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Canine Behavior/Dog sleeping problems

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Expert: - 10/24/2008


Question
Hi, I have an english bulldog.  He is 1 year old.  When he was a puppy, he had to get up at night about twice to pee.  But he would go right back to bed and sleep the whole night.  When he was about 8 months, he would go to bed at 9pm and not wake up until 7 or 8 am.  Since then, every night at 9pm on the dot he went to bed(outside) and sleep the whole night.  About 1 month ago, he started waking up in the middle of the night.  He starts barking and wont stop until someone lets him out.  Sometimes he doesnt even have to pee, sometimes he just gets outside his kennel and just sits on the yard looking at the stars.(at 3 am)  We have to stand there with him, he then goes back to bed and might wake up again or might not.  The first thing i did was take him to the vet, but there was nothing wrong with him.  Then i tried long walks before bed, that worked the first night, after that it didnt.  I try now to make sure he pees before bed, but he refuses to, or even if he does, he still wakes up.  Notice right now its 2:34 am, he just woke up 20 mins ago.  Its really getting stressful.  I cant let him bark the whole night because i live in an apartment complex, he sleeps outside in his cage and all the neighbors can hear.  They already complained once when i let him bark for about an hour, figuring he would stop eventually, but he didnt.  Please help.  Thank you

Answer
Bring the dog INDOORS.  There is NO REASON this dog has to sleep OUTSIDE in a CRATE!  You'd bark too if someone forced this on you.  It's not only inhumane, it's most likely illegal.  If the SPCA were to be called to witness this, the dog would probably be removed and you would be charged with a misdemeanor.  Whatever set him off to begin with at that hour, he has learned that there is a response to his barking: you.  If you did not want a dog companion to live in your home, WHY DID YOU GET ONE?  If you find it impossible to allow this poor animal to share your living space, call English Bulldog rescue.  Somewhere, someone is waiting for the opportunity to provide him with a secure loving home.

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Jill Connor, Ph.D.

Expertise

I have spent my entire professional life rehabilitating the behavior of the domestic dog and I can answer any question regarding any behavior problem in any breed dog. If you are a caring, committed owner and need advice, I'm here for you. THERE ARE NO QUICK FIXES for serious behavioral issues; not only is it unprofessional to offer same, it is also unethical. IF I ASK YOU SUBSEQUENT QUESTIONS, I NEED YOU TO INTERACT WITH ME. More information equals more credible answers and a more successful outcome. If you want ANSWERS THAT WORK, participate in any way I request. I'm quite committed to working on this site for YOUR benefit and the benefit of YOUR DOG. Help me in any way you can.

Experience

30 years of solving serious behavior problems in domestic dogs; expert in dog to human aggression; Internet columnist for ThePetChannel.com for 5 years; former radio talk show host, WHPC.FM, Garden City, NY "Bite Back" (1995 through 2000). List owner, international animal behavior experts, K9Shrinks@egroups.com. Seminar leader: "Operant Conditioning and Learning"; "Aggression in The Domestic Dog"; "Solving Problem Behaviors" -- conducted for various training facilities on Long Island from 1993 through 2000. Former clinical director of "Behavioral Abnormalities" in conjunction with Mark Beckerman, DVM, Hempstead, New York.

Organizations
Member, APDT (UK); Psychologists in Ethical Treatment with Animals

Publications
Harcourt Brace Learning Direct: "The Business of Dog Training" "The Fail Safe Dog: Brain Training, not Pain Training"

Education/Credentials
Ph.D., UC Berkeley

Past/Present Clients
Board of Directors: Northeast Dog Rescue Connection; The Dog Project; Sav-A-Dog Foundation; etc. Pro Bono counselor: Little Shelter Humane Society My practice is presently limited to forensics. I diagnose cause of dog bite, based upon testimony before the Court, for attorneys and insurance companies litigating dog bites, including fatal injuries. I also do pro bono work for bona fide rescue organizations, humane societies, et al, regarding such analysis in an effort to obtain release for dogs being held for death in municipal shelters in the US.

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