I need help with my Shih Tzu's barking

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sarahw

23-02-2012

Originally Posted by big_hard_lad:
“He's actually going to the vet tomorrow to get his dew claws trimmed so I am going to mention it to them. I don't think he has any problems with his waterworks as he has never had any problems before and hasn't ever had any signs he does....but that's not to say he doesn't! I saw the collars....if we can't find any other solution I might have to try one of those.

My wife seems to think that his barking is different from his normal barking and that it sounds like he's scared....personally I'm not sure as it's hard to remember when you're woken up in the night. I'm going to set up a camera in the living room tonight (I work in IT for a CCTV manufacturer so it's not as bonkers as it sounds) and see if there is something going on.”

I would try and avoid the collars until you have ruled out all other options. When you speak to the neighbours with the baby do ask them (nicely

) if they have been getting up with the baby at about the times that the dog is barking. Dogs hearing is much more sensitive than ours so it might be that he can hear the baby crying or someone moving around next door and its freaking him out. Is there another room he could sleep in to see if that helps? Maybe put him in the corridor if there is room.

big_hard_lad

23-02-2012

Originally Posted by sarahw:
“I would try and avoid the collars until you have ruled out all other options. When you speak to the neighbours with the baby do ask them (nicely ) if they have been getting up with the baby at about the times that the dog is barking. Dogs hearing is much more sensitive than ours so it might be that he can hear the baby crying or someone moving around next door and its freaking him out. Is there another room he could sleep in to see if that helps? Maybe put him in the corridor if there is room.”

I've just bumped into the neighbour and she said that she didn't hear him last night but they did hear him the night before and her and her husband were up. So I said, "oh God, I hope he didn't wake the baby up", she said, "oh no...don't worry about him, he was flat out in dreamland!" So I can only assume that she wasn't up with the baby at those times...which leads me to believe that it isn't the baby that is waking him up.

I'm def going to leave the collar to the last option...I'm not really a fan but if it's the only thing that works then I'll give it a whirl.

There's not really anywhere else he could sleep other than another location in the same room....our whole downstairs is open plan and I definitely don't want him anywhere upstairs as when we have guests staying over (quite often) then he'd be in the spare bedroom.

Maybelle

23-02-2012

OP - is there any chance there are cats about at night that your dog can see or hear? My neighbours cats just love coming right up to our glass doors and staring in at my dogs to wind them up. They also use my extension roof on their travels at night and my dogs always hear them.

big_hard_lad

24-02-2012

Originally Posted by Maybelle:
“OP - is there any chance there are cats about at night that your dog can see or hear? My neighbours cats just love coming right up to our glass doors and staring in at my dogs to wind them up. They also use my extension roof on their travels at night and my dogs always hear them.”

I don't know of any of my direct neighbours that have cats but that's not to say there aren't any. We have a glass back door and in the next few weeks there's going to be a curtain put over it...so I'm hoping that will maybe help a bit too.

Last night wasn't so bad...he didn't bark until 6.30 when my alarm went off. So I lay in bed for half an hour (well...I had to didn't I, to make sure that he knew that I wasn't getting up for him

) and then got up....ignored him, opened the back door and off he trotted for a wee.

I did set up the webcam but I haven't had a chance to review the footage yet.

molliepops

24-02-2012

Mine go mad when they hear foxes trotting past.

big_hard_lad

24-02-2012

Originally Posted by molliepops:
“Mine go mad when they hear foxes trotting past.”

I sometimes go mad when foxes trott past too. Usually only happens on a Friday or a Saturday but you can hear their heels from miles away!

(Sorry...couldn't resist!)

molliepops

24-02-2012

:d :d :d

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