Yorkshire terrier problem

nightster1

Hi,

We have an 8 year old terrier that has changed her habits recently. She is a minature yorkie that was neutered when young. Nothing has chanced in her environment or eating habits. She has always lived in a travel cage. The problem is that she starts barking early in the morning and also when we go out. This makes her very thirsty. Any ideas?

Knine

Barking would not make her thirsty. However an 8 year old dog who is suddenly drinking more needs to see a vet. Increased thirst can be a symptom of many disorders. Does she have access to water 24/7?

maggiepip

How do you mean she's always lived in a travel cage? Like she's in a cage full time?

nightster1

maggiepip wrote: »

How do you mean she's always lived in a travel cage? Like she's in a cage full time?

Large dog travel cage, with door removed. She lives in our kitchen. She's got food & water outside the cage at all times. She's v. happy there. Any ideas on what brought on barking?

maggiepip

nightster1 wrote: »

Large dog travel cage, with door removed. She lives in our kitchen. She's got food & water outside the cage at all times. She's v. happy there. Any ideas on what brought on barking?

Oh good! I got a fright that she was living in a locked cage! As said above you should really get her checked at the vet. A deterioration in hearing or sight could cause barking from anxiety, pain issues can increase anxiety, other illnesses could increase thirst so you really need to rule out any health issues before trying to solve the behaviour.

nightster1

maggiepip wrote: »

Oh good! I got a fright that she was living in a locked cage! As said above you should really get her checked at the vet. A deterioration in hearing or sight could cause barking from anxiety, pain issues can increase anxiety, other illnesses could increase thirst so you really need to rule out any health issues before trying to solve the behaviour.

Much thanks for your advice. She's a happy dog and happiest on someone's lap! She doesn't seem in any pain and her eating pattern hasn't changed (royal canin). She got her shots recently @ the vet, but it's best that we do a re visit I suppose.

aonb

If shes suddenly drinking more, I would definitely get her to the vet for a checkup.

If her habits have changed, then something is going on.

She is barking for a reason. In the early morning barking, is there something new outside - a magpie or something pecking in the gutters (drove our dogs nuts!), or a neighbour leaving the house early/making noise, or a new dog in the neighbourhood barking, or the postman going by, or a cat in the garden. Who knows with these little dogs - but you can be sure, that if she has suddenly started barking in the morning, THERE IS SOMETHING CAUSING IT! The hard bit now, if for you humans to discover what it is. Similarly if shes barking when you go out, and this is new behaviour, there is a reason for it.

There is another thread on here at the moment where someones dog is suddenly afraid to go out into the back garden at night but is fine going to the front garden. Its amazing what causes behaviour changes - whether its health issues, or fear or ....

nightster1

aonb wrote: »

If shes suddenly drinking more, I would definitely get her to the vet for a checkup.

If her habits have changed, then something is going on.

She is barking for a reason. In the early morning barking, is there something new outside - a magpie or something pecking in the gutters (drove our dogs nuts!), or a neighbour leaving the house early/making noise, or a new dog in the neighbourhood barking, or the postman going by, or a cat in the garden. Who knows with these little dogs - but you can be sure, that if she has suddenly started barking in the morning, THERE IS SOMETHING CAUSING IT! The hard bit now, if for you humans to discover what it is. Similarly if shes barking when you go out, and this is new behaviour, there is a reason for it.

There is another thread on here at the moment where someones dog is suddenly afraid to go out into the back garden at night but is fine going to the front garden. Its amazing what causes behaviour changes - whether its health issues, or fear or ....

Thank you for your helpful reply.

The Vet examined the her and there's nothing medically wrong. The Vet suggests that she will calm down. The only recent difference to her usual pattern was that the dog spent some time in the house next door when we were on holiday. Our kind neighbour was 'dog sitting' her. This neighbour also comes into our house from time to time and brings her for a walk ( which the dog loves). We walk her too of course. Perhaps the dog is looking for the neighbour's company?

hardCopy

nightster1 wrote: »

Thank you for your helpful reply.

The Vet examined the her and there's nothing medically wrong. The Vet suggests that she will calm down. The only recent difference to her usual pattern was that the dog spent some time in the house next door when we were on holiday. Our kind neighbour was 'dog sitting' her. This neighbour also comes into our house from time to time and brings her for a walk ( which the dog loves). We walk her too of course. Perhaps the dog is looking for the neighbour's company?

Maybe the neighbour walked/fed/rubbed her every time she barked and she thinks this is a great new trick?

nightster1

hardCopy wrote: »

Maybe the neighbour walked/fed/rubbed her every time she barked and she thinks this is a great new trick?

Thank you, that may well be the case. I must enquire.

maggiepip

If your dog was used to spending "x" amount of hours alone, then the neighbour interrupted that routine, the result could be barking in anticipation of a visit.