Early morning barking

[Michmich42]

Hello all,

I know this is a common problem, I'm looking for a bit of guidance. We have a 7 month old cocker and she wakes early (4:30-530) and barks for attention. She has access to training pads so she doesn't need the toilet.... We have tied ignoring her but she is happy to either bark for hours or settle briefly then start again. My OH gets up for work at 530 in the week so she gets let out/fed then but when he leaves she doesn't settle again (so not just hunger). She's fine alone in the daytime and settles well at night.

After reading lots we thought we should try to break the cycle of her barking before we get up so we resiliantly have been getting up earlier than her this week in an attempt to teach her we get up first then slowly move the time we get up forward day by day. But after 3 days I think she is now waking even earlier and I'm worried we are just training her to get up even earlier!

Help! We are luckily detached but want to find the right way to deal with this problem while she is young. We can't have people to stay or take her to stay anywhere (or have a lie in together!)

Any advice much appreciated

Mich x

 

[gypsysmum2]

It sounds as though she has learned that barking will, eventually, get her attention. She is not being naughty just clever.

I would choose a day when you don't have to get up for work and just ignore her. Put her in a very dark room. Blackout blinds will help and leave the radio on so that she cannot hear the birds start to sing. A dog's instinct is to get up at dawn so you want to fool her that dawn has not arrived. Make sure she is warm so that she stays snuggled up. Try, as you have been, to get to her before she starts barking this is the best method of all.

If you have to get up when she has been barking then be very cool with her. No eye contact, no talking. Just walk into the room and ignore her. Potter about until she has forgotten about her barking and then she can have attention.

I boarded a friend's dog to teach it to stop barking in the early hours and this method worked a treat. They had been sleeping downstairs to keep it quiet.

 

[dogmatize]

Hello there. I am wondering how you know that she's alright during the daytime and also how late at night is she let out last thing to pee?

 

[Michmich42]

We have a Webcam set up so check on her from my phone. She sleeping 90% of the time and not barking or stressed. Her last wee is 930 (we get up for work about 515 so a late night isn't doable... We went to be about 9pm pre dog lol)

 

[dogmatize]

You've come here to ask for advice and so I am going to tell you what is going through my mind about your situation and I have thought about it a lot.

I am wondering how much time you are actually spending with what is basically still a puppy.

I am wondering if the dog is alone and crated all day while you are both out at work.

I am wondering if maybe you are expecting too much from a young dog who is probably just craving attention because it's not getting enough time with you.

I am wondering if such an active breed is getting enough exercise.

I would have the dog sleeping in my bedroom. That way it knows it's sleeping time and it would get to spend time in your company even if you are asleep.

 

[Raven oaktree]

I think using puppy pads at 7months isn't good really ..personally I would rather get up and let the dog out to show them that outside is where u go to the toilet ..but that's just me ..if she starts between 4.30 and 5.30 maybe and you get up at 5.30 maybe you have trained her to wake at this time ?? Just like the dog that gets restless just before their people come home ..or the dog that is fed at the same time each day ..they will start pacing just before . Dogs love routine and that what they have at the moment .

So what time do u get back from work ? Maybe they are being left too long . 7months old is still a baby ..an adolescent that needs lots of input and training as everything they have learnt as puppies they test and conveniently forget ..just like teenagers so they need constant reminders of the behaviours you want from them

I will say too that my other half leaves for work at six , when our youngster was just a pup he would let her out for the loo but she went back in her crate ..now she I older he doesn't do that cos its not time to get up ..i let her out at 6.45 and she is more than happy to be there longer on a weekend ..

 

[Michmich42]

Thanks for all your time and thoughts. We have gone back to getting up earlier and letting her out with the hope to gradually extend it. I agree she probably just wants to be with mum and dad once she wakes. She is never left more than about 3 hours on her own. I work from home a few days and the one day we are both out all day she goes to dog daycare. She gets two walks and lots of play/training a day and goes to puppy agility once a week.

Thanks again

 

[deegee]

I hope she gradually calms into a routine but I have to say we've had four cocker spaniels (two show and two working) and each one was the same in one respect. They craved human company. They're known as the clingiest breed on earth which is lovely if you like a shadow (I always did). I suppose you could let her sleep in your room? Some people hate the idea I know but the only advantage is that all ours travelled with us- stayed in relatives homes, holiday cottages and hotel rooms without any problem. So in that respect they were perfect. No in EVERY respect they were perfect...the best breed there is, sweet, affectionate, empathic, desperate to please. Lucky you! :thumbsup: