Why Does My Dog Bark At Nothing At Night?

Your dog probably isn’t barking at nothing at night; he’s likely just barking at something you don’t recognize. If your dog barks at night, it could be in response to sounds that his sensitive ears pick up that you can’t hear. It could also be because he wants to be closer to you instead of being crated, or because he’s frustrated, in pain, or lonely. If you can figure out the reason behind your dog barking at “nothing,” you’ll be in a better position to stop the behavior.

Did the Behavior Start Suddenly? 

Anytime there is a sudden change in your dog’s behavior, an underlying medical reason could be the cause for the change. If nothing else has changed, and your dog has started barking at night on a regular basis, a visit to the vet is in order.

Could There Be a Threat? 

Some pet owners just tell their dog to be quiet when he barks at night without considering he could actually be trying to warn you of a potential threat. It could be an actual threat or just someone venturing a little too close to your yard. Either way, if your normally quiet dog is barking at what seems to be nothing, it’s a good idea to check things out.

Dealing with Nighttime Barking 

If your dog barks at night and you can’t figure out why, try changing something about the environment. For example:

  • Try playing soft music.
  • Move his crate into your room.
  • Take him for a long walk shortly before bed.
  • Feed dinner closer to bedtime.

When your dog barks at night it’s a hassle. If you can’t figure out how to curb the behavior on your own, don’t give up. Talk to a vet or an animal behaviorist who will help you understand the underlying cause for the barking and figure out a way to stop it. 

Will A Dog Eat Itself To Death?

It would be highly unusual for a dog to eat himself to death, but some dogs will certainly overeat if given the chance. Free feeding is a common practice among pet owners, and it may work for some dogs who will stop eating when satisfied. Other dogs, however, will continue to eat until they make themselves sick. Fatalities from gorging are extremely rare. That being said, bloat is a serious condition that can be caused by eating too much too quickly and can be fatal if not treated immediately.

Problems With Overeating

While your dog isn’t likely to eat himself to death in one sitting, long-term overeating can certainly shorten his life and lead to a myriad of medical conditions including:

  • Diabetes
  • Heart Disease
  • Arthritis 

As is the case with humans, ensuring your dog eats a proper balanced diet is important to his good health. If your dog tends to overeat, then free feeding is not the way to go. Instead, you’ll want to put out measured amounts of food two or three times a day.

Why Do Some Dogs Overeat?

Like humans, some dogs tend to eat until satisfied while others overeat anytime they have the chance. There is no one simple answer as to why some dogs overeat, but potential causes include:

  • Boredom
  • Anxiety
  • Former food deprivation
  • Hormone imbalances 

No matter the reason, curbing your pet’s overeating is important in order to help him maintain optimal health. Free feeding may be convenient, but if your dog doesn’t know when to stop, then it’s detrimental to his health.

Even though your dog isn’t likely to eat himself to death in one sitting, long-term overeating could lead to serious health consequences. If you’re not sure how much or how often your pet should be eating, talk to your vet for advice specific to your dog. 

 

Why Is My Dog Peeing Everywhere?

Some reasons your dog may be peeing everywhere include medical conditions, improper training, fear, or infrequent walks. If the pet is a puppy or a dog that is new to your home, you’ll need to exercise some patience as some dogs take longer to train than others. If a housebroken pet has started peeing everywhere, you’ll need to try to pinpoint a reason.

Common Reasons For Inappropriate Urination 

Once your dog is properly housebroken, he shouldn’t start urinating in the house unless there is an underlying reason. These may include:

Medical Conditions

This is a common cause of a trained dog to start peeing throughout the house. Medical conditions that can cause this behavior include urinary tract infections, kidney issues, bladder stones, diabetes, and certain injuries. In many cases, dogs will show no other symptoms, so you should make a vet appointment as soon as you notice that the dog is urinating in the house.

Submission

This is most common in puppies, but it can occur at any age. If someone startles the dog, reaches for, or scolds the dog, he may urinate out of fear or to show his submission.

Marking

You can recognize marking as it tends to be very small amounts of urine in certain places. Spaying or neutering can help, and the earlier you fix your pet, the less likely they are to mark.

Infrequent Walks

An easy-to-fix issue is that your dog simply isn’t being let out enough. If you’re gone for 8+ hours a day, your dog may not always be able to hold it until you return home. If putting in a doggy door is not a feasible solution, consider hiring a dog walker to stop by each day.
Until you can figure out and address the reason, you’ll want to be sure to use an enzymatic cleaner to fully eliminate the odor left behind by the urine. If you don’t, the dog will be attracted to urinate in that spot again—as may other of your household pets.

The good news is that the behavior can usually be successfully addressed either by the owner, the vet, or, in some cases, an animal behaviorist. 

Your Dog Could Be in a TV Commercial!

Purina Pro Plan UGC ContestInside every good dog is a great dog. Capture a short video of your great dog doing whatever he does best — fetching, surfing, sprinting, or anything. Share it with Purina® Pro Plan® before noon on August 27th, 2012, and your dog could be in their next commercial!* Perhaps your dog is an incredible athelte, or a model employee. Maybe he knows a unique trick, or has won ribbons as shows. However your dog shows his greatness, Purina® Pro Plan® wants you to show it to them. You could win a role for your dog in the next Purina® Pro Plan® commercial, a trip to the 2013 Westminster Dog Show, and a year’s supply of Pro Plan®. Click that link and get inspired by watching videos of the great dogs on the Purina® Pro Plan® page.
*NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. Open only to legal residents of the 50 United States and D.C., 18 years of age or older (19 years of age or older if a resident of AL or NE). Entry period ends at 11:59:59 a.m. ET on 8/27/12. See Official Rules for details. Sponsored by Nestlé Purina PetCare Company, Checkerboard Square, St. Louis, MO.
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Worlds of Wonder contest

wowImg3We wanted to let you know about the Worlds of Wonder contest being put on by Friskies. The four grand prizes are valued at $8,500 to $10,000. If you win, you’ll choose one of four adventures: Signature Blend Mountain Ranch Adventure (at the pet-friendly Triple Creek Ranch in Montana), Seafood Sensations Paradise Island Adventure (at the Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas), Indoor Delights Tree House Adventure (at The Tree House Lodge in Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge in Costa Rica) or the Feline Favorites Build-Your-Own Adventure (Awarded in the form of a $10,000 gift certificate to Carlson Travel). There are also two types of online instant-win prizes: A coupon for Friskies 3.15-lb dry cat food up to $4.97 each (6,624 total, 24 available per day) or a very cute Friskies-Branded Cat Food Bowl, Average Retail Value $17.50 each (2,760 total, 10 available per day). We like those kind of odds of winning! To enter the contest read on…

To Enter the Contest: First you need a Game code. Game codes are inside specially-marked 3.15 lb bags of Friskies dry cat food, and available via mail for free. (Details at http://www.friskies.com/Worlds-of-Wonder/Faqs/Default.aspx#sweeps). Then you have to join their free club for cat-lovers. All fields are required, and you’ll need to choose a unique user name. Then, you have to play four times to be entered to win one of the four grand prizes. You have from now until 1/31/10 to play.

Got your code and you’re ready? Enter on their website at http://friskies.com/Worlds-of-Wonder/Default.aspx.

Why Does My Dog Cry At Night?

There are many reasons your dog may cry at night including loneliness, anxiety, pain, and alerting you to noises he hears outside. Since there are so many possible reasons for the crying, it can be difficult to pinpoint the reason without looking at context and then working to eliminate each potential cause. The good news is that, more often than not, it’s no cause for alarm when your dog cries at night.

Ruling Out A Medical Issue 

Anytime there is any notable change in your dog’s behavior, a visit to the vet is warranted. Since dogs can’t tell you when they feel sick, you have to rely on other cues to know when something is wrong.

If your dog has typically been pretty settled at bedtime but suddenly has started crying at night, it’s a good idea to schedule a vet visit to rule out a medical issue. Also note that some dogs begin crying at night as they age even in the absence of a medical problem.

Dealing With A Crying Dog 

Once the vet gives your dog a clean bill of health, you’ll have to decide how to deal with the crying. It sounds unkind, but don’t run to comfort the dog every time he cries or he’ll quickly learn that crying in the middle of the night equals attention.

Instead, keep these tips in mind:

  • Puppies in a new home will cry. It’s to be expected. Once they settle in and realize they are safe, it will stop on its own.
  • It’s possible that the crying stems from a lack of exercise. Try giving your dog an extra walk or two during the day.
  • Limit food and water as it gets close to bedtime.
  • Try playing soft music or the television to calm your pet.
  • If the crying only occurs when you’re out of the room, it’s possible your dog has separation anxiety. Make note of any other behavior that seems off, and mention this to your vet.
  • While you may have the urge to run to your pet anytime he cries at night, doing so only sets you up for the crying to continue indefinitely. Instead, try the tips above. If none work, talk to an animal behaviorist for advice tailored to your pet. 

Why Is My Dog Whining For No Reason?

If your dog is whining, there likely is a reason—even if you’re having a hard time figuring out what that reason is. Puppies and dogs use whining as a form of communication, so the whining could be because he’s trying to alert you to something, he’s hurt or sick, or to let you know he wants something. In most cases, whining isn’t an issue, but if it’s excessive, you may need the help of an animal trainer to curb the behavior.

Is Your Dog Sick? 

One thing that is important to rule out is a medical condition. Sometimes it’s easy to tell when the whining is due to pain, but other times it’s not. If it started suddenly and occurs at random times, it’s a good idea to make an appointment with your vet to make sure nothing is medically wrong.

Is Your Dog Alerting You? 

If your dog is whining and running to the same spot or staring out the window, it’s likely that he’s trying to alert you to something. This could be anything from a stranger in the yard to a stray plastic bag stuck in a bush, but it’s always a good idea to check things out. Once your dog sees that you’ve given the all clear, he’ll likely stop whining. Be sure to praise him, so that he’ll know that alerting you to potential danger is the right thing to do.

Is Your Dog Looking For Attention? 

Some dogs will whine for extra food, more treats, or additional playtime. While you want to supply your dog’s needs, you also want to be careful not to teach your dog that whining = getting what you want.

If your dog whines to get certain things, only supply that thing once the whining has stopped. This will reward silence rather than whining.

Whining rarely happens for no reason, so try to pinpoint the cause so you can stop the behavior. 

Why is Flea and Tick Control So Important?

Purina-Dog-Content-Brand Fleas and ticks are tiny pests that can cause big problems, and the damage isn’t just skin deep. Animals can ingest fleas containing tapeworm eggs, which then hatch in their intestines. In a flea-ridden area, the same thing can happen to a child.

Ticks can also carry a variety of diseases, including Lyme Disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and Ehrlichiosis.

Risks vary by region, but Mike Paul, Executive Director of the Companion Animal Parasite Council says no risk is acceptable, so pet owners should be vigilant about flea and tick control.

Paul states, “what we’re trying to do is to get people to say, ‘well, not in my back yard,’ you know, and to keep their pets clean and their yards clean and make sure that their kids stay healthy.”