Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Original poster

Dog acting out of character. Advice?

41 replies

MarriedToAPotter · 04/03/2023 08:41

Ddog is 4; he’s in a good routine and is usually quite chilled. Yesterday during the day, he was a different dog; unruly, barky, stubborn and disobedient.

Constantly asking to be outside to just sit but as soon as my back was turned, he was barking incessantly in the garden, refused to come in and I had to chase him to pick him up and bring him in. This happened multiple times and I could not relax as he was constantly barking to be out and generally being a pain. It was reminiscent of his teen years.

He did eventually settle and go to sleep, had his usual afternoon walk, ate well and so on.

At bed time, he started again! Barking and barking to be out , but doing nothing when I took him out. Refused to get in to bed. When he did get in to bed, he would lie down but as soon as I left, he started again. Repeatedly until 1am.

At around the same time in the early hours, I could hear multiple dogs barking in our area and also the wildlife appeared to be more lively. Coincidence or could he be aware of something?

He didn’t appear to be in pain or have an upset tummy. He has a warm bed and lots of blankets. Eventually I sprayed his bed with copious amounts of pet remedy, played him a lullaby and left him to grumble but we have elderly neighbours and I was very stressed at his midnight antics.

Any tips for tonight? I am exhausted today.

OP posts:
DoloresDelEriba · 04/03/2023 08:45

My dog is also a bit odd at the moment (helpful!). Could it be rats or wildlife getting him excited. Their hearing and sense of smell is so much more acute than ours. Mine is a terrier and a very keen ratter. And gets like this if there ar rats about. Also hedgehogs. ☹️. Hope things improve.

wheresmymojo · 04/03/2023 09:12

Interesting - perhaps something set off the other animals that he could sense and you couldn't?

Not in a woo way - but, for example, bats obviously communicate with sounds that are outside our range of hearing: what most people don't know is that if we could hear them it would be extremely loud.

Apparently the sounds they make that we can't detect are 120 decibels - so the equivalent of a leaf blower or a drill!

Do you have time to take him for an extra tiring walk today?

It doesn't have to be further / longer - it's more tiring for them to be somewhere they don't go often with lots of new smells they're allowed to sniff and/or lots of interaction if they're sociable types.

Floralnomad · 04/03/2023 10:12

There is likely a bitch on heat in your area

Sapin · 04/03/2023 18:47

Our old dog used to do this if there were hedgehogs in the garden.

coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 04/03/2023 23:46

Is he neutered?

If not, probably a bitch in heat. Mine tried to climb out of top opening window and leapt a six foot fence in his quest to find one. Luckily he was foiled after that by a very high, locked gate Grin

WetBandits · 04/03/2023 23:55

Did my dog come to your house for a holiday yesterday?! 😂

He does this when he can hear animals outside (sometimes for no reason at all, although perhaps he can hear something we can’t!)

We have several fox dens nearby and it’s been a fucking nightmare getting him to sleep while they’re all screaming! DP and I have had to force ourselves to sleep with music/films on to drown out the noise of the foxes so the dog will go to sleep. I feel your pain, it’s shit being woken at 3am by a restless idiot dog!

Original poster
MarriedToAPotter · 06/03/2023 00:11

I’m sat in tears. It’s the third night of this and dog has been barking and whining since 10:45pm. He was fast asleep but as soon as it was time for bed, he’s caused chaos.

He has slept in a crate in the utility since he was 12 weeks old with no issues. He can’t be left to wander as I have a DC with SEN, but he also prefers the security of his crate as when left out he also can’t settle.

I am so stressed about the barking as I have elderly neighbours. I don’t know whether to persevere and make him sleep where he has slept since 12 weeks or sleep on the cold hard floor next to him just to stop the barking. I’m so fed up I want to re home him (I won’t).

OP posts:
DramaAlpaca · 06/03/2023 00:20

Time for a visit to the vet, I reckon.

Acting out of character is a sign that something isn't quite right.

FluffletheMeow · 06/03/2023 00:23

Oh op! I also think bitch on heat. If so, it will pass. (Though may happen again in a few months).

Can the crate be moved somewhere more comfortable for you? I.e. by a bed/sofa?

CreaturesAreSleeping · 06/03/2023 02:09

Sounds like a urine infection to me. I'd take him to the vet.

Monty27 · 06/03/2023 02:44

It could be anything but needs checking. Hopefully not serious but you can't sleep on a cold floor! Bring the dog to bed with you on the sofa even?

Fraaahnces · 06/03/2023 02:56

Try taking him outside on a lead. See if that stops it. He can do his business, but he will know that you’re not putting up with any nonsense.

Simplehappyzen · 06/03/2023 04:01

Hi Op, we seem to have the exact same issue with our 6 yr old golden retriever. She's going bonkers in the garden and is constantly at the door wanting to go out. I have to keep dragging her in as I'm worried about the neighbours complaining. We've had a rat issue going on as the house at the back of us is lived in by a recluse and is in a bad state. Ddog is driving herself and us mad at the moment!!!

Original poster
MarriedToAPotter · 06/03/2023 06:48

I will book him in at the vet but I think this is behavioural rather than medical. I’ve had four hours of sleep and he’s up again barking. He usually sleeps in until at least 8am.

I did try taking him outside on a leash but he just sat down and did nothing. He came back in to snooze on the sofa. I am so cross with him I don’t even want to look at him today. I am chronically sleep deprived by DC, I just can not deal with this on top.

OP posts:
coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 06/03/2023 07:04

I would move his crate somewhere away from utility room to try and break the habit.

Something is clearly not right and I don't see that there's anything to gain by trying to force him to sleep somewhere he's clearly not happy being left to sleep.

Original poster
MarriedToAPotter · 06/03/2023 11:50

I could try moving his crate. He has been through this phase before and after a few nights of sticking to it, he settled back down. It is just tough when he’s been in a good routine and I’m exhausted.

I have used some positive reinforcement of the crate this morning and I’m going to put him to bed earlier tonight in the hope he settles down before 11pm. He seems to be on high alert for noises and just will not settle. He really is trying my patience.

OP posts:
CaveatmTOR · 06/03/2023 11:54

CreaturesAreSleeping · 06/03/2023 02:09

Sounds like a urine infection to me. I'd take him to the vet.

This. Is he peeing and in a proper stream. I have seen bladder stones in dogs the size of their actual bladder. They pee a tiny bit, are in constant agitation and pain and pee a bit more.

Check he is weeing and weeing in a proper stream, catch some, see if it's clear. I would be concerned about physical problems because that's my day job but as other posters have said, there could be a bitch in season and they can smell them from miles away.

Original poster
MarriedToAPotter · 06/03/2023 12:01

I haven’t noticed anything different about him, he’s still peeing (but I will check this). He’s still eating etc.

OP posts:
MyOwnVolt · 06/03/2023 12:12

My dog’s being a bit of a dick at the moment too, I think due to foxes in the garden! We have to shut him away from the back of the house otherwise he’s on patrol all night and keeps sticking his head out the cat flap to see what’s going on 😂

Irrelevantdata · 06/03/2023 12:21

I would try moving the crate to another room, a radio on low to mask outside noise and maybe an Adaptil plug in, just to see whether the problem is environmental or not. Vets for a check up also, I would want urinary issues as mentioned by PP's ruled out at least.

Original poster
MarriedToAPotter · 06/03/2023 12:22

I’ve popped him in his crate for a nap with a treat (again, this is where he goes as part of his routine) and he’s started again with the crying. I am certain this is behavioural but I can not fathom why he suddenly hates his bed.

His crate is a generous size, warm and cosy; he prefers this to being left to roam (I tried this and he became frantic , he takes himself off to his crate usually).

OP posts:
Original poster
MarriedToAPotter · 06/03/2023 12:23

I have him booked in at the vet later today too.

OP posts:
longtompot · 06/03/2023 12:23

Have you been out into the garden with him when he is barking? Mine only barks in the garden at night when there are hedgehogs in the garden.
Or maybe someone has a cat scarer and it's upsetting him? I hope you get to the bottom of it

Original poster
MarriedToAPotter · 06/03/2023 12:26

Yes I went out with him to the garden at night and all he did was sit and watch me, probably wondering why I had taken him out in to the cold in the dead of night. When I brought him back in, he refused to go back to his bed.

OP posts:
memememe · 06/03/2023 12:34

Is his crate covered? Might be worth putting a blanket over the top and playing white noise or the radio in case he can hear something going on outside that's making him nervous. I hope you get to the bottom of it soon

Swipe left for the next trending thread