Constant nighttime barking

[Cornishsky]

Our dog is two. From about four weeks old he slept through the night. He’s crated at night as he’s a chewer. For the last week he’s barking at night from the minute he’s put in his crate. We try to ignore but it’s relentless and we have a neighbour who will be round to complain. So I’m on the sofa trying to get him to settle. He’s his usual bouncy self so I don’t think he’s ill. he’s not happy to just sit alongside me and fall asleep so I don’t think it’s separation anxiety. He’s constantly at the patio or barking at the door but then doesn’t need the toilet - just barks outside. I can’t see or hear anything. I think it started when it was windy last week. It’s like he’s hyper vigilant. The thought of another night trying to distract him from barking is making me want to cry.

Any tips/suggestions?

Make sure windows are blocked/covered.

Get a white noise machine to muffle outside noises.

Cover crate.

Ditch crate and make a cosy corner to see if that helps.

If barking put on lead, short trip into the garden then back to bed without any interaction.

I suspect it's either foxes or a bitch in heat that he can smell.

Can you move his crate to a different part of the house?

Take him for a long walk or ideally a good run in the evening to drain his energy

I would second covering the crate if you haven't already, and playing white noise.

Why does he sleep in a crate. The crate maybe the issue. I have never used a crate mine just sleep downstairs when I go to bed. I have blackout curtains as we do get deer and foxes at night.

Our neighbour's dog started doing this when the council changed the bulbs in the street lights from that yellowy sort to bright white ones.

I would want a vet check to rule out an issue.

I presume at four weeks of he had his mum and litter mates with him though for comfort?

Can he be in a crate upstairs with you?