Dog acting out of character. Advice?

[MarriedToAPotter]

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.

He is fixed. Would he still react to a bitch in heat?

He could do but it's unlikely to be this bad.

I wonder if something has scared him while he's been crated and he's now associating the crate with that.

Is he pooing as normal? The wanting to be outside could be related, is he trying when he's outside or just sitting nosing the air?

@coffeecupsandwaxmelts I think that may be the reason but I’m not what. How can I reset him with a positive association? I’ve played games with him this morning having him jump in and out of his bed and rewarding him lying down in there with treats.

He is still toileting as usual. He just sits nosing the air when I take him outside.

You're not in North London are you? There was a woman gleefully walking a bitch on heat in my local nature reserve the other day.

I would actually move the crate in case it's the location that's causing him to bark rather than the crate itself, then just lots and lots of positive association - feed him in the crate, give him chews and treats etc. in there and of course lots of praise when he goes in voluntarily and stays calm.

After ten minutes of whining he has finally settled for his nap; there was no barking. I think he resigned himself to not getting out.

I was so desperate in the early hours, I may have egged him on by returning to the crate to shush him, tell him off etc. Eventually I gave up and ignored him and he stopped after much protesting.

I will leave him in for a small amount of time now, then let him out and play some more games with him in his crate with treats, before returning him for another small nap in a few hours. I am desperate for sleep tonight.

This happened with my DS’s dog he had never barked or been disruptive during the night. It turned out to be mice! My son lives in an old house and the mice were in the walls. My son sorted the mice problem. I also got him a white noise machine cheaply from Amazon (he has waves lapping the beach sound). Also a lavender oil diffuser helped calm him. It’s awful being woken in the night especially by barking. I hope you get it sorted soon. Currently got my dog with upset tum to clean up after each night so I feel your pain.

What did the vet say OP?

have you tried letting him sleep without the crate?

He was checked at the vet and got a clean bill of health. He had a successful nap in his crate earlier today.

I’m now losing the will to live. Again, he’s created such a fuss and getting more and more frantic the longer I ignore him. I’m now lying on the floor of the fucking room with a sleeping bag and although the barking has stopped, he has whined and whined in my ear for an hour.

DH very reluctant to let him sleep upstairs with us and whilst I also prefer him in his crate, I’m starting to think sod it.

Does anyone allow dog to sleep next to their bed at night but crate during the day? He must be crated during the day when I leave the house as he can not be trusted to roam.

I am extremely close to re homing him because of this nonsense. (I won’t, I’m sleep deprived and pissed off!)

Is he neutered

It's mice or rats that are upsetting him most likely

Hi OP, hope you got some sleep! We Go against the grain and let ours sleep upstairs with us. It's the only way for a decent night's sleep.

I’m not sure it is something disturbing him as he slept all night once he knew I was there. He only woke again and barked once he realised I had left the room to get up this morning.

I still got little sleep as I was on the most uncomfortable air bed all night long. I’ve decided it’s not worth the stress and will allow him to sleep in our room tonight.