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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:
HappiestSleeping · 28/12/2023 21:18

Gizlotsmum · 28/12/2023 21:03

@HappiestSleeping he is according to all the packages getting the right amount of food, but I accept we may be on the higher side whilst mixing the two diets currently. He doesn’t appear to be over or under weight. However when on just kibble and absolutely right amount he had more ( and loose) poos. Will definitely try the frozen Kong tip

I found it difficult to gauge treats (which I use for training), so the kibble has helped control portion size.

Also, the packets are a guide based on averages. If an owner doesn't exercise the amount recommended by the guide etc etc, then it will be incorrect. Poo quantity and consistency along with weight gain or loss are better gauges than pack recommendations (although they are good for a start point). I weigh mine every couple of weeks to keep track of his intake. Interestingly, I am currently a reasonable amount over the packet recommendation. It is all very difficult.

Original poster
Gizlotsmum · 28/12/2023 21:39

@Gsdmama we have as we have had guests, he is such a noisy sleeper I think we both disturbed each other but it did stop the barking. We have guest over the weekend so one of us will be downstairs with him again so it might help reset with the early alarm hopefully we will get it sorted and then introduce a bell ( as long as he doesn’t chew it!)

@HappiestSleeping will def keep an eye on his weight/ energy levels.

OP posts:
FrangipaniBlue · 28/12/2023 21:39

He is too cute 🥰

survivingunderarock · 28/12/2023 22:26

As a short term solution I’d have him in with you. Our pup once she got past the tiny needing the loo early stage now sleeps until we get up! She takes her cues from us.

If you can’t do that you need to beat him to it. I’d be annoyed too mainly as it would set ours and all the other dogs off barking.

FlyingCherub · 28/12/2023 22:36

What a beautiful dog!

Have you tried leaving a radio on low overnight? I find mine are far more settled if there's background noise and they're not listening for me to get up. Classic FM is a good one as the music is soothing as well as the voices Grin

Get a second hand baby monitor too - I know instantly when mine are up to something as you can hear rustling! We've also got a cheap Amazon video camera (Tapo) that was under £30 so I can see what they're up to without disturbing them by going downstairs.

Tygertiger · 28/12/2023 22:42

A dog which is toilet trained overnight shouldn’t need to be in a crate. They naturally like to move around a bit at night, move from warmer to cooler spots etc.

You won’t like it, but the answer is to ditch the crate and have a dog bed in your room. He will get restless before he barks, and that will be enough to wake you so you can get up and let him out before he can disturb your neighbour. If he’s in your room you can make sure there’s nothing on the floor he can chew and the problem will be solved.

I don’t really see why a dog in the bedroom at night is an issue. My dog is downstairs all day and only comes to our bedroom to sleep. We don’t let him up during the day and at night he sleeps all night in his basket at the foot of the bed. He’s not allowed on the bed and never tries. We don’t know he’s there tbh, and it’s a lot less annoying being woken when he gets restless in the morning than if he was barking away downstairs. You’re being unreasonable not trying this if he is disturbing your neighbour.

chewsandwhine · 28/12/2023 22:58

Let the dog sleep in your room uncrated.

Its unlikely he’ll be wanting to chew stuff during the night and because he’ll be happier, he won’t bark and your neighbours will be happy too.

Give the dog a chance at least .
Get him a nice comfy bed and put it next to your side of the bed.

I’ve had dogs and they would sleep in our room at night.
They would sleep right through.

Do you let him out for a pee thing at night ?

Your dh may need to compromise here or you may end up being reported for noise.

At the very least you should be getting up about 5 before dog starts barking.
Let him out for toilet then go back to bed

angsanana · 28/12/2023 23:55

OP, your pup is still a baby. Yea it's annoying for your neighbour. But they'd need to deal
With it if it was a human baby. They can deal with a bit of barking. Clearly you're trying your best.

LaurieStrode · 29/12/2023 01:16

angsanana · 28/12/2023 23:55

OP, your pup is still a baby. Yea it's annoying for your neighbour. But they'd need to deal
With it if it was a human baby. They can deal with a bit of barking. Clearly you're trying your best.

Oh, come on!

OP needs to sleep in same room with dog, whether bedroom or lounge, at least until it matures. Not expect the neighbours to tolerate this preventable bullshit.

margotrose · 29/12/2023 08:18

angsanana · 28/12/2023 23:55

OP, your pup is still a baby. Yea it's annoying for your neighbour. But they'd need to deal
With it if it was a human baby. They can deal with a bit of barking. Clearly you're trying your best.

I wouldn't want to just "deal with it" if my neighbour had a screaming newborn at 5am everyday either!

BloodyAdultDC · 29/12/2023 08:42

BitOutOfPractice · 28/12/2023 14:13

You go for a wee and get Fully dressed while your dog barks at 5am? Really? I would be feeling murderous if I were your neighbour. Dressing gown on, you go for a wee while he’s outside.

Likewise. I'd be silently planning your murder at 5am if I was being regularly woken at that time due to your faffing about, your husband's 'boundaries' and needing to cage your ddog because he chews stuff.

All of that IS behavioural, and maybe stems from being caged overnight away from you.

You need to get up before ddog for a couple of weeks.

FlatWhiteExtraHot · 29/12/2023 09:01

You don’t need to “transition” to raw. Feeding raw and kibble is a pointless exercise as they transit the gut differently. Just drop the kibble and feed a proper 80/10/10 raw diet.

You don’t need to buy proprietary branded raw food either, especially from someone who is earning commission on it. Find a frozen raw food supplier and DIY. It’s much cheaper and very easy once you get into the routine.

SirChenjins · 29/12/2023 09:06

It’s perfectly possible to feed kibble at the start of day and raw for dinner.

It’s also much easier to feed a ready blended proprietary raw food and defrost as needed.

Do whatever is easiest/convenient OP - but feed the best you can afford. The All About Dog Food website is really good at showing the composition and cost of the various dog foods on the market.

AnxiousPangolin · 29/12/2023 09:07

Our puppy was originally crated in the kitchen then had a bed there once she got a bit older. We ended up having her in our bedroom because she was going ballistic barking at foxes during the night and waking us up.

She still does occasionally bark if she hears noises outside but we also have white noise playing in a couple of other rooms which masks outside sounds and seems to soothe her. It’s kind of a deep rumble, not intrusive at all. I know your DH has said the dog can’t sleep in the bedroom but I strongly suggest you try to get him to reconsider. I said the same when we got our puppy but having her in with us has made her a million times more relaxed at night. Ours is a smaller breed though so her bed is just in a corner and doesn’t take up much room.

The issue we have with her now is when we let her out for the first wee, usually about 6am, and she immediately starts barking. We’re trying to work on rewarding her for quiet but she seems more interested in barking at random stuff at the moment.

Original poster
Gizlotsmum · 29/12/2023 09:10

So we got up early this morning, no barking, one bark when back from morning walk ( 7 ish). Will continue this for as long as it takes. Thank you for all your advice

Will also work on the chewing/eating everything issue.

OP posts:
MadMadamMimz · 29/12/2023 09:14

Blimey! I usually come down hard on people when it comes to caring for dogs but I don't think you deserve the beating you are getting here OP.

Firstly, you need to be out of bed much quicker to deal with your dog when it barks.

Secondly, you need to stop this behaviour before it happens which means waking up at 4am and letting your dog out to go to the toilet. You have to be careful that you make it clear this is not waking up time- so no fussing the dog, just out to the toilet and back to bed for another hour. You and your dh can take it in turns to do the 4am wake-up. We did a middle of the night toilet break for our dog until we were happy she could hold her wee and was comfortable. Gradually you keep shifting it to a bit later.

Sux2buthen · 29/12/2023 09:17

You're not supposed to let dogs sleep in your room to be fair to the op.

ACynicalDad · 29/12/2023 09:21

I have been using the woffz app to train my dog to do all sorts of basically pointless commands, but there is a definite improvement in his all round behaviour. If you start to buy it then don’t complete the purchase they offer you it much cheaper.

HappiestSleeping · 29/12/2023 09:42

Sux2buthen · 29/12/2023 09:17

You're not supposed to let dogs sleep in your room to be fair to the op.

Why on earth not?

Tygertiger · 29/12/2023 10:38

Sux2buthen · 29/12/2023 09:17

You're not supposed to let dogs sleep in your room to be fair to the op.

Says who and for what reason? What bad things will happen if you do?

margotrose · 29/12/2023 10:46

Sux2buthen · 29/12/2023 09:17

You're not supposed to let dogs sleep in your room to be fair to the op.

According to who, exactly?

itispersonal · 29/12/2023 10:56

There is nothing wrong with having a dog sleep in a crate, they absolutely do not have to sleep in your room.

My daughter has her own bedroom so the dog can too! My dog crate is her bedroom and she goes to sleep in it- that's it!

I think the problem has been solved- get up as soon as she barks - maybe have a baby monitor so you can hear the dog stirring and the pre barks. Then go downstairs let her out then go to the toilet etc.

Your dog should get better, I remember the 1st year of dog ownership and the puppy stage and being woken up at stupid o clock, bought a new longer sofa so I could sleep on it after dog had woke up at 5.30, had a wee, then went back to sleep. Also glad that my dog wants to go to bed at 8.30pm and more often than not sleeps in until we get up which could be 7am or 9am.

CrushingOnRubies · 29/12/2023 11:04

My dog does this, and I am mindful of the neighbours. What I find helps is getting to the dog to sit and wait at the door before opening. It sort of dissipates that pent up bark because they have to concentrate on waiting so forget what they need to bark about

FlatWhiteExtraHot · 29/12/2023 12:13

Sux2buthen · 29/12/2023 09:17

You're not supposed to let dogs sleep in your room to be fair to the op.

says who?? 🤣

Original poster
Gizlotsmum · 30/12/2023 07:28

Thank you so got up before him again this morning but he was still ready to go at 5:30 ( didn’t bark as I stayed downstairs) I wonder if a mid sleep toilet break might help as I am not sure he went back to sleep properly…took him out for a walk and got back with no barking. Only barking for breakfast (which I was doing as quick as I could) but that was at 7 and neighbour is normally up by then… but will check as I know it is a Saturday. Do need him to learn quiet but suspect I am actually rewarding barking rather than the quiet ( one for the trainer but he rarely barks out of the house)

OP posts:
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