How to curb early morning barking!!! I'm at the end of my rope!!!
 

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!!

He knows that he will get a treat so he is going to continue to bark. Don't reward unwanted behaviors!
Instead of him being your alarm, set a real alarm and let him get used to the idea that the sound of the alarm will get you moving...not his barking! :)
You will need to just let him bark and ignore him until he gets the idea. He WILL get it eventually if you don't give in!

Cotton is comfortable in your ears, and two pillows, one on top and one under muffles the sound...

I feel your pain.

:thumbup::thumbup:
Set the alarm clock for the time YOU want to get up. Now, when he starts barking at HIS desired time to get up, you are going to have to absolutely IGNORE him!!! IGNORE!!! Dont call him, dont talk to him, dont yell at him, IGNORE him completely! Then when YOUR alarm clock goes off, call out to him, and give him a treat, give him lots of hugs and kisses and praise, and start your day. You will repeat this CONSISTANT behavior modification, with PATIENCE and TOLERANCE and LOVE and warm hugs and kisses and treats when YOUR alarm clock goes off. He will catch on very quickly if you are consistant. What ever you do, dont pick a time for your clock to go off, and then after a week or two, switch times on him! Be sure you have that clock set at the time you are going to continually use!

good advice from Yorkiemom

:thumbup: Ladyjane and Yorkiemom1 gave you the exact retraining method we use. Just remember you have to stick with it.
Have you tried keeping him out of the bedroom with a gate or closed door ? I know some apartments will not tolerate barking issues and that makes it difficult to out wait his demands. Some times a puzzle toy, kong, or bullystick will redirect them. You might want to try the Nothing in Life is Free retraining steps.