Our ShihTzu is exactly a year, and suddenly last week she began waking up in the middle of the night, barking. She crates in the kitchen, btw. Always has, happily. Soft hearted DH went downstairs and let her out, took her outside and she was wound up and ready to go! After 2 failed attempts at going back to sleep, he ended up sleeping with her on the sofa. That led to 2 more nights of the same thing. Lastnight, we moved the crate to the laundry room (it is quieter for the rest of us) and she barked non-stop for over an hour. Again, he ended up sleeping downstairs, she in her crate and he on the sofa within her sight.

Why is she doing this all of a sudden? After nearly a year in our home with no problems? Many are telling me to sleep her in our room, but we don't love that option. She is due to spend a week with friends this week, while we are on vacation. We are hoping when she comes home she may go back "to normal". Any ideas? We are tired!

Hello. I stumbled across your posting about your dog and her sudden onset of nighttime barking. We have a one year old terrier mix that has a similar problem...he was fine for a while in his crate and then one day he began barking at night. I was wondering how you resolved the problems.