How To Stop German Shepherd From Barking At Night

Keep Your Dog From Getting Tired

Make sure your dog is getting enough physical and mental exercise every day. A tired dog is a good dog and less likely to bark from boredom or frustration. Depending on their breed, age and health, your dog may need several long walks as well as chasing the ball and playing with some interactive toys.

Give Your Dog A Routine

Lastly, a lot of people think it helps if they give their dog a set routine. When they have a routine theyll realize exactly when its bedtime and that its time to sleep, not stay up all night barking.

A good routine that I like to use, is to sit downstairs for a couple of hours before I go to sleep, making sure not to play with them. Then let them out for 5 minutes so they can go to the bathroom. Afterward, I make them sit in their bed and give them a biscuit, before turning the light off.

What Does A Barking German Shepherd Dog Sound Like

The sound of a German Shepherd dog barking can change markedly from puppyhood to adulthood, even though this is a relatively short amount of time.

As this short YouTube video highlights, the GSDs puppy bark sound is quite high pitched and shrill.

But as a German Shepherd puppy grows into adulthood, the bark sound deepens and becomes more resonant and forceful. Your dog may also discover that they can howl and start to howl as well, especially at night.

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How Do You Crate Train A German Shepherd The Ultimate Guide

This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get compensated if you buy through these links this is at no extra cost to you. You can read my full disclosure here.

If you’re here, you’ve asked yourself this question;How do you crate train a German Shepherd?

This ultimate;crate training guide was;written especially for German Shepherd Corner by my good friend Hindy Pearson over at Caring for a Senior Dog. ;

You can find out more about Hindy and her favorite invention in the author box below.

Personally, I can’t think of anyone more experienced to answer the question how do you crate train a German Shepherd?

What you’ll learn

• Why its a good idea to crate train.
• How to choose a crate.
• Where to put a crate.
• What type of crate is best suited for various situations.
• What to put in a crate.
• A step by step how-to guide to get your GSD crate trained.
• Tips on crate training a German Shepherd puppy at night.
• And you’ll get an easy-to-follow sample crate training schedule.
• How to stop your German Shepherd puppy from whining or barking in the crate.
• The dos and don’ts of crate training.

By the end you’ll have all the answers to the question; how do you crate train a German Shepherd. ;You’ll know the pitfalls, the tricks and you’ll be able to successfully crate train your GSD with confidence.

Welcome to the comprehensive guide to German Shepherd crate training, and the only one youre ever going to need!

Before we get started, just a few notes from Hindy

Other Causes Of German Shepherd Barking Problems

German Shepherd barking problem is one of the most common and annoying problems that German Shepherd dog owners have. I remember when my dog was 7 months old, he gave me quite a headache by barking at every dog that he met outside the house.

Out of confusion, I punished him and that made his behavior even worse. That is my first lesson: never punish, shout or using bark collar to control your dogs excessive barking. All of those methods will create negative feelings in your dog, the negative feelings that will turn into even worse aggression.

So I started to search for the causes of his barking. Heres what I found:

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Learn How To Stop Your German Shepherd From Barking At Strangers The Right Way

The best way to learn how to stop your German Shepherd from barking at strangers is to use a complete training program that helps your dog to understand whats expected and wanted.

Most importantly, stay consistent in your at-home German Shepherd training and dont expect results overnight.

Changing a self-rewarding behavior like barking at strangers can take weeks or months of diligent practice.

Many forward-thinking German Shepherd owners, like yourself, who want to teach their dogs to listen to them and avoid unwanted behaviors with positive training did so by joining an online training program that uses scientifically-backed protocols found in the online Brain Training for Dogs program.

Imagine learning how to control your German Shepherd with kindness, compassion, and science. The step-by-step obedience videos help teach your dog to listen to you and, with time and training, to listen to your quiet command and stop them from barking at strangers.

Take a moment to look over the online training program and learn how to use brain training for better behavior.

You and your dog deserve a break from their barking to have some fun!

Pros And Cons Of Fabric/soft Sided Crates

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Add A Comment To Demi’s Experience

Was this experience helpful?

We just recently got bailey a few days ago from a family that said she was just to much to handle in my home there are 7 of me hubby 2 girls 2 boys and my oldest daughters boyfriend. My hubby and daughters boyfriend are both African American. At first I though she just didn’t like men but I have been able to get her use to my boys but my hubby and daughters boyfriend I cantseem to get her to get her to be comfortable with them. She is a little aggressive and constantly barking at them. She took to me immediately and seems to be very protective of me already. Please help I want our home to be her forever home.

Your German Shepherd Is Being Provoked

Sometimes, no matter how much training and socialization you provide and how hands-on you are in your German Shepherd dogs life, they will get provoked by something or someone.

When a GSD is provoked, barking is a natural and instinctive response.

While a well-trained German Shepherd is less likely to get provoked, if the circumstances are perceived as being extreme, it can still happen.

Examples here include these types of situations:

• The nearby presence of a female dog in heat.
• Another dog getting too close to the fence.
• A dog-ignorant person taunting or teasing your dog.
• The sudden appearance of a squirrel or another trigger animal.

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German Shepherd Barking At Strangers

Theres nothing more embarrassing than a german shepherd barking at strangers. Not only are they incredibly loud, but because theyre so big they can also scare a lot of people.

While you know theyre not going to do any harm to people, other people arent so sure. And it can often result in people trying to avoid you.

If you want to stop your german shepherd from barking then keep reading to find out the 3 best ways to fix it, as well as the situations you should use each training method.

Check For Possible Disturbances

If your dog is barking at night there may be some kind of disturbance that is causing the problem.

A racoon in the trash can, local cats fighting or mating in the street, or even a neighbor that has started shift work and is leaving the house at 3am. These are all disturbances that might start a previously quiet dog barking.

One of my pups started night waking at nine or ten months old, and it turned out that a family of mice had moved into the kitchen! Getting rid of the mice solved the noise.

A better lid on the trash might reduce the local wildlife visiting your home for a midnight feast, and your dog will probably get used to your neighbors new schedule in a day or two.

Disturbances of this kind are often temporary, but they can also be a trigger for a barking habit to begin, especially if your dog enjoys the attention that night barking created.

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What Time Is Reasonable For Puppies To Wake Up

We all vary in what we define as a reasonable time for our dogs to get up. It will depend on what time you like to go to bed, and how much sleep you need. And on your normal daily routine.

If you leave early for work five days a week, for example, you wont mind much if the dog likes to get up when you do!

For me a reasonable wake up time for my Labs mean remaining quiet until after 6:30 am. Anything before that is night-time in my book.

If you like to burn the midnight oil, you might set your morning alarm clock a bit later.

Puppies vary in their bladder capacity and some Labradors can last long enough for you to get a half decent sleep, say around seven hours, at just four or five months old.

After their six month birthday most medium and large breeds should be able to last at least seven hours at night.

If your puppy is over six months old, and still wakes before 6:30 am, scroll down to the bottom of this post to look at the early waking cure.

Time To Do Some Legwork

If this is your first experience with crates, and arent familiar with how they work or even how they look, it would be helpful to visit some pet supply stores to get an idea.

If you already have your dog, bring him with you and let him try out a couple. ;If youre getting everything ready before he comes home, its still a good idea to have a look around.

Even if you ultimately make your purchase online, youll be more knowledgeable when making your selection.

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Your German Shepherd Is Bored

A bored dog of any breed is often a barking dog. Dogs can get bored just like people get bored.

While this may not be as much of a problem in some dog breeds that are more like couch potatoes, in a true working dog breed like the German Shepherd, boredom can be a huge trigger to bark.

Barking is a way your dog communicates to let you know they are bored and want some activity or a job to do. This type of barking is unlikely to resolve on its own.

Your German Shepherd Feels Threatened

If your German Shepherd feels threatened in any way, you can expect your dog to start barking.

The same holds true if your dog perceives that you are being threatened. Because the German Shepherd has such as strong guarding and protective drive, your dog will always be on the lookout for potential threats and will likely bark as a way to alert you.

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How To Exercise A Cattle Dog

Bred as herding dogs, German shepherds are high-energy dogs who like to talk. Barking was a tactic for keeping sheep moving along, and it’s a trait the breed hasn’t given up over the generations. When yours keeps mouthing off nonstop, take charge, train him and provide diversions to help him kick the habit.

The Best Way To Stop Your German Shepherd Barking At Night

If you havent trained your german shepherd properly, then this is the perfect time to start. Whatever bad behavior your shepherd has, whether its barking at night or other bad behaviors, using the right training program is the key to having an obedient and happy pup.

The training program I love and highly recommend is Brain Training For Dogs.

With Brain Training For Dogs youll save yourself a ton of time and effort. Instead of banging your head against the wall trying to figure out why your dog wont listen, youll follow a path that has been tried, tested, and most importantly, thats given proven results. Not to mention the fact, youll be able to fit the course around your schedule, not fit your schedule around a trainer or obedience class.

So instead of worrying about whether theyre going to be well-behaved or not, youll only have to worry about how much fun youll have with them!

And in most cases its still going to be:

• Cheaper than hiring a professional.
• Cheaper than replacing everything they might break.
• And definitely cheaper than a lawsuit against you, if they decide to bite someone.

Just imagine how great it will feel to finally be able to take your pup for a walk without them barking at everyone. Instead, youll have the peace of mind that you have a well-behaved pup, and the boundaries you set for them, will always be there, EVEN IF YOURE NOT.;

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Why Do German Shepherd Whine A Lot

German Shepherds are highly intelligent, active, confident, and vocal dogs, they get along with other petsand dogs so well. As Puppy Leaks notes, these dogs can be very loud and vocal using groans, howls, cries, moans, barks, and whines as a way to communicate.

Like a baby crying, German Shepherd whine because something is amiss and it is your responsibility as a parent to pay attention and understand what they are trying to express.

Mostly, the whining is accompanied by some form of expression; hence, a keen eye will easily identify what the German Shepherd is trying to say.

How To Stop Your Gsd Puppy Whining In The Crate

Before we begin, lets review the basics.

If we have those covered, it will be easier to understand what to do about whining or barking in the crate.

Checklist

• bought right size crate so your dog is comfortable
• put a nice comfy, chew proof bed inside, with a toy and water bowl on the side
• set it up in a high traffic area during the day, your bedroom at night
• youve gone step by step through the process of getting him to like the crate
• hes not in the crate for hours at a time
• he gets plenty of supervised playtime with the family
• you take him out during the night, so he doesnt soil his crate
• you cover the crate if there are too many distractions and he cant settle

So, youve been doing great, and he still wont stop. What now?

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Desensitize Your Dog To The Stimulus

Gradually get your dog accustomed to whatever is causing them;to bark. Start with the stimulus at a distance. It must be far enough away that they;dont bark when they;see;it. Feed them;lots of good treats. Move the stimulus a little closer and feed treats. If the stimulus moves out of sight, stop giving your dog treats. You want your dog to learn that the appearance of the stimulus leads to good things !

Example: Barking at other dogs

• Have a friend with a dog stand out of sight or far enough away so your dog wont bark at the other dog.
• As your friend and their;dog come into view, start feeding your dog treats.
• Stop feeding treats as soon as your friend and their;dog disappear from view.
• Repeat the process multiple times.
• Remember not to try to progress too quickly as it may take days or weeks before your dog can pay attention to you and the treats without barking at the other dog.

How To Stop Your German Shepherd From Barking

My family has a German Shepherd named Jake. He is almost a year old and weighs close to 100 pounds and he is a very important part of our family. Our family consists of my husband and I and three beautiful children, ages 8, 10 and 13. Jake became part of our family just after Christmas of 2012. Over the last few months he has learned a lot, but he does have one annoying habit… he loves to go outside and bark at night. He is pretty quiet during the day, but as soon as its dark his hair stands up on his back and he commences to bark, not continuously, but enough that it does become an annoyance.

We have wireless fencing around our yard, so he is free to roam inside of his safe zone. Thankfully, we live out in the middle of an old cow pasture and our nearest neighbors are my sister and her family and my parents, both of which have German Shepherds of their own.

I can’t blame Jake too much, barking is the natural way for him to articulate his feelings, but it shouldn’t become a nuisance. Barking is part of a dogs gene pool and some barking is healthy for your German Shepherd. It helps to relieve tension. However, at times Jake’s barking does get out of hand.

If you would like to hear more about Jake, please visit

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