Early morning barking

[Lucydc]

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Our 4 month labrador puppy barks early in the morning, usually when she hears our alarm or if one of us gets up for the loo. I'm guessing that she's already awake and just waiting to hear signs of life from us. This is fine on weekdays, although a little inconvenient because we can't hit the snooze button anymore, but at the weekend it's not great. I woke for the loo at 6.15 today, crept to the bathroom but she still heard me and the barking commenced! Should we leave her to 'bark it out'? We will have to warn the neighbours and compensate accordingly but I don't want to go through this if it doesn't work. Any tips please?

 

[suzpoodles]

I have a puppy and a 12 year old. The 12 year old likes to go out as soon as it gets light (great at this time of year!) but then we go back to bed. The puppy barks when he hears us, but soon settles down when we don't actually appear in the kitchen; I let my other dog out through another door.

So, for me, letting him bark it out works - he settles again pretty quickly. Hope you find the same!

 

[gypsysmum2]

As long as your puppy does not need to go out then it should be fine to ignore the barking. He is calling you and, if you respond, you are training him to call you in the early hours. Try to wait for a quiet second or two before returning to your puppy. Stretch this to a few more seconds and then a little longer until your puppy learns that waiting quietly is what brings you to him.

It is a fine balancing act as, sometimes, they do need to go out. If you think this is the case then be very boring around him. Just keep a neutral expression, open the door, go out, stay neutral, go back in and then leave him again. I am always very boring with my dogs in the morning as I do not want to encourage them to anticipate my arrival as an exciting time. Just a brief pat on the head as I put the kettle on