Aggressive Dog Training Sydney – Help With Council Notices
If your dog has been involved in an incident and you’ve received (or expect) a council Notice of Intention, you may be facing strict conditions and tight timeframes. We provide calm, practical guidance and behaviour support to help you respond appropriately and improve safety.
What to do if you receive a Notice of Intention (Dangerous or Menacing Dog)
Act quickly and stay organised. In many cases, there is a short window to respond. The most effective responses typically include clear facts, supporting documentation, and a professional behaviour plan.
- Read the notice carefully and note any deadlines, conditions, and required actions.
- Document everything (dates, incident description, context, photos, fencing/enclosure details, vet notes if relevant).
- Arrange a behavioural assessment to identify triggers and provide a practical management and training plan.
- Implement immediate safety steps (management, supervision, containment, controlled handling).
- Prepare a clear written response (where applicable) that includes your safety plan and professional support.
TL;DR
- If you’ve received a council notice, you may have a limited timeframe to respond.
- A structured behaviour assessment and safety plan can materially strengthen your position and reduce risk.
- We provide in-home support across Greater Sydney, help you understand typical requirements, and deliver ongoing behaviour modification.
Local Council Notice of Intention: What it means
An aggressive incident and the aftermath can be overwhelming. While emotions can run high, it’s important to respond calmly and take practical steps to improve safety and demonstrate responsible management.
Key points (general guidance)
- Official process: Councils may issue a notice before making a formal classification decision.
- Timeframes matter: Notices often include a short response window—confirm the deadline stated in your letter.
- Evidence helps: Behavioural assessments and veterinary input (where relevant) can support a structured response.
- Inaction can escalate outcomes: If you do not respond (where a response is permitted), the matter may proceed based on available information.
Our role: help you interpret the practical meaning of the notice, implement immediate safety measures, and develop a behaviour plan that addresses the underlying causes of aggression.
Dangerous vs Menacing: simple comparison
Definitions and thresholds can vary by jurisdiction and circumstances. This is a simplified overview—confirm with your local council.
| Classification | Typical trigger | Common focus |
|---|---|---|
| Menacing | Unreasonable aggression or an incident without the most severe outcomes | Risk reduction, containment, handling controls, behaviour plan |
| Dangerous | Serious incident history or higher assessed risk | Stricter control requirements, documented compliance, ongoing management |
| Nuisance / control orders | Behaviour impacting neighbours/community (varies) | Behaviour modification + management to prevent recurrence |
If an order is made: typical requirements councils may impose
- Containment / enclosure: secure property containment to prevent escape and reduce risk.
- Handling controls: lead control and, in some cases, a muzzle when outside the property.
- Signage / identification: warning signage or specific identification requirements may apply.
- Supervision rules: restrictions on who may control the dog in public settings.
- Permits / fees: some classifications include ongoing administrative requirements.
At DogTech®, we work with you to prioritise safety, support compliance actions, and implement rehabilitation strategies designed to improve behaviour and reduce the likelihood of future incidents.
Why engage DogTech®
Practical support
- We come to you (in-home sessions across Greater Sydney)
- Clear, step-by-step guidance during a stressful situation
- Immediate management steps to reduce risk quickly
Council-ready approach
- Behaviour assessment and written recommendations (as appropriate)
- Help you understand typical council expectations and documentation
- Ongoing behaviour modification and owner coaching
How we reduce aggression (assessment + behaviour modification)
Aggression is rarely “one thing”. It often involves a combination of triggers, stress, learned responses, environment, handling patterns, and the dog’s underlying emotional state.
Our structured approach
- Behavioural history & incident review: what happened, where, who was involved, and what preceded the event.
- Trigger identification: strangers entering the home, resource guarding, dog-to-dog reactivity, fear responses, pain/discomfort, confinement stress, etc.
- Immediate safety plan: containment, controlled exposure, management routines, and handling rules for the household.
- Rehabilitation & training plan: calm skill-building, confidence development, and progressive behaviour change.
- Owner coaching: practical routines so improvements hold in real life, not just during sessions.
We utilise our WhisperWise® methodology—grounded in dog psychology, gentle instruction, and calm rehabilitation—to identify why aggression is occurring and how to reduce it safely.
Service area: Greater Sydney
We provide in-home support across the Greater Sydney region. If you are outside Sydney, contact us to discuss availability and options.
- In-home sessions
- Behaviour assessment and practical plan
- Ongoing behaviour modification support
Enquire now
If you’re dealing with a council notice or an aggressive incident, you don’t have to manage it alone. Submit the form below and we’ll outline next steps, availability, and how we can help you reduce risk and move forward with a practical plan.
- In-home assessment (Greater Sydney)
- Immediate safety plan
- Behaviour modification strategy + owner coaching
If there is an immediate safety risk, prioritise containment and contact relevant emergency services or local authorities as appropriate.
We Make Meaningful Transformations
I almost decided to put my best friend down after him being declared a dangerous dog,
Richard gave me hope and walked me through the overwhelming process of owning a dangerous dog.
Richard explained how his aggression was anxiety now we are living a more peaceful life thanks to dog tech.
For those at their wits’ end with a dog who seems out of control – please contact Richard! Our 2 year old German Shepherd has been increasingly agitated over strangers coming into the house. He rushed out into the driveway when a mobile mechanic was over, who got spooked and hit him twice on the head. Our dog ended up biting his arm resulting in 2 puncture wounds. The shock over his behaviour and the stress of dealing with the council drove us to contact Richard. He helped us through it every step of the way – we had two 3-hour sessions with him where he advised us on how to approach the council and what to expect, as well as working with our dog. His understanding of dog behaviour is incredible. He figured out why our dog was agitated and aggressive and implemented a training plan around rebuilding our relationship with him so that he feels more secure and confident. He also outlined the immediate steps we should take to maximise our chances of our dog’s sentence from the council (dog bites can cause him to be labelled as a dangerous or menace dog, as well as hefty fines in the tens of thousands). Following his advice, our dog was not labelled a dangerous or menace dog. Even if he had been, Richard assured us that we would work through it together. Our dog has been more calm than he has been since he was a puppy. Thank you for giving us the confidence and ease of mind that life with our dog doesn’t need to be stressful and anxiety-inducing!
