My dog bark at night

[4petAbank.]

My dog always sleep in crate at night. His sleep was very quiet in the past. However, recently, he start barking a few minutes after we put him in (he has no problem to get in). He barked and barked, none stop. We tried tell him "quiet", blow the whistle, nothing stops him. I was thinking maybe he's thirsty, or need go putty, but after let him drink and putty, he still barki when got back to his crate. I also tried to give him lots of exercise, he was really tired I can see. he was slept on the floor for a while. But after I let him into his crate, and (close it, as always), he start barking. I tried to ignore him as I did to my daughter when she was a baby, hope he will get the message that bark will not gain my attention, so he will then stop, but it was not a success. I do notice when I opened his crate, he came out, and panting, nugging his head into my arms, after I pet him a little bit, he laid on the floor, ready to sleep. so I put him back to crate, then here again, he start barking. What happened to him? Is he scared of something? what should we do. He does not bark during the day. only at night, and it must be very annoying to our neighbors.

[kita1]

Why not let him sleep outside the crate? If he is quiet and wants to sleep outside then why shut him in the crate?

[4petAbank.]

I want him keep the habit of sleeping in the crate. He has been sleeping in his crate ever since we got him at 8 weeks old, and never had a problem. Also people said the crate should make him feel safer. Also it is easier when we are on the trip, he will get into his crate, and feel he is still in his "home". I don't know why he suddenly start barking. And really want to find out why.

[woofgang]

my guess is that something scared/hurt him while he was in the crate.....maybe a bee or wasp sting at this time of year.

IMO its not humane to force him to use the crate for the moment. Let him sleep ouitside it for now, turn out the bedding and wash it all and maybe relocate the crate then when he is settled sleeping at night, gradually reintorduce him to the crate by throwing a treat in and letting him go in for it DON'T shut the door, then give a chew in there, again with the door open and so on.

How would you feel if something in your bed hurt or scared you and you were made to go and sleep there anyway, you are scared that you might be hurt or scared again and your pack leader who you should be able to trust implicitly makes you go in there and yells at you/ingores you when you try to say how bad you feel......no offence intended but......

[gelda]

Good answer Woofgang!

[kita1]

Is the crate big enough for him to lay stretched out on his side?

If not then the crate may be too small for him - he might not be comfortable if he has to sleep curled up all night.

Could he be too warm? Now the weather is warmer he may find the blankets and having to be curled up is making him overheat. Imagine if you had to stay in a bed with loads of blankets and duvets on and you could not get out and move around to cool off.

Also, try leaving the door open - he may well stay inside the crate and sleep (sometimes it helps to hang a blanket over the top of the crate to make it more like a 'den').

[lankeela]

Is he scared of thunder/lightning? Maybe there was a storm which scared him, and he associates it with being in the crate. Make sure the curtains are closed in the room he is in. You could try leaving the door open so he can go in and out of the crate at night. Maybe something fell on the crate, or he caught his foot in the wire?

Try putting him before bed time for just a few minutes then let him out when he is not barking, and praise him. Try to increase the time he is left and then try leaving him while you go out of the room.

[meltoadhall]

try retraining from scratch to get used to the crate again, little and often, treats in the crate to remind him its a good place, close the door for a while and then open it, ignore noise and barking and praise good quiet behaviour.

persevere because he has now learnt if he barks you will give him attention and let him out.

both my dogs are crate trained and occasinally go through barking phases, ignore him and make sure the crate is still the safe place that he knows his own place to be.

does he use it during the day with the door open? Mine use as a place to sleep during the day and the door is open all day and only closed at night.

[4petAbank.]

thank you all for the reply and all good ideas and suggestions! I went though and checked most of them. His crate is for over 100 pounds, he seems can lay in there comfortablely. His bed is kind thin, I was originally thought maybe that caused him aching over after sleep long time on it, but after reading your reply, seems it should not be too thick. It is our dry season now, we don't have rains, lightenings or thunders. I only crate him at night, during the day, the door is always open. He has access to most areas in the house, even when we are not home, he still behaves very well. We never leave him alone at home for more than 4 hours. Everytime we come back, he's either laying on his bed in crate (with the door open), or on his pillow at one of his favorite spots. I always give him a little bit bedtime treats, a couple bite size cookies and one small piece freeze dried lever. Every night, when he saw me prepare his treat, put them in his favite Kong toy, he run to his crate, wait for me in there. even now, he still doing this. The differece now is, instead of finish treat, lie down, relax and fall asleep, he finish the treat, stand up, start barking).

One thing I want your opinions, can't remember since when, but so far, when we walk outside, when he tried to sniff the poles, bushes etc, if I don't let him, after a few tries, he start getting very unhappy, then start jump up, bite the leash, and also bite my hand. his mouth is soft, but teeth are pretty sharp, so I have some scratchs. I used to tell him NO BITE formly, didn't see much improvement. I asked his training teacher, and was told his behavor is not correct, and can't be ignored. so I followed the instruction, punished him 2 weeks ago, when he tried to bite again, I used my hands closed his mouth, held it, asked him sit and down, then told him NO BITE with a bad enough voice. He did behave better, still tried, but only a few times. Could be my punishment and bad

[4petAbank.]

I agree with all of you. I also think that maybe there's something scared him, otherwise he shouldn't panting. During the day, he does not bark.

I have night light for him, his crate is in our family room (now is his room), and it does not have doors. I used to keep the window open a little bit, think it will give him some fresh air, and keep the place cool. Now I closed them all at night. the outside temparature here is around 50th at night, 70th during the day, and it is 68th in house 24X7.

A GOOD news. He didn't bark in the past 2 nights! After his good-night treat, he layed down, and slept!!! I hope this is the end of his night time bark. But I still want to find out what made him did that, so I can make sure it will not happen again.