Why is my dog barking at night at things I can't see outside?

Question

My dog has been barking at night for the last couple of days. He only does this when there is another dog outside or there is a stranger walking in front of the house. But when there is another dog my neighbors dogs join into. And I don't think it could be a person because I don't see anyone when I check to see what he is barking at. And I have seen other things to get him to stop barking but I don't want him to stop completely. So I guess my question is why is my dog barking? Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed | Male | neutered | 30 lbs

Justin Plunk, DVM · Accepted Answer

Hi, thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! As a general rule, dogs will be able to smell and hear much better than we can at all times, and at night, they can see much better because of the way their eyes are made. Consequently, it is likely either a person (could be pretty far off) or, more likely, a wild animal is entering Rusty's field of senses in one way or another. The challenging part, once you know what he is barking at, will be to redirect his attention because, to him, he is protecting his pack/territory. This carries a strong instinct-driven behavior that requires a lot of time and diligence to correct if you want him to stop. I would encourage you to make sure of what he is focusing on if you can, then try to desensitize him to whatever that is. Hope this helps!

Why is my dog barking at night at things I can't see outside?

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