Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To really fucking hate our dog

207 replies

fuckingdog18 · 23/08/2018 07:30

Jesus.

Both dh and I are on the verge of killing him. He barks at fuck all at any hour of the night.

He wakes our own children up and also next doors as he sets their dog off.

The dog is ruining our relationship, our children’s sleep and our relationship with the neighbours

We are in despair.

OP posts:
Sakura7 · 23/08/2018 08:25

Bring him to the vets in case something is wrong, after that he needs a decent trainer. However the fact that you've said you hate the poor dog and claim he's just looking for attention show you don't have much understanding of dogs and probably shouldn't own one. Can't imagine you treat him very well if you "fucking hate" him. Poor thing.

Padparadscha · 23/08/2018 08:25

What kind of dog is it?

GlitterRollerSkate · 23/08/2018 08:26

Try a behavourist. Our dog was a complete cockwomble before we took them to one. I would sit and cry at the dogs behavour every night. GlitterDog's behaviour was really shitty and had absolutely no recall. It honestly saved my relationship with my dog and husband. GlitterDog is a good girl now and we both understand each other. Best money I ever spent.

Original poster
fuckingdog18 · 23/08/2018 08:29

He stops barking when someone (DH) goes downstairs. Nothing else is new. He’s always barked a lot but the nighttime barking is new. Fuck knows what breed he is Grin Big, annoying and scruffy!

OP posts:
InfiniteVariety · 23/08/2018 08:29

I agree about taking the dog to a behaviourist - my neighbour is one and I see her working miracles with badly behaved dogs

Original poster
fuckingdog18 · 23/08/2018 08:29

Sakura I hate my own kids when they wake me up at 3.

Not really.

Errrrr. Halo

OP posts:
SoyDora · 23/08/2018 08:30

Is he getting enough exercise?

longwayoff · 23/08/2018 08:30

Time to rehome the poor thing. Dont get a replacement.

Original poster
fuckingdog18 · 23/08/2018 08:30

Yeah, he’s out loads.

OP posts:
Original poster
fuckingdog18 · 23/08/2018 08:30

You want him long? Confused

OP posts:
IamaBluebird · 23/08/2018 08:31

There are lots of people giving good advice here op. Maybe you could give some more information. Your dogs routine breed etc. If you've had him since he was a puppy and all of a sudden he's barking through the night there must be a reason. Brew

Slartybartfast · 23/08/2018 08:31

but would he bark if he slept upstairs if he stops when you go downstairs?

Slartybartfast · 23/08/2018 08:31

you need a behaviourist

Tinklewinkle · 23/08/2018 08:31

Can't imagine you treat him very well if you "fucking hate" him. Poor thing.

After weeks and weeks of no sleep, I feel like I hate my dog sometimes

I don’t, I adore the bones of him and he has a horrible illness, but we’re also very, very tired and my back is fucked from sleeping on the sofa with him so it doesn’t take a lot of imagination to work out why I might feel like I hate him sometimes

UtterlyConfused111 · 23/08/2018 08:34

I don’t mean to hijack op but oh I have so much sympathy.
The dog has nightmares, wakes up howling and howling. Wakes up the babies. I don’t know what to do about it. I’m beginning to hate the little shit as well.
For background
He is 8 years old -cocker spaniel -and has always had the nightmares. Some weeks more frequently others not at all.
He is DHs dog, who got him when a few weeks old. I only came into his life 5odd years ago.
He sleeps downstairs and has the run of the house downstairs but doesn’t come upstairs
He gets walked by dog walker every day, as we are at work etc
Dunno what else....
I’m really fed up of him waking up the house.

Mortallie · 23/08/2018 08:35

The best thing I did was get a bark collar for my dog from PetSafe (Citronella spray collar). He was barking when he went outside (because all the other dogs in the neighbourhood were, too, but I am the only one who got a complaint to my letting agent Hmm )

I tried everything to get him to stop, behaviourists, vets, training. In the end the collar worked a treat. He would only wear it when he needed it (so when out in the garden). He doesn't even need to wear it anymore.

MissusGeneHunt · 23/08/2018 08:36

OP the breed may determine behaviours and needs. Has the vet ever hinted as to what he may be?

Pain could be a trigger. A vet appointment can rule this out.

A dog behaviourist WILL help. Can you give an idea of your county if you don't mind? If by chance it's the same as mine I can recommend someone.

MissusGeneHunt · 23/08/2018 08:37

And this re the collar, very safe.

Original poster
fuckingdog18 · 23/08/2018 08:38

He’s going to stay at PILs for a week. I joke, but the situation is untenable.

OP posts:
ResistanceIsNecessary · 23/08/2018 08:38

OK, so assuming he is a Heinz 57 mix and has always been barky then it sounds like separation anxiety. He's not continuing to bark when he sees you so he wants your company - if he did carry on barking that would indicate he's trying to alert you to something, or that he wants to go out.

The newness of the nighttime barking might be an age-related thing. At 7 years old he is coming into the second half of his lifespan (assuming he's a medium sized dog typical life expectancy would be approx. 11). I have a 15 y/o lurcher who in the last 2 years has turned into my shadow - he literally follows me everywhere and won't settle until I sit down.

Has the vet taken some bloods to rule out major illnesses? Has the vet done some basic neuro checks to see if there are any indicators of a brain tumour - which can be a common cause of sudden personality changes?

If everything is clear and he's just barking because he wants you, then I would suggest an Adaptil calming collar (I find this better than the plug ins because it stays with the dog when he moves about). And in conjunction with this some 1-2-1 sessions with a canine behavourist to help train you and him to address the separation anxiety.

ChardonnaysPrettySister · 23/08/2018 08:38

If he's a big dog then the problem with taking him upstairs, which will help, is the he will get used to it and when he's older and cannot do the stairs anymore you will have more barking.

Could it be the beginnings of doggie dementia? If he's a big breed them it might be it, already.

BiteyShark · 23/08/2018 08:38

Get a recommendation from the vets for a behaviourst to come and work with you. If it isn't medical then it's behavioural and often you can't see the triggers let alone the solutions when you are tired.

Nanny0gg · 23/08/2018 08:39

Has he ever had any training?

Simple yes or no would suffice.

MissusGeneHunt · 23/08/2018 08:39

It sounds like it is for the dog too....

How will your PILs cope?

ApolloandDaphne · 23/08/2018 08:39

Our 6yo lab started yowling in the night, only stopping if someone went down.It started after we had been on holiday and i think was anxiety that we might go away again and so she wanted to be near us. She was sleeping in the kitchen with the door shut. We decided to let her sleep where she wanted at night and left all the door open except our bedroom doors. She now settles well but we know she moves sleeping places during the night. We have no more yowling. Can you let your dog wander about and sleep where he wants? He may settle better outside your bedroom door.

Swipe left for the next trending thread