My 3yr old CKCS, Ozzy suddenly won't stop barking when he is alone. His playmate Tilly had pups 8 days ago so Ozzy has been alone for 10 days (Tilly is in the spare room with her pups) but Ozzy has only just started barking 2 days ago..........all night and during day if alone. This is VERY unusual as Ozzy NEVER barks, unless he really has to. He didn't bark until he was 12 mths old and even now it's very rare until 2 days ago that he barks (he never barks at other animals, people).

He seems ok ??????

Is he just missing Tilly ?

You will obviously be giving Tilly far more attention than Ozzy at the moment - so yes, poor Ozzy is feeling that his nose is out of joint!!

Poor boy - I wouldn't pander to it though - if you make a fuss of him when he barks, then you will be rewarding him for it!    Did you use a crate for him when he was smaller?   Might be worth crating him (and covering him) when he barks, then bringing him and and rewarding him when he doesn't!

He will be smelling all the different smells, and wondering what on earth is happening, but don't be tempted to let him in to see the pups yet, or you could well have problems.     I have no experience of CKCS, but with our labs or aussies, have waited until pups are about 4/5 weeks before introducing them to the household males :D

Did he do this  when your bitches had litters to him before?

I have never used a crate (apart from in long car journeys). It is so out of character for him. I am trying to make sure he isn't left out, taking him on long walks and making a fuss of him.

Last time Tilly had a litter he wasn't like this. Ozzy is such a chilled out dog barking has always been an effort for him.

He does seem to be sulking too, he has always sat on my lap on an evening on the sofa but he is reluctant to even doing that at the moment.

Maybe just take him for a vet check, or if you have to see the vet for Tilly and her pups, get him to have a look at Ozzy too.  Strange behavioural changes like this should be checked out by a vet, just to be sure.

Well, I think he could just be missing Tilly.

I have two dogs, a boy and a girl, both neutered, so hormones shouldn't be anything to do with it I don't think.  My boy is very independent and doesn't even look up when we come in from being out, couldn't care less. 

But we have a dodgy handle on one of our bedroom doors and very occassionally, we'll come home and find our girl has got into the bedroom and got shut in, and so our boy is left out on the landing/hall by himself.

When that happens, he gives us a real uncharacteristic welcome home, jumping about and being glad to see us and it's just because he's been on his own I think, because we've been out and she has been shut away in the bedroom (though inintentionally).

So he might just be missing Tilly I guess?