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 "We have a Jack Russell terrier and sometimes it seems like she barks half the night. Our neighbors are complaining and we’re all losing sleep. Help!"

Dogs bark to communicate with us or with other dogs. They don’t just bark for the sake of barking or to annoy us. Dogs usually bark to alert us about something and because Jack Russell Terriers are very alert dogs they are more apt to be aware of things going on. Perhaps there is something unusual happening outside, another dog is barking or a neighbor's cat is nearby.

Is she inside or outside at night? If she is outside, maybe you could allow her to come in at night so she feels more a part of the family. Dogs, being social creatures, want to be near us whenever possible. Occasionally dogs bark from boredom, usually during the daytime. If that’s the case, giving her something to occupy her would help. Dogs get bored too!

If she barks while inside, she may need water or to go out; or she may be alerting you to something outside. The fact that she is not barking every night tells me that may be so. My advice is to really listen to her and perhaps have her checked out by your veterinarianto to be sure there is nothing physically wrong that could cause her to be on constant alert. 

People often ask me about bark collars, but I can’t recommend them. Bark collars using citronella, shock, or some other deterrent merely treat the symptoms. While they may work temporarily they usually do not have long lasting results. Shock collars can sometimes have disastrous results, with problems showing up later. Punitive measures merely suppress the behavior and will often cause other behaviors that are even harder to treat.

If the problem persists, a good trainer could help you. This could be a behavioral issue rather than a training problem.
Anne Hudson, Fun Pups Training

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