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The doghouse

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Original poster

Neighbour complaining about dog barking in morning

213 replies

Gizlotsmum · 28/12/2023 13:28

Our neighbour has just mentioned he is being disturbed by our dog barking. He initially said through the night ( which he doesn’t, we had 1 2am bark when he needed the toilet this week and that was unusual) then admitted it was more like 5:30/6:00 which I accept as that is when we start the day. How do I stop him barking for toilet first thing? We are working on quiet by ignoring and rewarding when quiet, but not easy esp as he is barking for attention sometimes. We struggle to be up before him as it can be anytime between 5:15 and 6. Is it just a case of getting up at 5:15 ( or will that mean he will think that is his new wake up time?) as he will go happily till 6 some mornings.

Dog is crated downstairs and it can take us a few mins ( I’d say max 5 but will look to start timing it) to get him out ( he stops barking when we are downstairs). I appreciate this is annoying but need to find a way round it. Dog is nearly 1 yr old. Has 2 decent walks a day, chew toys etc. am starting to write down when he barks to see if there is a pattern. He doesn’t bark at the doorbell or people waking past. He barks for attention, especially if new people come in but settles after a short while.

Will ask our trainers advice after the holidays but just after opinions in the mean time

neighbour admitted he struggles to sleep and I want to make it better for us all.

OP posts:
Wimpeyspread · 28/12/2023 13:30

Why is he crated? I don’t understand crating of dogs, if he wasn’t crated he would have no need to bark?

Original poster
Gizlotsmum · 28/12/2023 13:32

Wimpeyspread · 28/12/2023 13:30

Why is he crated? I don’t understand crating of dogs, if he wasn’t crated he would have no need to bark?

Because he eats things he shouldn’t, that includes floors, tea towels, cupboard doors, not just things we can keep out of reach, we can supervise during the day but not when we are asleep. He also is quite happy in the crate ( chooses to go into it and doesn’t bark when it is shut for bedtime). He would still need to bark to be let out of the house to go toilet

OP posts:
Whatineed · 28/12/2023 13:36

What time is his last toilet walk at night? Could you try making it a bit later if its his bladder that wakes him?

If he's not eating dry food could you empty his water bowl a bit earlier at night?

Original poster
Gizlotsmum · 28/12/2023 13:39

@Whatineed last toilet is 10/10:30. He does sometimes have a drink then. However that doesn’t seem to make a difference to when he wakes. He has last meal at 6pm. I do wonder if he is sometimes hungry, he normally needs a poo when he wakes more than a wee

We are changing his food so adjusting times as we work it out

OP posts:
Cheeesus · 28/12/2023 13:45

5 minutes is a really long time. You need to speed that bit up.

Original poster
Gizlotsmum · 28/12/2023 13:47

@Cheeesus I appreciate that but I need to grab clothes, often need a wee myself. Will try but not sure how to make it much quicker…

OP posts:
Floralnomad · 28/12/2023 13:48

You need to have him sleeping in your room so you can get to him quicker . Or move to a detached / better sound proofed house .

PaddingtonsHat · 28/12/2023 13:52

Could you train him to ring bells to be let out?

SutWytTi · 28/12/2023 13:53

Gizlotsmum · 28/12/2023 13:47

@Cheeesus I appreciate that but I need to grab clothes, often need a wee myself. Will try but not sure how to make it much quicker…

Surely you can open the crate first, then get yourself ready?

You are being an annoying neighbour on a daily basis, you do need to change something.

Original poster
Gizlotsmum · 28/12/2023 13:54

SutWytTi · 28/12/2023 13:53

Surely you can open the crate first, then get yourself ready?

You are being an annoying neighbour on a daily basis, you do need to change something.

Show quote history

I honestly hadn’t thought of that.. worth a try

OP posts:
Azandme · 28/12/2023 13:55

Five minutes is way too long to let your dog bark at that time in the morning.

Dressing gown is literal seconds, and your wee will have to wait.

As your dog will bark until you get to him you need to be getting straight out of bed at the first murmur, throwing on a dressing gown, and going straight downstairs. Anything else is unreasonable.

I love dogs, have had many, and live in a house that backs into a popular dog walking spot. Daily barking before 7am would give me the rage.

You need to do something before you get reported for noise.

Original poster
Gizlotsmum · 28/12/2023 13:55

Floralnomad · 28/12/2023 13:48

You need to have him sleeping in your room so you can get to him quicker . Or move to a detached / better sound proofed house .

Don’t want him sleeping in my room and unable to move so will need to try other suggestions

OP posts:
OdeToBarney · 28/12/2023 13:55

Just put a dressing gown on and have a wee once you've let him out??

Paperbagsaremine · 28/12/2023 13:56

Long dressing gown, let dog out, then dash back to the loo yourself.

Luckily as DDog ages, the thrill of dawn toileting normally wears off a bit!

Original poster
Gizlotsmum · 28/12/2023 13:56

Azandme · 28/12/2023 13:55

Five minutes is way too long to let your dog bark at that time in the morning.

Dressing gown is literal seconds, and your wee will have to wait.

As your dog will bark until you get to him you need to be getting straight out of bed at the first murmur, throwing on a dressing gown, and going straight downstairs. Anything else is unreasonable.

I love dogs, have had many, and live in a house that backs into a popular dog walking spot. Daily barking before 7am would give me the rage.

You need to do something before you get reported for noise.

Which is why I have asked here and will work with a trainer. It is the first time it has been mentioned and I appreciate it has probably been annoying him for a while so I am trying to do something about it.

OP posts:
thismummydrinksgin · 28/12/2023 13:57

That is really early to be woken up. Id speak to a trainer and try to sort.

Azandme · 28/12/2023 13:57

Gizlotsmum · 28/12/2023 13:55

Don’t want him sleeping in my room and unable to move so will need to try other suggestions

Show quote history

Your neighbour doesn't want waking between 5 and 6am either.

If nothing else works then you may not have a choice because you can't expect your neighbour to put up with barking at such an early hour.

IngGenius · 28/12/2023 13:58

Get up before he barks so initially this may be 5.00. This will indicate to your dog that wake up time is when you get up and no barking is required. Gradually you can start pushing this later into the morning.

Original poster
Gizlotsmum · 28/12/2023 13:58

thismummydrinksgin · 28/12/2023 13:57

That is really early to be woken up. Id speak to a trainer and try to sort.

Trainer is on a well deserved break. Will ask as soon as they are back at work

OP posts:
Original poster
Gizlotsmum · 28/12/2023 13:59

Azandme · 28/12/2023 13:57

Your neighbour doesn't want waking between 5 and 6am either.

If nothing else works then you may not have a choice because you can't expect your neighbour to put up with barking at such an early hour.

Show quote history

I appreciate this which is why I am trying to find ways to solve it

OP posts:
Original poster
Gizlotsmum · 28/12/2023 14:00

IngGenius · 28/12/2023 13:58

Get up before he barks so initially this may be 5.00. This will indicate to your dog that wake up time is when you get up and no barking is required. Gradually you can start pushing this later into the morning.

Was worried this might make him think wake up is 5 am ( although I guess as long as he doesn’t bark it’s not the worst thing in the world)

OP posts:
itsgoingtobeabumpyride · 28/12/2023 14:04

Serious question, why don't you want him in your room?
He's waking up alone and wants his humans, did you say he's 1 if so he's still a baby, it'd probably stop the barking problem.
I inherited dms ddog when she passed, I was not a dog person (am now 🙄) ddog sleeps in my superking bed across the pillows, I usually wake up with her bum in my face.
Dd and her dh has a ddog and she has a crate in their bedroom to combat the early morning barking

notapizzaeater · 28/12/2023 14:05

Can the crate be moved temp ?

Tbh when my ddog goes out I run and have my wee then, then she comes straight in. She knows if she wakes me in the night (not often now) it's in the crate till a normal morning time but if she doesn't then she has the settee all night 🤣

Original poster
Gizlotsmum · 28/12/2023 14:07

itsgoingtobeabumpyride · 28/12/2023 14:04

Serious question, why don't you want him in your room?
He's waking up alone and wants his humans, did you say he's 1 if so he's still a baby, it'd probably stop the barking problem.
I inherited dms ddog when she passed, I was not a dog person (am now 🙄) ddog sleeps in my superking bed across the pillows, I usually wake up with her bum in my face.
Dd and her dh has a ddog and she has a crate in their bedroom to combat the early morning barking

It’s a boundary my husband has, we also don’t have space for the massive crate in our room. It may be a last resort but I think we need to try everything else first.

OP posts:
LaurieStrode · 28/12/2023 14:08

Let the dog sleep in your room.

You adopted a dependent animal. It's no longer all about what you "want."

I'm mind boggling that you'd let a caged animal AND your neighbor suffer while you faff about with your dressing gown, loo breaks etc.