[SOLVED ] Q. For the past 2 nights, she howls, whines, growls, and barks continuously all night long. She always sleeps inside at night, but she has neve...

r acted li

Experienced and professional animal trainer provide their insights in answering this question :

A. It sounds like behavioural problem. You should see a vet or behaviourist to give more information about the behaviour and possible causes.

How to Identify Common Pet Problems ?

Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced pet care professionals :

Often it`s because they see or hear an animal in the yard, or because they hear other dogs barking in the neighborhood. Other reasons they bark include loneliness, lack of supervision, or inadequate exercise and play. To get them to stop barking at night, you need to give them a more rewarding option.

If your dog is elderly and has started barking far more often, at odd times (such as the middle of the night), or if the sound of his bark has changed, seek veterinary attention so that serious conditions, such as cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CDS), may be ruled out or treated.

Loss of hearing, cognitive dysfunction, central nervous system disorders and medical conditions can all contribute to your dog`s excessive vocalization. He might whine or howl if he feels the urge to eliminate more, if he`s overeating and wants you to give him more food, or if he`s in pain.

REM, or rapid eye movement, sleep is when dreaming occurs. This is the period of sleep where your dog may “act out” their dreams by moving their legs or paws, making faces, growling, whimpering, or crying.

Don`t Give In to Attention-seeking Behavior

If your dog barks to get attention or stimulation, the most tried-and-true method for curbing this behavior is to ignore it. Common mistakes owners make when their dogs bark at night include: Petting the dog. Speaking in a soothing tone.

While it may sound obvious, growling at your dog is not likely to improve its aggressive behavioral problems, a new study suggests. Hitting it is probably worse. Researchers say dog owners who kick, hit or otherwise confront aggressive dogs with punitive training methods are doomed to have, well, aggressive pets.

Dementia in dogs has three stages of symptoms—mild, moderate, and severe. There are typical patterns that appear within each stage. However, it`s important to note that not every dog follows these exact patterns or stages.

There are many reasons an older dog may have difficulty sleeping at night. Dogs do get cognitive dysfunction, which is similar to dementia in people. The hallmarks of these syndromes are progressive confusion, reversal of day-night wake-sleep patterns and poor adaptability to new situations.

If your dog has frequent nightmares, try to make their sleeping environment more relaxed. Play quiet music, provide a crate to help your dog feel safe in a “den,” or try a pressure wrap.

Ignore the barking

If you believe your dog is barking simply to get your attention, try to ignore them. Regular exercise and the use of puzzle toys can keep your dog occupied during a work call or when you`re watching TV.

This is well-intended but incomplete advice – if you only ignore the behavior, your dog will probably never learn to stop barking, jumping, or pulling. Just ignoring unwanted dog behaviors misses an important piece of teaching your dog what TO do instead. Dogs learn by association.

This is why simply ignoring common problems like barking at the mailman, jumping on guests, pulling on the leash, etc. isn`t an effective strategy. These are all behaviors that your dog finds rewarding, without any input from you. So they`re likely to continue happening as long as nothing changes.

Whatever you`re doing, just stop. If your dog`s growl threshold is near his bite threshold – that is, if there`s not much time between his growl and his bite, get safe. If his growl doesn`t mean a bite is imminent, stop what you`re doing but stay where you are.

A growling dog is warning you he is outside his comfort zone. If pushed further, his next line of defense is to bite. Do not ignore the warning growl and continue to approach or force the dog to do something against his will.

In dogs, sundowners syndrome is part of canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CDS), which can also be called doggie dementia. All of these terms describe a slow process of cognitive decline which occurs in older dogs. It is a recognized medical condition, not just “normal aging” or “slowing down.”

Melatonin is commonly used as a sleep aid, and is sometimes used to treat certain hair disorders, cognitive dysfunction and separation anxiety in dogs, as well as sleep cycle disorders in dogs and cats. Generally, it is very safe, with lethargy and stomach upset being a potential issue in cases of overdose.

Prescription medications

The most common type of sleep medication given to pets is diazepam (Valium®), although longer acting benzodiazepines may be used (eg temazepam). The symptoms of cognitive dysfunction are sometimes treated with a drug called selegiline.

If your dog is suddenly not sleeping at night and nothing else has changed in the environment, it may be time to consider a trip to the vet to rule out any physical problems. Sore muscles, wounds, digestive problems, and even itches can keep your dog up all night.

Most pups will cry for around half the time. By the third night it should be just a few hours, and an average pup is quiet for the fourth. Once they are settled, you will actually need to go in at least once overnight to take them out to toilet!

Whining is one of many forms of canine vocal communication. Dogs most commonly whine when they`re seeking attention, when they`re excited, when they`re anxious or when they`re trying to appease you.

They howl to get attention, make contact with other dogs, and announce their presence. Howling is instinctual and can be natural or triggered by an underlying problem. Some dogs respond to high-pitched sounds like emergency sirens or musical instruments by howling.

The last few days before your dog passes you may notice: extreme weight loss, a distant look in their eyes, a lack of interest in anything, restlessness or unusual stillness, a change in the way that your dog smells, and a changed temperament.

It is a difficult decision to make, but some signs that it may be time to consider euthanasia for a dog with dementia include a decline in quality of life, loss of appetite, inability to control bodily functions, and increased confusion and anxiety.

Relevant Questions and Answers :

the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue

Q. Whenever I take my dog on walks he always barks at people and others dogs in my neighborhood. What should I do to resolve the problem

ANSWER : A. The very first thing to do is to make sure your dog is getting sufficient physical and mental exercise every day. A tired dog is a good, happy dog and one who is less likely to bark from boredom or frustration. Depending on his breed, age, and health, your dog may require several long walks as well as a good game of chasing the ball and playing with some interactive toys.

Figure out what he gets out of barking and remove it. Don’t give your dog the opportunity to continue the barking behavior.

Ignore your dog’s barking for as long as it takes him to stop. That means don’t give him attention at all while he’s barking. Your attention only rewards him for being noisy. Don’t talk to, don’t touch, or even look at him. When he finally quiets, even to take a breath, reward him with a treat. To be successful with this method, you must wait as long as it takes for him to stop barking. Yelling at him is the equivalent of barking with him.

Get your dog accustomed to whatever causes him to bark. Start with whatever makes him bark at a distance. It must be far enough away that he doesn’t bark when he sees it. Feed him lots of good treats. Move the stimulus a little closer (perhaps as little as a few inches or a few feet to start) and feed treats. If the stimulus moves out of sight, stop giving your dog treats. You want your dog to learn that the appearance of the stimulus leads to good things.

Teach your dog the â€˜quietâ€™ command. Oddly, the first step is to teach your dog to bark on command. Give your dog the command to “speak,” wait for him to bark two or three times, and then stick a tasty treat in front of his nose. When he stops barking to sniff the treat, praise him and give him the treat. Repeat until he starts barking as soon as you say “speak.” Once your dog can reliably bark on command, teach him the “quiet” command. In a calm environment with no distractions, tell him to “speak.” When he starts barking, say “quiet” and stick a treat in front of his nose. Praise him for being quiet and give him the treat.

As in all training, always end training on a good note, even if it is just for obeying something very simple, like the ‘sit’ command. If you dog regresses in training, go back to the last thing he did successfully and reinforce that before moving on again. Keep sessions short, 15-20 minutes max, and do this several times a day.

Read Full Q/A … : Help! My Dog Barks & Lunges At Other Dogs! — Your Dog's Friend

Q. What can I do to stop my dog from barking at people and front doors?

ANSWER : A. Ignore your dog’s barking for as long as it takes him to stop. This means don’t give him any attention at all while he’s barking. Your attention only rewards him for being noisy. Don’t talk to him, don’t touch him, and don’t even look at him. When he finally quiets down, even to take a breath, reward him with a treat. To be successful with this method, you must wait as long as it takes for him to stop barking. If he barks for an hour and you finally get so frustrated that you yell at him to be quiet, the next time he’ll probably bark for an hour and a half. Dogs learns that if they bark long enough you’ll give them attention.

Teach your dog the ‘quiet’ command. It may sound nonsensical, but the first step is to teach your dog to bark on command. Give your dog the command to “speak,” wait for him to bark two or three times, and then stick a tasty treat in front of his nose. When he stops barking to sniff the treat, praise him and give him the treat. Repeat until he starts barking as soon as you say “speak.” Once your dog can reliably bark on command, teach him the “quiet” command. In a calm environment with no distractions, tell him to “speak.” When he starts barking, say “quiet” and stick a treat in front of his nose. Praise him for being quiet and give him the treat.

When your dog starts barking, ask him to do something that’s incompatible with barking. Teach your dog to react to barking stimuli with something that inhibits him from barking, such as lying down in his bed.

Make sure your dog is getting sufficient physical and mental exercise every day. A tired dog is a good dog and one who is less likely to bark from boredom or frustration. Depending on his breed, age, and health, your dog may require several long walks as well as a good game of fetch and playing with interactive toys.

Read Full Q/A … : How to Get Your Dog to Stop Barking : The Humane Society of …

Q. For the past 2 nights, she howls, whines, growls, and barks continuously all night long. She always sleeps inside at night, but she has never acted li

ANSWER : A. It sounds like behavioural problem. You should see a vet or behaviourist to give more information about the behaviour and possible causes.

Read Full Q/A … : Canine Cognitive Dysfunction Symptoms – Dog Dementia: Help …

Q. My dog used to sleep with me. Now I make him sleep in the bathroom, next to me, with a gate in the doorway, but he barks all night. What can I do?

ANSWER : A. First, make sure he has somewhere comfortable to lay in the bathroom, such as a nice dog bed, a nice crate with a dog bed in it or a nice thick blanket. You cannot expect your dog to sleep on the hard floor all night and be comfortable.

If you really want to make this change, and you really want your dog to sleep in the bathroom, you have to ignore the dogs barking no matter what. 100% ignore the dog when he barks, especially when he begins to bark HARDER and LOUDER.

If you are ignoring your dog and he starts barking harder and louder, scratching, or yelping, this is called an “extinction burst”. Basically, this is the moment before he stops trying to get your attention. He will give it all he’s got for a few minutes (normally up to 30 minutes), and will finally give up.

Again, it’s very important to ignore ALL the complaining if you ever want it to stop. Scolding him, telling him “no”, or engaging him in any other way will only encourage him to bark more; it shows him he can get what he wants (your attention) if he barks.

Read Full Q/A … : Human to Dog No-No's: What NOT to do with your dog

Q. My puppy won’t go in his crate and wanders around my room at night and it appears he can’t get comfortable. Help!!

ANSWER : A. Post three:
You should be closing your puppy up in the crate during the night. This will ensure she sleeps soundly, and is safe. Safety is very important, as puppies can get into all kinds of trouble! If you practice this crate training exercise during the day, it’ll be easier for you to place her into the crate at night, and close the door for good. If she whines, do not pay attention to her or else she will believe whining gets her attention. If during training she whines, you will need to wait until she is quiet before returning to the room to toss her some treats, and make sure you subtract at least a few seconds.. the key is to keep her from crying in the first place with that training exercise (only adding seconds at a time).

If you need more details on how to crate train, or more tips, please get a consultation with me! I will explain everything in greater detail.

Read Full Q/A … : Reasons Why Your Dog Won’t Sleep At Night (and possible …

Q. I have a chaweenie she only poops inside when let on carpet and poops and pees at night what can I do

ANSWER : A. I always recommend using a crate. Dogs are naturally comfortable and feel safe when they are in a “cave” or an enclosed space. It may take a couple of nights to get used to the crate (i.e. a couple of barking nights) but once a dog is used to its crate, it becomes a safe place, a territory where they feel protected and dominate and one where they also will not soil. The idea is that when you are not with the dog (during the day, at night) the dog goes into the crate. When you come home, or get up, the dog is let out and immediately goes outside to do its business. This way the dog associates the idea that coming out of the crate and going outside right away is the way to do things. It takes some effort on your part, but I promise it works! And if you leave the door to the crate open while you are home, you’ll notice that your dog will even start going into the crate to lay down on their own. It will become their safe place. Stick with it and good luck! 🙂

Read Full Q/A … : What to Do When Your Cat Poops Outside the Box – Dr. Sophia Yin

Q. How can I get my 2 month old puppy kennel trained? Because he barks a lot when he’s in there, to the point I have to take him out

ANSWER : A. First off, make sure he is not barking because he needs to potty or is hungry. Before crating withhold water for 1-2 hours but be sure to leave just a little with him if he will be left there for long during the day. Also let him potty immediately before crating him. Make sure his crate is cozy and comfortable and that he is given proper chew toys and treats. A bully stick and a frozen peanut butter filled kong are good options. Teach him the crate is a positive space by luring him in with high quality yummy treats he doesn’t get otherwise. Cover the crate with a blanket leaving enough room to breathe clearly, walk away without saying anything. You may want to play soft music for him and use some Adaptil dog pheromone spray or diffuser. Each time you let the dog out during whining, it can likely reinforce the whining behavior but again be sure he is not whining because he needs to potty, etc. Start is small increments of having him in there and gradually increase the time. You may want to start feeding all meals in the crate if you haven’t already. This well help create a positive association.

Read Full Q/A … : How can I make my 2 month old Labrador puppy sleep … – Quora

Q. My Bulldog puppy growls, barks and even tries to bite me when I say “no” to him. What can I do?

ANSWER : A. First, avoid scolding him and acting aggressively towards him if you don’t want him to be acting aggressively towards you. There are other methods you can use to communicate to your dog that you don’t want him to continue doing what he is doing. I recommend you stop telling him “no”, scolding him, or raising your voice at him. Everything coming from you should be 100% positive and 100% calm.

Try to figure out ways to clearly communicate what you want to your dog. If you want your dog to leave something or someone alone, I strongly suggest teaching your dog commands like “leave it”. Here is a link to a video in which I explain how to do it:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1TS5nA7z5Q

Another thing I suggest you use is a no-reward marker. This clearly communicates when your dog has done something wrong. No-reward markers have to be introduced during your training sessions. You should be doing at least three training sessions per day, that are something like 3-10 minutes long (working on different things each training session). If you are teaching your dog something BRAND NEW, do not use the no-reward marker, as you do not want to discourage your dog from performing behaviors for you. Use the no-reward marker for known behaviors only. Here is another helpful video about this:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdU5a6fXKlg

Lure each new behavior (as shown in the video) using high value treats. Let’s say you’re working on “down” which is a behavior your dog knows fairly well. Present the treat to your dog. Ask your dog to “down” (only ask once). If he does not go “down” immediately, say, “uh-oh” or “eh-eh” in a gentle tone, and then place the treat behind your back. This communicates to your dog that they did something to make the treat go away.

After you place the treat behind your back to show your pup “that was wrong” you need to communicate to your pup “let’s try again” by getting your pup to walk around for a second, and then start the behavior all over again. If your puppy is very young, chances are you haven’t taught him a solid “down” behavior yet. So, as I said, do not use this method until you have lured each new behavior as shown in the video.

This is the order in which you should teach behaviors: Lure using a high value treat as shown in the video. After a few successful food lures, lure with an empty hand. If the pup is successful with the empty hand lure, reward with lots of treats. If the pup is unsuccessful, then go back to food-luring a couple more times. After a few successful empty-hand lures, you can begin to add the cue. Say “sit”, then lure with an empty hand, and then reward. Once your pup understands the cue, begin to work on the no-reward marker.

Read Full Q/A … : Puppy Aggression And Dominance – Your Questions Answered