Losing patience with nighttime barking

[Pringle89]

Our pup was one is September, he has always been an early riser but is quiet all night.

The last few weeks he has been barking once or twice in the night - not his morning bark to get my attention which is just a little yap every now and again but a ‘There is something in the garden’ loud continuous defensive bark - now I’m sure there are sometimes cats or whatever coming in the garden but finding it hard to believe this is happening twice a night.

It’s actually as awful as having a young child, I’m so tired! I have tried letting him sleep in our room but he was so restless - kept wanting to go downstairs, so that didn’t work.

He sleeps in the kitchen (as he always has) there is a floor length door with no blind so wonder if I need to cover the door but I’m not sure if that would help as obviously dogs hearing is very good so would still hear anything in the garden. There is the living room that he could sleep in but that faces the front of the house so potentially more noisy/people passing then the back garden?

Anyone else experienced similar, how did you resolve this?

P.s he has recently been neutered so not sure if this is a factor in his behaviour? X

[Scarsthelot]

Could it be the weather?

It's been really windy and rainy here. During the night you can here all sorts going on outside. To the dog it may sound like an intruder?

Can he sleep somewhere, you can minimise the noise or put on background noise for him.

[Scarsthelot]

It could be linked to his operation.

He may be feeling a bit insecure and nervous.

[BiteyShark]

Cover the door and get a white noise machine. My dog will bark if he sees his reflection at night.

The white noise machine will help muffle outside noises. We use one and it does help.

[DeborahAnnabelToo]

I agree with Bitey shark. Cover the door up and some background noise - even a radio left on. Maybe a dim lamp on too.

[ElizabethMainwaring]

Mine is exactly the same. She is hyper vigilant. She thinks it's her job to keep us safe at night. So it's very sweet really. But very bloody annoying.

[dogcrazy]

One of mine is like this. I have the TV on constantly as she’s mostly in the front room, she’s unbearable if it’s silent! Try putting the radio on.

[adaline]

Black out the window and put some music or the TV on low.

[Shambolical1]

You could be having visitors in the night. It's the time of year when foxes think about finding a mate and one might be travelling through your garden; they use regular routes. Or depending how rural you are, maybe badger. Or some other form of wildlife.

Could he be cold? That can cause wakefulness, too.

[Pringle89]

Thanks for all replies - covered the door last night and drew window blinds and left a light on, no barking! Not sure if it was a fluke so will have to wait and see - woke up at 5.30 but can’t win them all 🤷‍♀️

[Funf]

Do you use a crate?
Ours would only bark if some one came in to the house, but all breeds are different.
Have you asked the breeder for advice?