An Eastern Bay council has received almost 1,400 complaints about dogs in the last year.

The Whakatane District Council's released  its annual report for dog control.

1,386 complaints have been made to the council in the year to June, up from just over 1,200 the year before.

There have been almost 200 complaints about barking dogs, with the number of wandering dogs also increasing to 678.

However the number of reports of attacking or aggressive dogs has dropped, with 81 recorded this year, compared with 135 to June 2009.

More than 6,000 dogs are registered in the Whakatane district - of those, 90 are classified as menacing, with a further 13 recorded as being dangerous.

These dogs have to wear reflective collars, so the public knows not to approach them.

Community Regulation Manager, Graeme Lewer says as far as he's aware the council's the only one in New Zealand with this requirement.