My 3 year old terrier has recently started barking at night for HOURS at a time.?

Question

We've had her for over a year and she's never done this before. We keep her at night in a crate in the kitchen and she's been just sitting there barking and growling at nothing. There's a fan on in the room, so it's not like she's hearing a strange noise. We do what the experts recommend and ignore her, but it doesn't stop until 1:30am or so. Help, what should we do now??? She seems fine otherwise. Her behavior, appetite etc. are normal. She just won't shut up.

Answer 1

That's so cute! do you think he's having nightmares and needing you as a mummy to cuddle her up?

Can you change the room where he is now?May be a certain sound or a light is scaring her?

The other option is tire him for a good walk at night, and he'll be so exhosted he'll sleep all night! Just like human babies!

Answer 2

My pup did the same when we first got him from the pound. To make him stop barking I put a little lemon juice on his tongue and stayed up and made sure he went back to sleep. He stopped after about a week.

Answer 3

Maybe she feels and unknown presence in the Kitchen or maybe she just wants attention. You should try another room to see if she sleeps better.

Answer 4

well you could try letting her in your bed? mine was doing that and i think it was mad at me for not letting it out. I believe they have feelings just like a human. I can understand my dog when it wants something i know what she wants and I know when she is mad at me. but i wouldn't let it out if it had problems going out. but the crate training worked when i first got her, I only had to do that for a month.

Answer 5

Some canine behavior problems, such as house soiling, affect only a dog's owners. However, problems such as escaping and excessive barking can result in neighborhood disputes and violations of animal control ordinances. Therefore, barking dogs can become "people problems." If your dog's barking has created neighborhood tension, it might be a good idea to discuss the problem with your neighbors. It's perfectly normal and reasonable for dogs to bark from time to time, just as children make noise when they play outside. However, continual barking for long periods of time is a sign that your dog has a problem that needs to be addressed.

The first thing you need to do is determine when and for how long your dog barks, and what's causing him to bark. You may need to do some detective work to obtain this information, especially if the barking occurs when you're not home. Ask your neighbors, drive or walk around the block and watch and listen for a while, or start a tape recorder or video camera when you leave for work. Hopefully, you'll be able to discover which of the common problems discussed below is the cause of your dog's barking.

Social Isolation/Frustration/Attention-Seeking
Your dog may be barking because he's bored and lonely if:

He's left alone for long periods of time without opportunities for interaction with you.
His environment is relatively barren, without playmates or toys.
He's a puppy or adolescent (under three years old) and doesn't have other outlets for his energy.
He's a particularly active type of dog (like the herding or sporting breeds) who needs a "job" to be happy.
Recommendations:
Expand your dog's world and increase his "people time" in the following ways:

Walk your dog daily - it's good exercise, both mental and physical.
Teach your dog to fetch a ball or Frisbee and practice with him as often as possible.
Teach your dog a few commands and/or tricks and practice them every day for five to ten minutes.
Take an obedience class with your dog.
Provide interesting toys to keep your dog busy when you're not home (Kong-type toys filled with treats or busy-box toys). Rotating the toys makes them seem new and interesting (see our handout: "Dog Toys and How to Use Them").
If your dog is barking to get your attention, make sure he has sufficient time with you on a daily basis (petting, grooming, playing, exercising) so he doesn't have to resort to misbehaving to get your attention.
Keep your dog inside when you're unable to supervise him.
Let your neighbors know that you're actively working on the problem.
Take your dog to work with you every now and then, if possible.
When you have to leave your dog for extended periods of time, take him to a "doggie day care" or have a friend or neighbor walk and/or play with him.
Territorial/Protective Behavior
Your dog may be barking to guard his territory if:

The barking occurs in the presence of "intruders," which may include the mail carrier, children walking to school and other dogs or neighbors in adjacent yards.
Your dog's posture while he's barking appears threatening -- tail held high and ears up and forward.
You've encouraged your dog to be responsive to people and noises outside.
Recommendations:
Teach your dog a "quiet" command. When he begins to bark at a passer-by, allow two or three barks, then say "quiet" and interrupt his barking by shaking a can filled with pennies or squirting water at his mouth with a spray bottle or squirt gun. This will cause him to stop barking momentarily. While he's quiet, say "good quiet" and pop a tasty treat into his mouth. Remember, the loud noise or squirt isn't meant to punish him, rather it's to startle him into being quiet so you can reward him. If your dog is frightened by the noise or squirt bottle, find an alternative method of interrupting his barking (throw a toy or ball toward him).
Desensitize your dog to the stimulus that triggers the barking. Teach him that the people he views as intruders are actually friends and that good things happen to him when these people are around. Ask someone to walk by your yard, starting far enough away so that your dog isn't barking, then reward him for quiet behavior as he obeys a "sit" or "down" command. Use a very special food reward such as little pieces of cheese or meat. As the person gradually comes closer, continue to reward his quiet behavior. It may take several sessions before the person can come close without your dog barking. When the person can come very close without your dog barking, have them feed him a treat or throw a toy for him.
If your dog barks while inside the house when you're home, call him to you, have him obey a command, such as "sit" or "down," and reward him with praise and a treat.
Don't inadvertently encourage this type of barking by enticing your dog to bark at things he hears or sees outside.
Have your dog neutered (or spayed if your dog is a female) to decrease territorial behavior.
Fears And Phobias
Your dog's barking may be a response to something he's afraid of if:

The barking occurs when he's exposed to loud noises, such as thunderstorms firecrackers or construction equipment.
Your dog's posture indicates fear -- ears back, tail held low.
Recommendations:
Identify what's frightening your dog and desensitize him to it (see our handout: "Helping Your Dog Overcome the Fear of Thunder and Other Startling Noises"). You may need professional help with the desensitization process. Check with your veterinarian about anti-anxiety medication while you work on behavior modification.
Mute noise from outside by leaving your dog in a basement or windowless bathroom and leave on a television, radio or loud fan. Block off your dog's access to outdoor views that might be causing a fear response, by closing curtains or doors to certain rooms.
Separation Anxiety
Your dog may be barking due to separation anxiety if:

The barking occurs only when you're gone and starts as soon as, or shortly after, you leave.
Your dog displays other behaviors that reflect a strong attachment to you, such as following you from room to room, frantic greetings or reacting anxiously to your preparations to leave.
Your dog has recently experienced: a change in the family's schedule that results in his being left alone more often; a move to a new house; the death or loss of a family member or another family pet; or a period at an animal shelter or boarding kennel.
Recommendations:
Separation anxiety can be resolved using counter-conditioning and desensitization techniques