Help! My dog keeps barking to be let out at night

[outofofficeagain]

Frequently my dog will bark overnight to be let out.

Last night it was every two hours.

It doesn't happen every night but several times a week.

I don't know whether it's a habit or he has upset stomach etc so don't want to risk leaving him.

We have big windows in the kitchen where he sleeps.

It's like having a toddler again. I can't leave him to bark because he'll keep everyone awake.

Foxes probably, mine would be on guard all night if he could see outside so he sleeps upstairs with us.

When he goes out does he toilet? When is his last walk of the day? Mine go round the block right before bed so I know they’re empty - I used to have the same problem with one of mine and it meant I could safely ignore the barking. Mine usually just wanted to sit in the grass

He has a walk in the morning. And for the last few months we've been going first thing. He probably does need an evening walk too now you say that but it's been so dark and miserable.

Honestly, not giving your dog an evening walk because it’s cold and miserable is quite poor - why did you get a dog?! I don’t mean to sound nasty but surely you considered this?

If he only gets one walk a day it’s hardly surprising he’s restless at night! What is he? It’s very unreasonable of you to expect him to be cooped up for 23 hours a day with only access to the garden.
My medium sized 4 year old rescue gets an hour walk in the morning, largely off lead and a 1-2 hour walk later with my husband plus access to the garden. That’s regardless of the weather.

You need to start taking him out in the evenings - it doesn't have to be far, just round the block so he'll poo. Not taking him because of the weather is pretty poor, really.

Some dogs are fine on one walk and will poo in the garden before bed, but yours clearly isn't happy with that kind of routine so you need to make sure he's taken out more.

Yes. He has been happy on that routine for ages, but our walk had got earlier and also, they have fenced off some fields so, even though he's off his lead for an hour, there's not quite as much free rein.

Evening walk it is.

It's not the weather, more that I don't feel safe in the dark.

I have an eye condition which means I struggle to see at night and that makes me anxious.

Get yourself a decent head torch and you shouldn't need to worry about the dark.

Hope you’re in a detached house!