Barking at night

[angyxpoo]

I've had my chinchilla for about a little over a month now. When I first got him he used to bark a lot but usually he never does anymore after the first week. We are pretty well bonded at this point and i take him out of his cage about once a day and sit with him in the bathroom while he plays and crawls all over me for about 3-4 hrs (I have a tablet and just watch Netflix in there). But this past week twice he has woken me up in the middle of the night with his barking. I don't think there is anything wrong with his health as I always look for the signs that something is wrong (red ears, limping, rolling with belly on ground) and he seems to be normal. I woke up and went to his cage both times he barked and pet him for awhile and gave him a few treats. He seemed ok after I went to him. Could I be missing something ??

 

[cindyv3737]

Sometimes chins will bark in their sleep. He could be startled by something. Or he just wants attention. Has anything changed in his environment? New furniture, remodeling? Personally, I think he is training you. If he barks, you get up pet him and give him a treat. Sounds like he is getting what he wants. we've all been traing my our chins in some way.

 

[angyxpoo]

Maybe you're right. I am just normally a worrisome type person so I don't want anything to be wrong with him or for him to be afraid of anything. But maybe he is getting a little spoiled haha and just wants attention. Is barking during their sleep a normal thing ?

Nothing has been remodeled. The room he is in is completely the same

 

[cindyv3737]

Sleep barking is normal. I was the same way when I got my first chin. 3 years later and I've stopped worrying about as many things.

 

[angyxpoo]

Thanks Cindy. I hope I can be like that as well!!

 

[Newt]

All my chins have barked in their sleep when something has disturbed them. They hear so much more than we do... maybe cats outside or something? It's not anything to worry about.

 

[mknoblich1]

My girls bark in their sleep too. I agree too that you are being trained by your chin They're pretty smart to train us without us even knowing it. I love it!

 

[BookWorm]

When my chin and I were new to one another, she would bark at night too. I would get up and check on her and she would be perfectly calm, just staring at me looking smug. After a while, I stopped checking and she stopped barking. So like Cindy suggested, your little fluffy may be trying to get your attention and trying to train you to come when he calls.

 

[breevass]

My Athena barks in her sleep all the time. She also barks really loud because we live in an apartment and sometimes when grass hits the window, it sounds like a bird and she's trying to "warn" us. I disagree with the don't ever worry part tho. I've woken up and ran to her cage (we keep her in our bedroom) because I heard a different kind of bark than I'd ever heard her make. Turns out she was choking on the metal spring type thing they have on glass water bottles. I'm not saying it's common ! But DO get to KNOW your chins barks. You'll get to the point where you understand what they want/need and you'll know when to worry and when to simply ignore them. Hope that helps a bit !