dog starting to bark in the middle of the night and I have no idea what to do,

[mrsjay]

oh that was a long title

anyway we have had jaydog for months and he is starting to bark at 4 am it has been 3 times this week for a while I leave him as it is a low bark but he gets louder, He gets out at 10'30/11 and usually is out again at 7/8 . I dont know what to do I have to get up to him as we live in a flat and dont want to disturb neighbours, I am very very tired as it takes a while to settle him down again and some times he needs to pee so I am out at daft o clock, what could be wrong with him and what do I do, he doesn't seem ill and he sleeps in a crate he came from rescue crate trained,

[moosemama]

Dawn is not long after 4.00 am at the moment, so I suspect it's the lighter mornings and dawn chorus that's setting him off. I'd recommend trying a blackout blind or heavy curtains in the room he sleeps in.

[mrsjay]

I think you are right I might need to close the livingroom curtains he has a blanket over his crate as he was a bit loony when we first got him so It was to try and settle him thanks for replying

[Isandri]

I had this at 3am due to the dawn chorus. My old boy was fine after 4 when the rest of the birds joined in.

[Cherryberries]

mrs jay I have this going on and I come down when she is barking(in our case its definitely the sound of another dog barking in the distance) and I put the radio on in the kitchen where she sleeps.It drives me nuts coming downstairs each time but the radio works.It seems to block the barking sound from her.

[Scuttlebutter]

It's also possible that your dog can hear wildlife in the garden. Hedgehogs are quite rustly, snuffly little creatures - maybe your dog is hearing that?

[mrsjay]

Hi Thanks for sharing my pain last night I left the music channel on low for him and he slept all night I also moved his bed away from the livingroom window just incase it was something outside apart from birds chirping ,