House arrest for barking dog after complaints

The authorities want Soprano the doberman put under house arrest, but his owner says that is not feasible.

Their Governors Bay neighbours told the Christchurch City Council they were at their wits’ end and Soprano’s ‘‘incessant’’ barking had forced them from their homes.

A council dog control act hearing panel met in June after Soprano’s owner, Bradley Tuhi, objected to a notice requiring him to take all reasonable steps to stop the barking.

Tuhi believed Soprano was being unfairly blamed for all the barking.

The hearings panel has since decided Soprano must be kept inside the house. He can be outside when someone is home but only if wearing an ‘‘effective electronic barking prevention collar’’.

Tuhi said it was ‘‘unrealistic and not feasible’’ to expect a dog like Soprano to be inside all the time.

He did not favour a barking prevention collar, but said he would consider it if there were no other options available.

However, Tuhi was hoping Soprano, who was now

14-months-old, had grown out of it: there had been no complaints of barking for a number of weeks.

Council regulatory compliance head Tracey Weston said the council had not received any further complaints since the hearing on June 21.

If Tuhi did not comply with the abatement notice he risked a

$1500 fine.

If the council received another substantiated complaint about Soprano, the dog may be removed.

The panel said the barking prevention collar could be one that delivered citronella spray, water, air pressure, high frequency sound or a shock if necessary.

Contacted by The Press, the founder of Kuri, a dog wellbeing and training company, Geoff Bowers, said it saddened him that electronic collars were still be advocated for as a way to train dogs. It took time to train dogs to stop barking, but it could be done without electronic collars, Bowers said.

The panel suggested Soprano go to a dog day care facility capable of managing his barking and separation anxiety.