Dog owners have been warned that they could be fined up to £1,000 if their pets seriously disturb their neighbours with non-stop barking.
According to Kennel Store, dogs bark for many reasons - they may be trying to alert you of danger or communicating that they want to play.
But it is important not to let the consistent noise become a problem for neighbours.
It comes as a Derby woman's dog was taken from her care last week, after neighbours were forced to endure months of the pooch's howling throughout the night.
The endless disturbance negatively impacted the neighbours' well being and mental health.
Earlier this year, the owner was handed a "significant" fine, but the animal was eventually seized as she could no longer control it.
Under Government's guidance, councils are obliged to investigate claims regarding noise.
If a report is made to the council about a dog, the owner is given a week to try and aid the problem, reports Wales Online.
Failure to do so, means the owner could be handed a Fixed Penalty Notice of up to £110.
Failure to pay can lead to prosecution, with a maximum fine of up to £1,000 for dwellings and an unlimited amount for licensed premises.
According to Google Trends, there has been a 700% increase in searches for "why is my dog barking at night all of a sudden", together with a 350% increase in searches for "how much exercise does a dog need everyday."
Dog experts Kennel Store have offered some tips on how to keep your dog under better control.
How to control your dog's barking
- Ensure you're not rewarding the barking - make sure you don't tell your pet they're a "good dog" and reward them with treats if they're being noisy, as it will only encourage the behaviour. Instead, only reward the dog when it's being quiet, as it will associate treats with good behaviour.
- Don't raise your voice at your dog - even if you feel the need to shout - make sure you don't - as they may think you're joining in with them which could cause them to get louder. Try and figure out what is causing the barking, and see if you can remove the stimulus in attempt to make things a little quieter.
- Make sure your dog has a routine - a bored dog, with no structure, is more likely to behave destructively. Try and ensure your dog has regular exercise, set meal times and scheduled play times to enable the pooch to become more relaxed.
- Train your dog to become desensitised to barking triggers - if you come to notice a pattern of triggers that is leading your dog to bark, it's vital to train them not to react to them unnecessarily. Certain dogs are particularly reactive, so this is something to bear in mind when training your dog. You need to do this in stages, and with a lot of patience. You can also bring in a specialist if you think you need extra help.
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