How to stop my 11month old golden retreiver from barking at 6.30am each morning?

Mine used to do this. I used to have to wake up in the morning earlier then he used to, wake him up, then let him out. Gradually I sed to wait an extra 5 minutes before going down.

He eventually used to learn that he didnt need to wake me up to let him out.

Edited to add: How about crate training her and putting her in your room? Or moving her bed to another room that isnt adjacent to the neighbours?

I also used to sleep on the sofa after Id let him out for the toilet. I did feel exhausted, but it did pay off. He is 1yr and 3 months now and I CAN SLEEP UNTIL 10.30AM!!!! without him howling the place down. :-)

If you say she just came into season I'm assuming you mean heat. If that's what you mean, maybe shes barking for that reason. And if you don't want her barking all the time, it's probably best to fix her. So pay attention to see if this passes as her season passes. I know cats meow a lot when in heat. Maybe she's doing the same. BUT, if that's not what you meant OR it doesn't pass. Maybe shes scared or lonely in the kitchen by herself. When shes barking and you come to her side does she stop and then continue once you leave? Dogs love us and want to be with us..if she has a separation problem it could be the cause of her barking, and who knows why it hits at 6.30am. I would suggest getting a crate and putting it in the bedroom and crate training her and see if the barking stops. The crate is really important so you don't wake up to pee on your floor. It also helps with her potty training as well. It could also be her age..puppies go through a terrible two stage and 11 months is just that age range. Dogs bark when they're Bored, Lonely, as a warning, or from other dogs barking. If you try eliminating those reasons maybe she wont bark anymore. Give her plenty of toys, try a crate or even leaving something with your sent on it for her to smell.

It looks like there may be two causes to her barking. It’s either territorial or due to a little anxiety.

From your question it seems as though she is barking exactly at the same time so there is something that seems to be triggering her barking at that time. If you’ve noticed your neighbor going to work at that same time everyday then that’s likely the cause and she’s barking to alert you.

If this is definitely the cause, try to change the environment she’s in so she doesn’t feel the need to defend her territory. You may have to move her to somewhere where she can’t hear or see your neighbor leaving in the morning. Stop the cause and you should be able to solve the problem.

Her barking when you leave seems like anxiety. This was probably caused by creating positive associations with the behavior in the past – that is, rewarding her barking by giving her attention. As hard as it may be, the only real solution is to break that association by ignoring her but try changing her environment and see how that goes first. Hope this helps.

Also bitches in season will pee more often due to the hormones. This serves as leaving messages for males. My dog needed to be let out more often too. It could be a combination of the season making her more active earlier and the neighbours activity. The season will make her restless. Trying to 'hold it in' and ending up going on the floor is very stressful to dogs. They are in fact clean animals and want to go outside. This may also add to her barking. The radio may also increase stress, it's a common misconception that it helps dogs relax, however it can have the opposite effect as it is stimuluating them.

Dogs sleeping pattern is from 9pm - 4am and will generally nod off at 9 whether they are exhausted or now. It sounds like she could be stirring at 4am onwards and then when hearing the neighbour begins barking.

Also bitches in season will pee more often due to the hormones. This serves as leaving messages for males. My dog needed to be let out more often too. It could be a combination of the season making her more active earlier and the neighbours activity. The season will make her restless. Trying to 'hold it in' and ending up going on the floor is very stressful to dogs. They are in fact clean animals and want to go outside. This may also add to her barking. The radio may also increase stress, it's a common misconception that it helps dogs relax, however it can have the opposite effect as it is stimuluating them.

It also rings bells with seperation anxiety. Perhaps she barked because she needed to go out, then you came down and she has learned that barking makes mummy get up and be with me. I'm not sure of the context but its worth thinking about. Generally when one of mine barks at night/morning I wait until they have stopped before I go down, even if it is too late and they have peed. Simply to prevent them learning how to get me up! Given that she was fine up until this season I think it is less likely seperation anxiety and more likely related to the season.

If you were my behavioural client, in diagnostics I would set up a video recorder so that I could actually see what was happening. This is the only way to 100% know what is going on.

Tip: when you get up to let her out early morning, leave a chew with her as you return to bed. Chewing relieves stress in dogs and will help her relax and hopefully sleep!

Hope this helps.

Just wanted to add, do not use bark collars or any other aversive method. If she is barking there is a reason and is her way of expressing this. Imagine zapping a child whenever they cried. Aversive methods lead to increase in stress which leads to more behavioural issues and this stress will lead to more urination. Also you cannot control what the dog is associating the aversive with. If she sees your neighbour, barks and gets zapped - she may very well learn that neighbours cause pain. Then you will have a fearful/aggressive pooch on your hands.

Dogs are children, stop leaving her alone. She s sad bring her in the room with you. Why abandon her and leave her alone. Go get your baby now. Or maybe a neighbor come home or leaves their house at that time, oh and alot of people in this world set their alarm clock at 6:30, and the dog can hear the alarm so she starts barking. Yup, makes since to me. Everyday, 6:30 sharp. Its definately the neighbors, or the newspaper man throwing newspapers on peoples steps.

I would consider putting her in a crate at night, not as a punishment rather that some dogs feel safer in their den. You can then cover the crate with a dark cover to make her feel secure. Leaving a radio on helps too.

My dog doesn't need a crate now but still wanders in there to slep when he wants a nap.

I would also take her water up around 9.00 pm to limit bedtime water intake.

Good luck, barking pups are no fun

think she is barking to try and protect you,if she can hear someone outside she is just trying to alert you to there presence!!! you could take her to obedience classes or teach her yourself to bark on command only? you can also purchase a collar that emits a high pitch frequency that will not harm a dog but they find irritating, it is inaudible to the human ear, these are supposed to be great but can take a week or so to train with?

as for the weeing.... is she warm enough?? this time of year when it starts to get cold children tend to wet the bed as a result of feeling the cold, perhaps your pup is the same? i was once told to treat a puppy the same way you would a small child as they can be very similar and it always worked for me.

good luck and i hope this helps

I have had dogs forever, I Take them out just before I go to bed and stay out with them until they have their last pees and poos.

After my puppies are toilet trained they sleep in my bedroom, nevertheless on the very rare occasion I am nudged because they need to go out for a pee.

If you are convinced that your neighbours are disturbing your dog, let her sleep in your bedroom and CLOSE the door. If she barks in the morning, ignore her and eventually she will realise that this is unproductive.

Among the many important responsibilities dog owners have, training a dog is among the most important. Learn here https://tr.im/am6Cw

Well-trained pets are easier to care for and love, cause less damage to your home (and theirs), and live happier lives.

Dogs send myriad messages with their bodies and their voices -- this is one reason why they're so fascinating and beloved. The more you understand their messages, the more you understand them and how your own messages are being understood.