Barking at night -- and won't relax - YorkieTalk.com Forums

Caroline · 01-18-2006, 05:20 AM

Hi all,

I have an issue that has just begun and I'm so tired from not sleeping.

Spencer will NOT settle down anymore to sleep. If I keep him in my bed, he jumps down and starts going for my clothes... If I put him in his pen in the kitchen (where a bed is) he starts barking. I tell him "no" and he gets louder. He doesn't settle down for a good 2 or so hours and I'm at my wits end. I'm not sure what to do. He is 11 1/2 months old.

He plays at night when I get home as I let him out of his pen the minute I get home... but when it's bed time, he starts this new behaviour... it's really quite annoying.

Any ideas? I live in a condo complex and don't want the neighbors to be disturbed.

Thanks for any ideas.

Sincerely,
Caroline (Spencer's mom)

Jaspermom · 01-18-2006, 05:37 AM

A tired pup is a happy pup, and that begats a happy owner as well!

There's a lot of energy there, isn't there? Can you walk him when you get home? If not, play ball for about a half hour a couple times prior to bed. Slow down all activity the last hour before bedtime. Put treats in his crate, and cover his crate with a towel to make it dark. Shut your door, put earplugs in your ears, and that's that! Do not give in and let him run you into the ground. You have to sleep!

Good luck!!

Carters Mom · 01-18-2006, 05:38 AM

Can you watch TV in bed for a while before you're actually ready to settle down -- kinda faking out Spencer? How does he get to your clothes? I know I used to be a "change clothes and leave them on the floor until the morning" type of person before I had my yorkies. Now . . . my dirty clothes go straight to the laundry hamper so they don't play in them.

yorkiegirl2 · 01-18-2006, 05:39 AM

Is he hearing nosies from outside?
What I did to muffel the nosie from outside is put mine in his crate and play soft music.
Two if that doesn't work place him in the crate when he start to bark..take an empty toliet paper roll and tap the top of his crate and tell him quiet..you may have to do this several time until he get the ideal.
I have also used a can with pennies but that might make to much nosie at night for the neighbors...Good luck to you.

Patti · 01-18-2006, 05:40 AM

I throw a toy for Cali for about 45 minutes a couple of hours before bedtime. Also, Can you put him in his pen in your bedroom so he can know you are near but will be confined?
How many hours a day is he confined?

Caroline · 01-18-2006, 05:41 AM

Thanks for your replies... He goes for my laundry basket... where I keep the dirty clothes... He finds a way to get to them, trust me!

I will try to tire him out tonite by playing go fetch with him...

It's like he knows he's being bad but doesn't care...He doesn't even seem to want to listen to me anymore.. .very strange.

FirstYorkie · 01-18-2006, 05:42 AM

Yes, I second those suggestions:

1. Tire him out!!!
2. I'd give him a stuffed Kong when you put him in his crate.
3. Ignore him. Completely. Even negative attention (saying NO) is attention. Ignore him.
4. I understand that you don't want to disturb the neighbors. It shouldn't take very long to break him of this. Maybe warn the neighbors that it may get worse for a couple of days before it gets better?

Good luck!

Jaspermom · 01-18-2006, 05:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Caroline

Thanks for your replies... He goes for my laundry basket... where I keep the dirty clothes... He finds a way to get to them, trust me!

I will try to tire him out tonite by playing go fetch with him...

It's like he knows he's being bad but doesn't care...He doesn't even seem to want to listen to me anymore.. .very strange.

If he's not neutered, your boy may be experiencing some hormonal changes...

Maybe there is a female in heat nearby as well.

Caroline · 01-18-2006, 05:49 AM

He has an appointment for neutering next Friday, 1/27. I had to hold off as he went through orthopedic surgery over the summer and had to have 3 pins inserted into his shattered elbow of his left front leg (a small child had picked him up - against my wishes - and dropped him). So, it was months of healing and rehabilitation with that and the vet said to hold off until he's completely healed. He definitely is completely healed (thank God!) --

Do you think once he is neutered, his behaviour will change in a more positive direction?

Carters Mom · 01-18-2006, 05:53 AM

Cooper was neutered at 7 months. Since then, he has become a very lovable little boy -- always wanting to be on my lap, wanting to cuddle in the bed, etc. He DEFINITELY changed afterwards.

Caroline · 01-18-2006, 05:57 AM

Oh, I hope and pray that will be the case with Spencer! He can be SO lovable and he also loves to cuddle.. When he's good and will sleep, he usually has to be right up against my body -- and if I move away, he moves closer... it's so cute. I really hope the neutering helps.

Carolina girl · 01-18-2006, 07:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jaspermom

A tired pup is a happy pup, and that begats a happy owner as well!

There's a lot of energy there, isn't there? Can you walk him when you get home? If not, play ball for about a half hour a couple times prior to bed. Slow down all activity the last hour before bedtime. Put treats in his crate, and cover his crate with a towel to make it dark. Shut your door, put earplugs in your ears, and that's that! Do not give in and let him run you into the ground. You have to sleep!

Good luck!!

She's right. Sometimes they learn if I yell loud enough she will come get me. You have to ignore him. Don't reward this behavior. Try giving him treats for being good in the kennel. Good luck. It is hard to handle when you've had no sleep.

simonandhallie · 01-18-2006, 04:30 PM

I live in an apartment and Simon would bark constantly at night from hearing noises outside so I started to play lullaby music in my bedroom at bedtime and that drowns out the outside noise. If it wouldn't bother you playing some music might help with yours too.

Caroline · 01-19-2006, 05:25 AM

OK.. last night, I played "go fetch" with him for a while... tried to get him a bit tired... When it was time for bed, I put him in his pen -- in his bed -- and also put his favorite blanket in there -- this blanket is what he likes to cuddle in on the couch usually.... Anyway, he started barking but he wasn't as loud.. every once in a while, he would let out a loud one.. I just ignored him... Then I thought of the "white noise" machine that I would use when he was sleeping in my bed at night with me -- this would block out any noise outside, etc. I put the machine on my breakfast bar and went back to bed... and about 10 minutes later, he stopped crying/barking and fell asleep. He slept right through the night -- AND I DID TOO!!!!!

I'll keep doing this -- I think I'm on to something here!

Thanks for all of your replies... I really appreciate it -- and I'm anxious to see how he changes after he is neutered next Friday.

Caroline

JENNY_KRISTEN · 01-20-2006, 01:00 PM

This might sound kinda crazy but ... does he see himself in a window,mirror or is there anyway he can see himself he might be barking at himself Jenny does it !

01-18-2006, 05:20 AM	#1
Caroline Yorkie Talker Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 10	Barking at night -- and won't relax Hi all, I have an issue that has just begun and I'm so tired from not sleeping. Spencer will NOT settle down anymore to sleep. If I keep him in my bed, he jumps down and starts going for my clothes... If I put him in his pen in the kitchen (where a bed is) he starts barking. I tell him "no" and he gets louder. He doesn't settle down for a good 2 or so hours and I'm at my wits end. I'm not sure what to do. He is 11 1/2 months old. He plays at night when I get home as I let him out of his pen the minute I get home... but when it's bed time, he starts this new behaviour... it's really quite annoying. Any ideas? I live in a condo complex and don't want the neighbors to be disturbed. Thanks for any ideas. Sincerely, Caroline (Spencer's mom)

01-18-2006, 05:37 AM	#2
Jaspermom Yorkies Rock My World! Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: North Carolina Posts: 4,721	Poor Caroline! A tired pup is a happy pup, and that begats a happy owner as well! There's a lot of energy there, isn't there? Can you walk him when you get home? If not, play ball for about a half hour a couple times prior to bed. Slow down all activity the last hour before bedtime. Put treats in his crate, and cover his crate with a towel to make it dark. Shut your door, put earplugs in your ears, and that's that! Do not give in and let him run you into the ground. You have to sleep! Good luck!! __________________ Glad Mom to Jasper, Wosie & Dreama, RIP sweet babies.

01-18-2006, 05:38 AM	#3
Carters Mom YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: LA Posts: 1,568	Can you watch TV in bed for a while before you're actually ready to settle down -- kinda faking out Spencer? How does he get to your clothes? I know I used to be a "change clothes and leave them on the floor until the morning" type of person before I had my yorkies. Now . . . my dirty clothes go straight to the laundry hamper so they don't play in them. __________________ Lisa Proud Marine Mom Carter, Cooper & Crissy's Mom and Sebastian's Nana Never underestimate the warmth of a cold nose!

01-18-2006, 05:40 AM	#5
Patti Donating YT 30K Club Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Illinois Posts: 35,509 Blog Entries: 6	I throw a toy for Cali for about 45 minutes a couple of hours before bedtime. Also, Can you put him in his pen in your bedroom so he can know you are near but will be confined? How many hours a day is he confined? __________________ Cali Pixie Roxie : RIP Nikki; RIP Maya;RIP my sweet Dixie girl 1/17/08 http://callipuppyscastle.bravehost.com/index.html

01-18-2006, 05:42 AM	#7
FirstYorkie YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: American in London Posts: 1,739	Yes, I second those suggestions: 1. Tire him out!!! 2. I'd give him a stuffed Kong when you put him in his crate. 3. Ignore him. Completely. Even negative attention (saying NO) is attention. Ignore him. 4. I understand that you don't want to disturb the neighbors. It shouldn't take very long to break him of this. Maybe warn the neighbors that it may get worse for a couple of days before it gets better? Good luck! __________________ FirstYorkie We Love Clicker-Training!

01-18-2006, 05:39 AM	#4
yorkiegirl2 YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Missouri Posts: 2,394	Is he hearing nosies from outside? What I did to muffel the nosie from outside is put mine in his crate and play soft music. Two if that doesn't work place him in the crate when he start to bark..take an empty toliet paper roll and tap the top of his crate and tell him quiet..you may have to do this several time until he get the ideal. I have also used a can with pennies but that might make to much nosie at night for the neighbors...Good luck to you.

01-18-2006, 05:41 AM	#6
Caroline Yorkie Talker Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 10	Thanks for your replies... He goes for my laundry basket... where I keep the dirty clothes... He finds a way to get to them, trust me! I will try to tire him out tonite by playing go fetch with him... It's like he knows he's being bad but doesn't care...He doesn't even seem to want to listen to me anymore.. .very strange.

01-18-2006, 05:49 AM	#9
Caroline Yorkie Talker Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 10	Neuter He has an appointment for neutering next Friday, 1/27. I had to hold off as he went through orthopedic surgery over the summer and had to have 3 pins inserted into his shattered elbow of his left front leg (a small child had picked him up - against my wishes - and dropped him). So, it was months of healing and rehabilitation with that and the vet said to hold off until he's completely healed. He definitely is completely healed (thank God!) -- Do you think once he is neutered, his behaviour will change in a more positive direction?

01-18-2006, 05:53 AM	#10
Carters Mom YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: LA Posts: 1,568	Cooper was neutered at 7 months. Since then, he has become a very lovable little boy -- always wanting to be on my lap, wanting to cuddle in the bed, etc. He DEFINITELY changed afterwards. __________________ Lisa Proud Marine Mom Carter, Cooper & Crissy's Mom and Sebastian's Nana Never underestimate the warmth of a cold nose!

01-18-2006, 05:57 AM	#11
Caroline Yorkie Talker Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 10	Oh, I hope and pray that will be the case with Spencer! He can be SO lovable and he also loves to cuddle.. When he's good and will sleep, he usually has to be right up against my body -- and if I move away, he moves closer... it's so cute. I really hope the neutering helps.

01-18-2006, 04:30 PM	#13
simonandhallie *I Love My Monkeys!* Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Falling Waters, WV Posts: 11,166	I live in an apartment and Simon would bark constantly at night from hearing noises outside so I started to play lullaby music in my bedroom at bedtime and that drowns out the outside noise. If it wouldn't bother you playing some music might help with yours too.

01-19-2006, 05:25 AM	#14
Caroline Yorkie Talker Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 10	Progress! Yes! OK.. last night, I played "go fetch" with him for a while... tried to get him a bit tired... When it was time for bed, I put him in his pen -- in his bed -- and also put his favorite blanket in there -- this blanket is what he likes to cuddle in on the couch usually.... Anyway, he started barking but he wasn't as loud.. every once in a while, he would let out a loud one.. I just ignored him... Then I thought of the "white noise" machine that I would use when he was sleeping in my bed at night with me -- this would block out any noise outside, etc. I put the machine on my breakfast bar and went back to bed... and about 10 minutes later, he stopped crying/barking and fell asleep. He slept right through the night -- AND I DID TOO!!!!! I'll keep doing this -- I think I'm on to something here! Thanks for all of your replies... I really appreciate it -- and I'm anxious to see how he changes after he is neutered next Friday. Caroline

01-20-2006, 01:00 PM	#15
JENNY_KRISTEN Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: W.V Posts: 52	This might sound kinda crazy but ... does he see himself in a window,mirror or is there anyway he can see himself he might be barking at himself Jenny does it !