Lack of sleep

HELP !!! We are going insane as Koda now sleeps during the day on/off, goes outside to toilet before we go to bed around 10pm, and now gets up anywhere from 2-4 times per night barking at the back door to go outside !!! We haven't seen him chase anything out there, he just seems to want to go out even if just a few minutes - sometimes just steps literally just outside the back door. He can go out for anywhere between 2-20 minutes, then comes back inside (sleeps on our bed). If we leave him outside he barks non-stop to come back in so we won't leave him out as don't want the neighbours kicking off. If we don't get up and let him outside he barks inside non-stop until we let him out, we can't have this as my 89yr old mother-in-law lives with us and I can't have her awake all night. Last night we resorted to putting him in our bedroom and shutting our door so he couldn't get out, couldn't see out etc. We are not sleeping well at all, it's really taking it's toll and super stressing hubby out in particular. Open to any suggestions or hearing others experiences. Thank you in advance

I'm afraid you have to work through it the hard way. The only way (in my opinion) to break it is not to let him out. Keep your bedroom door closed with him in with you and, when he barks to go out, tell him to go back to bed then ignore him. If you give in it is only a lesson in barking for long enough. When he does settle down, tell him he's good. It might take time but it should work.

It does mean steeling yourself for a few days of being mean and of having the whole neighbourhood kept awake (you might need to warn people and offer them an apology barbeque) but it is the only way. Sorry, Koda mate, tough love.

Ohno hen! Think the cause might be the work in the garden hen have you thought of letting him sniff on lead before bed In the garden.? Id keep him in the house as well . Is there maybe more time you could spare for more playtime to tire him out a bit . Its not easy as the weather is too hot and won't be helping much either

Thank you both. I think you're right, tough love through leaving him to bark it out, hopefully just a few nights. Last night we were watching TV and he went to the back door and barked to go out (had been out not long before) so we let him back it out, eventually gave up and laid at our feet, phew !! Up only once last night around 1.30am, quick yard patrol & back to bed. Lucky I think ! Let's see how we go tonight. Not helped at mo by the fact we're having 40c+ days non-stop so non of us are sleeping great, and so much disruption at home with renovations as Crystal said too. Hopefully settles soon !!!

I wouldn't even let him have the one quick patrol at anything that has am in it. Make sure he's gone out last thing, preferably because you let him out rather than for barking, and that's it. Yes, there's a small risk he might need to go out in the middle of the night but I personally would rather have to clear up a wee than spend the next 10 years getting up 3 times a night.

I just meant let koda out just before bed .  If i wanted mia to sleep for the night id say night night , or beddy byes. Maybe shouldnt have answered the question as i always took mia a walk as i wasnt allowed to let her run round the garden its shared. Anytime she ran i ran as she was never off lead . But took her 4-5 mile walks 3 -4 times a week and 2/3 hours all other times.

Hope kodas a bit better sleep wise bek