Barking at night?!? Why?

Jeff in Ottawa

New member
A couple of weeks ago White started barking at night. I don't think he's barking at anyone or anything because the blinds are closed and and he's not by the door windows when I come downstairs. I also don't think he particularly needs to pee because sometimes he doesn't even get up when I come down. Usually if he does need to go in the middle of the night he's waiting at the bottom of the stairs, doing the pee-pee dance. Almost every time I come down he's still lying on the floor. He can also still hold it for 10 to 11 hours while we are at work so I'm quite certain that this isn't about a need to go outside. Heck, sometimes we've let him out and he's decided to go out and then just lie in the snow…at 3 a.m.! He's also not hot because the house gets down into the low 60s at night.

So basically, we're a little stumped as to what is going on here. Any thoughts? Thanks.
 

Puppypeoplenj

New member
Is it possible he's having trouble with his vision? Not to freak you out, hopefully that's not it, and he's just becoming a monkey-doodle, enjoying your company in the middle of the night!
 

DAWNMERIE

Active member
Personally, I think they sometimes get a wee bit confused and I think it's the only response they have, to let someone know something isn't sitting right with them, whatever the issue may be, if it's just feeling a wee bit out of place or to hot or just not right or just wanting attention. I would comfort as best I could. Sending comforting kisses & hugs White's way!
 

lmfoltyn

New member
Just give him some loves and tell him to go nite nite...Dexter started to do this about 6 months before he turned 13. Not sure what he was up to either but we got up with him and let him outside and then gave him some extra loves...he seemed to NEED us to be with him as he had to sleep downstairs as he got older. He always slept in our room before so I think he was just lonely...
 

Brandie&Maggie

New member
Hmmm...Is it possible he's just lonely and wants company? Or could he be hearing something strange in the house? Not outside, but a mouse or something?

Maggie will give us different barks for different things:

1. the "I really need to tell you something right now - its an emergency (I must pee, poop, play in the snow, have dinner right now)" bark (very loud while looking right at me and doesn't stop)
2. the "Please put down whatever you are doing and pay attention to me" bark (starts quiet and sometimes with just growling and pawing), and
3. the "something is outside and going to eat us if you don't get out of bed and check on it immediately" bark (very very loud, with lots of growling in between, directed at the window, TV, door, etc)

Does white have different barks that might give you a clue? If it's really bothersome, you could try video taping him. Maybe he does it during the day too and you just don't know. Can he sleep upstairs with you?
 

AngusMcDubhsMom

New member
Gracie does the same also and she's going to be 11 in April, so I wonder if it's age-related? Getting a bit confused or maybe just lonesome. She was out there at 3 a.m. today also, lying in the snow and refusing to come in, so I closed the door and waited about 10 minutes and then she came to the door and scratched to get in. Who's crazier, us or the dogs? LOL
adding: Gracie also has the same bark vocab as Maggie!
 
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janices

New member
Can be an older newf thing. My old girl does this if everybody not near her and she wakes up from sleeping. With group she is ok. Older night vision lessons and they do not manuever around like before so some confusion. I call her, get her near others and she is fine.
 
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blaue_augen

New member
Perhaps White can hear something outside that you cannot? Sometimes Suki will bark at something outside but not bother getting up. Sometimes I can hear something outside (another dog or an animal), and other time I cannot hear anything. I always just tell her thank you. Sometimes I wonder if it's not a ghost since we do live next to a cemetery. lol
 

Jeff in Ottawa

New member
Thanks everybody for your insight. I think that he probably is just wondering where everyone is. Once he sees me he's fine. Thanks. :)
 
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