Sudden Middle of nite Barking - Help

happyd11 · 11-18-2009, 01:15 PM

Lily is 11 months old and only whimpered until a couple of months ago, no barking.

Then she occasionally barked during the day. Very loud for a little dog - mixed Jack Russell and Dachshund, though nothing bad as far as duration or frequency.

We had an elderly very sick dog, Alonzo, that we laid to rest last Thur. (11/12). I believe that Lily barked once or twice in the middle of the night when he was still with us, but I'm not certain of the timing (maybe Alonzo was in vet hospital). Now there have been a few times she's been barking at around 3 a.m. or later for a prolonged time and I don't know how to deal with it. I'm seriously considering a muzzle for the sake of sleep and sanity much as I hate to use one.

I'm not sure if that's the time that we have the water softener set to regenerate or if its random house noises or what is setting her off. She doesn't seem to bark much during the day and never for the prolonged times. I don't know if its related to missing the other dog, she adored her big brother though he didn't quite reciprocate the same though he was generally tolerant.

I'm feeling brain dead so if you need more info, please ask away.

Thanks for any help.

alphadoginthehouse · 11-18-2009, 02:46 PM

Has this started since you put Alonzo down? Where does she sleep? Oh, and a muzzle won't keep her from barking...she can still open her mouth.

happyd11 · 11-18-2009, 03:08 PM

Thanks alphadoginthehouse,

Lily sleeps in our bed. Alonzo used to sleep in our BR in a kennel or floor though near the end slept down stairs under a sofa.

Most of Lily's middle of the night barking has been since Alonzo passed though she did it at least once b/f he was gone. I'm not certain if Alonzo was in the house or in the vet hospital when she did it the first time or two.

Thanks for info on muzzle, for some reason thught it might help with barking - guess its for biting.

hulkamaniac · 11-18-2009, 03:15 PM

She just wakes up and barks non-stop? Does she need to go outside? I have my dogs who have twice decided to just wake up in the middle of the night and bark. In both cases they needed to go outside and in both cases they had an underlying medical issue.

happyd11 · 11-18-2009, 03:36 PM

Lily has easy access to outside w/ a doggie door though is lazy and will piddle inside so its unrelated to nature calls.

Good idea to check into medical issue yet it does seem odd that its only in the middle of the nite vs. throughout the day. Did your dogs bark only at nite or during the day too w/ the medical issues?

BTW, love your pack description lol!

Dog_Shrink · 11-18-2009, 04:23 PM

To me this sounds like a grieving dog. She misses Alonzo and maybe he had an episode that started her incident while he was there and she ws trying to alert you to it. Then again I could be totally off base but I do know DOGS GRIEVE. Since she sleeps in your room do you have a radio or tv playing thru the night? If not you might want to try it playing softly to mask any noises that the house might be making that could set her off. Since your loss was only recent just try to be patient with her. An extra play session before bed could help calm her down and tucker her out so she sleeps more soundly as well as maybe a good dose of tryptophan (the stuff in turkey). It's an endorphin releasing chemical that should help her to relax and sleep more soundly.

So sorry for your loss. I know it's never easy losing a pet. I lost my great dane suddenly almost a month ago and some of my dogs are STILL adjusting. My yellow lab who was the closest to him is STILL not back to himself.

happyd11 · 11-18-2009, 07:07 PM

Thanks Dog_Shrink,

That makes sense. I'm aware that dogs grieve, Lily sticks closer to me than usual lately. I'll be sure to get her plenty of exercise and try a play session b/f bed and maybe some tryptophan too. I'll have to look up how much is appropriate for a 17 lb. dog unless you know off hand.

So sorry for your recent loss as well. We're doing ok, its a little easier this time since we got to say good bye. A year ago July we lost another Pom who had heart problems. I didn't want to believe she was so sick and she went on her own on a day that she had a vet appt. since she wasn't herself and wouldn't take her heart med. She didn't make it to the appt. I try to focus on the many happy and sweet memories, that helps.

happyd11 · 11-19-2009, 12:02 PM

Good news, we slept through the nite w/o the dreaded barking!

Hope this continues.

alphadoginthehouse · 11-19-2009, 01:29 PM

I had 2 dogs that were together for 14 yrs (longer than most human relationships!). When I had to put one down, the other was not herself for a long time and I don't think she ever got over the loss...that and the fact that I brought new animals into the house!

It's hard for us to lose a pet and if you have more than one, the loss is felt by the remaining one(s) can grieve if they were best buds, as my two were. I'm sorry for your loss and I hope that Lilly continues to improve with her grieving as well.

Dog_Shrink · 11-19-2009, 02:55 PM

YAY Happyd... did you do anything different to grant yourself a restful night for all or did it just happen? Definately a sign in the right direction.