argh i'm at the end of my tether

[Chestersmummy]

The jrt that we adopted a couple of months ago is caged at night and when no one is in as she has eaten the chair arms of mums expensive leather chair, ooops. All has been fine and she settles and goes to sleep at night, until the last 2 nights. Last night she was barking from 11.30pm, i eventually got up at 12, and tonight she has been barking on and off for the last hour.
I'm a really light sleeper so the only one who hears her, and once I'm awake I'm awake.
I don't know why she does it, she has water, toys and her bed in with her.

 

[Moomin1]

I would think she is bored and frustrated by the sounds of things. It's possible she has separation anxiety.

 

[RichmondPark]

Without sounding patronising, does she go for to the toilet immediately before being send to her cage for the night? If yes, ignore her until the morning time as if you continue to get up and give her attention she will continue to do this every night and you end up fustrated by being caught up in a vicious circle and knackered to boot. Try covering her cage (including the sides) with blankets to make it darker inside and part of the front of the cage too allowing enough for air.

The other thing to consider is temperature. In the past 2 days has it been abnormally cold? If so a few more blankets for her to keep warm.

I would continue to cage her when you go out, as the destroying of your mothers leather chair is boredom/form of seperation anxiety as mentioned above. Stuffed Kongs are rather good option of distracting her/giving her something to do whilst you are out of the house but if she does suffer from seperation anxiety Kongs are not cures. Speak to your neighbours see if she has been barking while you are gone and if so then you definately know she has an issue than you can start working on it before it becomes a problem and you get irritated neighbours.

Oh and ear plugs for yourself too ;-)

 

[Bosworth]

My dogs were waking at 2 and wanting to go out for a wee, so I put their fleeces on and bingo, that was it, they were waking up as the were chilly, then of course first thing you need to do when you wake up is have a wee. try putting on more blankets to see if being warmer helps. I also cage nonny my whippet when I leave and at night, she does not have separation anxiety, more of an over enquiring need to find out 'what happens if' and an incredibly strong kleptomaniac streak. to the extent, i caught her trying to carry a bedside lamp into her bed Flodden is lose as he never damages anything.

 

[CAYLA]

If only the last 2 nights then she may have been disturbed or could she have a bout of slightly loose faeces making her need the toilet?
I personally dont leave toys/treats in crates over night (its sleep time) obs in the day def some long lasting treats bones/kongs/stag bars.
Also is she spending time in the crate when people are home and not just placed in there when you go to bed/leave the house? if so then you need to change this and have her spend some random periods in there when you are home, ideally after a walk or play and with a long lasting goody.
Cover her crate with a thick blanket and a radio on in the room would help block out any disturbing noises and feeding her as early as possible for her last meal, so maybe a cut off time of 5pm and no more food to help her hold over night if indeed she is wanting a late night toilet visit.

Try putting her to bed at a set time and not necc when the last person goes to bed otherwise she will cry o and the person off to bed early who was the light sleeper will suffer