Working nights w/ barking/needy dogs that probably wouldn't let me sleep during the day

[lmb93]

I am about to graduate from nursing school and am looking for jobs. A lot of positions are night shift. I would absolutely work night shift for a job I know I would get the best experience but I am also really worried about it. I have two dogs that constantly bark at nothing during the day and frequently want to go run outside in the backyard. The one dog is even more high energy and will literally bark at me for as long as it takes until I take him in the back yard, sometimes not that long after we were already were there. Just so you know, these dogs get a lot of exercise and attention so their behavior is not because of a lack of those things, I can assure you. So I know that if they know I am home they will try to wake me and/or just bark a lot while I'm trying to sleep. On days when I would be at home studying I would give them Kongs filled with peanut butter and dog treats which occupies them for just a little bit and also take them in the backyard a lot to burn off some energy. I was wondering if anyone has any tips on how to deal with this or if you have been in a similar situation. I would like to try to work night shift if it means I will have a great job but I worry that it won't work out because of this which is silly so please let me know!

[brownbook]

This is soooo crazy. Anytime I read about dogs sleeping with their owners it is a big no no! From dogs need to know you are the alpha to your sleep will be negatively affected. I heard a veterinarian on a call in show say it wasn't recommended that dogs sleep with their owners, but she gave up on asking owners where their dog slept!

Needless to say my dog sleeps in bed with us. Starts out on top of the bedspread, by the morning is under the covers. But we didn't have a dog when I worked night shift.

Good luck with your job, your dogs, and your sleep. Don't invite trouble by worrying to much about something that may not be a problem. Maybe just some ear plugs will be all you need if they do bark.

[Davey Do]

On the flip side of things, my closest neighbor, who lives across the ditch has hounds that barked, whined, yelped, bayed, and howled constantly throughout the day.

I tried writing notes and talking to the neighbors. I offered to pay them money to keep the hounds quiet. I learned the hounds' names, tried a dog whistle, but nothing helped.

It wasn't so bad when my neighbors left them tied up in the yard, but then they started just letting them out on their back deck. This increased their noise, as it acted like a resonator. I could her those hounds 1/2 of a mile away while on bicycle trips. And, the deck is even right across from my bedroom window where I told my neighbor I sleep during the day because I work straight MNs!

I felt like I was talking to a couple of posts! And they they only left their hounds out during the day while they were at work! My neighbor even said to me, "I know they're annoying, but..."

ARRRRGH!!!

So I researched local laws. It seems my hometown of Goofy IL. has a noise ordinance violations which include animal noises, so I contacted animal control. Sure enough, the officer told my neighbors that she would fine them if they didn't comply.

My neighbor told me, "I know it was you who sicked the city on me!" Ya think?! I told him, "I've been trying to work with you for a year and a half and you've ignored me! I was left with no other option!"

ARRRRGH!!!

But at least now I only have to hear the hounds for short intervals when they let them out on the deck.

The animal control officer said to call her if there's any more problems.

Ahhhhh...

[brownbook]

Dear Davy Do, you should have let them sleep with you.

[Crush]

I like the bark collar. I walk mine just before bed so they are worn out. I feed them when we get back and send them into the backyard 1 more time before I go to bed. ( they have doggie beds they lay/sleep in at the foot of the bed ) I take my sleepytime tea while I read a book till my eyes droop.

My little yapper dog knows once this routine has been done she does not bark anymore.

And a good set of ear plugs and a fan help drown out most other noises.

[Davey Do]

Dear Davy Do, you should have let them sleep with you.

Wasn't that an old Rock N Roll song?

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[SpankedInPittsburgh, DNP, RN]

I'm sorry but I've had wives that I didn't love that much. If my dogs yapped all day so I could sleep after night shift it would be a trip to the no kill shelter

[Quota, BSN, RN]

Or just train your dog? It's really not that hard.