Dog was neutered last week, still has stitches in and collar on....

[WhereAreMyDragons]

and has got very bark-y over the last day or two.
He adjusted to having the collar on for meals etc, but just seems to be barking at nothing just now. Is he just frustrated? or could this possibly be an after effect of the castration?
He's driving me bonkers, and his sleeping/ confinement routine is different because he's got a huge buster collar on and it's a bit of a squeeze in his crate. He's currently in a play pen type thing with his bed inside to sleep, because it doesn't have a top so he's not cramped.
Hopefully he'll be okay come Thursday when his stitches come out, but any tips in the meantime to stop him barking? Thanks

Oh poor lad, he's probably a bit fed up. I didn't think anyone still used stitches that required taking out these days for castration, thought it was all dissolvable ones now. If suggest phoning the vets and see if they can help. I think I'd take the buster collar off and see if he leaves it alone. When my dog was done he didn't bother the area at all, and it might relieve his frustration of having the cone on.

I've tried taking the collar off but he's straight it at the stitches he also got his dew claws removed so without this huge collar he can reach his legs I might just need to grin and bear it until Thursday then get cracking back on the training routine.

That's a shame poor chap. Sound like you might have to put up with it. You could try scattering his food around the garden or somewhere else suitable, and get him to scent it out to keep him occupied for a bit.

DDog1 had his dew claws removed (well, the remains of them as his first owner had tried diy removal) when he was castrated and it was a pita, and he was grumpy by the end of the 10 days of collar.

We've been for a long (short lead) walk this morning but after a sleep he's getting quite grumpy again.
He gets frustrated at the Kongs so even they're out the window

48 hours....that's what I keep telling myself