does not include Guardia Civil Barracks.

No actual report exists until the report on paper is signed at a National Police station (usually within 48 hours of the call, although that can be extended to at least up to 6 months),      If one does not do that  no report exists.

Thank you John, if you go to the trouble of completing a report, does anything really happen.

I spoke to my neighbours and they suggested I also get a dog and in fact offered to sell me one.

Rupert Baldry QC wrote:

Thank you John, if you go to the trouble of completing a report, does anything really happen..

If it does not,  then ask for (insist on) hojas de reclamaciones (complaints forms).  Should be no problem for a QC with chambers in Pump Court.

The police must have them just like all other establishments-  From experience I know they work very well, even with the police.

I have denounced a neighbour over a Rottweiler chained 40metres from my guest room (I have an alojamiento) windows. Action was taken and if not adhered to the owner can face considerable fines. I do not understand why there are 'dog rescue' goody goodies in Spain. The campo is overrun with dogs and shooting parties just leave them behind if they finish a shoot and the dog has not returned. 'Rescue' dogs will end up chained to a tree to annoy other people and the less dogs kept the better as far as I am concerned. It is also a requirement that dogs are micro chipped and if not they can be seized. The Policia are duty bound to respond to a denuncier!

Ok.... I live in the campo and have 10k mtrs and 5 dogs.... 5 lovely dogs that have the freedom of my garden and also to discourage unwanted guests... 1 of the dogs is by its breed is a dog of protection...and if it hears or sees anyone/other dogs close to the fence, will bark as a warning.... until the threat goes away.

At night, all the dogs are kept in a large purpose built kennel at the furthest point from any neighbour....

During the day, they have the run of the land (fully fenced)...

My neighbour ( who has 5/6 dogs herself...small yappies) complains that my dog/s bark too much... as said, one will bark if her dogs bark or she is close to the shared boundary...

To ensure the dogs don't meet at the fence, I built a "2nd" fence 5 mtrs in to form a barrier..... however dogs have very good hearing and will on occasions bark for 10/20 secs if they hear her dogs or her close to the fence.... she thinks all dogs should be silent!

Am I a bad owner? The dogs are there for companionship and protection ( 3 break-ins last year in a close neighbours house)....Dogs need to be dogs.....

Views?

We used to live in the centre of Cartagena. Drunks singing their way home at 3am. The general hubbub of people all evening/night long. It was never a problem.

Nowadays we live in a rural area. Silence reigns until the dog goes woof, woof, yap, yap, woof, woof. Twenty seconds later the dog goes  woof, woof, yap, yap, woof, woof. Every twenty seconds it goes woof, woof, yap, yap, woof, woof. It's a right royal pain in the ar@e.

Cartagena was much easier to cope with.

No one should expect a dog to never bark. That's as unreasonable as expecting a child to never talk. But some dogs bark excessively. If that's a problem in your home, the first step is figuring out what causes your dog to bark too much. Once you know why he is barking, you can start to treat his barking problem.

Why Dogs Bark

Barking is one type of vocal communication that dogs use, and it can mean different things depending on the situation. Here are some reasons why dogs bark:

Territorial/Protective: When a person or an animal comes into an area your dog considers his territory, that often triggers excessive barking. As the threat gets closer, the barking often gets louder. Your dog will look alert and even aggressive during this type of barking.

Alarm/Fear: Some dogs bark at any noise or object that catches their attention or startles them. This can happen anywhere, not just in their home territory.

Boredom/Loneliness: Dogs are pack animals. Dogs left alone for long periods, whether in the house or in the yard, can become bored or sad and often will bark because they are unhappy.

Greeting/Play: Dogs often bark when greeting people or other animals. It's usually a happy bark, accompanied with tail wags and sometimes jumping.

Attention Seeking: Dogs often bark when they want something, such as going outside, playing, or getting a treat.

Separation Anxiety/Compulsive Barking: Dogs with separation anxiety often bark excessively when left alone. They also usually exhibit other symptoms as well, such as pacing, destructiveness, depression, and inappropriate elimination. Compulsive barkers seem to bark just to hear the sound of their voices. They also often make repetitive movements as well, such as running in circles or along a fence.
How to Treat Excessive Barking

Getting your dog to bark less will take time, work, practice, and consistency. It won't happen overnight, but with proper techniques and time, you can see progress.

Here are a few tips to remember as you start your efforts to control your dog's barking.

    Shouting stimulates your dog to bark more because he thinks you're joining in. So the first rule is to speak calmly and firmly, but don't yell, which Spanish may find difficult.
    Most dogs don't know what you want when you're yelling at them to “shut up.” So train your dog to understand the word “Quiet!” a word not listed in Spain.

Nice reply.... my dogs bark only when they feel their territory is under threat...or as you say startled by a sudden noise. I time them sometimes...15 secs at most and then only repeat if the threat is still there... We encourage them to return with treats (carrot).... but dogs will be dogs!

Formal training has socialised them and are very friendly with visitors and those introduced to them in our company....The Estrela does not like my neighbour or their dogs and tells them so if they come near our fence or make loud noises - tried talking to the neighours, but they insist on staying 1 mtr from my fence and not in the 23,000 sq mtrs they own

Expert Spain..and others....all very interesting but does not give one ounce of comfort to anybody suffering from barking dogs. I have many dogs within a 100metre radius of my property which is also a guest house, making the problem a scourge on my business too.

As far as I am concerned dog owners (most, if not all in my experience) are like smokers. They enjoy having a fag and don't give a shit about those who have to tolerate their residues and litter. Yes, it is the owners of the dogs at fault, if not just for having one of these damned shit-machines in the first place. Yes, I have to clean up my gateways almost every day. Spraying the area with ammoniaca helps and if it happens to spray the dog too there is a level of satisfaction!! Dogs bark for no reason at all other than to annoy other people. Why do feral dogs bark?? They can't be bored...they have acres of space, and surely barking could frighten away their next dinner. Dogs here bark at cyclists, cars, cats, walkers, leaves that blow in the wind and..nothing..if there is nothing to bark at!! If an owner cannot teach its dog not to bark it should not have a dog..and that can be arranged!! Annoy the ayuntamiento every time there is a problem and something will happen. I have even told the ayuntamiento that I will deal with the problem if they don't, and it will not be nice. They will act!!

My dog only barks at things that can't possibly fight back and that he is sure he can't catch like airplanes and birds. He can't see things like foxes and big dogs.  I don't hear the barking anymore.  Dogs bark dogs are legal.  There really is no solution other than suck it up.

@edpsych Thats a very one sided view of things. When you decide to take a dog, it is your responsibility. Also if the dog makes noise and annoys other people.  You should have thought about these consequences before you decided to take a dog. It is the same thing that when taking a car you should be a responsible driver and not be drunk in the car and be hazard to people. In that case you also don't say. Yeah that goes with the car.

My neighbors dog barked day or night when the owner left her apt. I lived above her and it drove me crazy. finally I went down and talked to her, and she was unaware, as when she was there it never barked. As she was a good neighbor and this was an apt. building, she agreed to put a muzzle on the dog when she went out. Problem solved.

@CasaQuince

I agree with you 100%. If I woke up tomorrow morning and every bloody shit machine dog had dropped dead, I'd be the happiest human on the planet.

@yumdum hi I have two rescue dogs and they are free to go in and out of the house in the day and sleep in there own bed in my room at night. They bark occasionally when I am home and they are called in. When I am not home which is probably a few hours at the weekend they have barking issues. I have anti bark collars I have tried the anti bark devices for the garden and calming drops but still get complaints I don't know what else to do

I don't believe you are a bad dog owner and I don't believe I am as you say dogs will bark and we have both done what we can to try and solve

@Jaykayideas hi interested in what you did to train your dog not to bark thank you

@CasaQuince Did you manage to sort the dog issues out? I can't stand dogs and it's putting me off moving to Spain, but I'm so desperate to leave the *** English climate and cost of living. I read recently that there's a new Spanish law coming in summer 23 , where you can't leave a dog out at night barking. Still means you've got to listen to them through the day. [Moderated]

Hello Mackiemarc,

Welcome on board !

Please note that the last visit of this member was 2 years ago. Not sure he/she will respond. I hope someone will.

All the best

Bhavna

Interesting post Mackie.

Would be surprised if Spain dosnt have cost of living hike too.

But do agree with you about the English weather.

Wiping out man's best friend, really?