Why does my chinchilla bark?

[Mady]

Lately, Alfred has been barking in the middle of the night! Around 1:30-4:00 AM is a general time frame from the different instances I've heard him.
Is this normal? If so, what causes it?
I read somewhere that chins will sometimes bark whenever they feel threatened. I don't know of any other reasoning that Alfred would feel threatened aside from my cat - but she's always sleeping next to me on my bed!
Any clues?

 

[kellylynnmarie]

I'm going through the same thing with Cotton... What's up???

 

[Daina91880]

I don't understand the barking either. Two of mine bark occasionally for what seems like no reason. I'll be sitting here, watching tv, the dogs will be sleeping, the neighborhood will be quiet and someone will bark out of nowhere.

 

[Pikaia]

We don't really know why they bark at times. They do bark when threatened, but then again he could be doing it to get your attention. If you coming running everytime he barks, then he has trained you

 

[kellylynnmarie]

Yes, mine has definitely trained me. I always come running. Haha. Sometimes I think they can just see me sitting on the couch, or hear me in the kitchen and decide they want some attention. I also have one guy who likes to bark a bit as he's falling asleep or is sleeping... maybe he's dreaming?!?!

 

[ChinnyMom]

perhaps you are snoring and he's voicing his displeasure at the noise? lol.

chins bark because they can. usually it's because something has upset them. they don't understand that the noise of a car door slamming outside is a car and nothing to fear, so they bark at the unknown 'threatening' noise. they also bark in their sleep sometimes - chinnie nightmares?

barking to get your attention is common too. as mentioned, if you come running every time, they will learn that barking makes you appear, usually with attention or a treat. they do train us well! lol.

 

[Mady]

perhaps you are snoring and he's voicing his displeasure at the noise? lol.

chins bark because they can. usually it's because something has upset them. they don't understand that the noise of a car door slamming outside is a car and nothing to fear, so they bark at the unknown 'threatening' noise. they also bark in their sleep sometimes - chinnie nightmares?

barking to get your attention is common too. as mentioned, if you come running every time, they will learn that barking makes you appear, usually with attention or a treat. they do train us well! lol.

LOL. Could be! I don't snore, though...at least, I don't think I do!
The vehicle 'theory' is probably the most likely option. I have some neighbors who are always coming home late!

Could it be, though, that Alfred may just be lonely? He is my only chin, afterall. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I never thought that they needed cagemates?

Thank you all so much for the responses and input!

 

[chinlover10112]

From what I've read they bark at night like that because it is their "contact call". They're feeling lonely and want to know that someone is there. My chester does this once in awhile around the same time frame.

 

[ChinnyMom]

chins don't need cagemates. as long as you are giving daily attention, your chin will be just fine with your company alone. adding more chins never guarantees that they will get along, and you could end up with multiple chins all housed in their own individual cages.

 

[chinlover10112]

I was meaning that he wanted attention from YOU, not another chin. He gets lonely at night because there is no one around so he barks to see if someone is there to give him attention. In the end it works in his favor because I end up getting up to see what he is doing. :wacko:

 

[eringgg12]

Chinchilla will bark usually blc their warning call if your considering to get another chin keep them is separate cages and this is also so they can catch each other scent to be friends if their did gender put them in separate corners make sure u let them run around together in process of being friends now back to the other question just try being with your chin for a about an hour everyday once I wasn't playing with my chin for about 2 days and she kept barking but know I've Ben playing with her hasn't been barking :thumbsup:

 

[eringgg12]

Try spending more time with them and they will stop barking that's what I did for my chin and it works

 

[Momof3grls]

My girl barks when she wants a treat or attention. She doesnt bark that much. When I first got her she barked constantly. Shes going to be 4 next month.