New Barking Behavior

[Andrea, Belle and Honey]

Belle has come up with a new challenge for me now that she is one year old.  She has suddenly started barking uncontrollably in the night.  Previously, she barked only when responding to an incursion on our property (dogs, cats, rabbits, deer, turkeys, cars or trucks in the driveway).  She responded well to Doggy Dan's strategy of having me look at the intruder out the window then calmly tell Belle "thank you." She never barked once she went to sleep at night.  Then last week a neighbor's outdoor cat decided to poop in Belle's potty spot and hang out on our patio at night.  Although Belle can't see her, she can hear her, and she won't use her potty spot until I clean up the intruder's poop (as the caretaker for 2 dogs and 2 cats already, this is just what I need - more poop in my life). I have tried to initiate a new, unsullied potty spot but Belle refuses to go anywhere else. This cat shows up at all hours of the night, and when Belle hears the cat outside, she now barks incessantly.  I have moved her crate into my bedroom which is further from the patio, and close the door, but Belle can still hear the darned cat. I keep calm and pretend to look at the interloper then say "than you," which has no impact on her at all now. I have tried calmly saying no and treating Belle if she stops barking but she always starts again as soon as the treat is gone. She stops briefly if I make a high, squeeky noise, but resumes barking once the shock wears off. I'm worried that we are annoying my neighbors (not the cat owners), and I'm TIRED! Help!!!

[Lisette Palmer]

Are your neighbors who own the cat approachable?  Perhaps if you explained the situation to them and asked them to keep their cat in @ night they might respect your wishes.  Only suggesting?!!

[Kamela & Beckett]

Two suggestions- first, white noise in bedroom (fan, etc.) so Belle can't hear the cat. (We leave the bathroom exhaust fan on if our daughter is expected home after we've gone to bed so Beckett doesn't hear her come in & get riled up.) Second, can you check the regulations in your area. There may be some kind of law or regulation about free roaming animals that you could use to compel your neighbors to keep their cat at home on their own property. Probably not what you want to have to do, but maybe if nothing else works.

[Erin]

I agree about talking to the neighbors...maybe if you approach them and explain that your dog's barking is an issue rather than their cat being the problem because I know people can be sensitive about things. We had to speak with our neighbors in the past about their dogs barking.

[Lori, Winnie, Bob and Indie]

I agree that the problem is not your dog- it's your neighbor's cat. You shouldn't have your sleep disrupted because your neighbors are allowing their cat to roam free. Almost every town has some sort of ordinance prohibiting this. I would talk to your neighbors, and if that doesn't get you anywhere, call Animal Control. 

You shouldn't have to train your dog to ignore an animal that shouldn't be on your property to begin with. And, you certainly shouldn't have to pick up the poop, either! 

[Erin]

I hope you didn't misinterpret me thinking the dog was the problem. Just from experience I've found that if you want the problem solved sometimes approaching it a certain way helps get the result you want without causing conflict.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

It is doubtful that you will be able to train Belle not to bark when she hears the cat outside.  I would definitely try talking to your neighbor and asking her not to let the cat roam at night.  If that doesn't work I think you're going to have to put the crate in another room where you can leave music or the TV on or a "noise machine".

[Andrea, Belle and Honey]

Thanks for all your suggestions. I am so relieved to know the fault does not lie with Belle's behavior or my training skills, or lack thereof. Unfortunately, I have already tried speaking to the cat's owner, as has another neighbor who has lived here longer than anyone else and is considered the "mayor" of the neighborhood. The cat owner is very elderly, and nobody wants to sic the township on her. After reading your comments I spoke to the people who live closest to us and explained the situation and let them know I am going to purchase a noise machine asap to try and ameliorate the problem. They were very gracious about it. Apparently this cat targets a specific house for a while then gets bored and moves on to another one. Can't happen too soon for me.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Since you want a new spot for Belle, I would try pouring vinegar on the spot where the cat is pooping.  It is an aversive but doesn't hurt the animal. It might 'encourage' the cat to move on a little quicker.

[Andrea, Belle and Honey]

Update:  It took 2 fans and ocean sounds on a noise machine, but Belle slept through the night yesterday.  Yay!!!  I put vinegar around the potty spot, and last night I had a lovely dream that I was back in my grandmother's kitchen helping her make pickles. No cat poop in the pottty spot this morning, and Belle went there without any trouble.  There was, however, a nice pile of cat poop right in the middle of the brick patio. After I vinegar the edges of the patio, I'm going to the store to buy baby cucumbers and do some pickling.  Good thing I bought a BIG bottle of vinegar at Costco. Thanks for your help everyone.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

This is really good news!!!!!

[debbie stevenson]

for some reason cats are afraid of cucumbers, maybe instead of pickling you should lay some out in the yard. lol sorry I realize your post was from june I am just now in this group.