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The doghouse

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

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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:

StillWantingADog · 28/12/2023 14:23

Gizlotsmum · 28/12/2023 14:00

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)

Show quote history

Your dog likely can’t tell the time

i’d get up at 5 for a few days to get him into a new routine. Then 5.10, 5.20 (or 5.05, 5.10 etc) once he’s learnt that “up” time is when you’re up.
possibly feed a bit later in the evening if you think he’s hungry.

Sureaseggs44 · 28/12/2023 14:23

Even for a young dog that seems early to want to go out . Are you sure there is not something else waking him up ? We have to have all blinds down on al windows as if there is a cat in our garden or a hedgehog that would start our dog off. Also I agree with letting the dog out later to see if that helps . We did also train both of ours to ring a bell , but that might not be feasible if your dog would pull things through the crate to chew .

FloofCloud · 28/12/2023 14:23

We trained our dog to have a quiet morning wee by saying shush shush morning wee wee, and giving rewards when she was good and not when she barked. We did start this on the lead first of all and it quickly settled in .... unless she spits on Eid our cats then it's woofy monkey! Albeit it's brief (she knows!!)
Good luck but be consistent and give exactly the same command so it's simple for your dog to understand

Original poster

Gizlotsmum · 28/12/2023 14:23

hedgehoglurker · 28/12/2023 14:20

As it is your husband's boundary, does he ever get up to let the dog out?

My dogs don't bark to be let out, as they sleep where they like and have a doggy door to the garden. (One does quietly wake me at about 3am to get under my duvet though 😆.)

He does, he takes about the same time as me as takes longer to wake but faffs less.

OP posts:

swallowsflying · 28/12/2023 14:26

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.

Absolutely this.

I have now read all your replies and so far OP you seem to want a solution but are not prepared to do anything which your see as inconveniencing either yourself or your husband. You reject all suggestions which require this.

Leaving your neighbour inconvenienced instead of yourself.

I disagree with those who say you need to get to your dog quicker. Your dog should not be barking early morning at all. Your neighbour will be woken by one bark and it can be very hard to get back to sleep after that at 5am.

You neighbour is being woken up everyday NOW. Your responses show you are quite happy for this to carry on whilst you wait for a long process of your trainer being back and training taking place and hoping this will eventually make a difference.

This is an incredibly selfish approach. When you could try putting the dog in your room tonight to see if this solves the problem immediately.

May I suggest that if your lifestyle and 'boundary' choices, and concern for your household items, are incompatible with owning a dog, then your rehome your dog?

Original poster

Gizlotsmum · 28/12/2023 14:26

Crate is at furthest point from neighbours. It have minimal soft furnishings so it does echo!

OP posts:

RendeersDancingTowardsChristmas · 28/12/2023 14:26

Ignore the barking.

Work on his chewing habit to get him out of the crate. Much better for him to be able to move about!
Change his feeding times to 7/8 pm to ensure he isn't desperate when you get up. Start taking him for a quick walk after evening meal for toilet. Some dogs need a bit of exercise or sniffing before being ready . This should be sorting out the barking!

RockandRollers · 28/12/2023 14:26

Could you set an alarm a few minutes before dog normally starts barking and let him out?

soberfabulous · 28/12/2023 14:27

Is there a reason why the crate can't go in your room? This might stop the barking as he can see you and is close to you?

Original poster

Gizlotsmum · 28/12/2023 14:30

soberfabulous · 28/12/2023 14:27

Is there a reason why the crate can't go in your room? This might stop the barking as he can see you and is close to you?

It physically won’t fit

OP posts:

StBrides · 28/12/2023 14:32

This thread is batshit

The op is inexperienced and requesting advice - she absolutely doesn't deserve the roasting she's getting. Bloody hell.

Nor is she refusing to consider all suggestions, she has just said that keeping the dog in their bedroom isn't viable (though not completely impossible). Frankly, it's pretty normal to not have dogs sleeping the bedroom.

She has one behavioural issue with the dog which she's trying to resolve, chiefly out of consideration for her neighbour and she's doing this when the neighbour mentioned it to her, not after multiple complaints.

Nothing on here suggests that the dog should be rehomed or that she's a dreadful person.

Congratulations to everyone who had an easy dog to train or who instantly knew how to correct unwanted behaviour.

All dog owners learn as they go, that's what the op is doing. Give her a break

SpaghettiSauceOnTheCarpet · 28/12/2023 14:35

Lots of good advice here OP. I really hope you get it sorted quickly but I would also suggest calling around to neighbours and explaining that you are going to try changing things to get the problem sorted but it might not happen overnight. I also think you have had some pretty harsh responses here for a request for help.

Beginningless · 28/12/2023 14:36

Are you sure the dog would eat things at night? We abandoned crate training as our dog hated it, and I think it ingrained a bit of a barking for attention habit as it was the only way he had to tell us he needed us. He is also a bit of a chewer but we just move things and in the evenings he is just crashed out.

I agree with others that moving a bit faster will help, but tbh even a few barks at that time would be potential game over for many people sleep wise. I think the solution is more about how to create a situation where he doesn’t feel he has to call on you. Ignoring his bark at other times won’t help I don’t think, given that you run to him when he barks in the crate (and you have to) - that’s a well reinforced reward system for him.

JFDIYOLO · 28/12/2023 14:40

Is there such a thing as a dog flap?

margotrose · 28/12/2023 14:43

The dog doesn't need to be in your room if that's not what you want. Millions of dogs sleep happily downstairs and/or in crates without an issue.

But you do need to be prepared to go straight downstairs when he barks so that he doesn't disturb the neighbours, even if that means letting the dog out and in to the garden before getting dressed and using the toilet yourself.

When we were toilet training our puppy, I would leave a dressing gown and slippers by the bed so I could get up, stick shoes on and get him out within a minute of him waking up. I appreciate it's not easy when you're half asleep and it's -4 outside but unfortunately it's part of dog ownership.

In terms of tackling his wake-up time, I would try moving his main meal forward if possible and then just give him a few biscuits before bed to tide him over until the morning. If he's only waking up to poo that suggests his meal time is the issue rather than him being unable to hold it.

JingleSnowmanTree · 28/12/2023 14:43

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?

@Wimpeyspread

not being crated doesn't mean he can open the door to go out for a wee!

Itslegitimatesalvage · 28/12/2023 14:46

You don’t want him sleeping in your room? Poor diddums. Sorry hun, but it’s your bloody dog and he is waking the neighbour between 5 and 6am. That’s not on. You’re going to have to put him in your room in the short term, until you find another solution.

PilatesPeach · 28/12/2023 14:47

What will the trainer do though? The dog is crated and barks as he needs to go out to toilet - a trainer can't make his bladder or bowels feel different. How should your dog make it known he needs to go out? You are upstairs and he is locked in. I don't understand what you think a trainer can change. If he didn't let you know, he would eventually toilet in the house. I think about how I feel if I am desperate for the loo and I have the freedom to go whatever the time - you have a dependant animal who relies on you. You need to be up earlier before the barking - you get up and get him out silently before he asks. That is the solution. I don't see training or correcting unwanted behaviour is the issue - you have said he often needs a poo as soon as he goes out so if you delay that you risk lots of barking and a poo in the house.

zaazaazoo · 28/12/2023 14:53

thismummydrinksgin · 28/12/2023 13:57

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

Errrr. That's kind of the whole reason the OP posted. She knows it's a problem. She is going to see a trainer.

LaurieStrode · 28/12/2023 14:53

PilatesPeach · 28/12/2023 14:47

Edited

Exactly.

It's a living creature, not a toy that can be put away in the cupboard for the night.

Imagine being caged and desperate not to soil your own bedding??

There seems to be little empathy for this dog in the OP's household.

Wimpeyspread · 28/12/2023 14:54

JingleSnowmanTree · 28/12/2023 14:43

@Wimpeyspread

not being crated doesn't mean he can open the door to go out for a wee!

Show quote history

No but he could then go and notify his owner he needed a wee, rather than bark the house down

Itslegitimatesalvage · 28/12/2023 14:55

zaazaazoo · 28/12/2023 14:53

Errrr. That's kind of the whole reason the OP posted. She knows it's a problem. She is going to see a trainer.

Show quote history

Yes, but she doesn’t want to get up earlier to get the dog before he starts barking, she doesn’t want the dog in her room, she “hadn’t even thought” of letting the dog out before getting dressed and using the bathroom herself so she just let the barking carry on while she pissed about herself.

So… how exactly does she actually want to sort this? She wants a way to keep the dog quiet, as long as it doesn’t involve changing anything she does. She shouldn’t have a dog.

OldTinHat · 28/12/2023 14:55

Leave crate door open at night and get a dog flap.

HappyHamsters · 28/12/2023 14:57

Can he sleep in the kitchen and use a dog flap or would that be worse, is there room upstairs for the crate.

LaurieStrode · 28/12/2023 14:57

Agree, @Itslegitimatesalvage

Another family wanting a pet but resentful of the poor thing's basic needs.

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