Elderly dog barking at night

[BasilThePlant]

My 12/13 yo (rescue but has been with us for ten years) JRT has started barking at night....for an hour at this stage tonight. We all (young adult dc and i) get up for work at 6am so being awake from three isn't ideal.

We think she's maybe slipping in her old age (evidenced in other behaviour) but is there anything we can do about the barking at night? She has been out (at 3am), has water and her comfy bed. Occasionally the kids have brought her up to their rooms but she just barks there too.

She has plenty of walks and company during the day. This barking has been an issue for about 6 months. We put her to bed after a short walk at 11pm. This has been her routine forever.

I’m so sorry @BasilThePlantits awful seeing them decline like this isn’t it? I think you know that it could be dementia although obviously you’ll need a Vet to check them out. Have you discussed what you’ll do if that is the case and you can’t stop DDog from barking?

My parents JRT had dementia too, he was 16. I was only a child, so can’t remember too much.

There’s medication now, maybe a trip to the vet. Have you tried leaving a light on? and getting ear buds for the family.

It’s horrible when they age

But as PP says there is medication available now to help with the symptoms of canine dementia so she really needs to see a vet.

Vet gave my old spaniel a dementia drug. Was brilliant.