Barking problems
Harley (3 1/2 year old rescue that we adopted 2 weeks ago) has begun to have a barking issue. The first week we didn't hear so much as a peep from him, but he started barking last weekend and keeps getting worse. I don't know if he's starting to feel territorial or what. He barks at the neighbors dog, and when we have him outside with us, he barks at cars and people who walk by. The worst, though, is his barking at night in his crate. Eventually we'd like him to sleep in our bedroom, but we've been keeping him crated at night until he's trustworthy about housetraining. Last night we went to bed an hour early, and he barked at midnight when our neighbor came home. Then he barked at 4 am, and then again at 6. I mean major barking-- going on for several minutes at a time. The nighttime barking is what drives us crazy-- the outside barking is easier to correct because we're right there with him and can shush him. At night, though, we've tried to ignore it at first because I don't want to reinforce it by coming to his crate whenever he barks. I think he just wants out of his crate. The only possible thing I think it could be (that I have control over, anyhow) is that for the past two days he's missed his evening walk because it's been pouring down rain. He usually goes for 20 minutes in the morning, and 30-45 at night. So, I suppose boredom could have worsened it, but I definitely want to stop this before it gets out of control and we have neighbors complaining. It started with him barking in the morning when our alarm clock went off, but it's slowly progressed to barking during the whole night. I don't think it's extreme enough to go to a collar of some sort yet, although I read about a high-pitched sound device that you can have go off when he barks, so if it doesn't improve with whatever we try, I may use that. We're thinking about letting him sleep in our bedroom tonight to see if it improves, since I really think it's caused by being in the crate. He's been 100% on housetraining for about a week, but I don't completely trust him yet. I guess the worst that could happen by leaving him in our room is that he has an accident and we have to go back to the crate at night for a while. He does well with our cats, so we're not worried about him eating them at night anymore, either (which was another reason at first to crate him at night). What would you all do? Any suggestions would be appreciated! Tara |
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| In regard to trying Harley out with the cats -
I would have Harley and the cats be in seperate parts of the house. Especially at night. Our cat gets kind of active in the house at night, and zooms around. Our newer dogs find this a huge chasing temptation. I find I need to intervene. They are all fine during the day when the cat is more sedate. The others are used to it and ignore the cat when he starts. |
| Good idea-- I was talking to my husband about it, and he said the same thing. If we have the door closed, the cats usually try to get out, but not in, so I think we'll try closing the door with Harley in and the cats out.
Thanks! |
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