Night Time Barking Need Help/Ideas

[Nina]

Hi All,  I have the sweetest 25 pound mini Australian labradoodle.  She is a leaner who loves everyone including kitties and kids.  At the age of 1 (she's almost 3), I took the crate to the basement.  When I put Sadie in at night, she would look and me and cry.  She has never chewed anything and is totally trustworthy. At night she sleeps in the living room or the office (her bed is in the office).  I sleep upstairs which I get to via a spiral staircase that Sadie refuses to use.  About 6 months ago, Sadie would occasionally bark at night.  Now she wakes me up at least 2x each night w/her barking.  Sometimes I yell for her to BE QUIET which may or may not work.  If I go to the landing of the staircase and call her, she comes and eventually stops barking.  I have been thinking of getting a citronella collar which I would only use at night.  However, I don't want to scare her unneccesarily.  I want to try to work with her before I get the collar.  What should I do?  When she barks, I could get out of bed, walk downstairs (this takes 1-2 minutes at least) and then what?  I don't want her to connect having me come downstairs with barkingin a positive way...barking for attention and getting it.  I think that she is barking at something i the environment (San Francisco, small backyard) Thanks for your help.

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

Daisy just started barking in the middle of the night - usually just once, I just call out - "GO NITE NITE DAISY" and she usually does, if she keeps it up I investigate....last night she did it and she was asking to go out - she had diarrhea, poor baby....still trying to figure that out, but that's another post.

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Okay, then I think a soft-sided crate with a plush bed inside might be a good idea?  And I second the sound machine.  Put it on white noise - it drowns everything out and soothes dogs and humans alike to sleep :)

 

Really work on luring her into the crate with high-value yummy treats.  She might end up being okay with it.  I don't believe in the saying "you can't teach an old dog new tricks".  Yes you can with positive reinforcement.

[Jennifer Tramell]

Charlotte is 9 months old and about a month and a half ago she started barking at night.  She slept on the first floor but I had blocked off the stairs so she couldn't go upstairs.  We didn't want her prowling around upstairs, getting the kids' toys, being noisy, etc.  We have a 2 yr old goldendoodle and he sleeps on the first floor so Charlotte had her "best bud" with her - she wasn't alone. 

Turns out that she would hear noises at night and bark to alert us, or perhaps she was scared.  We took away the barriers and gave her the option of sleeping upstairs.  Now she rarely barks at night and is quite content sleeping on "her" rug outside of our bedroom door.  Webster still sleeps downstairs.

Perhaps Sadie is the same as Charlotte?

[Carol Brand]

I think your dog is on alert and is barking at nighttime noises.  Our dogs sleep with us and we deal with this during the summer when all the little beasties are outside in the middle of night.   I've never used a white noise machine, but if people say they work, you might give it a try.  

 

My solution would be to crate this dog at night.  This is what we do in the summer.  Besides fixing this particular barking problem, crating is an important life long skill so you are essentially killing two birds with one stone.

[Nina]

Thanks to all for your suggestions.  I ordered a soft crate and will probably order a sound machine as well.

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

Our doodles both sleep with us so maybe a crate in your room? Or maybe...she could sleep with you?? You could help her up and down the stairs?? The noise machine would work nice- I would like one when we are not here, but for now we leave a small radio on. Good luck!

[Kaytlin and Cooper]

I find the noise of our air purifier helps keep Cooper quiet. If it is turned off so we can watch tv then she sometimes barks at "nothing" outside - i guess she hears something. At night she sleeps in our room on the floor and once she is settled is out for the entire night. As this isnt a option for you, i suggest getting something to provide some background noise.

[Suzann, Rosey & Bandit]

Can you train her to go up the stairs?  We stayed in a cottage once that had spiral stairs..and a little food on each step helped.  I think she may just may not want to sleep alone...

[Nina]

Here is a picture of the staircase...I tried the food lures, but it didn't work. Treads are very narrow and go to nothing in the center and open. This scares Sadie, (I guess). Thanks for everyone's ideas and suggestions. I ordered a soft sided crate with a sheepskin bed so she will have a comfy/QUIET place to sleep downstairs.

[Adina P]

Wow that's quite the staircase. I think I would be afraid to climb it too :-)

[Bonnie and Kona]

What a beautiful home!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Now that I see the angle and the curves of your beautiful staircase, I can see why Sadie might be scared. Sounds like you found your solution. Your home is beautiful!!