My dog barks whenever I go upstairs.

[maggie01]

My shih-tzu is 13yrs old and has a heart problem so is unable to go upstairs on her own.
I always see if she needs the loo before I go upstairs especially in the mornings when I need to get dressed but I can guarantee that the minute I get upstairs, she barks to go outside.

Having a bath is just the same. The minute I sit down in the bath, she barks to be let out.

I have tried taking her up with me but that doesn't work either.

She is a little darling so maybe she just knows what buttons to push

[factor-fiction]

If you keep jumping out of the bath to let her out I'm sure she'll keep doing it.
Could you carry her upstairs and let her watch you have a bath?

[excelsior-1]

Maybe she is barking because she hates being left on her own

[wolf63]

I think that she know how to get your attention - and she will keep using this to her advantage.

I have two manipulative and evil moggies who are experts at this - it drives me nuts some times.

As long as she isn't distressed I would try ignoring her - it is easy to say that but ignoring a whining or barking animal is not at tall easy.

[rsvp]

not for one minute suggestion you dog is old and senile, but as the years progress dogs do often get anxious at being left alone. If she goes outside and pees and poos before you go upstairs then the barking it's an attention (or anxious) thingie - if, when you take her out a second time she 'goes', then she isn't staying out long enough the first time.

[ladybirder]

sensible advice as ever rsvp.

[rsvp]

thank you ladybirder

[divegirl]

I have a 12 year old Yorkie who in the last two weeks has finally lost all of his hearing it would seem :( On the plus side we are getting less barking [he's always been a guard type dog and would bark at any noise he didn't like] so we get a lot less barking with out him to set the others off.... That said he now follows me everywhere. I have been told this is a symptom of his deafness....he needs to know where I am. Could your girl be doing something along the same lines?

Lisa x

[maggie01]

Funny you should say that Divegirl. I thought she had selective hearing but perhaps her hearing is going.

[divegirl]

Hey Maggie, its something worth considering, I've found it's not so much selective as a tonal thing.... he can't hear me still responds to the lower voice of my son. So sad to see though.

Lisa x

[divegirl]

''but still responds''

[ladybirder]

That's interesting Lisa, I would have thought that would be quite unusual, the lower voice being heard I mean. My cat, 20 next birthday, is getting deafer and the one sure way of making her hear me is if I squeak at her. It's quite painful on the throat. Perhaps I might drop a couple of octaves and see how we go on:-)

[divegirl]

I know that you mean, one would assume that a higher pitch would be more effective but not in my Harry boys case.... all a bit of trail and error really.

[lankeela]

I have a 17 year old who does exactly the same. At night when I start to get ready for bed I take up two who sleep in a puppy pen, and she barks downstairs till I go and get her. During the day if I go upstairs to the loo or for a bath she barks if I don't take her up with me. I think its a combination or not knowing where you are and demanding to be with you. She is deaf so no point shouting at her or calling her and she doesn't even try to get up the stairs now as I always carry her up to bed.