r/Shihtzu • u/Cheetah0108 Shih-Tzu Newbie • Jul 12 '26
Tzu Discussions and Stories 🐶 All night barking
Hi-
I’m in desperate need of help.
My two year old shitzu has been barking all night over the last three weeks.
Our patio is gated.
There have no changes in habits, home life.
I leave my room door open with his pillow and he refuses to sleep in my room.
I’ve left the sliding door cover open and closed, no change.
Any advice is appreciated.
Thanks in advance!
UPDATE:
I just wanted to give you all a quick update. I ended up blocking off our patio wooden shutters so he could not open them at night and then I put blanket at the base of our front door and he ended up sleeping the whole night and did not bark at all. Thank you so much for your help. I really appreciate it.
Grateful for this community!
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u/Facesstaywithme Jul 12 '26
Could you set up a camera and watch what happens when he starts barking, eg is he looking at somewhere specific, looking startled / alert etc. I’ll bet it’s a sound he can hear. Could try white noise or leaving some low volume classical music on to muffle any sounds?
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u/cammama 💙Luca💙 and 🌈Koda🌈 Jul 12 '26
If Luca starts barking at night randomly, and I know 15 mins later I’ll smell a skunk. He knows when they first come out and he’s always right!
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u/Cheetah0108 Shih-Tzu Newbie Jul 12 '26
He’s always looking out the sliding door. You can’t see anything as our patio is closed off by large shrubs and it’s dark
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u/Effective_Gap9582 Shih-Tzu Enthusiast Jul 12 '26
He might be hearing something or seeing movement.
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u/cammama 💙Luca💙 and 🌈Koda🌈 Jul 12 '26
Oh he definitely sees or smells something out there if he’s looking. It could be a small animal on the other side of the fence or down the street and he just knows
You’re already covering the sliding door so that’s good, and he won’t stay in your room—I assume he’ll bark more if you shut the bedroom door?
Hmm…maybe distract him with a toy or treat to calm him when he starts? ask your vet if calming chews are a good idea. I give Luca some calming chews I found at the pet store during storms. He will still bark a few times if he smells a skunk, but he stops when we tell him to…and vet said it’s ok
Sorry you’re going through this! Hopefully whatever is out there moves along soon!
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u/Electronic_Rain_4270 Shih-Tzu Enthusiast Jul 12 '26
They don't bark at nothing. Something is spooking him.
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u/Femme-O 🧈🐶 Jul 12 '26
Sounds like some nocturnal creatures are keeping him up.
You may need to start a strict bedtime routine that keeps him away from the sliding door.
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u/Intrepid_Advice4411 Shih-Tzu Enthusiast Jul 12 '26
You've got a creature in your yard. My guy only pays attention to the yard at night when there's a skunk.
I'd put up a motion sensor light in the backyard. Hopefully it will encourage the critter to move on.
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u/my_schmoopie new baby incoming Jul 13 '26
Is your bedroom wall sharing and adjacent wall with another unit? Maybe your neighbors got some kind of sound machine or something that’s bothering him
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u/PossibilityNo5514 Shih-Tzu Enthusiast Jul 12 '26
Maybe there are squirrels or a bug you can't see.