"If you haven't already, you should take Stella in for a check-up with her vet. There are a couple of health issues that could be causing the nighttime disturbances. As an older dog, she could be developing dementia. She wakes up and either doesn't know where she is, or doesn't know where you are. As a result, she panics and starts barking."
"There are two schools of thought on how you should deal with a nighttime barker, but you need to know the cause to know which school to follow. If she's suffering cognitive decline and calling out for reassurance, then you might need to get up and comfort her. If she's barking because it's become a habit, then you should ignore her and not reinforce it. A vet exam might be able to tell you whether it's a decline or a habit."
"If Stella is reaching out for comfort, you can try making her sleeping space even cozier, making sure she has a favorite stuffed toy and a blanket or item of clothing that has your scent on it. If the room where she sleeps is dark, you could add a soft nightlight to reassure her of her surroundings. You might even need to let her"
Older dogs can develop cognitive decline that causes waking, disorientation, and panicked barking during the night. Nighttime barking can also be triggered by external noises such as animals outside or household sounds like a heater cycling. A veterinary examination can help distinguish medical causes from behavioral habit. If barking stems from cognitive decline and calls for reassurance, comforting the dog and making the sleep area cozier can help. If barking is a learned habit, consistently ignoring the behavior prevents reinforcement. Environmental aids include a favorite toy, clothing with the owner's scent, and a soft nightlight to reassure the dog.
Read at www.mercurynews.com
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