A diary you can use today
Free barking dog diary template: printable and CSV
Start with a simple record of what you heard. No account or app is needed to use these templates.
What to write down
Record the date, observed start and finish, time zone, pauses, possible source, weather if relevant, impact and your notes. Use a new row for a separate observation. Do not fill the gaps from memory as if you were there.
A fictional example
13 September · 06:12–06:18 · Australia/Sydney
Intermittent barking heard from the back garden; exact source unknown. Several quiet pauses. Woke me while I was sleeping. Heard from the bedroom with the window closed.
Illustrative user observation, not a detected event or an actual complaint.
How to use the files
Open the CSV in a spreadsheet and add a row for each observation. The printable version includes blank rows and fields for your report period. Use your browser’s Print command to print it or save it as a PDF.
When you did not hear barking
If you were present and heard none, say so and record the period you observed. If you were absent, asleep or the phone was not listening, mark the coverage as unknown. Neither situation should automatically become a claim that the dog was silent.
Check your council’s own form
This is a general diary, not an official council form. Use the requested form if your council provides one. Our Australian guide links to examples of local requirements.