Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi,

I have a problem with my dog waking up in the middle of the night and barking. He has done this on a few occasions but more recently 3 times within the last week. It also seems to be around 3.00 am. One day it was 3.00am and another 2.45am. The first time this happened my father went downstairs and took the dog out for a few minutes. He went for a wee then my father brought him back in, put him to sleep and he was fine. The next two times my father went downstairs and just ignored him. And he stopped himself.

I am not sure if this is a problem because he drinks water at night and needs to go for a wee? or if he hears a noise and begins to bark? Maybe he is not recieving enough exercise? Should i not give him any water at night? He sleeps under my sisters room and she has to go to school the next day so its a problem. He only barks for 5 or 10 minutes then stops. What should i do as its causing a problem and disrupting my sisters sleep. Should i use a shock collar? Any advice would be good.

Thanks.

I wouldn't use a shock collar, but the other methods you mentioned--making sure he gets plenty of exercise and limiting water intake right before bed would be good methods to try. If possible, a long walk right before bed would tire your dog out (and provide time to potty).

If this is happening at the same time every day, it might be habit. (I know if I wake up at 4:00 in the morning one day and get up to go to the bathroom, I'm more likely to wake up at that same time every day.) So, I'd limit the water right before bed, take a long walk before bed, and not get up when/if he barks. The attention will reinforce the behavior.

Good luck!

If it's always around the same time, could be a neighbour coming home late from work or something. Or a neighbours dog with bad habits that'll get him worked up. But I wouldn't really discipline him or anything, what if it's someone trying to break into your house one of these days....

Well he is now 10 months old so i am pretty sure he should have bladder control. Correct me if i am wrong.

I have heard mixed views of whether or not i should teach my dog how to bark on command. Some people have told me once you teach them how to bark on command, they will bark a lot more and bark whenever they want anything?

Others have said you should teach him to bark on command and stop on command and then he will only bark when you tell him to and stop when you tell him to. The other thing is when he barks it sometimes sounds like a small growl too? Is that normal?