Hi, I wonder if anyone can help with this.  We have a four year old male, neutered Golden Retriever.  He is a wonderful dog, well behaved (mostly!), friendly to all people and dogs.  The only two things he appears to be wary of are brown wheelie bins as one nearly blew over on him a couple of years ago (wary on walks, fine with ours outside the kitchen), and when the window cleaner comes (who has one of those tanks in the back of his car that supply the brushes with water) he shivers and hides.  However, over the past eight months or so, he has on half a dozen or so occasions been very anxious when he (and us) have gone up to bed.  His normal routine is dinner at 5pm, walk for all his "business" at around 8pm, and then a last wee in the garden at about 11pm, then up to bed.  He sleeps on the landing and 90% of the time goes straight to sleep and nothing will wake him until we get up in the morning - even if either of us get up in the night, he still doesn't stir.  However, last night was one of the worst.  He goes to bed as usual and then about 15 mins after we are both in bed, he starts pacing, panting and whining.  There doesn't seem to be anything particular to trigger this and he can go for weeks without it happening.  However, he will not settle and I then get up and take him downstairs (my husband has to get up early for work).  He is panting fast and is very clingy.  I sit up with him, stroking his chest (this usually calms him down if he is excited etc) and last night it took until 1/4 to 2 until he settled down in the lounge and slept (with me on sofa).  I went up to bed at 4am and he followed to the landing and went to sleep.  This morning he is still very clingy on his walk (this never usually happens) and the same in the house.  He ate his breakfast fine and doesn't appear to be in any pain.  I've checked his mouth and paws which seem to be ok.  He's at my feet now asleep.  This might sound trivial (?) but it is worrisome when it happens, especially the fast panting as he is usually such a laid-back dog.  Anybody had anything similar?  With many thanks.

Fast panting is usually distress, but I would want to know for sure, and a vet visit will be the first thing I would recommend.

Could there be a fox in the area that is upsetting him? They are starting to call at night and the sound could just be upsetting him.

Thanks.  He was at the vets a few weeks ago having his nails clipped and they give him the once over.  If he's like this again tonight, we will take him again.  He is, of course, fast asleep by me at the moment!.

Thanks re foxes. We do get foxes about (but not in the back garden as fenced in) but I guess he could have heard them.  My husband wondered if it could be a rattly fence panel, but this rattles all the time and this anxiety hasn't happened for weeks.  We will keep an eye (and ear!) out tonight.

We had a Bernese once who slept very happily for ages in the utility room with her mate untill one night she would not go in, she shook and slavered and was very distressed so we left the door open for her to choose and she settled, did not happen for months then another session occured. This went on for some months untill one night on hearing a strange noise OH went to see and she was fitting. We think she must have had fits before and the night after was worried about going to bed. Once on medication she was fine and had very few fits and lived till 10 years old (Good for a Bernese)
Just a possiblilty.

> Thanks re foxes. We do get foxes about (but not in the back garden as fenced in) but I guess he could have heard them. 

I have six and eight foot fencing all round my garden and the foxes still get in. I too have a GR and always know if one has passed through our garden as he lets me know in no uncertain terms. Foxes seem to be as agile as cats where high fencing is concerned.

Yep foxes prowling and calling, and hedgehogs rutting, or in two cases last year being attacked by another animal (we think a rat) has had mine alerting me in the middle of the night.

Goldies are senstitive creatures. You are assuming there is no medical issue and as it is such an infrequent problem I suspect you are right and that he got upset or unsure about something earlier in the day and that makes him anxious when seperated from you at night. Typically seperation anxiety peaks at about 10 to 15 mins after the dog realises they are alone. I had an oldie goldie with just this issue. What worked for him was returning to him before the anxiety peaked, but not making a fuss. I would just stay quiet and calm and let him find his own peace and settle in my company.

Thank you everyone for your advice.  He was checked out at the vets - "the picture of health" thankfully.  He seems to have gone back to normal now but we have a DAP collar to use if this occurs again. 

You could also try adding a few drops of rescue Remedy to his water each time you refill.   It has a calming effect and may just help.

> we have a DAP collar to use if this occurs again.

What's a DAP collar?

DAP collar

Thanks Jeangenie.