I have a dog who is 13yrs old on Monday and recently she has started barking in the early hours of the morning. I am having to get up and let her and my other dogs out, but she will then not settle back down until I have given her her breakfast. Even if I ignore her she will whine and stand at the door which in turns sets the other dogs off. This morning she started at 0230hrs I tried not to feed her but gave in and ended up feeding them about an hour later. This is making me very tired as I am struggling to get back to sleep once I have got up any suggestions on what I can do.
2006-11-17 07:53:59 · 19 answers · asked by rappa29 2 in Pets ➔ Dogs
I am guessing that you feed them at night also, I have the same problem with my dogs. I try to hold off feeding them at night til right before I get ready for bed, sometimes this will keep them content a little longer in the am. Sometimes this doesn't work but you may be able to do it with your dogs. You could feed them a little more than usual at night too and then just take that out of their morning feeding. Make sure that the older dog is comfortable, maybe he has Arthritis and the cold in the am bothers him to the point where he can't sleep and thus wants to eat, hum, this sounds familiar:) Hope it helps. Good luck.
2006-11-17 08:04:44 · answer #1 · answered by Amy R 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It sounds like you need to make a few schedule changes. Feed her 2x day with the evening meal no later than 4 hours before you go to bed, and make sure she goes out and does her business as close to your bedtime as possible. She's quite an aged lady and probably has some digestive as well as bladder problems. If you haven't done so already, take her to her vet for a senior exam and blood work to rule out any real problems. They can also tell you how her hearing and sight are doing. If you spread out her meals over the day she might not think she's starving. Whatever changes you make in her schedule, remember there will be a settling in period for her to accept new training and just make sure you follow the same schedule every day. If she still wakes you up at all hours, try taking her out on a leash for 5 minutes and limit her sniffing around time to just taking care of her business. It may take some time to retrain her, but it can be done.
2006-11-17 11:15:21 · answer #2 · answered by Kelly S 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think that yes this is an age thing, but I think that maybe she is going a little bit senile, sorry I know that sounds really horrible, your vet may be able to help as there are medications on the market to help with canine senility. I had a similar problem with my last GSD when he got to 13, their body clocks get out of sync, it's not an easy thing to sort out but as I say your vet may be able to help with meds and advice. Also maybe you could try spreading her feeds out during the day say 3-4 times, the same amount for the whole day only in smaller quantity's, do you have her on an elderly dogs diet? This may help.
Good Luck
2006-11-17 18:46:15 · answer #3 · answered by Pawstimes16 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, I think it age, and may be all of what the other responders are saying in general. What it could also be is she is more sensitive to sounds and things now that she is older.
My little Abbey is now 11, and indeed she barks more easily at night. Also she may need to go out in middle night or wee hours, much as an older person must to to loo.
I would also not withhold food and water, after all she has the right to a full tummy and to not feel thirst in the night.
If, as one person said, you can buck up and handle it, she will appreciate your efforts and love you even more. I suspect she will live longer as well.
2006-11-17 14:10:57 · answer #4 · answered by Charles-CeeJay_UK_ USA/CheekyLad 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My old dog is 15 & he's playing games,stated barking 0300hrs for a couple of nights, let him out for a wee, back into kitchen barking again. Only shut up when he was allowed to sleep on sofa.
So I have given in & he sleeps on sofa no problems.My other dog quite happy as well now she can also sleep on sofa.
I will try tonight back in the kitchen & see what happens.
2006-11-17 23:14:04 · answer #5 · answered by echo 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your dog is old, and probaly having numerous pains and discomforts that she can not tell you about. Her hearing can also be messing with her, which might be the reason she is barking. Wow. I understand this can be tiring, but imagine if you were an old lady and the people you loved and trusted just wanted to ignore you. 13 is very old for dogs. Be thankful that shes still got enough life left in her to irritate you.
2006-11-17 08:01:43 · answer #6 · answered by nadia s 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is no other way to tell You, but I'm sorry,it is time to console with your heart ? man best friend or women, has a life span of (not enough) 10 years give or take, Large dogs. smaller ones can get to 18 years I've seen it, needs denture. my red dobie, once upon a time lived 13 years. their dimise is arthritis.
Or maybe you moved to another house?
2006-11-17 08:22:52 · answer #7 · answered by Jose R 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
1
2017-02-18 02:32:27 · answer #8 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
if your dog needs to go to the toilet in the night then maybe some kind of litter tray! i dont really know but my dog has seperation anxiety and someone suggested that to me! if your door is closed at night then maybe try a stair gate, she might want you! at least then she can see you! i used to put my dog in the kitchen at night and he makes a mess everywhere and barked alot so i used a stair gate and he sleeps outside my door! good luck!
2006-11-17 08:46:13 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is probably the age setting in. They get up earlier than usual, nap all during the day and go to bed early. She is 91 in dog years!
2006-11-17 08:01:09 · answer #10 · answered by your1starr 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋