18 month old terrier suddenly barking at night - ideas?

[Firesidefox]

Our happy little terrier has started barking like mad at bedtime and I don't know how to stop it.

She sleeps in her crate - she has always loved it and when we've tried giving her the run of the kitchen she barks and barks, so we have just stuck with the crate. But she has suddenly started barking after we've put her to bed and we can't work out why, or how to stop it.

Nothing has changed, she's in good health, and she is a very happy, busy and smiley little dog the rest of the time.

When I go down to her she is furious and wants to run into the garden, which I let her do - she storms around barking furiously and then when I try to get her to come in again she barks at me (for fun) and runs away - as if to get me to chase her.

We have neighbours either side so I need to stop this. Has anyone got any tips?

Thank you

Could she be coming into season?

Has she had a recent vet check?

You need to stop letting her into the garden because that just rewards her for barking. If she needs the toilet during the night, I would take her out on a lead and bring her back in as soon as she has toileted. I would keep any night time toilet breaks as calm and businesslike as possible. Any form of attention from you, including shouting, could reward her for barking.

How much and what type of exercise does she get? Does she get mental stimulation, such as Kong's or training?

She's spayed so it's not that, and she gets enough exercise but I think you might have a point about the mental stimulation - thank you! I shall dig out the kongs from when she was a baby and some old toys to stimulate her - that is such a good point.

Also GREAT point about don't take her outside - I hadn't thought of that. Brilliant advice.

It's fox mating season and they have a tendency to scream in the night. Might be hearing that?
My old Westie used to go bonkers at it.

At the moment, you've turned it into a great game

She barks, so you let her out - and she gets to bark some more and then play an amazing game of chase with you in the garden - it's win win for her!

I would be looking at her routine and environment instead.

• is the kitchen too hot/cold?
• can she hear/see things outside which is disturbing her?
• is the light (or cars etc.) waking her up?
• does the boiler/heating click on and disturb her?

So, all of those have solutions - add a blanket, pop the heating on (or turn it off), use curtains or a crate cover etc.

If none of that makes a difference, look at her daily routine. Does she get enough exercise? What about mental stimulation? What time is her last meal/toilet break/walk? Generally, it's just a case of tweaking their routine slightly to help them settle :)

Does she only bark at night?