My lovely almost one year old had really settled down after her first season (spay booked in) which was in April. The last few days she has been barking NON STOP (but not at night, thank god). It particularly ramps up between about 5-9pm. It seems to be at sounds - any sound, sometimes I can barely hear it but often its a distant dog or someone walking past the house. If someone in the house listens to something on their phone. A baby crying down the road. Obvs the windows are open more atm. She's always barked at dogs but never so intensely and for so long. Now she is under the sofa (always her fave place to sleep) intermittently barking and huffing and not getting any rest despite hour long walk this morning. Usually she is conked out all morning after a walk. It's driving me mad and the kids are starting to feel scared - this morning DC were playing calmly with her and a dog barked down the road and she jumped up barking full volume right next to my 5 yr old giving her the fright of her life. As far as phantom pregnancy goes she hasn't really been nursing any toys but the one teddy she has in her crate has been coming out a bit more than usual although she leaves it lying around and does't seem super attached to it. She has definitely been eating more the last week or so.
If it's not a phantom pregnancy could it be the heat? I have been reading DTAS about barking at noises and the recommended solution is clicking the noise before she hears it but this is literally impossible to do - I never get there soon enough, and if I sit primed and ready with the clicker in my hand she sits at my feet expectantly waiting for a treat and it just doesn't work, I still don't get to the noise before she starts barking.
Oh also she has separation anxiety which we are working on with a behaviourist and she's already on clomicalm. We're going to the vet tomorrow but I just wanted some opinions on here before I get a chance to speak to either of them
Thanks