ahaze Posted November 17, 2007 Share Posted November 17, 2007 My dogs are 14 months old now. In August we moved into the house we're in now and since that time they've slept in the laundry room at night with no problems whatsoever. The laundry opens directly onto the backyard, where they spend their time during the day. Over the last three nights one of them, Blues, has been barking and whining incessantly. Initially thinking it was because she needed to go outside, I let them both out. Blues bolted out the door and went to the fence, staring out as if she wanted to chase something. She ran frantically around all sides of the yard but didn't make any noise- and didn't relieve herself. After 5 or ten minutes of running to various points in the fence and staring out, I finally put them away and went back to sleep. 30 minutes later she started up again. Ignoring it doesn't make her stop, hollering "no" doesn't do anything, and letting her outside only stops her temporarily - and this has happened for the last three nights in a row. I'm short on sleep and on temper! Yesterday while my husband had the gate open for a minute, the dogs saw a cat in the next door neighbour's yard and bolted out after it (he was able to chase them down and haul them back in). I'm wondering if this cat has been hanging around to torment them and if it's driving Blues nuts at night, thinking that the cat is out there. Of course, they have been sleeping most of the days away to make up for their nights, but we don't have that luxury. To make matters wose, we're going out of town for 4 days this coming week and having family stay in the house while we're gone - it will be absolutely miserable for them if she keeps this up at night while they're here. Any ideas will be appreciated! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pie Posted November 17, 2007 Share Posted November 17, 2007 My guess is it is the cats. We have them here they drive the dog crazy at night and sometimes they sneak in the dog door Which results in a lot of barking and chasing and some angry sleepy humans. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahaze Posted November 17, 2007 Author Share Posted November 17, 2007 Any ideas for dealing with it? This morning they've barked at things outside the fence and I've squirted them with a spray bottle, but as soon as I walk outside it distracts them from barking so I doubt the spray bottle is understood. And it doesn't seem all that bothersome to them either... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pie Posted November 17, 2007 Share Posted November 17, 2007 I don't know, I'm still looking for an answer myself Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paganman Posted November 17, 2007 Share Posted November 17, 2007 Could be a possum but probably its the cats, could be both. Maybe move your dogs out of the laundry where they can probably hear everything thats going on outside. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cowanbree Posted November 18, 2007 Share Posted November 18, 2007 Leave a radio on, what they can't hear they won't bark at Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahaze Posted November 18, 2007 Author Share Posted November 18, 2007 Thanks for that, I'll try the radio idea tonight. Unfortunately bringing them into the house at night isn't an option, we're renting and the landlady won't allow dogs in the house. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sidoney Posted November 18, 2007 Share Posted November 18, 2007 We sometimes have a bit of nocturnal stupidity here, with four dogs all crashing out through the dog door and so on. We have the odd rat come up from the storm drains (the dogs actually CAUGHT one a couple of days ago) and also have cats that sometimes come in. I bought one of those Jetcare bark collars recently (sprays air) and put it on one or another of the most likely ones to bark and things have settled down here ... the two working dogs in particular egg each other on. A problem with it, though, was one time I saw Xia get a squirt when Pickle barked right next to her - has not happened lately since the more general quietness around the place, but something I need to keep in mind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miranda Posted November 18, 2007 Share Posted November 18, 2007 Thanks for that, I'll try the radio idea tonight. Unfortunately bringing them into the house at night isn't an option, we're renting and the landlady won't allow dogs in the house. If you can't solve the problem any other way ask the landlady if she will allow you to crate the dogs inside overnight. We have a lot of possums here and I can't stand barking at night, crating them inside means that I don't hear a peep out of them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahaze Posted November 20, 2007 Author Share Posted November 20, 2007 The radio worked! There's only been one or two barks each night for the last two nights in a row. I think our housesitters will be okay with that! Thanks for the input! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sidoney Posted November 20, 2007 Share Posted November 20, 2007 :) Great stuff! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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