My black lab...?

Question

Is driving me totally up the wall. He's 11 years old, and for the first 10 years of his life, he was a pretty independent animal. He still acts like he did when he was 3, and shows absolutely no signs of tiring out. But in the past few months, he's developed some strange habits that have me up from 3 to 5 am tending to his every whim. Every day at 2:30-3 am, he'll wake me up whining and barking to go outside. I let him out, and he walks to the end of the porch, sniffs around for a while, then returns to come back in. When I let him in the house, he insists on going downstairs (you need to wrap your arms around him and drag him into the rest of the house, which is separated by a swinging door), and I usually let him and go back to bed. Half an hour later, he's barking downstairs to go out again, where he repeats the sniffing air thing. When he comes in next, he consents to be let in the main house. This continues for the next two-three hours. What on earth is going on?

On what I have tried: I've tried telling him to lay down (this works for about half an hour, then he starts up again), I've tried whacking him with a newspaper, I've tried ignoring him (he just barks louder...). The only way he stops (and the only way he'll EVER let me get back to sleep) is if I do that pattern above with him for two-three hours. But I'm a HS Senior with an AP schedule, I can't afford to be doing this every night. And no, he isn't 'going'. He just walks out there, sniffs the air, and comes back.

Answer 1

changes in behavior like this require a blood panel. it could be he is having little mini-seizures. sometimes dogs that have these (and in many dogs the seizures may be related to hypothyroidism, etc., and hypothyroidism in labs is not uncommon at all) exhibit a sort of "fantasy" behavior as though they are seeing or hearing things we are not. it is part of the seizure activity.

every dog should have an annual blood panel done, and especially seniors.

i adore this breed, and my large dogs are lab x. My previous two were both hypothyroid at age 8, and one had seizures which were corrected by the thyroid meds which are quite inexpensive (1 pill am, 1 pill pm). They did fine after the meds were introduced and were normal dogs.

definitely see the vet.

Answer 2

Perhaps he is getting a really strong scent from somewhere? It could be his age, and this is just some weird random stage. I have a 3yr old chocolate lab, and I remember a similar situation. She always slept allll through the night, and just about a year ago, she would wake me up EVERY SINGLE MORNING for 2 months barking to go out at 4am! She would pee, but she would spend anywhere from 30 min.- 1 hour just SNIFFING! I just didn't get it, but then all of a sudden she stopped. He might sense that there is something wrong, or something is going to happen? Dogs can sense such things. I'm not saying anything necessarily bad, just a change. Maybe ask your vet if you are concerned. I have heard sometimes when they get quite a bit older and are not too far from passing, they will get really restless. I would take him in for a full physical. You should read "Marley and Me" if you haven't.........it describes and explains Lab's to a tee! That book can give a lot of insight about how random and quirky labs can be. This could be soooo many things, maybe even nightmares! I'm sorry you are not getting rest! You are a good parent to be so patient though! Love to see that! If you have a gut feeling that this is really weird or out of the norm, talk to your vet. God Bless you and your little rascal!!!

Answer 3

It sounds like maybe there is a raccoon or something that's recently started coming around. Is dog or cat food left outside?

Since it doesn't seem that he's barking/whining to go out because he has to 'go', ignore him until he gives up and/or teach him to lie down and be quiet on command. Don't keep getting up and 'tending to his every whim'!

Answer 4

i used to have a black lab and she somtimes did that too but i dont know why