We're moving house so I think I've got a golden opportunity to solve a problem but I'd like help on the best way to go about it please. First the back ground. Barney came to me as a rescue 3.5 years ago, very vocal, anxious and with separation anxiety. After getting through a couple of behaviorists, trainers etc we cracked the separation using trust technique. However, B would still wake up at first light and bark until I was in the same room. I would never enter when he was barking - he doesn't want to go out - just be with us. Now he waits until he hears us move then he starts so at least it's not 5am these days! We can't ignore him he can keep it up all day (Yes I did try that one day had sandwiches upstairs everything) and now that Lily the doodle has moved in she's started to join in. I know cracking an old habit is much harder which is why the house move maybe a real help. He will bark when he stays with my friend but Roger gets up so early anyway he generally beats him to it, unfortunately I can't survive on that little sleep! Barney is very bright - I did try a vibrating anti - bark collar but he knew that when it wasn't on he could bark and it got chewed off one night then destroyed (I suspect a certain red pack brother helped here)
Re: early morning wake up calls Been thinking about this one Carole, tricky . Its going to go one way or another , either the new house will bring about voluntary new beginnings or the anxieties will be worse . If its the latter , could you maybe have Barney closer to your room for a while or even ( ducks for cover ) in your room ? I guess you have already run the gauntlet of leaving items of worn clothing with him and a quietly playing radio ?
