[ketters12]

Okay... I have read it all about how to stop barking. Tried it all. I love my 5 year old male yorkie, Tobey, but lately I am being driven NUTS!!! by his early morning barking. I try and walk him daily for at least 45 min before work- as I am a hairstylist and usually don't get home till 10pm during the week. He is usually my alarm clock, barking at me to get up, and once he has his walk he is mellow and content to chill on the couch until I get home. I just wish he wouldn't wake me so early!! I work basically 2nd shift and usually don't get to bed until 12 or 1am. I don't want the barking to start at 7am!! but that is usually what happens. Then I know I have developed a bad habit of keeping a bag of treats on my nightstand so that I can take one out and yell from my bed for Tobey to "come" and give him a treat and trap him back under the covers so I can get another 30 min of sleep! I am just so tired and his barking drives me crazy!! Does anyone else have this issue? I'd love to wake up at dawn with him but I need sleep! In general, he and I have barking issues. We also have growly/bitey issues with some of my neighbors. I used to live in a house for the first 3 years of his life and now he guards my apartment like his life depends on it! If he is out in the backyard on a string and someone unknown enters, he snarls and bites at their feet!! He has never otherwise been aggressive and I have had him since 8 weeks! I am so embarrassed!! Help!!