Barking at night

[d99]

Hi
Our medium sized has always slept inside the house in a basket.
She's getting old, and a few months back she started weeing in the house. So we've moved her outside onto the veranda. She's still in her basket under a table, which is itself clothed in a blanket to keep the air inside warm, which it does pretty well.
But she has a habit of barking at all hours of the night. Its not ongoing - she will suddenly start barking (I think at the cats) or she will go around to the garden on the other side of the house and whine.

She can't come back in the house and the barking is driving everyone mad. I am at my wits end.
What can I do?

Thanks
D

[colliewog]

How old is she? Have you taken her to the vet? She could have spay incontinence, a kidney or bladder problem, or something mentally wrong. She's going to whine and bark because she's all of a sudden been separated from her people pack and she doesn't know why ... I'd bark and whine too!

[PoodleMommy]

I would first take her to the vet to determine the cause of her sudden incontinence.... this may be something that is easily fixed with meds.

Then I would find a place inside for her to sleep, she is used to sleeping inside and this sudden change is probably the cause of her being upset... do you have a non carpeted area that you could set up a pen for her? You could also cover the area in wee wee pads.

[bubbatd]

I'd move her inside too ......... this is not fair to her , especially if she's getting old !

[dogsarebetter]

no wonder the poor thing is barking, she is lonely and confused! Incontinence can more times than not be treated with medication. I would speak to your vet about it. And they also make doggy diapers too!

[d99]

Originally Posted by colliewog

How old is she? Have you taken her to the vet? She could have spay incontinence, a kidney or bladder problem, or something mentally wrong. She's going to whine and bark because she's all of a sudden been separated from her people pack and she doesn't know why ... I'd bark and whine too!

She's 10. I don't think it's spay incontinence. She was very well trained. Even the sidewalk is taboo and she'll go right up to the fence to poop.
She's always been a bit highly strung, so we've used Ignatia in the past just generally. She used to wee when something very exciting happened like a visitor.
Anyway, point is she knows not to wee in the house and she feels embarrassed when it happens. She couldn't stay in the house even if I was the landlord.

How can we groom her to stay outside? The 2 cats are often outside, so there's actually more pack outside than in.
Her hearing is also getting worse. I've come outside at night and found her staring through the front gate. She didn't notice until I was right by her side.
I think her house arrangement has something to do with it too. The ceiling is quite low and the landlord insists on pulling the blanket all the way over the opening. So although its warm, its pitch black inside.
I was going to invest in a dog house, but I'm not sure it'll be warm enough. Any thoughts on this?

D

[Doberluv]

Why do you not think it's spay incontinence? Has she been examined by a vet and had her estrogen levels measured? Has she had a urinalysis to check for white blood cells or sugar? Being well trained has nothing to do with old age incontinence. The first thing to do is have her examined by a vet. And make a place for her somewhere in the house near her human family. Dogs are hardwired by domestication to strongly desire to be near their human family. They don't do well apart for large segments of time. Cats are great, but not what dogs have evolved to "pack" up with. Barking and whining is a sure sign of stress/anxiety. Anything less than a vet visit and reducing anxiety by being inside with her humans, is not good husbandry.

[bubbatd]

I would do anything within my power to get her inside !

[MericoX]

I'd hate to be put outside when I get older because I'm an inconvenience....

Ever thought of crating her inside at night? Using diapers? Has a vet checked her... for all you know it could be a UTI.

[bubbatd]

That's my point . " Well Mom , you wet your bed again .....time for a nursing home " .