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Loud music and barking dogs are annoying lots of people in Swansea

Document Cited in Related
Vincent
Published date04 February 2021
Publication titleWalesOnline (Wales)
Swansea Council had 4,175 music complaints in 2017-18, 2018-19 and 2019-20 -the equivalent of nearly four a day.

It also received 2,554 dog barking gripes during the same period. Meanwhile, noisy drilling and banging led to 197 DIY noise complaints.

The council has urged householders to be considerate neighbours, especially during the coronavirus pandemic when so many more people are at home.

And canine behaviourist Karen Kirkwood said there were techniques dog owners could deploy to try to reduce their pets' barking.

"But the big question is why the dog is barking," she said. "That would be my first line of questioning to owners.

"It could be because they're alone, frightened or being territorial. It could be boredom, frustration. Some dogs bark because they're in pain.

"It can be self-rewarding. They can get pleasure out of barking, increasing serotonin levels in their brain.

Mrs Kirkwood, of J and R Dog Training, Killay, added: "It's their only form of communication, and barks differ in tone."

Asked if certain breeds tended to bark more than others, Mrs Kirkwood certain smaller breeds were a bit "yappy", particularly some cross-breeds.

Jugs -a pug-Jack Russell cross -have become popular, but Mrs Kirkwood said there might be more Jack Russell than the generally quieter pug in any given dog.

"If there's more Jack than pug in a Jug, you can get a little 'barky' dog rather than a placid dog," she said.

Mrs Kirkwood added that owners can, with help, teach their dog...

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