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Post by treacle on Apr 9, 2014 5:08:12 GMT
Hi, we have a 2 year old Bassett Hound who starts barking any time between 3 and 5.30 am every day. We have tried ignoring him, not entering the room until he has been quiet for the count of 5, feeding him later in the evening, going to bed later, walking him 3 x per day last one st 8.30pm, letting him do his business as lat as possible around 11pm, letting him do his business at 3am then putting him back in his crate. None of which works. Please has anyone got any ideas we are running on empty with only a few hours sleep each night!  |
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Post by scallywag on Apr 9, 2014 5:56:02 GMT
Hi Treacle welcome to the forum, no expert but I would try not feeding so late, no wonder hes wanting out at 3am.
Beaus feeding times are 8am and 4pm but im sure others will be along and add further advice
Good Luck x
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Post by treacle on Apr 9, 2014 6:18:05 GMT
Thanks anything is worth a go we are exhausted!
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Post by Roo on Apr 9, 2014 6:50:28 GMT
Yes, I too would feed earlier. I only give one meal and it's always before midday. The digestive system is most active in the morning, and slows down after midday, meaning it takes a lot longer to digest.
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Post by treacle on Apr 9, 2014 11:41:41 GMT
And they don't get hungry during the night?
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Post by Roo on Apr 9, 2014 13:00:05 GMT
And they don't get hungry during the night? Yeah, but then so do people when we go to sleep and wake up hungry ... I personally really do not see any need for a pet dog to have more than one meal a day, they don't burn off enough energy to warrant it, unless of course they are a working dog. Plus, eating later can increase fat levels (due to the slowed digestive rate) - same as when people eat late. |
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Post by alfiemummy on Apr 9, 2014 13:48:43 GMT
Do you know why he's barking or what he's barking at?
Alfie used to bark at about 5am every morning when he was younger. We used to shut him downstairs at night and around 5am was just the time that he naturally woke up. He was just bored and wanted to be with us so we started letting him out and he would sleep in his bed on the landing for the rest of the morning with no trouble. We now don't shut him away at night and he doesn't do it anymore
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Post by tonib on Apr 9, 2014 14:55:25 GMT
Like alfiemummy I was wondering whether anything was triggering the barking. I wondered if there was any external trigger, such as when the milkman delivers or neighbour goes to work, or when nights get lighter.
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Post by treacle on Apr 9, 2014 17:08:58 GMT
The time varies so I'm not sure what the trigger is. He stops as soon as we get up. I can cope with 6am but between 3 and 4 is hard work. I cant let him roam as we have a Springer too and they are destructive when left together and hubby wont let them upstairs! I have fed him earlier today so I will update you tomorrow. Off to the beach for a walk now x
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Post by scallywag on Apr 9, 2014 17:41:39 GMT
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Post by caz2golden on Apr 9, 2014 20:48:55 GMT
I feed twice a day.
That's cos I think thats best for my girls.
For example one large meal is thought to increase risk of bloating.
Mine are fed at 6am. Evening meal varies in time between 6pm and 8pm depending when the last walk of the day is and I wait for a minimum of 1 hr after the walk (preferably 2hrs).
I agree with others if he is getting you up at night think of making evening meal earlier.
My girls are set off by external factors and so they sometimes wake me up at night, but unlike you mine have free run of house so will jump on bed and stuff head down duvet (works for them every time). If they bark then there usually is something going on be it people have argument or the neighbors cats are fighting.
My younger dog will wake me up at night when she is bored so mental and physical exercise during any given day is important to prevent the night time wake ups!
Have you considered teaching a command that = quiet?
Bassets are pack dogs so even though he is with your other dog do you think it could be that he is waking up and calling for you and your other half? As such a form of separation anxiety or just trying to get the pack together in one place, even if you are in another room nearby?
Could you create train both dogs?
That way you could have them upstairs with you but contained so no damage could occur and being closer to you may help your basset settle better?
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Post by caz2golden on Apr 9, 2014 20:56:09 GMT
Yeah, but then so do people when we go to sleep and wake up hungry ... I personally really do not see any need for a pet dog to have more than one meal a day, they don't burn off enough energy to warrant it, unless of course they are a working dog. Plus, eating later can increase fat levels (due to the slowed digestive rate) - same as when people eat late. Please can you direct me to where feeding twice a day and in the evening can cause dogs to get fat (due to slower digestive rate at night). Just need to educate myself on this fact  Thanks All our family dogs (not just my monsters) have been fed twice a day since I was a kid. None of the current dogs are fat!! Mine are not fed early in evening during week, due to me working, then they have their walk and then I have to wait before it is safe to feed them after exercise. That makes it quite late at times!! |
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Post by alfiemummy on Apr 9, 2014 21:06:30 GMT
I'm also interested to hear about the feeding late Alfie is usually fed between 7 and 8pm as he has his dinner after we have ours and we eat fairly late. He is not fat either. I feed him twice a day, he has a small meal in the morning and a larger meal at night. He is not always that fussed about his breakfast but he goes mad for his evening meal. Don't think I could get away with one meal a day in the morning! |
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Post by scallywag on Apr 10, 2014 5:09:14 GMT
Hi Treacle how did last night go ? Any better ? Although I suspect its a habit now that needs to be broken? Beau used to bark until we moved his bed onto the landing just outside our door, that made a big difference.
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Post by treacle on Apr 10, 2014 5:12:26 GMT
Well it was a bit better this morning 5.08am but like you say its a habit as much as anything!
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