Help Me! What can I do?

I luv my pups · 01-25-2005, 09:18 PM

Hello Everyone. I need help with a problem that has been going on now for about 2 1/2 months. My 4 year old Pomeranian has always been crate trained. We moved into our house Oct.1st and everything was normal. In early November my pom started barking in her cage all night long. At first I would take her out and put her outside to potty, but she would just look at me through the glass door. I then started to give her a squirt with a water bottle when she started to bark. This didn't help either. After a few nights of this she started pooping and peeing in her cage. I took her to the vet and he said to start her on an earlier feeding schedule and take away the food and water earlier in the evening. There was nothing else apparently wrong with her. I did this and the naughty behavior continued. I started to give her a spank in the butt when she would continue barking, but this didn't stop her. Now 2 1/2 months later I sleep with earplugs in, clean her crate daily, and wash her daily. What do I do?

Barrett · 01-25-2005, 09:42 PM

The water bottle and spanking won't solve anything. There has to be a problem if she just started this after 4 years.
Have you tried to put her crate in your room next to your bed? She may just want to be near you. Moving is a big change for her and she may be feeling a little insecure right now. Perhaps you could put a stuffed frozen Kong in her crate to keep her busy too. If you walk her and play with her for a good 3 hours right before bed you could tire her out and she would be too tuckered to bark. Has anything else changed in the household before the barking started? Like a new addition to the family or someone moving out? Let us know how things go and I'm sure you will get a lot more suggestions from everyone else soon.

***Carrie*** · 01-26-2005, 08:26 AM

I agree with Barrett. Don't be mean to your dog. That won't make her feel more secure and she probably, for some reason is feeling ill at ease. I think bringing her in your room with you would make her feel more included in the "pack." Then ignore her barking. Don't give ANY type of attention. Maybe she needs a little extra attention/training....a job to do to keep her mind and body busy during the day. A little walk in the evening may make her feel more drowsy. Keep us posted.

gaddylovesdogs · 01-26-2005, 03:43 PM

I agree. Two of my dogs sleep in crates. We keep water down 24/7. If we hear one of them barking, the first thing we think is they need to go out. One crated dog is terrified of thunderstorms, so on "thundery" nights, we give her natural anxiety relief pills and put a sheet over her crate.

I agree with Barrett and Carrie. IMO I wouldn't spank a dog that size. My dogs weigh 50-60 lbs. and while they occasionally get a slap, we never do it too hard. She probably just wants to be with you. My dogs are very attached and like to follow me all over. I can barely leave the room without at least one of 'em getting up and wandering after me. Dogs are pack animals.

I luv my pups · 01-26-2005, 09:11 PM

Thank you for you advice. I do walk her every night about 2 hours before she goes to bed and I have placed a Kong and other toys in her crate at night but she will just go to the bathroom on them. Nothing else has changed in my household and the other dogs are adjusted (my roomate has 1 dog. I have 2). I will try to put her in my room and see how that goes. Thanks

flyndog · 01-29-2005, 11:45 AM

Have you tried going outside with the dog instead of just putting her out there by herself. She obviously has to relieve herself and is doing it in her crate because she just can't hold it any longer. That's not her fault, and neither is barking to tell you she has to go, so don't punish her for that. I don't know what it is about the yard that she doesn't like being there by herself at night, do you?
Kit

I luv my pups · 01-29-2005, 03:49 PM

Hello All,
I put her in my room a couple of nights ago and she did well except the other dogs barked all night because she was not there. The next night I put her in the room with the other dogs but kept her outside of her crate, but she continued to bark and go to the bathroom. The problem is obviously that she wants to be with me, but I cannot allow the other dogs to sleep in my room because my roomates Husky is 1 yrs old and still destructive when he is not watched. I don't know what to do. I have been giving her more attention during the day and I hope that will help. We will see.

01-25-2005, 09:18 PM	#1 (permalink)
I luv my pups Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 3 Rep Power: 73	Help Me! What can I do? Hello Everyone. I need help with a problem that has been going on now for about 2 1/2 months. My 4 year old Pomeranian has always been crate trained. We moved into our house Oct.1st and everything was normal. In early November my pom started barking in her cage all night long. At first I would take her out and put her outside to potty, but she would just look at me through the glass door. I then started to give her a squirt with a water bottle when she started to bark. This didn't help either. After a few nights of this she started pooping and peeing in her cage. I took her to the vet and he said to start her on an earlier feeding schedule and take away the food and water earlier in the evening. There was nothing else apparently wrong with her. I did this and the naughty behavior continued. I started to give her a spank in the butt when she would continue barking, but this didn't stop her. Now 2 1/2 months later I sleep with earplugs in, clean her crate daily, and wash her daily. What do I do?
I luv my pups Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 3 Rep Power: 73

01-26-2005, 03:43 PM	#4 (permalink)
gaddylovesdogs don't have a cow! Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: USA Posts: 3,426 Rep Power: 155	I agree. Two of my dogs sleep in crates. We keep water down 24/7. If we hear one of them barking, the first thing we think is they need to go out. One crated dog is terrified of thunderstorms, so on "thundery" nights, we give her natural anxiety relief pills and put a sheet over her crate. I agree with Barrett and Carrie. IMO I wouldn't spank a dog that size. My dogs weigh 50-60 lbs. and while they occasionally get a slap, we never do it too hard. She probably just wants to be with you. My dogs are very attached and like to follow me all over. I can barely leave the room without at least one of 'em getting up and wandering after me. Dogs are pack animals.
	__________________ Looking for a new pet? Search www.petfinder.com for your next love. If you have a heart, please help the victims of Hurricane Katrina. www.redcross.org

01-26-2005, 09:11 PM	#5 (permalink)
I luv my pups Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 3 Rep Power: 73	Thank you for you advice. I do walk her every night about 2 hours before she goes to bed and I have placed a Kong and other toys in her crate at night but she will just go to the bathroom on them. Nothing else has changed in my household and the other dogs are adjusted (my roomate has 1 dog. I have 2). I will try to put her in my room and see how that goes. Thanks
I luv my pups Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 3 Rep Power: 73

01-29-2005, 11:45 AM	#6 (permalink)
flyndog Unleash The Possibilities Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Marfa, TX Posts: 3,969 Rep Power: 185	Have you tried going outside with the dog instead of just putting her out there by herself. She obviously has to relieve herself and is doing it in her crate because she just can't hold it any longer. That's not her fault, and neither is barking to tell you she has to go, so don't punish her for that. I don't know what it is about the yard that she doesn't like being there by herself at night, do you? Kit
	__________________ mARFa Dog Training and Behavior

01-29-2005, 03:49 PM	#7 (permalink)
I luv my pups Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 3 Rep Power: 73	Hello All, I put her in my room a couple of nights ago and she did well except the other dogs barked all night because she was not there. The next night I put her in the room with the other dogs but kept her outside of her crate, but she continued to bark and go to the bathroom. The problem is obviously that she wants to be with me, but I cannot allow the other dogs to sleep in my room because my roomates Husky is 1 yrs old and still destructive when he is not watched. I don't know what to do. I have been giving her more attention during the day and I hope that will help. We will see.
I luv my pups Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 3 Rep Power: 73

01-25-2005, 09:42 PM	#2 (permalink)
Barrett dachshund Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Washington Posts: 2,758 Rep Power: 158	The water bottle and spanking won't solve anything. There has to be a problem if she just started this after 4 years. Have you tried to put her crate in your room next to your bed? She may just want to be near you. Moving is a big change for her and she may be feeling a little insecure right now. Perhaps you could put a stuffed frozen Kong in her crate to keep her busy too. If you walk her and play with her for a good 3 hours right before bed you could tire her out and she would be too tuckered to bark. Has anything else changed in the household before the barking started? Like a new addition to the family or someone moving out? Let us know how things go and I'm sure you will get a lot more suggestions from everyone else soon.

01-26-2005, 08:26 AM	#3 (permalink)
*Carrie* Super Moderator Super Moderator Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: north panhandle of Idaho Posts: 7,551 Rep Power: 292	I agree with Barrett. Don't be mean to your dog. That won't make her feel more secure and she probably, for some reason is feeling ill at ease. I think bringing her in your room with you would make her feel more included in the "pack." Then ignore her barking. Don't give ANY type of attention. Maybe she needs a little extra attention/training....a job to do to keep her mind and body busy during the day. A little walk in the evening may make her feel more drowsy. Keep us posted.

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