DOGS THAT BARK AT NIGHT
By Karen Gray-Kilfoil (Cape)
Karen has a B.A. degree in Social Sciences and Humanities, with special emphasis on social, developmental and educational psychology, including one year of biology. She has an Advanced Certificate in Companion Animal Behaviour and a Certificate in Animal Assisted Activities from the Ethology Academy, Pretoria
Dogs bark for a reason. If your dog is barking excessively and unnecessarily, then he is anxious for some reason. He may be cold or uncomfortable or just lonely. If he is an outside dog then I presume part of his purpose is to be a watchdog, but if he is barking and you aren't taking any notice, then his job is redundant. On the other hand, if he was allowed to sleep inside (perhaps in the kitchen), he would not be so anxious and if he did bark you would take more notice - better watchdog!
Many puppies go through a barking stage at about six months of age, especially if they sleep outside. The best thing to do about the barking is to ignore it totally and wear earplugs for a few days. If he gets a face shouting at him from the window, it may be just what he wanted and so barking can become attention-seeking behaviour.
Dogs are also naturally nocturnal, so will happily rest all day and play and bark all night, depending on the routine that the rest of the "pack" follows. If you are away all day and home at night, your dog will obviously want to get your attention at night. Dogs should have company (human, dog or other animal) most of the day.
Make sure all your dog’s needs are met. Is your dog getting enough nutritious food (according to his weight), preferably the last meal in the evening before bedtime? Is he warm enough at night? Does he get enough stimulation in the form of exercise, play and interaction with people and other dogs during the day? Or is barking his way of getting some reactions from dogs and people?
If your dog is not used to being outside and you need to leave him out, then do things gradually. Go out with him at night, so he gets used to the dark. A dogflap to go in and out freely is ideal. If this isn't possible then you need to do things in stages. Perhaps put the dog kennel inside for a while and leave him inside with it. The first time you leave him outside, give him a new chewy toy or bone to keep him occupied outside. You can also give him Rescue Remedy 10 minutes before you lock the door and you can leave the TV or radio on for background noise. Try not to make a fuss before locking him out or when you open the door in the morning, as this makes the separation worse for him.
Herbal remedies: A dose of Rescue Remedy or Valerian (ask your vet for the dosage) just before you go to bed at night for a week or so should make him sleep better and hopefully break the pattern.
Although I don’t recommend citronella or electric barking collars, these are sometimes the last resort before euthanasing a dog, so if you’ve tried everything else consistently with the help of a reputable behaviourist, then contact Securipet, who have a range of training collars and tools.
The best advice for owners with dogs that bark at night is: Keep your dogs inside! If it’s a neighbour’s dog, you need to let them know in a polite, friendly way and keep the channels of communication open. Make friends with your neighbours and their dogs and offer to help them solve the problem. I have often found that throwing the odd chewy toy over the wall keeps the neighbours’ dogs happily chewing for hours, thus preventing barking.
Many puppies go through a barking stage at about six months of age, especially if they sleep outside. The best thing to do about the barking is to ignore it totally and wear earplugs for a few days. If he gets a face shouting at him from the window, it may be just what he wanted and so barking can become attention-seeking behaviour.
Dogs are also naturally nocturnal, so will happily rest all day and play and bark all night, depending on the routine that the rest of the "pack" follows. If you are away all day and home at night, your dog will obviously want to get your attention at night. Dogs should have company (human, dog or other animal) most of the day.
Make sure all your dog’s needs are met. Is your dog getting enough nutritious food (according to his weight), preferably the last meal in the evening before bedtime? Is he warm enough at night? Does he get enough stimulation in the form of exercise, play and interaction with people and other dogs during the day? Or is barking his way of getting some reactions from dogs and people?
If your dog is not used to being outside and you need to leave him out, then do things gradually. Go out with him at night, so he gets used to the dark. A dogflap to go in and out freely is ideal. If this isn't possible then you need to do things in stages. Perhaps put the dog kennel inside for a while and leave him inside with it. The first time you leave him outside, give him a new chewy toy or bone to keep him occupied outside. You can also give him Rescue Remedy 10 minutes before you lock the door and you can leave the TV or radio on for background noise. Try not to make a fuss before locking him out or when you open the door in the morning, as this makes the separation worse for him.
Herbal remedies: A dose of Rescue Remedy or Valerian (ask your vet for the dosage) just before you go to bed at night for a week or so should make him sleep better and hopefully break the pattern.
Although I don’t recommend citronella or electric barking collars, these are sometimes the last resort before euthanasing a dog, so if you’ve tried everything else consistently with the help of a reputable behaviourist, then contact Securipet, who have a range of training collars and tools.
The best advice for owners with dogs that bark at night is: Keep your dogs inside! If it’s a neighbour’s dog, you need to let them know in a polite, friendly way and keep the channels of communication open. Make friends with your neighbours and their dogs and offer to help them solve the problem. I have often found that throwing the odd chewy toy over the wall keeps the neighbours’ dogs happily chewing for hours, thus preventing barking.
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