How do you stop a puppy from barking and whining all night?

Question

We have a 5 month old australian shepard. He is so good except for at night. We put him in a cage at night and as soon as he goes in there he whines. He will wake up in the middle of the night or wake up extremely early and bark and whine until we get up with him. For the past week my husband and I have not gottin much sleep due to this. Is there some trainning technique that we can use or any other suggestions?

We have a 5month old aussie pup that whines and barks all night long in his cage. We have to keep him looked up because he EATS everything if we are not watching. He is pretty much house broken, but he doesn't always let us know when he needs to go out, he just pees in front of the door. We let him out right before bed everynight and he has a comfy bed along with his 2 favorite toys. It's not a form of punishment, he still has to learn his boundaries before he gets to run loose. This is how we trainned our other dog, but he did not whine and bark like this either. Any help with the late night barking and whining??

Answer 1

Well, he won't stop because you give him attention when he does it. I would suggest putting a radio on softly by the kennel and putting some old clothes (that smell like you) in the crate at night. First thing in the morning, make sure you go directly to him and play with him.

Once he is quiet throughout the night, take away the clothes first, and then the radio, in steps.

If he does start whining/barking, do NOT go to him. That is what he wants, and you are just enforcing the behavior. Buy some ear plugs, but after he realizes it isn't going to work (depending on his intelligence, it may take a week or two) he will quit.

Answer 2

If putting a ticking clock and a hot water bottle in the cage with him (to simulate a heart beat and feel like another puppy) doesn't work, then negative reinforcement is the next step.

It is best if the negative reinforcement cannot be seen as something you do. If the dog sees you squirting him with a squirt gun or whatever, it will figure out that the punishment will only happen if you are there to do it. Since the dog wants to see you, he will do whatever gets you to visit him.

With that in mind, think of a way to startle the dog without him seeing you do it. If the cage is right next to the bed so you can reach it from above without the dog seeing you, whack the cage when the dog begins to whine. If the cage cannot be or is not near the bed, lob a shoe or a ball across the room or into the hall to hit the cage. Keeping the lights out will help reduce the chance of the dog seeing you throw the object, which will help keep the negative reinforcement anonymous.

That should scare him enough to get him to be quiet and enough of a scare that he won't want it to happen again.

P.S. Another idea: something that makes my dog conk out for hours is taking him for a nice long run, like about 20-30 minutes. Mine is a yorkie and runs alongside the golfcart. He loves it!!!

If you could do that with your puppy right before bed, I bet he would go to sleep very easily.

Answer 3

I have raised Miniature Pinschers for about 7 years. I always tell the people who buy one of my puppies to put a big fluffy blanket or pillow or even a stuffed animal in the area where the puppy will sleep. You've gotta remember that they come from a place where they are sleeping with siblings and a mommy dog all the time. They have a hard time adjusting to being alone. Something fluffy and warm always seems to work for the puppies I have left over on occasion.
Also, try and take food and water away around 8 or 9 at night. He may need to go potty and that is why he is whining. Take his stuff away and make sure you let him out before you go to bed so he has a chance to empty himself out.

Answer 4

For one thing take him out of the cage at night , or at least put the cage in your room with you . Why the cage? If the dog is so good. This is just like a little baby that is used to having its mother and siblings with it at night. Now is all alone locked in a cage. If the cage is a necessity then a ticking wind up clock soothes the puppy. The clock simulates the sound of the mother next to him/her.


P.S. Would you like to be locked in a cage at night. You would probably cry too.

Answer 5

Ignore it, at first. Do not even talk to the dog and tell him to shut up. Any attention just reinforces the bad behavior.
That will take a long time to get results though.
I can understand you needing your sleep.
Our dogs did similar stuff when they were puppies. We put a stop to that behavior really quickly with a shock collar.
We resorted to that when nothing else worked, at our vets suggestion.
It solved the problem within 2 nights with each dog.
Some maintain it is mean to the dog to use a shock collar, I don't agree. I feel its meaner to the dog to let them get away with bad behavior which would only escalate as they age.
A well behaved, quiet animal is a whole lot more likely to stay with its family and be spoiled rotten than one who isn't and ends up in a shelter.

Answer 6

Think 'baby' this little guy is just a baby and is brand new to this world and already he's being locked up. Yes, yes, agree, he's an animal needs to get used to the perameters you have set for him. Try this: feed him a nice fattening meal just before bed. The full tummy will keep him asleep while he digests the food. Make sure he pees just before bedtime too. You'll eventually have to wake up early for morning poop time, but at least you should enjoy uninterupted sleep.

Answer 7

he probally barsk and wakes up to go potty and he is alerting you that he needs to go. dogs wont go in there beds that is why he barks. try not feeding him as much water right before bed time. and give hi ma longer outside period before you turn in for the night. You may also want to consider letting him loose at night. or you can put a stufed animal in the crate wit hhim so he feels like he isnt a lone. Also try a nite light in the room so he doesnt feel so closed off from the world.

Answer 8

I'm not an expert on dogs or anything but I know that some dogs bark when they see birds fly past their house or garden, but that wouldn't make him bark all night. Maybe he still hasn't settled in to his surrondings yet... Or sometimes dogs get confused if you bring them to bed at different times. People say you should always let them sleep at the same time every night. These are just ideas

Answer 9

Do not give in, the dog will eventually "get it" if you remain firm. Leave the dog in his cage as always and do not get up and comfort him under any circumstances (your shattered nerves included!).
The most under-used and yet efficient training technique is the word "no" pronounced with authority. No need to shout, just be clear that there is no alternative to this word. And don't give in.
Good luck!
Good luck!

Answer 10

If you want to keep the kennel for sleeping maybe leave the door open so it isn't like punishment or travel. Also try putting on old tshirt (unwashed) or stuffed animal into the kennel for him. He will smell you and feel close to you. You might try putting the kennel in the hall or area were he can hear you or see you , it just seems like separation or loneliness.