[COLOR=blue]Hi i have just had a 11 week old male springer, who was ok the first couple of nights, then he started barking most of the night.

He is kept in my kitchen, where he has his cage open (as he goes mad while inside it). loads of toys and water to drink.

When we leave him he starts barking and is not much fun hearing him at 1 in the morning.

Any one have any ideas as i think my neighbours will only stand so much!

With our Archie he barked away for the first few nights but as hard as it was to ignore him we did, once he realises this is the best way to get your attention then hes going to keep at it till you get up. After those first couple of nights all was quite and we never heard another peep out of him after that.

We kept his crate door shut, left a small lamp on for him and the radio on really low, gives them a bit of reassurance that someones there i think.

He never got left with toys (fear of him eating it) or water in his crate, last drink was around 8pm and he would be left alone from about 11.30pm to 5am.
worked well for us and he never had any accidents in his crate.

Oh if i were you i'd have a chat with your neighbours and let them no whats going on, a week of barking is going to be better than a lifetime, ours having once had a dog were more than understanding.

Thanks i will take the water off him now and let you know how i get on over the next couple of nights.

How soon after putting him in the crate does he start barking? What have you been doing when he does start? Are you going to bed yourself when you put him in the crate? Where is the crate?

I agree with scooter regarding the radio - one is it does offer some comfort and 2 it will disguise any big scary monster noise that he may hear ie someone/animal just walking past the house

Sam and Angel

Please let your pup have access to water through the night, esp. kibble makes dogs very thirsty . Anyway if the pup is thirsty it might cry because of that, so it could backfire anyway.

When I got my pup home I made sure she was empty before bed time (bladder and bowels) so when she whined I could be sure it wasn't toilet needs. I set my alarm and went down to take her out into the garden to let her have a wee, put her back to bed and left her again.

I think nowadays I would do it differently though, I would take the pup beside my bed and once it has settled I would move it slowly out the room in a matter of a few weeks. Poor things I think they are horrified of being left all by themselves.

Don't leave him without water, what ever you feed.

Could be a bit of separation anxiety, have you tried the crate in your room ?

I did this when I had my puppy and it worked a treat - when he had settled in my room I gradually moved him out of my room and back downstairs

Good luck with him and enjoy him as he will grow up far too quickly My puppy is now nearly 2

I couldn't agree more. I still feel like apologizing to our long dead male Flatcoat, whom we put through the isolation trauma at night because we didn't know any better. Since then, puppies have been allowed into the bedroom to sleep with their new pack, and no howls!

Well what a night!

Left Barney in his cage about 11.30 with toys, water and even a hot water bottle. Made sure he had done all he needed to do out side.

As soon as i walked out of the room he started barking, but i did what all the books and the vets say and ignored him.

He carried on barking and barking. At 4am my husband got up for work and went into him. He had riped up part of the plastic off the cage base. It was in the corner right next to the door, so i think he was doing it to try and get out.

Looked in the 'Buddies' book today and came across PHEROMONE to which i rang the vet about.
They told me to put a pair of PJs in that i have worn before trying the diffuser, and that is what she did when she had a pup and it settled down.

To which i will try tonight!

The cage is in my kitchen with toys and plenty of water.

Thing is different things have worked for differnet dogs so it is a case of trying everything. I dont like locking him in the cage when getting distressed but i know you have to keep going

Yesterday i put him in his cage when i was cooking the tea, where he could see me, he moaned a bit but then he fell asleep, so i left him there. He was in there for 1 1/2 hours. which i was amazed at. he woke up in a lovely mood, and i gave hime loads of fuss when he came out.
I will try it again later.

I had barking and howling from snoop at night when i first got him. he doesn't have a cage tho, as ive tried that before and it just didn't work for me. All i did was when he howled i left him for a while and then went down and let him out for the toilet. then i would put him back and go back to bed. Doing much the same as you would with a baby, going in sorting them, no fuss, no talking. I think it took a couple of days before he didn't howl. he just realised if he fussed i would just take him out for a wee which he didn't want.
I hope this is a help. x

Photos of Barney Now 12 weeks old.

Ruby's crate was in the corner of the kitchen with a big blanket over the top so only the door was not covered. We had a blanket in there and water. We got into the habit of popping her in there when we had dinner or when guest first came in and always gave her a treat or gravy bone or something nice so she thought it was a nice place to be

out for a wee and poo before bed in crate at about 11 then up at 6 - no accident and no barking

although we dont use the crate in the house now because she was crate trained she is fine in it if she needs to go in it when we are camping or in the back of the car so please keep on trying

What a super poopie! When Kala came home at about 10 weeks she was put to bed in her crate in the conservatory at about 11.30 ish after a trip outside to spend a penny etc...What we did was use one of those microwavable heating pads for pets (purchased on ebay) rather than a hot water bottle which could burst if bitten, unless its the old stone type of course. I also covered her over with an old snuggly dressing gown of mine as though she was in a nest. Talk about spoilt but it did work and we never had a peep out of her until we got up early to take her outside .
As far as I recall we only had one or two disturbed nights and no accidents in her crate. When she was a bit older she then had a bed in the lounge and gradually just had a crate in the car. She is never any problem at night now with access via a dog flap outside. Suppose we can count ourselves lucky coz as you say, all dogs differ in their personalities etc. Good luck with your lickle one, he will soon sort himself out - enjoy him while he is a baby

How's the barking?
You are so right it is different things for different dogs, so keep the updates coming and we will keep the ideas coming

let him be in the open space its the cage thats the problem