So I woke Bob up at 4am took him out for toilet and came back upstairs to bed. Bob obviously went back to sleep then woke at 5.15am and basically barked until 6.30am. Pretty much constantly. Our neighbours must be SO annoyed with us. I didn't come down at all... eventually he went quiet until 7.20am. I came down then and took him out.. he didn't need to go to toilet. Am I doing the right thing? Shall I persevere with just ignoring him? I thought about putting a kong in his crate when I put him back at 4am? Thank you, sorry back to this topic again... I'm a bit worried that we are going to start getting complaints....
Re: Barking getting worse.... I think a kong is probably a good idea. Have you talked to your neighbours and explain that you're trying to break him of the habit so it's hard now but will hopefully make things better later. If you're on good terms, maybe take round some earplugs as a gift?
Re: Barking getting worse.... We are on very good terms and they've both said they can't hear anything.. but I honestly can't believe that's true. I think they are just being nice tbh. If I give him the kong at 4am when I put him back in the crate... won't that stop him falling back to sleep though? That was my worry... Or he would fall asleep and it would just melt so wouldn't last very long anyway!
Re: Barking getting worse.... [quote author=Loopyloo30 link=topic=8534.msg120626#msg120626 date=1414656682] We are on very good terms and they've both said they can't hear anything.. but I honestly can't believe that's true. I think they are just being nice tbh. If I give him the kong at 4am when I put him back in the crate... won't that stop him falling back to sleep though? That was my worry... Or he would fall asleep and it would just melt so wouldn't last very long anyway! [/quote] Does it matter if he's asleep, as long as he's quiet? And the melting thing depends on what you put in there. Soaked kibble shouldn't let out too much water, or Willow's favourite at the moment is anything sardine-based. I did the last one sardines, cubes of bread and a splash of water. You could also try cream cheese, peanut butter (low or zero salt & sugar) and banana - again, it won't melt away to nothing.
Re: Barking getting worse.... I'm not sure about the Kong - he may soon be able to easily hold his bladder but wake up for the Kong! I had exactly the same with Gypsy and the only cure was a puppy pen. She was free then to sleep in her bed or the vet bed or the floor. It worked. She simply hated the crate and barked any time she woke. Of course I didn't know at that age if she needed the toilet or not. At least with the pen I thought 'well, if she needs to go at least she won't be soiling her bed'. She never did go in the pen! She's a VERY long dog - I just think she likes to really stretch out when asleep and didn't like the crate for that reason (even 'tho it was a 42" one!) but, who knows really? - I just know that we tried everything. Then I thought 'Guide Dog pups have to be de-crated at six months anyway, why am I trying so hard to get her to like it??' So, when she had been 'safe' for two weeks we removed the pen too. Gypsy and Tatze sleep in different rooms as they need to learn not to be reliant on each other. Tatze adores her crate and won't even let me leave the door open - they are all so different!
Re: Barking getting worse.... Harley really didn't get on with her crate from day 1......some dogs just dislike them no matter how positive you try and make it Could you try and leave him with the door open or try a pen like Gypsy has?
Re: Barking getting worse.... The silly thing is that he takes himself into the crate when he's really tired... so he must like it. What I might do is adjust the partition, it may be a little bit cramped for him now as he's grown quite a bit. He likes to stretch out as well so that might not be helping. Although he manages fine from 11pm to 4am! I might also invest in a small fleece blanket, he seems to really like the big one that covers his crate. I could perhaps put that in with him at 4am after he's been out for a wee... as a kind of extra blanket treat.. maybe I could sleep with it first so it's smells of me when I put it in?
Re: Barking getting worse.... [quote author=Loopyloo30 link=topic=8534.msg120647#msg120647 date=1414659286] The silly thing is that he takes himself into the crate when he's really tired... [/quote] So did Gypsy - but that was with the door open, I think the choice is what mattered to her. Choice of floor surface and being able to stretch right out on it.
Re: Barking getting worse.... Maisie didn't like her crate right from the start and at about 5 months I de-crated her and she slept in the utility room. I had always battled with her early morning barking and had followed every piece of advice I was given about trying to get her to settle that time of the morning. But, her 5am barking returned at around 6 months and after many bleary eyed mornings I decided that she could sleep upstairs with us (I know :). She now goes to bed with me and sleeps until I get up at 7am, BUT, she still wakes at 5am and then hops on the bed and does back to sleep! I think she naturally wakes at that time and wants some company, so she snoozes til I get up!
Re: Barking getting worse.... Thank you for all your replies... I shall persevere for the meantime seeing as he's so young. I really don't want him up in our bedroom.. I already co-sleep with my little boy! It would be FAR too crowded! I think I might buy my neighbours a few sets of earplugs and a bottle of wine each and say I hope any barking is temporary... Just as a gesture of goodwill and to keep the peace for a bit longer while we ride this phase out (hopefully!)
Re: Barking getting worse.... I dont know a lot about this as ive never house trained at night as my dogs sleep out so if my suggestion is ridiculous i apologise. What about if you didn't wake him at 4am for a toilet break ? Then when he wakes at 5 take him out and leave him with a kong then. If you have to wake him to go out at 4 maybe he could manage longer. ??? or does it not work like that. :-\
Re: Barking getting worse.... I'd tend to agree with Jen, we never set an alarm as their crate was in our bedroom for the first few weeks, but once we got their giant crate they had to go in the dining room. We leave all the doors open so we can hear them and they never wake us, OH gets up for 6am at work, but at weekends they sleep til 7am+ Lou x
