Newbie, Puppy barking - DogForum.net

chrisg · 10-10-2007, 01:55 AM

Hi

I have just got an 8 week old Labrador Retriever & she is absolutely adorable. For the first 2 days when she woke up of a night time & started barking, we went down to cuddle her off to sleep. We thought it was probably due to her missing her mother/brothers & sisters. Over the last 3 nights we have left her to bark, we leave her with water & toys to play with. But still she barks, after over 3 hours of constant barking, she is still at it. We are worried that it is going to annoy our neighbors (one is a postman & gets up at 4am) After 3 hours we have given in & gone down to cuddle her so she can get off to sleep..
Has anyone got any suggestions?

Sorry, but we do not like the idea of a crate, how ever good they might be.

puppieluv · 10-10-2007, 03:21 AM

maybe let her sleep with you in bed or on the floor might help,
other wise, gotta put up with it or something or other.

Sabledog · 10-10-2007, 03:25 AM

try playing a radio softly, giving her a nice big soft blankey or pillow that has your scent on it and mabye a few stuffed toys to make her feel not so alone, if you dont want to crate, try confining her to just one room and leave a little night light so she feels more comfortable.

you can also try to wear her out before bedtime, try to play with her and take her outside right before you put her to bed.

Candice · 10-10-2007, 05:09 AM

Aww just let her sleep in your bed with you, or make her heaps tired before putting her into bed, she may just not be tired and might want to play or get up.

**skunkstripe** · 10-10-2007, 07:56 AM

Hi chrisg and welcome to the forum.
Your little pup has just been taken from her mother and littermates and put in a new home she does not understand, so water and toys are not a substitute. She is not thirsty nor does she want to play, she misses the comforting feeling of all those warm bodies.
Like Sabledog said, try giving her a warm soft bed and a soft toy to snuggle next to. And a radio playing softly has been known to help.
Good luck!

KatzNK9 · 10-10-2007, 08:36 AM

Hello and welcome to the forum. Congratulations on your new family member. She's adorable. What's her name? I do hope you'll post lots of pics of her adventures growing up. We'd love to see them.

The advice above is very good. It is hard for a pup to suddenly be away from its mother & littermates & giving pup some things to cuddle with is going to help. The radio or TV is also helpful.

You can't expect a puppy of 8 weeks of age to sleep through the night. If you comfort your pup when barking, the pup will quickly learn that's how to get your attention. Reinforcing that behavior is a very bad idea. You can either leave her to bark until she realize those attempts are futile but you'll still have accidents to clean up in the morning.

I suggest you schedule some trips to take your pup outside during the night. Since you say "we", you can split up the puppy tending wake up calls. Before bedtime, I suggest you initiate some energetic play sessions to tire your puppy out. See if you can get pup to sleep when you go to bed & then schedule a "wake-up" for your pup in an hour or so to take pup outside to eliminate. Praise your pup for a 'job well done' and then I'd try to run a little energy out of her to get him to go back to sleep.

I didn't crate train Ozzy either (we got him at 6-1/2 weeks) but I did get up with him around the clock & take him outside. I can't say I recommend my method for most people but we got an Aerobed & slept with him untill he could 'hold it' for 4 straight hours, then we moved back to the bedroom & he'd jump up to ask to go outside. He'd sleep quietly next to the bed while attached to the leash. I kept the leash around my hand & when he'd rustle it would wake me and I'd take him outside. In the first week, I took him out at least every hour round-the-clock & gradually increased the time in between outings. It was a very effective method of potty training as I never gave him the opportunity to be without an appropriate spot to go. I consider 5 pee accidents & 0 poo accidents in the house a very successful housetraining mission. He also never cried/whimpered at night — not ever.

During the daytime, I scheduled outdoor trips the same way as at night. First every hour, then every hour & 15 minutes, and it seems every few days after that I was able to add 15 minutes bewteen trips. By that time, he was starting to tell me when he needed to go outside by nuzzling my hand & if that didn't work, he'd lick my face.

I realize my advice isn't for everybody. In fact, I wouldn't actually call it advice as I really believe the better method is likely the crate since I didn't get much sleep for the first 6 weeks. If you do leave your pup to sleep in her own area, you still need to get up to take her outside at regular intervals or you'll have difficulty with housetraining. A pup who is given the opportunity to always go in the right spot has very few indoor accidents. If you decide to bring your pup to the bedroom, you could possibly modify my suggestions to having her tethered next to the bed.

Doberman's · 10-10-2007, 08:54 AM

Welcome to DogForum.org.

Wonderful you found us !

This is a classic case of seperation anxiety in puppies freshly taken from Mom.

In the room you are keeping you pup, a radio softly or have a TV on. This will give the pup the impression that it is not alone. Puppies are use to having their littermates close to them when they sleep; have a warm fluffy bed or blanket for your pup to sleep on.

This is a thread about seperation anxiety:
http://www.dogforum.org/showthread.php?t=3937

What you did by coming to the pup when it was whining and barking is incorrect and only teach your new pup to whine and bark harder and longer till you come. In essence the pup is training you to come when called. This phase can last a few weeks or if you continue to come to your pup when it is barking and whining it can last years.

Best wishes and please post some pics.

happysaz133 · 10-10-2007, 10:52 AM

Hello and welcome!
Yes I agree with the others. A radio or TV will help calm your pup as she will think there is still people there in the room. Also a warm blanket and sometimes a warm hotwater bottle can be good with a ticking alarm clock (reminds them of their Mum), but I think possible the bottle and clock are better for younger pups (anyone know about this?). Hope you get it sorted, but try not to cuddle her when she cries as it will only make her think she can get what she wants by creating a lot of noise.
Oh and we love pics here, if you've got any of your baby girl then we would love to see them!

mermaid2708 · 10-10-2007, 11:10 AM

even though i did crate train ruby, i found that the first few weeks she did bark at night. i used a radio, and also a plug-in baby night light...imagine what it must be like to have lots of fuss and attention all day, with food and games, trips out into the garden and lots of human contact then all of a sudden its bed time and you, a tiny thing, are shut in a big room in the dark....thats how i thought of it. eventually i covered the crate at night, i think it helped by making ruby feel safe and gave her some warmth thet she was missing fro her mum and litter mates.

also...just wondering why you are not too keen on crates, i know lots of people are not, infact i thought they were horrible things til somebody gifted one to me when i had ruby, and i gave it a go???

Christine283 · 10-10-2007, 11:24 AM

I agree with a good amount of exercise to get her tired, maybe a nighttime schedule, toys, something warm to sleep with, and a quite tv or radio. But do NOT go down to cuddle and keep her company. You're only setting yourself up for long, bark-ful nights because that's teaching your pup that if she barks, mom will come, and she'll bark as long as necessary to have that company while she's at the stage where she doesn't know otherwise.

10-10-2007, 01:55 AM	#1
chrisg Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 19 Rep: 10 Unique Rep: 0	Newbie, Puppy barking Hi I have just got an 8 week old Labrador Retriever & she is absolutely adorable. For the first 2 days when she woke up of a night time & started barking, we went down to cuddle her off to sleep. We thought it was probably due to her missing her mother/brothers & sisters. Over the last 3 nights we have left her to bark, we leave her with water & toys to play with. But still she barks, after over 3 hours of constant barking, she is still at it. We are worried that it is going to annoy our neighbors (one is a postman & gets up at 4am) After 3 hours we have given in & gone down to cuddle her so she can get off to sleep.. Has anyone got any suggestions? Sorry, but we do not like the idea of a crate, how ever good they might be.

10-10-2007, 03:25 AM	#3
Sabledog Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 1,918 Rep: 84 Unique Rep: 38	try playing a radio softly, giving her a nice big soft blankey or pillow that has your scent on it and mabye a few stuffed toys to make her feel not so alone, if you dont want to crate, try confining her to just one room and leave a little night light so she feels more comfortable. you can also try to wear her out before bedtime, try to play with her and take her outside right before you put her to bed. __________________

10-10-2007, 05:09 AM	#4
Candice Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Central Coast, NSW, Australia Posts: 424 Rep: 13 Unique Rep: 3	Aww just let her sleep in your bed with you, or make her heaps tired before putting her into bed, she may just not be tired and might want to play or get up. __________________

10-10-2007, 07:56 AM	#5
skunkstripe All American Dog Lover Join Date: May 2006 Location: New England USA Posts: 20,995 Rep: 359 Unique Rep: 142	Hi chrisg and welcome to the forum. Your little pup has just been taken from her mother and littermates and put in a new home she does not understand, so water and toys are not a substitute. She is not thirsty nor does she want to play, she misses the comforting feeling of all those warm bodies. Like Sabledog said, try giving her a warm soft bed and a soft toy to snuggle next to. And a radio playing softly has been known to help. Good luck! __________________ Help us Help you! Read and understand the Terms of Service, report offensive posts and Forum Reputation. Helpful Tips - in our FAQ Section and Newbie Guide. Connect with DogForum.org members - Add yourself to the dogforum.net member map.chat with us! Things to do - Start a blog. Be sure to visit the DogForum.net photo gallery Let's see YOU! Use your computer to benefit mankind - join the DogForum.org Folding Team. Thanks Fede for the sigpic! I've been fleeced by Draco!

10-10-2007, 08:36 AM	#6
KatzNK9 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: USA Posts: 13,352 Rep: 315 Unique Rep: 88	Hello and welcome to the forum. Congratulations on your new family member. She's adorable. What's her name? I do hope you'll post lots of pics of her adventures growing up. We'd love to see them. The advice above is very good. It is hard for a pup to suddenly be away from its mother & littermates & giving pup some things to cuddle with is going to help. The radio or TV is also helpful. You can't expect a puppy of 8 weeks of age to sleep through the night. If you comfort your pup when barking, the pup will quickly learn that's how to get your attention. Reinforcing that behavior is a very bad idea. You can either leave her to bark until she realize those attempts are futile but you'll still have accidents to clean up in the morning. I suggest you schedule some trips to take your pup outside during the night. Since you say "we", you can split up the puppy tending wake up calls. Before bedtime, I suggest you initiate some energetic play sessions to tire your puppy out. See if you can get pup to sleep when you go to bed & then schedule a "wake-up" for your pup in an hour or so to take pup outside to eliminate. Praise your pup for a 'job well done' and then I'd try to run a little energy out of her to get him to go back to sleep. I didn't crate train Ozzy either (we got him at 6-1/2 weeks) but I did get up with him around the clock & take him outside. I can't say I recommend my method for most people but we got an Aerobed & slept with him untill he could 'hold it' for 4 straight hours, then we moved back to the bedroom & he'd jump up to ask to go outside. He'd sleep quietly next to the bed while attached to the leash. I kept the leash around my hand & when he'd rustle it would wake me and I'd take him outside. In the first week, I took him out at least every hour round-the-clock & gradually increased the time in between outings. It was a very effective method of potty training as I never gave him the opportunity to be without an appropriate spot to go. I consider 5 pee accidents & 0 poo accidents in the house a very successful housetraining mission. He also never cried/whimpered at night — not ever. During the daytime, I scheduled outdoor trips the same way as at night. First every hour, then every hour & 15 minutes, and it seems every few days after that I was able to add 15 minutes bewteen trips. By that time, he was starting to tell me when he needed to go outside by nuzzling my hand & if that didn't work, he'd lick my face. I realize my advice isn't for everybody. In fact, I wouldn't actually call it advice as I really believe the better method is likely the crate since I didn't get much sleep for the first 6 weeks. If you do leave your pup to sleep in her own area, you still need to get up to take her outside at regular intervals or you'll have difficulty with housetraining. A pup who is given the opportunity to always go in the right spot has very few indoor accidents. If you decide to bring your pup to the bedroom, you could possibly modify my suggestions to having her tethered next to the bed. __________________ The reason a dog has so many friends is that he wags his tail instead of his tongue. - Anonymous I've been sprung, scorched, boo'd, hugged, sniffed, admired, gobbled, frosted & HoHoHo'd.

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Newbie, Puppy barking

10-10-2007, 03:21 AM	#2
puppieluv Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 251 Rep: 13 Unique Rep: 3	maybe let her sleep with you in bed or on the floor might help, other wise, gotta put up with it or something or other.

10-10-2007, 08:54 AM	#7
Doberman's Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 6,521 Rep: 304 Unique Rep: 70	Welcome to DogForum.org. Wonderful you found us ! This is a classic case of seperation anxiety in puppies freshly taken from Mom. In the room you are keeping you pup, a radio softly or have a TV on. This will give the pup the impression that it is not alone. Puppies are use to having their littermates close to them when they sleep; have a warm fluffy bed or blanket for your pup to sleep on. This is a thread about seperation anxiety: http://www.dogforum.org/showthread.php?t=3937 What you did by coming to the pup when it was whining and barking is incorrect and only teach your new pup to whine and bark harder and longer till you come. In essence the pup is training you to come when called. This phase can last a few weeks or if you continue to come to your pup when it is barking and whining it can last years. Best wishes and please post some pics.

10-10-2007, 10:52 AM	#8
happysaz133 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 3,566 Rep: 40 Unique Rep: 20	Hello and welcome! Yes I agree with the others. A radio or TV will help calm your pup as she will think there is still people there in the room. Also a warm blanket and sometimes a warm hotwater bottle can be good with a ticking alarm clock (reminds them of their Mum), but I think possible the bottle and clock are better for younger pups (anyone know about this?). Hope you get it sorted, but try not to cuddle her when she cries as it will only make her think she can get what she wants by creating a lot of noise. Oh and we love pics here, if you've got any of your baby girl then we would love to see them! __________________

10-10-2007, 11:10 AM	#9
mermaid2708 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: dorset, uk Posts: 893 Rep: 17 Unique Rep: 6	even though i did crate train ruby, i found that the first few weeks she did bark at night. i used a radio, and also a plug-in baby night light...imagine what it must be like to have lots of fuss and attention all day, with food and games, trips out into the garden and lots of human contact then all of a sudden its bed time and you, a tiny thing, are shut in a big room in the dark....thats how i thought of it. eventually i covered the crate at night, i think it helped by making ruby feel safe and gave her some warmth thet she was missing fro her mum and litter mates. also...just wondering why you are not too keen on crates, i know lots of people are not, infact i thought they were horrible things til somebody gifted one to me when i had ruby, and i gave it a go??? __________________ i have been boo'd! i have been gobble gobbled by sheplovr! i have been Ho Ho Ho'd! i have been kissed by sheplovr! "I've got the do you?"

10-10-2007, 11:24 AM	#10
Christine283 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Alabama Posts: 875 Rep: 27 Unique Rep: 9	I agree with a good amount of exercise to get her tired, maybe a nighttime schedule, toys, something warm to sleep with, and a quite tv or radio. But do NOT go down to cuddle and keep her company. You're only setting yourself up for long, bark-ful nights because that's teaching your pup that if she barks, mom will come, and she'll bark as long as necessary to have that company while she's at the stage where she doesn't know otherwise. __________________

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