Just love my dogs!

I think this is a good idea and I'm willing to try it and see if it helps. Thanks!

He gets two small meals each day. How much are you feeding him. I know I need to feed my dog a bit more for dinner when it gets cooler. She just seems to need more in winter, or she gets hungry. He's having enough food for his breed, age and size. He's just a pig! We're actually trying to get him to drop a few kgs!

You need to control the barking so your neighbours aren't suffering. Get him inside and control him while you sort the problem out. Seriously - how people can allow their dogs to bark at 5am is unbelievable. I would complain too and be bloody annoyed that you were staying in bed ignoring the noise your dog was making to wake the neighbourhood up. Put him in a crate and try something else to make him shut up. You've created a problem where your dog is in control. Now you need to reverse the situation so you as pack leader are totally in charge of when and where food happens. I feed my dogs at night and any attempt to manipulate me (whining at the back door) and attempting to dictate the feeding time usually ends up with a cup of water poured out the window on somebody's head. They get the message and I feed them when I'm good and ready. I love my dogs to bits but I am the Mama dog and I stay in control of such things. I don't want the neighbours to suffer. I know this isn't fair. We have since had him inside. I just really hope that they can't hear him bark from inside their house. The reason we feed him twice a day is due to our vet's suggestion. Unfortunately Jett eats his food so quickly that he vomits straight away and we're worried that he'll end up with a twisted stomach I've tried the water thing but because he likes water, it doesn't seem to bother him. I wonder if there's something similiar to the water trick that would give him a fright? I guess this is why my husband and I are considering the citronella collar.

Have you had this problem with your labs? I guess we can give this a try. It does sound difficult though! I havent had the problem of him barking for food but he went through a phase of when he was put outside when I was cleaning the floors or I had guests etc he used to bark loudly at the door to be let in. It was so annoying but I used to just let him bark and only when he stopped he was let back inside again. He hasnt done it since he was about 7 months old though, he is now almost 13 months. Off the topic (Sorry) but I'm guessing that's your dog in the picture? He is beautiful and looks very similiar to my boy Jett

No I haven't tried letting him in yet. I guess it's worth a try!

Jett isn't desexed because I want to breed off him and he is a show dog. He goes for a 30 minute walk every day and then I throw the ball in the backyard until he's too tired to chase it. Our Golden Retriever went to obedience school. We use the same strategies we learnt for her. He walks beautifully on a lead, generally does what he's told and is toilet trained. Really, the only bad behaviours he has is chewing and the 5am barking (he never barks any other time). When I say trash the house, I mean the kitchen. Both dogs are confined to the kitchen at night. They chewed up the lino and chewed holes in the plaster (not sure for certain who actually did it, but I'm guessing it was Jett because he is the chewer)! Thanks so much to everyone who has given some advice so far

He loves chasing a ball and our other dog, going for long walks, chewing on bones (and toys), jumping in water. He gets fed at night between 6 and 8pm. He is very gentle and getting better at doing things on command (he sits, stays and drops) but can get very excited. As he is only 14 months, he still shows a lot of puppy behaviours.

Personally, I think there's a difference between the odd early or late meal and a completely unpredictable schedule. Ask yourself the obvious question - is what you're doing now working for you? Hmmm. This is true!

Have you had this problem with your labs? I guess we can give this a try. It does sound difficult though!

We stay in bed trying to ignore the barking but it's hard at 5am to let it continue for a period of time! We're really worried now that the neighbours will complain again. You can hear the barking even when he's inside!

He gets two small meals each day. Some labrador breeders said not to feed them at the same time each day. It varies. My husband feeds him anywhere between 5:30 and 7am. At this stage we are feeding him to stop the barking. I know this reinforces the bad behaviour, however we don't know what to do. We tried ignoring him but he just keeps on barking! I'd be trying a large evening meal as an experiment. Dogs thrive on routine and consistency. I don't see how mucking about with meal times will help you. Have you considered crate training? Ok. The only reason we varied their feeding times was because some lab breeders suggested this. They said the dogs need to learn that if for some reason you can't feed them (E.g., you're out) then they need to wait until YOU are ready.

It varies. My husband feeds them between 5:30 and 7am and again between 6 and 8pm.

He gets two small meals each day. Some labrador breeders said not to feed them at the same time each day. It varies. My husband feeds him anywhere between 5:30 and 7am. At this stage we are feeding him to stop the barking. I know this reinforces the bad behaviour, however we don't know what to do. We tried ignoring him but he just keeps on barking!

He does sleep outside with our Golden Retriever. They have a large dog kennel. We've had to bring him inside now that he's barking. It must be food he's barking for. As soon as he's fed. He's quiet and we don't hear another sound out of him! So if he sleeps inside does he still bark at 5.00am? Yes he still barks at 5am. We would like them to sleep outside, as they are trashing our house!

He does sleep outside with our Golden Retriever. They have a large dog kennel. We've had to bring him inside now that he's barking. It must be food he's barking for. As soon as he's fed. He's quiet and we don't hear another sound out of him!

Hi All I've got a problem with our 14 month old labrador. He is food obsessed and he barks at 5am every morning for food. We had neighbours come and complain yesterday (so we can't ignore it anymore) and we're not sure what to do. Has anyone tried the citronella collar? Does it really work? Could anyone suggest a particular brand? Thanks. Any advice is greatly appreciated! Leah