Bark-a-Doodle!

[Kendra K. Rhoton]

I am exhausted! E-X-H-A-U-S-T-E-D! Ever since we came home from our honeymoon Remington has been a barking monster (only at night). I don't know why this has all of a sudden developed as he would sleep completely through the nights before without fail, but it's currently taking a toll on me....

Most nights we go to bed right after Dan leaves for work which is around 10ish on week nights. Remington always jumps up on the bed with me and goes right to sleep... lately though about 12 at night he starts barking! I'm guessing that he hears the house settling or something, but it wakes him up and he is at full alert for at least and hour! He is off the bed barking at the door constantly! I have to admit it freaks me out a little bit too wondering if there is someone in the house because I'm sure he can hear stuff I can't! So he barks until I get up and walk around the house with him so he can make sure no one is there... then it's back to bed. Probably a few hours goes by and the process starts all over again!

So why did this behavior start occurring out of the blue? And it seemed to start when we returned from the honeymoon? Any thoughts or ideas on how I can get rid of the Bark-a-Doodle!?!

Signed,

Deprived of much needed sleep :)

[Kevin Poole, Penny & Ozzy]

It could still be separation anxiety from when you were on honeymoon, and he's concerned that Dan isn't there. However, F Parker is right, don't reassure him that everything's OK, just tell him curtly "No Bark" and attempt to go back to sleep. Hopefully he'll get the message before long.

[Karen & Lucy]

Where was he when you were on your honeymoon? Maybe there was activity going on there at night that made him bark and it is continuing now. Hopefully he will seattle back in and things will get back to normal. Good luck

[Heidi]

Maybe you have a skunk or a raccoon roaming around that he's hearing outside. The wild animals like to be out late at night.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Perhaps he is still a little anxious from the separation during the honeymoon. You need to correct him by giving a command, for example "Quiet" or "No Bark". Reassurance like "It's OK" or calm explanations that nobody's there sometimes make the dog think you approve of its behavior. Mine often bark at any random noise outside when nothing ominous is going on. I can't say my technique is always effective either but it does work better than reassurance.