Having a rooster that crows before daybreak is frustrating. But contrary to popular belief, it does happen. A rooster will crow if he senses danger near the coop, such as a prowling animal or an unusual light. Animals are similar and their survival instincts are very strong. Even if our dogs are domesticated to adapt to human life, it is the same for them: they have instincts and reflexes that make them bark or cry in certain situations. The nighttime is no exception to the rule. While most of us humans sleep soundly, this is not always the case for dogs.
Let's take a look at some of those situations where our pooches decide to be wild owls and what we can do to help them stop doing it - and let us sleep!
1. The dog that barks at outside noises
A passerby walking by, the neighbor's dog barking, a raccoon rummaging through the garbage are all nighttime micro phenomena that can pollute your dog's peace and quiet and make him react. He doesn't know that the passer-by is harmless or that the raccoon will be satisfied with a few pieces of garbage before going back to his den. He is afraid and tries to get away from what scares him! Of course, this is also a warning that something is going on!
"Bravo my dog! Good job! Well... you could have refrained from doing it at 3am for a mosquito anyway... "
The best thing to do to prevent Fido from being afraid of the surrounding noise is to keep him in your room during the night. This way, he'll be less likely to hear outside sounds and you'll be there to reassure your dog if anything happens.
Other solutions to reduce your dog's barking at night:
Put your dog in the quietest room in the house, away from the noise.
Use white noise to mask other ambient noise, such as a fan or soft music.
Using a crate for your dog at night, if well integrated and positive for him, can have a calming effect on many canines and tends to reassure them.
2. The dog that barks because he is anxious!
Sometimes dogs react really badly to separation from their owner or family and suffer from separation anxiety. Bedtime can be very stressful, forcing your dog to cry, whine and try to wake you up. For him, staying alone is unthinkable. He may die because you are not there. It's that intense. His survival instinct is on high alert.
Read also on the subject: The electric collar: the miracle solution for your dog's separation anxiety?
If your dog only suffers from anxiety at night, the best solution is to keep your dog with you at night. But the next best thing is to consider using a dog behaviorist to work on this anxiety problem because, at this level of distress, the dog is not well. It is important to help him become independent and make him feel safe in the moments when you are away.
What are the signs of canine anxiety?
Your dog scratches at the door until his paws are mutilated
He screams and whines incessantly
He salivates profusely
The dog shakes
He relieves himself (when he is usually clean)
He is panting and his heart is beating rapidly
He can't lay down and settle down
Be careful, your dog will not necessarily express all these symptoms. He may express 2-3 of them and still suffer from anxiety.
3. Is your dog bored at night?
It's a fact: dogs can get bored while you're in bed. So they will try to wake you up to start the game, or just bark away to keep themselves occupied.
If your dog comes to wake you up, the best thing to do is to ignore him completely. I know, there is nothing magical about this solution and it is rather constraining because it requires patience and tenacity. But it works! However, keep in mind that your dog will remember that he has to bark for a while before you will eventually break down and go take care of him. So, put in earplugs and close your bedroom door if you have to, but ignore your dog at all costs. One fine day (or night!) he will understand that it is no longer necessary. You will have won! Yesss!
On the other hand, generally, when we come to this solution, it's because we forgot some steps: your dog needs daily physical and mental activities to be well in his fur. It is therefore important to give him occupations during the day but also during the night if Fido tends to be nocturnal: toys, frozen Kong, bones, treats hidden in the house, etc. Don't forget to give him some physical exercise before bedtime!
4. My puppy cries at night! Help me!
Puppies have different physiological and psychological needs. Most nighttime barking in their case is due to either craving or insecurity.
To prevent your puppy from waking you up at night to relieve himself:
Note what time your puppy wakes up.
Set your clock 30 minutes before his usual wake-up time. You may need to set your clock several times during the night depending on your puppy.
Take your puppy outside quietly, without giving him too much attention.
Wait for him to do his business and reward him.
As the weeks go by, delay your initial wake-up time more and more so that your puppy learns to go a full night without relieving himself.
Why do this? To teach your puppy that he doesn't need to wake you up to have his needs met! This will reassure him that he doesn't have to ask to get it!
Should the puppy's water be taken away for the night?
No! The puppy should have access to water at all times. As a baby, he can become dehydrated quickly. Also, removing the water can unintentionally create an obsession with the water in the puppy. The solution? Get up at night to take your puppy out. Since he's still a baby, he can't hold it in for very long.
What about the puppy who cries/laughs out of insecurity during his first nights?
We make him sleep with us, in his crate next to our bed. As the days and weeks go by, quietly move the crate out of your room, inch by inch. Don't be afraid to put your fingers through the bars or to reassure your puppy if he's afraid during the first few nights! It's normal! He needs it. He has just lost his mother and his siblings, he is under stress and must adapt to his new life.
Also, we advise you to see if the integration to the cage has been well done. Is your dog's crate a place of comfort and pleasure, learned gradually, or a place of distress and frustration?
If a puppy wakes you up in the night, be patient: it needs it. Babies will have a harder time holding back for a pee than an adult. It's the same principle as a human baby, except that a puppy doesn't have a diaper!
Give him toys and a good cushion, that's all. The use of a crate can be effective in learning autonomy, you should not hesitate to use it. The crate must be well trained to make it a safe haven, a little house where your dog will be quiet and comfortable.
Bonus: Check your dog's natural needs
Generally speaking, and especially in the case of a puppy, it is essential to check that your dog has satisfied all his natural needs before going to bed: evening pee (or poo), having eaten his fill, having been well hydrated during the day, being in a room at a good temperature (ideally 19 to 20 degrees Celsius), etc.
You will have understood: we have to find what makes our dogs react to help them not to do it anymore, or at least to encourage them to express themselves differently. I spoke earlier about the fact that the dog is domesticated to adapt to the life of Man but, between us, this sentence is flawed: if a man chooses to share his life with a dog, it is up to him to understand the needs of his protégé!