Barking at Night

What a night last night, felt like I was looking after a newborn again.

Well, Mr Harley decided last night was a good night to give his vocal chords a workout. The barking started about 1 am. Our place is in a small valley and you could imagine Harleys bark echoing in the still of the night.

I went outside and tried to reassure him there was nothing wrong. He was very happy to see me, so initially I though it was attention seeking. I sat outside and observed his behaviour for a little while and it looked like he was guarding his territory. He was like a security guard, patrolling the boundaries of our property on the lookout for anything nasty. Amoung the things that set him off were low flying bats that were in a neighbours tree and what I thought were the neighbours cats on the fence (could have been a possum). I told Harley that everything was ok in a neutral voice (trying not to excite him). He eventually calmed down after 40 mins, but was at it again at around 3am. Similar sort of thing, was patrolling the backyard. He didnt seem scared, just focussed on his territory and would only come to me every 5 mins or so as if to get recognition for his good patrolling LOL. His tail was in the air whilst patrolling and again he eventually calmed down after 40 mins.

Any suggestions guys? Harley sleeps in a kennel in the outside BBQ area which is covered and away from the weather. It was a humid evening and the temps would have been around 20 degrees. When we are home he is let inside with us but put out to sleep at nights. One thing that may be relevant is that he fell asleep in the TV room and he reluctantly was taken outside at about 10pm.

Hmm I wouldn't know really, Steff sleeps inside so It's not a problem I have had before.. But from the sounds of it maybe something (cat, possum) was in your yard and that was setting him off?

I woke few night ago in the middle of the night to Macy muffled cry. I couldn't find her anywhere, and as I was sleepy I din't notice the big lump on the bed, turned out she chewed the duvet cover and got inside of it and couldn't find her way out. Couldn't she just lay in bed with me under the duvet cover instead of getting inside of it?
LOL

Classic

Sounds like Harley was just protecting his territory which is only natural. Rocky has to go outside at night, just before bed, and make sure all the perimeters are OK, bless him.

Something must have been on the boundary of your land or he caught the scent of something on the wind. Do you have coyotes? Bears? Something must have spooked him, if this isn't a usual occurance I should think he was protecting his territory from something.

Nosipho wrote:Something must have been on the boundary of your land or he caught the scent of something on the wind. Do you have coyotes? Bears? Something must have spooked him, if this isn't a usual occurance I should think he was protecting his territory from something.

Only kangawallafoxes and drop bears Sorry

Interesting, something must have spooked him though. Thats how my dogs would act if there was a fox or something nearby...

I live 6 km from the CBD in Sydney so only bears around here are the koala bears at Taroonga Zoo. lol. I see your point though, could have been a possum though.

Good news is last night went by without incident so I think you guys were right, something was closeby that he senses or smelt and Harls was being protective.

doggypal wrote:I woke few night ago in the middle of the night to Macy muffled cry. I couldn't find her anywhere, and as I was sleepy I din't notice the big lump on the bed, turned out she chewed the duvet cover and got inside of it and couldn't find her way out. Couldn't she just lay in bed with me under the duvet cover instead of getting inside of it?
LOL