Barking at night

[N0tfinished]

I have an older (7) lab. He sleeps in the kitchen at night, we live in the country, so cows, rabbits, cats etc v common.

Our dog barks at night at the patio door, at least 2/3 times a night. He has that big deep lab bark, so wakes everyone (bar DH ).

I'm at a loss on how to handle it. If I ignore, it goes on and on. If I go up there, I feel I'm promoting the behaviour by rewarding him with attention.

It's causing a lot of problems. He frightens my DS age 11 who thinks he's barking at burglars, it's causing him lots of anxiety & insomnia.

If I can't resolve it I'll have to have him PTS. I really can't imagine rehoming him would work out- he's an older dog, very sweet but quite needy. We got him age 2 & I thought he'd be great for the kids & that he'd enjoy living in a big country garden, but he rarely goes 10 feet from the food source (me). If I put him outside he circles the house looking in every window & barking/ whining.

I can cope with the daytime things but this nighttime barking is really upsetting my DS, who's an anxious type anyway.

I'm not an expert so mainly bumping this so others can offer suggestions.

It sounds like he's a bit anxious generally and can't relax at night because he's still guarding the patio door. Did he have a bad start before he came to you at 2yrs?

I'd think about creating a place where he can switch off and relax. I haven't used crates but some swear by them and if introduced carefully maybe it could become his safe place. Otherwise perhaps hang some curtains over the doors so he's less aware of passing critters, and work on his confidence during the day.

Sorry not much help either but if you can afford it there are some really amazing dog trainers out there some will do it in your own home and teach you the techniques to do others will take the dog to train at their own home, it's expensive but a trainer worked wonders with a friends nervous beagle, look online for ones near you and reviews

Why don't you try him sleeping in a different room for starters? That way he won't be near the patio doors

Just a thought it may well be his own reflection startles him

I would move him. Mine sleep on the landing and I don't hear a peep, if they sleep in the living room they bark at every squeak

If not could you cover the door? Maybe a curtain or something?
I often leave the radio on low too to drown out background noises.

Sounds like separation anxiety, if you work on his confidence during the day he should improve at night too.

Ok last night I tried a nightlight and radio on low. It was a little better.

I'll have a look round the house to see if I could meet move him anywhere else.

One of our dogs barks at night if it's not pitch black. It took us a while to figure out what the problem is, but once we got proper blinds on the screen doors etc. she stopped barking at night. We figured she could see herself in the reflection of the glass, or she was finding it difficult to settle when the moon was at its fullest etc.

If that didn't work, we were planning on moving her to the foyer where there are no windows, and no light coming in, and also because it's right outside our room. But we haven't had to do that and it's been a few months now.

And by foyer, I mean hallway. Not sure what I was thinking there.