Why is my puppy trembling when petted and barking all night?

Poor Rascal! It sounds like he's very fearful of many things outside, which is why he barks at them. This problem is usually very treatable, but you really need to work with a professional who can give you some hands-on guidance in how to help him with his fear - it sounds like he may also be a good candidate for anti-anxiety medication, at least in the short-term. Your best option would be to make an appointment with a veterinary behaviorist who can evaluate Rascal in person and help you put together a detailed plan to help him. This plan would normally include recommendations on how to help manage him so that he isn't put in situations that are scary and overwhelming for him, training techniques to help with his fear by teaching him to associate good things with the things he's currently afraid of, and possibly medication as discussed above. You can search for a board-certified veterinary behaviorist in your area here: www.dacvb.org

It is probably best to consult a behaviourist that will follow through his progress and target advice to Bueller’s needs. In general it might be worthy to find a more secluded area for his bed at night. It might be an idea to confine him and put a blanket over at bedtime and stick to a routine, he should gradually understand that it’s bedtime if every evening after his last walk you put him in his bed with a biscuit. I think it might be worthy to get him used to be confined during the day first for short periods of time, providing some form of entertainment such as a Kong stuffed with meat ( canned food that can be frozen too -so it lasts longer ). When out on a walk you should prevent him from barking by distracting him and giving him a treat/praise when not quiet. Hope this makes sense.. I have a dog with similar temperament the only difference is that she is small and so not too frightening. I would say the sooner you start to work with a behaviourist, the better !

Ruling out an underlying health issue such as pain or illness is always a good first step when your pet experiences a sudden behavior change. As seven is the start of the senior years, it is possible there is some pain from laying in the bed, or arthritis causing problems. if Milou checks out health, trying to find if there is a pattern to the "attacks" may be helpful- does it happen the same time every night? Same spot? Same triggers? Is the neighbor arriving home in a noisy car at that time, etc? This may help you figure out what is triggering it so you can make some adjustments- IE moving the bed somewhere quieter, making sure your dog is fast asleep prior to that time, getting out excess energy before bed, feeding a treat to keep the stomach from becoming too empty and causing growling/discomfort, etc. If you can't seem to find any pattern at all, taking a video of the even to bring to your vet or a local trainer may be helpful in better identifying what is going on, and finding a solution.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! These types of behavior can improve though this does require in person training with the help of a qualified dog trainer. I would encourage you to contact a dog trainer that can work with you and her in person to really take care of this behavior. The sooner these behaviors are dealt with, the more likely it is that you can improve and resolve them. Good luck and have a good night!

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Hudson. I recommend that he sees a veterinarian. He may have experienced a seizure. He could also have back pain. It is common for small breed dogs to have disc disease in the neck or back which is excruciatingly painful. His veterinarian will examine and determine if either of these scenarios are possible for him or if he has another problem. In the meantime, keep him quiet and carry him if necessary. Do not give any over-the-counter pain medications as these can be toxic to dogs. I hope this information helps!

Young dogs, especially small breed dogs can have dangerously low blood glucose levels. If you have karo syrup the dab some on his tongue and get him to an emergency clinic as soon as possible. That may not be the problem, but if it is it can be fatal if not addressed. Good luck and I hope he improves quickly!

As far as the breathing is concerned I really feel that he should have an examination from your veterinarian. There can be many problems that can cause changes . I would encourage you to video his breathing events and take that with you to your appointment. It also sounds like he is having separation anxiety. Exercise, behavior modification, and often times anti anxiety medications are needed to help in these situations. A veterinarian can talk to you about pros and concerns of medication and determine if this is an appropriate choice at this time. Best of luck and I hope he improves soon. Thank you for using Pet Coach.