Suddenly Started Barking

[Guest MissEcho1]

So our very sweet new little girl has been with us for about two months. She is very well-behaved and gets upset when we gently reprimand her. She is very scared of tight spaces and noises. It has taken us a concerted effort for the past two months to get her to use the dog door she doesnt like the confined space and the slight noise the door makes. Anyway, for the past two months I have been enticing her to do her business in the yard by going thru the doggie door, by offering treats. I would then stay outside and walk around in the yard with her (for example at 3 am) till she did her business. We achieved a real breakthrough this week when she started using the door independently.

 

Lo and behold on the same day she asserted her doggie door independence, she started barking when outside. Just seemingly random barking (maybe at airplanes?), prancing around the yard. She is a big dog so she is really loud. She also occasionally is barking in the house. Of course not at people who come to the door, just at the wind inthe trees outside.

 

I am not sure if she is barking so I will go outside with her, or because she is feeling more comfortable and now able to express her personality. But I am at a loss as to how to discourage it. When she barks at 3 am and I respond by getting up and then bringing her inside, she is getting rewarded by getting attention.

 

Any ideas on how to proceed? We are shocked since our previous grey barked about 2-3 times a year.

 

Thanks.

[greysmom]

All of my greyhounds have barked, some more than others! If she doesn't get rewarded for it, it may extinguish itself. She's getting comfortable and finding her voice!

 

A healthy adult dog should be able to go all night without going out. I would close the dog door once she's gone for "last outs" and perhaps baby gate her in our room to keep track of her at night. But she's used to going out at 3am, so it's going to be a bit of a slog to get her to stay inside and go back to sleep. Stay strong and just ignore her when she whines and paces to go out.