help! barking dog!

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spacefaer

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I have a 4 yr old working cocker and he has started barking at stupid o'clock in the morning - he's awake so he has to go out NOW. This morning it was 5.34, yesterday it was 4.19. Sometimes he'll wait til 6am - which feels like a lie-in now!

Keeps me awake and disturbs the neighbours.

Any thoughts on anti bark collars? I'm thinking spray rather than a zapper - he's quite sensitive (but very noisy!)

I've tried waiting til he gets bored but once he's started he does not stop. He goes out to be clean about midnight so it's not that he's desperate - just bored!

Help! (I need my sleep!)
 
We tried one on our dog about 8mths ago because she used to bark alot. It didn't work very well because it seemed to miss the low 'woof' barks (which were the ones we were trying to stop) and it sprayed her in the face when she was doing her high pitched vizsla song (which is actually quite a cute way of her saying hello, and not what she was doing at 5am) After a few weeks of very early starts we started feeding her earlier and took her water off her at about 7pm so when she went out last thing at night she could sleep through the night. Oddly at some point over the last 8mths the old habits have crept back but she still seems to be sleeping through 'til we do?
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He gets fed late so that he doesn't need to do anything until the morning (working on an average 8 hour transit time). I tried taking his water away - but then he got thirsty and shouted for that!

I wish he sang like a viszla - instead he yaps like a terrier
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Could u introduce a crate, to make him a little den that u can darken, i.e cover with a blanket to keep out the morrning light breaking rather than him having the kitchen to pace around in and put a radio on beside him to drown out any noises that may disturb him.
 
Our 2 used to bark early morning too. We tried various things but eventually when they barked they were squirted with water and told 'quiet' and after a couple of times they got the idea and now you cant wake them up until its time for their breakfast. We can now use the quiet command for other situations we come across as well. Hope you find a solution that works for you and your dog!
 
You shouldnt really withhold water overnight without first finding out if there is a physical reason for them needing to go out ie kidney infection, diabetes etc. The dog may really need to go out.
A check over at the vets should be the first thing then look in to behavioural problems if there is not a physical reason
 
thanks for the thoughts - I can cover him up when he's inside in the kitchen - he has a crate, but most of the time he lives outside - he's a working cocker and lives with 2 others (both very quiet). the covering does work but then they all have to be in as he barks for the other two if they're separated.

I can't priase him for being quiet overnight - I'm asleep!!

I've started him on nupafeed calmer which seems to help - in that he's worse without it!

still thinking of a spray collar - has anyone used one successfully?
 
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