Stop My Dog Barking at Night
I meet so many owners who have a problem with their dog barking at night!
It’s an annoying problem, not only for you who gets woken up but of course your neighbours, who may in fact have already sent you a letter with their views on the matter and it’s all very stressful!
Why is My Dog Barking at Night?
While it may feel like your dog is barking for no reason but there is always a “why” behind the noise. From reacting to outdoor triggers to simply needing a toilet break—though this is usually reserved for puppies or seniors—the causes are varied.
A dog is a fantastic natural alarm for unusual activity, but most owners would agree they don’t need a 3:00 AM alert for every passing fox or neighborhood cat! Whether it’s a genuine alert, a bid for attention, or just a developed habit, nocturnal barking can be managed. A simple first step? If your dog is easily startled by outside sounds, try moving their bed to a quieter, more central room to help them settle into a deeper, uninterrupted sleep.
Barking at Night Noises
Some breeds have a natural guarding instinct and will bark at night if they hear noises.
He is just doing his job- to warn you.
If he is also barking in the day, however, this would be better to be addressed by a qualified behaviourist, day barking could be separation anxiety, which is a very in-depth training program.
Why do Dogs Bark?
When wolves and dogs become separated and want to find their pack they will howl and call to them.
This means that if you come down in the night to check on your dog this is reinforcing his barking behaviour- he has successfully called you to him!
Basically, if there is no apparent reason for him to bark, you will encourage more barking at night.
There will be a few disturbed nights sleep (especially if your dog has successfully learnt to “call” you back) but this ultimately will break the cycle of night barking.
Dogs in rescue centres are a good example of this.
They will bark every time they hear a noise or when visitors walk past the doors but they don’t keep this up all day. Once the stimulation has gone they quickly return to being quiet, including at night.
If you ignore all the barking he will learn it gets no response and then everyone can get a good nights sleep!
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