Whining at night

[Beansandcheesearegood]

20 month old springer spaniel, in a good routine at night, enough exercise during day. At night settles in his bed in living room, we say goodnight close door and alls usually good.
The other night the storm disturbed him- heavy rain, wind howling, doors rattling etc so he started howling, I went in to comfort him. Since then he's whined abd howled each night .... tried checking if needed to go out, tried comforting him (hes so hyper!), tried staying outside of door and comforting him verbally, putting my slippers by door for scent etc. Can't ignore as just can't and he would howling abd wake the kids!

We dont want him sleeping upstairs so he does need to resettle in his bed/living room.

Here for ideas please!

If you don’t want him upstairs, sleep downstairs with him. He’ll likely only need a night or 2 of this to resettle.
Wind noises can be very worrying for animals. He just needs some reassurance.

Also white noise/rythmic drumming/fan sounds on can be very calming.

Thanks, I'm in with him now, put fan on again for white noise. See how we go. Son is sick too so might be needed!

Is he neutered? Do you have a neighbours/local dog in season? The storm might be coincidental- My dog is in tact but when my neighbours dog was in season, no one used to get any sleep.. (although this reduced as he got older and was completely solved when next doors dog was spayed).

@Netaporter thankyou that's interesting! No not neutered. Next door do have a dog too....

I skept downstairs last night as he was just wired! On alert at every movement, barked in middle of night when soneone got up for toilet-he not a barker really and never barks at night. Not sure what's going on. Looking at calming diffusers etc!

Ahh ..might be what we refer to this house as ‘blue balls’ then? 😂

Is he behaving as usual during the day?

@SpanielsGalore yes absolutely fine- running about, off lead, happy no whinning.....

How strange. I would have thought if it was an in season bitch, he'd be stressed during the day too. He must have been really frightened him during the storm. Poor thing. I wonder if moving his bed to a different room would help.
Or leaving the light on for him.

Thanks @SpanielsGalore we leave light on, now leaving fan on too. Just got some Salmon oil stuff to help anxiety so hopefully we'll have an improvement soon. Im going to try to comfort and leave tonight rather than start sleeping in room with him each night.

Hes so upset tonight unless I sit in the room with him. Not sure where to go from here, dont really want him in bedroom (dh works shifts and comes in at all hours!) But dont want to skeep downstairs with him forever.....
He use to settle so easily in his bed!
Not sure whether to sleep in with him or whether ill make it worse in long run?

I hope you both managed to get some sleep.
Honestly, I know you don't want to, but I'd let him sleep upstairs to see if that helps. Even if it's for the short term.
Other than that, I can only suggest seeking help from a decent qualified behaviourist, who is registered with APDT or PACT.

I would switch up the whole routine and let him sleep with you for a while. He’s obviously very unsettled and I don’t think there’s any benefit in forcing him to sleep somewhere he’s unhappy.

It doesn’t need to be forever.

@thisishowloween @SpanielsGalore he now sleeps next to me in our room! No whinning or anything last night!

Aw bless him! Hope you all managed to get some sleep?!

We had this exact thing happen with our cocker. He was spooked by something in the night and then refused to sleep in his crate. We tried everything (and I mean everything) but eventually relented and now he sleeps in our bedroom and it works fine. I never really wanted him up with us but it’s honestly not a problem at all, apart from having to vacuum more than usual up there (and stealing the toilet rolls).

Bless him. 💖 He must have been very frightened by the storm. Can't say I blame him. My dogs were spooked by the wind whistling round the garden.
I know you were reluctant to have him upstairs, but I'm all in favour of doing what it takes to get a good night's sleep.