Folk in a flap over noisy pets

FOLK are getting into a flap about noisy dogs and boisterous birds.

Councils have received 2,500 complaints in the past two years — including about crowing cockerels and clucking chickens.

Noisy dog complaints make up the majority of the figures although hens, ducks and parrots have stirred up a row.

The figures were released following a freedom of information request about complaints made against noisy animals.

Dog behaviourist Carolyn Menteith said it is often a wave of boredom that drives pet dogs to make so much noise.

Carolyn, who was named Britain’s Instructor of the Year in 2015, said: “Dogs are a social species and they like being with us and having their family around them but if you leave a dog alone for eight to 10 hours a day they will bark.

“They’ll also be bored rigid and at this time of year it’s even worse as people don’t exercise their dogs enough because it’s wet and horrible.”

In Dundee there were 286 noisy dog complaints in 2014-15 with one complaint against a cockerel and one against another bird. The latest figure available for last year put noisy dog complaints at 214 with just one other complaint against a bird.

In Fife there were 763 noisy dog complaints in 2014-15 and five calls about cockerels, hens, ducks and parrots. The figure dropped to 595 noisy dog complaints last year with nine complaint calls about other animals.