On Friday the 13th of November my blog post ran a Great Scots Magazine reader’s question and plea for help re: her howling Scottie. I tossed that question out to MacBlog readers and true to form got useful insights and ideas from blog reader comments. In case you missed the question and the blog post for November 13, here’s the problem in Bryding Adams’ words:

At 06:36 PM 11/2/2009, you wrote:
I sent this before, but maybe it was too complicated.
We have a problem with our 6 year old black Scottish Terrier, Fala, adopted from Tennessee Scottish Terrier Rescue 1 and half years ago, yes this has been going on for that long. Fala has what I call Night Frights. Not every night but at least 3 times a week, she wakes up, not at the same time, howling and crying and will not stop until we holler at her (she sleeps in a room next to us because she does not get along with our cats). Sleeping on the couch, I have seen her go into this state, it is like dog dreams described in your Nov/Dec issue. Anybody else have a problem like this? We love her very much, but would appreciate not being awaken during the night. Thank you, Bryding Adams, Birmingham, Alabama.

And here is the wisdom shared by MacBlog readers . . .

1 Cheryl Kiekel

I have three male Scotties - two littermates, Reggie and Archie, and Ollie. The brothers go willing into their cages, Ollie has to be carried but once there is fine. Reggie is the self-appointed leader of the pack. His mild-mannered brother Archie lets him. The brothers run into their cages whenever they come in the house, even if they don’t have to. Reggie usually gets there first and with the door open on his cage, he goes into a snarling, howling, barking fit while Archie saunters into his cage. Reggie never attempts to actually attack Archie but it sounds like World War III. I’ve tried moving Archie’s cage to the other side of the room but Archie scoots it back to its original position beside Reggie. Over time Reggie has learned what quiet down means when he starts this action. Since learning this, however, at night shortly after everyone settles down, Reggie, apparently in his sleep, starts a low whine, then bark and continues until it is very loud and eventually goes into what passes for howling. Archie and Ollie join in. Some nights it happens multiple times. I have on occasion heard a siren which will set them off but usually there is nothing I can identify. My theory is that Reggie’s “aggressive” greeting of his brother has been thwarted and in his sleep he dreams about being aggressive to the point that he vocalizes. It usually lasts only a few minutes even if I tell them to be quiet. I, too, would like to know how to stop this.

2 Karel

My dogs (4) all have their own crates in my bedroom. They all go to their crates at bedtime, even before I am ready. During the day sometimes, we will have a pack howl together and I have one particularly good singer. There is always the normal scottie sense of competition and “attitude” toward each other but the night is quiet - I think that they are tired from getting enough exercise during the day and the comfort of each other and me during the night. Dogs are pack animals and suffer when they are isolated. A crate next to the bed would protect the cats and help Fala’s sense of security. It’s worth a try.

3 Tobias

As long as I can remember (I’m 52, but we have Scotties in the family since 1941), all of our dogs slept in their beds in the kitchen or foyer. No problem as soon as they got used to it after a few days.
So I wonder if separation is at issue here. How does Fala react when you go to see her? Does she calm down with the attention (without hollering)? A recurring dream doesn’t quite fit, she seems to react too loud to stay asleep.
Or is she possibly being alerted by something, perhaps a sound humans can’t hear? That could be a neighbour coming home from nightshift, a cat that goes out only at night etc.
I would try to isolate possible reasons one by one, including having her sleep in a different bed or room. If you do that, change only one variable at a time so you can pinpoint the cause.
Good luck and give her a little scratchies from me between her ears, will you please?

4 Pam

Some practical suggestions might be to move her bed into a crate in your room, and then close her in the crate at night. Maybe rub some lavendar oil underneath her bed. Not on top, it would be too strong, but the lavendar will help her relax. Then when she wakes up afraid, maybe say something soothing to her. I think she’s lonely and afraid and she doesn’t seem to settle down until you yell loud enough for her to hear that you’re still there. We use a Hunter air purifier in our bedroom at night. It makes a white noise and we’ve found both dogs sleep longer when it’s on. That might not be a solution for you, but maybe some kind of boring white noise. Maybe even a heartbeat stuffie or something like that to keep in her bed. And lastly, a nice long walk after dinner to relax her and make her tired. A tired dog is a good dog.
Pam

5 Rick Thomson

Our Piper is not a rescue, but she will once in awhile have a bad dream and start to whine in her sleep, we just call her name, and tell her she is a good girl, and all is well.

I’d have to agree with Joseph on banning her from the pack, as cats don’t really care with whom they sleep, I’d move them out of the bedroom myself, and Fala into it. She is a rescue and they do have baggage attached, bringing her into your sleeping area would give her a lot of peace of mind in my opinion. Pam’S suggestion of pooping her out is also a good one.

Regards,
Rick

Thanks, folks. Good insights generously shared.

This past Monday’s blog was titled: “Scotties Bring Good People Together!”

See what I mean?

Joseph Harvill, publisher Great Scots Magazine