It is 4am. I have just been awoken by Monty for the second time tonight. The last was about 12.30am. He went to bed normally, into his crate, and settled down fine. At 12.30am I was woken up by him barking and growling. He very very very rarely barks and I've only heard him play-growl, so it took me a while to figure out what the sound was. I went down to make sure he was ok and he seemed fine. He'd had a slightly dicky tum earlier so I took him out in case he needed to poo which would e been very unusual. He didn't, but did a small wee on command, but didn't really need to go. He can go from 9.30pm till 6.30 just fine. I put him back to bed and he went back to sleep. Roll on to 3.45am and the same just happened. Growling and barking, this time I left it for a good 15 mins to see if it was just a noise he's learned, although he doesn't normally wake in the night. It didn't stop so I went down again. He was lying down, not sat up. He was pleased to see me. I let him out of the crate to make sure he was ok, and he was happy, walked round the kitchen with his tail wagging. I put him back to bed and now he's quiet. There is part of me that knows not to go down and open the crate if he's making noise. I've always made sure he was quiet before I did so. I wondered if one of the cats was going I there and annoying him, but he's friends with them. I've never heard him bark like this. He whimpers/whines if he needs toilet, but like I say, he never needs to during the night. I wondered if there was a mouse or something in the room (that's why I let him out the second time to see where he went) but he wasn't interested in one specific place. My final thinking/hope is that it's linked to his teething which is pretty full on at the moment. Could that be a valid reason? Obviously I can't have him barking and growling during the night every night! Thanks (Tired) James
Re: Night time barking (in crate) Perhaps he's having nightmares ... about his bath?! Can he hear noises outside, perhaps foxes? If you're sure he's ok and not needing to go out, then try going down and saying a very firm "No!" and leaving him again without letting him out of his crate. Wispa very occasionally barks in the night if she's disturbed by something and this seems to work for her.
Re: Night time barking (in crate) We did have a similar thing with Casper but in the early days. Like you I went downstairs primarily because I was worried he needed the toilet. He didn't, but was very happy to see me. The next time (an hour later....) I could hear him squeak barking...a sort of excited yipping..so I went down again, bit perplexed at this point. The next night he did it again, and I went downstairs but studiously ignored him. Made myself a cup of tea then went to bed. After a couple of times of this he stopped. I think he just wanted a bit of extra attention, maybe Casper was a little restless. I am not sure with Monty, might just be he was still a bit hyper when he went to bed and hadn't settled, or was disturbed by something? Hoping it is just a one off! If my two see a fox in the garden, Casper is a loon...and then sets Benson off. I usually let them out when this happens so Casper can chase it off, otherwise he stays up wuffing at the patio doors all night, then is moody the next day cos he is tired!
Re: Night time barking (in crate) Hah - might be sleep barking. Install a web cam then you can check from the comfort of your own bed.
Re: Night time barking (in crate) you might have hit it right with the mouse idea. Belle is not a pup, but we went through a period of her getting up in the night, and whining and pacing, we'd let her out in case she needed toilet, but she didn't. It went on for a couple of weeks, then we discovered mice in the loft, and evidence they had been in her room. Once the mice were eliminated, night time peace was restored.
Re: Night time barking (in crate) You said he had a bit of a dicky tum, perhaps he was being woken up by stomach ache?
Re: Night time barking (in crate) [quote author=JulieT link=topic=10789.msg160610#msg160610 date=1430550378] Hah - might be sleep barking. Install a web cam then you can check from the comfort of your own bed. [/quote] I agree with the cam. I like checking up on my two when I'm not there, or in another room! The sleep barking mine do (all the time!) is too quiet to be confused with normal barking.
Re: Night time barking (in crate) Bella started night waking at 2am and 4 am after a few months of great nights.... She also didn't need the loo and I couldn't work out for the life of me what was going on, but it just continued and as I was so tired and getting up for work, she ended up in my room for about a month, then back in The kitchen and touch wood nothing since!! Good luck
Re: Night time barking (in crate) Good luck for tonight - if you're not already in bed after your early start ;D ;D I have to say, my thought was 'mouse' too, but then, one of our cats has a terrible habit of bringing in (live!) visitors ;D ;D
