My senior dog barks all night. Can I bring him in without accidents?

This could be anxiety as you suggest, or it could be canine cognitive dysfunction (doggy dementia). CCG often includes restless/wakeful behavior at night and sleeping during the day. It can also include loss of house-training, failure to recognize family members and confused or wandering behavior. Melatonin and/or Benadryl are considered generally safe medications to give before bed to help promote sleep. There are also medications and prescription diets made especially for CCD if that is what’s happening to Sherwood. Talk with your vet to see if s/he agrees and to discuss options and doses.

He could have a urinary tract infection or a medical condition that makes him urinate more. The best thing would be to have your vet run a urinalysis and blood-work to rule out medical causes. If the lab-work is normal then you should make sure you take him out as late as possible before bed time and you could also limit the amount of water he drinks late at night.

Relentless barking is typically a sign of anxiety. The anxiety is probably due to one a few different causes. If Pilot is typically used to being with you during the daytime and is forced to be separated at night this maybe a root cause of the anxiety. Another possibility is that Pilot is simply not being provided with an area in which he feels comfortable to rest. If you haven't already, I would recommend crate training him. There are tons of articles and YouTube videos on how to properly do this, the dos and don't of the training, and the size of crate you might need. Once the crate becomes Pilot's "den", it will be a comfortable place for him to stay. I think this is a good place to start. You also have to remain strong in terms of ignoring the barking. I realize it is extremely loud and irritating, but EVENTUALLY Pilot will stop on his own and tire out. If you give in to him, you are only shooting yourself and him in the foot unfortunately. Hope this helps!

Has he always done this, or is it a new behavior? Had he been sleeping through the night at any time? The fact that he is continuing to bark, even after he's been out, tells me one of two things: either there's a sound (that you may not even be able to hear) that is disturbing or exciting him, or he has you trained to get up when he barks. To a dog who is seeking attention, any attention, even negative (such as shouting at him) is satisfying. If you are sure his bathroom needs have been met, try ignoring Wish. Do not respond in any way to his barking. Understand that, since you have reacted before, he will probably up the ante and bark more, or louder, to get the response he is used to. Don't give in!!! That will just make it harder to correct. After a few days to a week, when his behavior is not getting the desired result, he will stop. (You might want to start this on a weekend when you don't have to get up as early.) If you need additional help with this, just click on the prompt to initiate a consult. Good luck!

It could be that bella has realized if she barks she gets attention from you all. She is barking to get taken outside or even just attention through the night. I would recommend trying to crate train her. This will allow her an area that is safe and only hers. The crate can be a really positive place . You can start off by putting her in it for short intervals and rewarding her going in and coming out. it is important to make the crate a happy place. You could also try just moving her to another room so she is not sleeping with you all.

Hello. Crate training takes time, so keep persevering. That being said, expect dogs to be able to hold their bladders the number of months they are in terms of hours, as a general rule. They can hold it a little longer at night. Expect to have to wake up in the middle of the night to let him outside. Bring him outside, let him pee, then right back inside into the crate. No playing or else he will get used to that. The whining and barking should subside soon. HAve fun with him!

At Tommys age I would consider that he may have some type of cognitive dysfunction or senility issue causing increase in barking. I would recomend a veterinarian visit for a senior wellness check up and discuss his behavior as there are medications and diet that can help if it is cognitive. Medications and a neuro diet have helped my own senior dog to sleep through the night again as he was up at all hours barking, so I know your pain. ;). Good luck.